The

Oakland Athletics The Oakland Athletics (often referred to as the A's) are an American professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The te ...

' 1996 season was the team's 29th in

Oakland Oakland is the largest city and the county seat of Alameda County, California, United States. A major West Coast port, Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, the third largest city overall in the Bay A ...

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

. It was also the 96th season in franchise history. The team finished third in the American League West with a record of 78-84. The 1996 season was the Athletics' first under manager

Art Howe Arthur Henry Howe Jr. (born December 15, 1946) is an American former professional baseball infielder, coach, scout, and manager, who appeared as a player in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates (–), Houston Astros (–), and ...

. It was also the team's fourth consecutive losing season. The reasons behind Oakland's mediocrity remained the same; a below-average offense failed to offset an awful pitching staff. The Athletics' starting rotation, once again, was in shambles; none of the Athletics' six primary starters (

Don Wengert Donald Paul Wengert (born November 6, 1969) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played all or part of seven seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1995 to 2001 for the Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, ...

, Doug Johns,

John Wasdin John Truman Wasdin (born August 5, 1972) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1995 to 2007, and also played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Wasdin made his MLB debut in 1995 wit ...

Ariel Prieto Ariel Prieto (born October 22, 1969) is a Cuban former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1995 to 2001 for the Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He is currently the pitching coach for the GCL Me ...

Steve Wojciechowski Steven Michael Wojciechowski (born August 11, 1976), also known as Wojo, is an American basketball coach and former player who was the head coach at Marquette University for seven seasons. He previously played and coached under head coach Mike K ...

, and

Dave Telgheder David William Telgheder (born November 11, 1966) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher who played for the New York Mets and Oakland Athletics from 1993 to 1998. Early life and amateur career Telgedher was born in New York to ...

) managed to win more than eight games. Oakland's bullpen also ranked among the league's worst. Reliever Carlos Reyes lead all pitchers in strikeouts with 78. All told, the A's boasted a team ERA of 5.20; this was the 10th best total in the 14-team

American League The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league ...

. The Athletics' offense was only slightly better. As had been the case in prior years, slugger

Mark McGwire Mark David McGwire (born October 1, 1963), nicknamed "Big Mac", is an American former professional baseball first baseman who played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1986 to 2001 for the Oakland Athletics and the St. Louis Cardi ...

was the main draw; he crushed a league-high (and Oakland franchise record) 52 home runs in 1996. Designated hitter

Gerónimo Berroa Gerónimo Emiliano Berroa (born March 18, 1965) is a Dominican former professional baseball outfielder. He played for nine Major League Baseball (MLB) teams from 1989 to 2000, and also played one season in the KBO League in 2002. Signed by the To ...

and catcher

Terry Steinbach Terry Lee Steinbach (born March 2, 1962) is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a catcher from 1986 to 1999, most notably as a member of the Oakland Athletics team that won three ...

belted 36 and 35 home runs, respectively; secondary hitters

Scott Brosius Scott David Brosius (born August 15, 1966) is an American former Major League Baseball third baseman for the Oakland Athletics (–) and the New York Yankees (–). Early life Brosius grew up in Milwaukie, Oregon, where he attended Rex Pu ...

Jason Giambi Jason Gilbert Giambi (; born January 8, 1971) is an American former professional baseball first baseman and designated hitter. In his Major League Baseball (MLB) career, which began in 1995, Giambi played for the Oakland Athletics, New York Yank ...

, and

Ernie Young Ernest Wesley Young (born July 8, 1969) is an American former professional baseball outfielder and current coach for the United States national baseball team. He played in parts of eight seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for five different ...

contributed 22, 20, and 19. The Athletics, as a team, hit 243 home runs (the American League's third-most); a low team batting average, however, ensured that they would finish the season with only 861 runs (the American League's 10th best total). The Athletics hovered around the .500-mark for almost all of the season. They were not expected to contend in 1996, and indeed did not; they ultimately finished 12 games behind the first-time AL West Champion Texas Rangers.

