Elephant Rumblings: A’s 2023 Hall of Fame Class to be inducted

Happy Friday, Athletics Nation!

Welp, the A’s got swept in the San Francisco leg of the Bay Bridge Series this week, but they’ll get another crack at the Giants next weekend at the Coliseum. Win or lose, Sunday should be especially enjoyable, as the A’s will be inducting the newest class of Athletics Hall of Fame members.

The 2023 class includes Jason Giambi, Bob Johnson, Carney Lansford, Roy Steele, and Gene Tenace.

Giambi had a fantastic run with the A’s around the turn of this century, winning the AL MVP award in 2000 and nearly repeating the achievement in 2001.

Johnson, who died way back in 1982, is this year’s sole inductee from the Philadelphia era. The eight-time All-Star remains in the top five rankings of A’s hitters in a number of categories and was the franchise’s all-time runs leader until Rickey Henderson bested Johnson’s mark in 1993.

Lansford was key to the success of the second Oakland A’s dynasty that won three consecutive AL pennants from 1988 to 1990. His .288 batting average as an Athletic ranks second all-time in the franchise’s Oakland era.

Nicknamed the “Voice of God,” Steele was the A’s PA announcer for 38 years, from the team’s first season in Oakland in 1968 until 2005. Steele passed away in May 2020.

Catcher and first baseman Tenace played for the legendary A’s dynasty of the seventies that won three consecutive World Series. He hit four home runs in the 1972 Fall Classic against the Reds, which earned him World Series MVP honors as the Oakland A’s won the first of their four titles.

Athletics Nation congratulates this year’s inductees!

A’s Coverage:

• deMause: A’s reveal their Vegas stadium renderings were literally garbage
• Akers: A’s want Las Vegas ballpark plaza to have elements of T-Mobile
• Bowden: 6 MLB trades I’d like to see happen as deadline deals start to pick up ($)
• Chen: Kemp, Laureano show value as Trade Deadline approaches
• Burke: Pittsburgh Steelers RB Najee Harris Arrives at Training Camp Repping Oakland A’s

MLB News & Interest:

• Rosenthal: MLB executives under the most pressure at the trade deadline ($)
• Rosenthal: Angels — in keeping Ohtani, adding Giolito, Lopez —go all in like no other team ($)
• Blum and The Athletic: Angels’ Ohtani tosses first career shutout in Game 1 of doubleheader, hits 2 HRs in Game 2 ($)
• Franco: Padres Reportedly Willing To Listen To Offers On Juan Soto; Trade Seen As Unlikely
• McDonald: Dodgers Have Discussed Nolan Arenado Trade With Cardinals
• McDonald: Latest On Blake Snell, Josh Hader
• Adams: White Sox Rumors: Cease, Bummer, Lynn, Kelly
• Today in Baseball History

Best of Twitter:

Injury updates.

Can’t wait!

Wilson’s first pro hit.

HR leader board.

It was class vs. trash in Texas last night.