Offseason

*November 27, 1995: Buddy Groom was signed as a free agent with the Oakland Athletics. *December 5, 1995: Torey Lovullo was signed as a free agent with the Oakland Athletics. *January 22, 1996: Danny Tartabull was traded by the Oakland Athletics to the Chicago White Sox for Andrew Lorraine and Charles Poe (minors). *January 22, 1996: Rafael Bournigal was signed as a free agent with the Oakland Athletics. *January 29, 1996: Aaron Small was selected off waivers by the Oakland Athletics from the Seattle Mariners. * January 29, 1996: Pedro Munoz was signed as a free agent with the Oakland Athletics. * February 13, 1996:

Dennis Eckersley Dennis Lee Eckersley (born October 3, 1954), nicknamed "Eck", is an American professional baseball pitcher and former color commentator. Between 1975 and 1998, he pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, ...

was traded by the Oakland Athletics to the St. Louis Cardinals for Steve Montgomery. * March 10, 1996: Webster Garrison was signed as a free agent with the Oakland Athletics.

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

, - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 1 , , April 1 , , Blue Jays , , 6–9 , , Hanson , , Reyes (0–1) , , Timlin , , 7,294 , , 0–1 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 2 , , April 3 , , Blue Jays , , 4–10 , , Hentgen , , Prieto (0–1) , , — , , 8,050 , , 0–2 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 3 , , April 4 , ,

Tigers The tiger (''Panthera tigris'') is the largest living cat species and a member of the genus ''Panthera''. It is most recognisable for its dark vertical stripes on orange fur with a white underside. An apex predator, it primarily preys on un ...

, , 9–10 (15) , , Keagle , , Small (0–1) , , — , , 8,346 , , 0–3 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 4 , , April 5 , ,

, , 13–2 , , Johns (1–0) , , Gohr , , — , , 11,149 , , 1–3 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 5 , , April 6 , ,

, , 1–6 , , Lira , , Reyes (0–2) , , — , , 10,424 , , 1–4 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 6 , , April 7 , ,

, , 7–6 , , Corsi (1–0) , , Williams , , — , , 9,723 , , 2–4 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 7 , , April 9 , , @ Brewers , , 4–10 , , McDonald , , Van Poppel (0–1) , , — , , 42,090 , , 2–5 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 8 , , April 11 , , @ Brewers , , 11–0 , , Johns (2–0) , , Karl , , — , , 12,236 , , 3–5 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 9 , , April 12 , , @

White Sox The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and p ...

, , 7–2 , , Reyes (1–2) , , Fernandez , , — , , 13,623 , , 4–5 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 10 , , April 13 , , @

, , 5–6 (12) , , Karchner , , Wengert (0–1) , , — , , 15,812 , , 4–6 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 11 , , April 14 , , @

, , 10–5 , , Groom (1–0) , , Simas , , — , , 15,236 , , 5–6 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 12 , , April 15 , , @ Rangers , , 8–3 , , Mohler (1–0) , , Heredia , , — , , 19,312 , , 6–6 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 13 , , April 16 , , @ Rangers , , 3–5 , , Witt , , Johns (2–1) , , Henneman , , 20,948 , , 6–7 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 14 , , April 17 , , @ Rangers , , 1–12 , , Hill , , Reyes (1–3) , , — , , 24,120 , , 6–8 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 15 , , April 19 , ,

, , 3–4 , , Karchner , , Briscoe (0–1) , , Hernandez , , 31,320 , , 6–9 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 16 , , April 20 , ,

, , 3–8 , , Tapani , , Van Poppel (0–2) , , — , , 16,480 , , 6–10 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 17 , , April 21 , ,

, , 6–5 , , Corsi (2–0) , , Simas , , Mohler (1) , , 16,125 , , 7–10 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 18 , , April 22 , , Brewers , , 6–2 , , Reyes (2–3) , , Bones , , Briscoe (1) , , 6,021 , , 8–10 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 19 , , April 23 , , Brewers , , 9–6 , , Wojciechowski (1–0) , , Sparks , , Mohler (2) , , 7,026 , , 9–10 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 20 , , April 24 , , @ Blue Jays , , 7–6 , , Prieto (1–1) , , Hentgen , , Corsi (1) , , 28,029 , , 10–10 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 21 , , April 25 , , @ Blue Jays , , 4–3 (11) , , Mohler (2–0) , , Crabtree , , — , , 26,163 , , 11–10 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 22 , , April 26 , , @

, , 5–14 , , Christopher , , Johns (2–2) , , — , , 7,941 , , 11–11 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 23 , , April 27 , , @

, , 4–1 , , Reyes (3–3) , , Lira , , Taylor (1) , , 13,067 , , 12–11 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 24 , , April 28 , , @

, , 6–3 , , Wojciechowski (2–0) , , Gohr , , Taylor (2) , , 8,907 , , 13–11 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 25 , , April 30 , ,

Angels In various theistic religious traditions an angel is a supernatural spiritual being who serves God. Abrahamic religions often depict angels as benevolent celestial intermediaries between God (or Heaven) and humanity. Other roles include ...

, , 3–7 , , Langston , , Prieto (1–2) , , — , , 7,154 , , 13–12 , - , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 26 , , May 1 , ,

, , 4–6 , , Boskie , , Van Poppel (0–3) , , Percival , , 6,721 , , 13–13 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 27 , , May 2 , ,

, , 1–3 , , Abbott , , Johns (2–3) , , Percival , , 9,102 , , 13–14 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 28 , , May 3 , , @ Royals , , 1–3 , , Appier , , Reyes (3–4) , , Montgomery , , 14,452 , , 13–15 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 29 , , May 4 , , @ Royals , , 5–2 , , Wojciechowski (3–0) , , Gubicza , , Groom (1) , , 15,987 , , 14–15 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 30 , , May 5 , , @ Royals , , 0–2 , , Haney , , Prieto (1–3) , , — , , 16,589 , , 14–16 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 31 , , May 6 , , Indians , , 5–3 , , Taylor (1–0) , , Assenmacher , , Mohler (3) , , 47,313 , , 15–16 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 32 , , May 7 , , Indians , , 8–4 , , Johns (3–3) , , Hershiser , , — , , 10,126 , , 16–16 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 33 , , May 8 , , Indians , , 3–7 , , Nagy , , Reyes (3–5) , , — , , 9,288 , , 16–17 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 34 , , May 10 , ,

Twins Twins are two offspring produced by the same pregnancy.MedicineNet > Definition of TwinLast Editorial Review: 19 June 2000 Twins can be either ''monozygotic'' ('identical'), meaning that they develop from one zygote, which splits and forms two em ...

, , 15–5 , , Wojciechowski (4–0) , , Rodriguez , , — , , 8,278 , , 17–17 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 35 , , May 11 , ,

, , 12–5 , , Prieto (2–3) , , Radke , , — , , 15,791 , , 18–17 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 36 , , May 12 , ,

, , 8–3 , , Wengert (1–1) , , Parra , , — , , 13,430 , , 19–17 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 37 , , May 13 , ,

Orioles Oriole or Orioles may refer to: Animals * Old World oriole, colorful passerine birds in the family Oriolidae * New World oriole, a group of birds in the family Icteridae Music * The Orioles, an R&B and doo-wop group of the late 1940s and earl ...

, , 3–4 , , Krivda , , Johns (3–4) , , Myers , , 8,204 , , 19–18 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 38 , , May 14 , ,

, , 1–9 , , Mussina , , Reyes (3–6) , , — , , 8,466 , , 19–19 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 39 , , May 17 , , @

Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...

, , 3–5 (11) , , Stanton , , Van Poppel (0–4) , , — , , 28,690 , , 19–20 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 40 , , May 18 , , @

, , 6–5 (10) , , Groom (2–0) , , Garces , , Taylor (3) , , 31,663 , , 20–20 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 41 , , May 19 , , @

, , 2–12 , , Sele , , Wengert (1–2) , , — , , 32,601 , , 20–21 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 42 , , May 20 , , @

, , 4–16 , , Gordon , , Johns (3–5) , , — , , 20,890 , , 20–22 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 43 , , May 21 , , @

Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one of ...

, , 3–7 , , Gooden , , Reyes (3–7) , , — , , 15,614 , , 20–23 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 44 , , May 22 , , @

, , 5–1 , , Wojciechowski (5–0) , , Pettitte , , Mohler (4) , , 18,544 , , 21–23 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 45 , , May 23 , , @

, , 3–4 , , Rogers , , Taylor (1–1) , , Wetteland , , 19,315 , , 21–24 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 46 , , May 24 , , @

, , 4–5 (10) , , McDowell , , Reyes (3–8) , , — , , 45,024 , , 21–25 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 47 , , May 25 , , @

, , 6–3 , , Johns (4–5) , , Wells , , Groom (2) , , 47,353 , , 22–25 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 48 , , May 26 , , @

, , 1–6 , , Mercker , , Chouinard (0–1) , , McDowell , , 47,401 , , 22–26 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 49 , , May 27 , ,

, , 3–10 , , Wakefield , , Wojciechowski (5–1) , , — , , 21,688 , , 22–27 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 50 , , May 28 , ,

, , 6–2 , , Wasdin (1–0) , , Clemens , , — , , 9,338 , , 23–27 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 51 , , May 29 , ,

, , 7–6 (10) , , Mohler (3–0) , , Slocumb , , — , , 8,282 , , 24–27 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 52 , , May 31 , ,

, , 1–4 , , Key , , Johns (4–6) , , Wetteland , , 13,279 , , 24–28 , - , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 53 , , June 1 , ,

, , 3–6 , , Pettitte , , Chouinard (0–2) , , Wetteland , , 21,354 , , 24–29 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 54 , , June 2 , ,

, , 4–11 , , Rogers , , Wojciechowski (5–2) , , Wetteland , , 26,331 , , 24–30 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 55 , , June 3 , , Royals , , 2–1 , , Wasdin (2–0) , , Appier , , Taylor (4) , , 6,465 , , 25–30 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 56 , , June 4 , , Royals , , 8–3 , , Wengert (2–2) , , Gubicza , , — , , 11,524 , , 26–30 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 57 , , June 5 , , Royals , , 2–5 , , Haney , , Johns (4–7) , , Montgomery , , 8,113 , , 26–31 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 58 , , June 7 , , @

, , 6–4 , , Reyes (4–8) , , Radke , , Corsi (2) , , 14,999 , , 27–31 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 59 , , June 8 , , @

, , 2–4 , , Robertson , , Wojciechowski (5–3) , , Guardado , , — , , 27–32 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 60 , , June 8 , , @

, , 13–7 , , Wasdin (3–0) , , Mahomes , , — , , 22,164 , , 28–32 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 61 , , June 9 , , @

, , 3–5 , , Rodriguez , , Wengert (2–3) , , — , , 13,291 , , 28–33 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 62 , , June 10 , , @ Indians , , 4–5 , , Nagy , , Johns (4–8) , , Mesa , , 42,167 , , 28–34 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 63 , , June 11 , , @ Indians , , 5–6 (13) , , Ogea , , Reyes (4–9) , , — , , 42,249 , , 28–35 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 64 , , June 12 , , @ Indians , , 9–6 , , Montgomery (1–0) , , McDowell , , Mohler (5) , , 40,673 , , 29–35 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 65 , , June 13 , , @ Brewers , , 3–16 , , Karl , , Wojciechowski (5–4) , , — , , 12,439 , , 29–36 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 66 , , June 14 , , @ Brewers , , 2–6 , , Bones , , Wasdin (3–1) , , — , , 14,404 , , 29–37 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 67 , , June 15 , , @ Brewers , , 9–12 , , Givens , , Wengert (2–4) , , Garcia , , 21,064 , , 29–38 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 68 , , June 16 , , @ Brewers , , 10–9 , , Taylor (2–1) , , Fetters , , Mohler (6) , , 26,744 , , 30–38 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 69 , , June 17 , , @

, , 8–4 (10) , , Corsi (3–0) , , Myers , , — , , 9,231 , , 31–38 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 70 , , June 18 , , @

, , 8–5 , , Van Poppel (1–4) , , Urbani , , Taylor (5) , , 8,543 , , 32–38 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 71 , , June 19 , , @

, , 10–3 , , Wasdin (4–1) , , Keagle , , — , , 9,875 , , 33–38 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 72 , , June 20 , , Blue Jays , , 0–1 , , Hentgen , , Wengert (2–5) , , Timlin , , 8,027 , , 33–39 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 73 , , June 21 , , Blue Jays , , 5–7 , , Quantrill , , Johns (4–9) , , Timlin , , 10,278 , , 33–40 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 74 , , June 22 , , Blue Jays , , 8–4 , , Chouinard (1–2) , , Ware , , — , , 20,124 , , 34–40 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 75 , , June 23 , , Blue Jays , , 4–5 , , Guzman , , Wojciechowski (5–5) , , Timlin , , 14,407 , , 34–41 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 76 , , June 24 , ,

, , 4–2 , , Wasdin (5–1) , , Sodowsky , , Taylor (6) , , 10,122 , , 35–41 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 77 , , June 25 , ,

, , 8–10 , , Olivares , , Wengert (2–6) , , Olson , , 9,652 , , 35–42 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 78 , , June 27 , , @

, , 18–2 , , Johns (5–9) , , Boskie , , — , , 23,503 , , 36–42 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 79 , , June 28 , , @

, , 6–3 , , Chouinard (2–2) , , Finley , , — , , 32,380 , , 37–42 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 80 , , June 29 , , @

, , 11–9 , , Groom (3–0) , , Monteleone , , — , , 26,565 , , 38–42 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 81 , , June 30 , , @

, , 0–1 , , Hancock , , Wasdin (5–2) , , Percival , , 19,284 , , 38–43 , - , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 82 , , July 1 , , @ Mariners , , 6–4 , , Wengert (3–6) , , Wagner , , Taylor (7) , , 18,166 , , 39–43 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 83 , , July 2 , , @ Mariners , , 11–6 , , Mohler (4–0) , , Charlton , , — , , 19,632 , , 40–43 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 84 , , July 3 , , @ Mariners , , 3–4 , , Ayala , , Reyes (4–10) , , — , , 36,619 , , 40–44 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 85 , , July 4 , ,

, , 8–7 (11) , , Taylor (3–1) , , Monteleone , , — , , 14,144 , , 41–44 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 86 , , July 5 , ,

, , 16–8 , , Wasdin (6–2) , , Hancock , , — , , 36,129 , , 42–44 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 87 , , July 6 , ,

, , 6–5 (10) , , Taylor (4–1) , , James , , — , , 14,294 , , 43–44 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 88 , , July 7 , ,

, , 4–9 , , Boskie , , Johns (5–10) , , — , , 16,526 , , 43–45 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 89 , , July 11 , , Rangers , , 8–3 , , Chouinard (3–2) , , Oliver , , — , , 13,437 , , 44–45 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 90 , , July 12 , , Rangers , , 4–8 (10) , , Russell , , Taylor (4–2) , , — , , 12,074 , , 44–46 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 91 , , July 13 , , Rangers , , 1–8 , , Pavlik , , Wengert (3–7) , , — , , 16,792 , , 44–47 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 92 , , July 14 , , Rangers , , 9–1 , , Johns (6–10) , , Gross , , — , , 20,704 , , 45–47 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 93 , , July 15 , , Mariners , , 1–5 , , Wolcott , , Telgheder (0–1) , , — , , 11,183 , , 45–48 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 94 , , July 16 , , Mariners , , 12–5 , , Chouinard (4–2) , , Hitchcock , , — , , 15,206 , , 46–48 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 95 , , July 17 , , Mariners , , 7–6 , , Corsi (4–0) , , Minor , , Taylor (8) , , 14,387 , , 47–48 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 96 , , July 18 , , @ Rangers , , 5–4 (11) , , Reyes (5–10) , , Brandenburg , , Van Poppel (1) , , 28,585 , , 48–48 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 97 , , July 19 , , @ Rangers , , 9–6 , , Reyes (6–10) , , Helling , , Taylor (9) , , 37,455 , , 49–48 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 98 , , July 20 , , @ Rangers , , 4–8 , , Witt , , Van Poppel (1–5) , , — , , 46,052 , , 49–49 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 99 , , July 21 , , @ Rangers , , 11–8 , , Groom (4–0) , , Brandenburg , , Mohler (7) , , 36,039 , , 50–49 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 100 , , July 22 , , @

, , 6–5 , , Taylor (5–2) , , Karchner , , — , , 23,572 , , 51–49 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 101 , , July 23 , , @

, , 8–4 , , Wengert (4–7) , , Fernandez , , Corsi (3) , , 18,527 , , 52–49 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 102 , , July 24 , , @

, , 6–5 , , Corsi (5–0) , , Simas , , Taylor (10) , , 23,350 , , 53–49 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 103 , , July 25 , , @ Blue Jays , , 3–4 , , Crabtree , , Witasick (0–1) , , — , , 30,174 , , 53–50 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 104 , , July 26 , , @ Blue Jays , , 5–3 , , Groom (5–0) , , Castillo , , Taylor (11) , , 32,241 , , 54–50 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 105 , , July 27 , , @ Blue Jays , , 4–6 , , Hanson , , Wasdin (6–3) , , Timlin , , 32,162 , , 54–51 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 106 , , July 28 , , @ Blue Jays , , 0–1 , , Hentgen , , Prieto (2–4) , , — , , 31,150 , , 54–52 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 107 , , July 30 , ,

, , 1–2 , , Baldwin , , Telgheder (0–2) , , Hernandez , , 14,210 , , 54–53 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 108 , , July 31 , ,

, , 5–4 , , Witasick (1–1) , , Karchner , , Taylor (12) , , 13,127 , , 55–53 , - , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 109 , , August 1 , ,

, , 3–8 , , Tapani , , Wasdin (6–4) , , Hernandez , , 10,514 , , 55–54 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 110 , , August 2 , , Brewers , , 3–4 (10) , , Miranda , , Taylor (5–3) , , Fetters , , 10,056 , , 55–55 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 111 , , August 3 , , Brewers , , 0–7 , , Bones , , Johns (6–11) , , — , , 15,171 , , 55–56 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 112 , , August 4 , , Brewers , , 4–2 , , Telgheder (1–2) , , Van Egmond , , Taylor (13) , , 10,281 , , 56–56 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 113 , , August 5 , , Brewers , , 3–13 , , Eldred , , Adams (0–1) , , — , , 8,616 , , 56–57 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 114 , , August 6 , , @ Royals , , 2–9 , , Belcher , , Wasdin (6–5) , , — , , 14,028 , , 56–58 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 115 , , August 7 , , @ Royals , , 0–7 , , Appier , , Prieto (2–5) , , — , , 15,517 , , 56–59 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 116 , , August 8 , , @ Royals , , 2–1 , , Wengert (5–7) , , Linton , , Taylor (14) , , 19,197 , , 57–59 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 117 , , August 9 , , Indians , , 4–10 , , McDowell , , Telgheder (1–3) , , — , , 20,122 , , 57–60 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 118 , , August 10 , , Indians , , 5–1 , , Adams (1–1) , , Nagy , , — , , 30,238 , , 58–60 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 119 , , August 11 , , Indians , , 9–3 , , Wasdin (7–5) , , Lopez , , — , , 21,914 , , 59–60 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 120 , , August 12 , ,

, , 11–1 , , Prieto (3–5) , , Robertson , , — , , 10,071 , , 60–60 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 121 , , August 13 , ,

, , 2–6 , , Aguilera , , Wengert (5–8) , , — , , 11,156 , , 60–61 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 122 , , August 14 , ,

, , 7–13 , , Rodriguez , , Telgheder (1–4) , , — , , 12,729 , , 60–62 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 123 , , August 15 , ,

, , 5–18 , , Mussina , , Adams (1–2) , , — , , 14,026 , , 60–63 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 124 , , August 16 , ,

, , 3–14 , , Erickson , , Wasdin (7–6) , , — , , — , , 60–64 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 125 , , August 16 , ,

, , 4–5 (10) , , Myers , , Mohler (4–1) , , — , , 15,645 , , 60–65 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 126 , , August 17 , ,

, , 3–1 , , Prieto (4–5) , , Coppinger , , Acre (1) , , 20,231 , , 61–65 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 127 , , August 18 , ,

, , 9–6 , , Wengert (6–8) , , Wells , , — , , 18,122 , , 62–65 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 128 , , August 20 , , @

, , 3–4 , , Garces , , Mohler (4–2) , , Slocumb , , 25,094 , , 62–66 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 129 , , August 21 , , @

, , 4–6 , , Brandenburg , , Johns (6–12) , , Slocumb , , 26,362 , , 62–67 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 130 , , August 22 , , @

, , 1–2 , , Clemens , , Acre (0–1) , , — , , 30,503 , , 62–68 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 131 , , August 23 , , @

, , 3–5 , , Gooden , , Wengert (6–9) , , Rivera , , 34,244 , , 62–69 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 132 , , August 24 , , @

, , 4–5 , , Whitehurst , , Telgheder (1–5) , , Pavlas , , 32,125 , , 62–70 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 133 , , August 25 , , @

, , 6–4 , , Mohler (5–2) , , Nelson , , Acre (2) , , 50,808 , , 63–70 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 134 , , August 26 , , @

, , 11–12 (10) , , Myers , , Acre (0–2) , , — , , 43,361 , , 63–71 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 135 , , August 27 , , @

, , 1–3 , , Wells , , Prieto (4–6) , , Myers , , 43,641 , , 63–72 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 136 , , August 28 , , @

, , 3–0 , , Wengert (7–9) , , Mussina , , — , , 45,282 , , 64–72 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 137 , , August 30 , ,

, , 7–0 , , Telgheder (2–5) , , Maddux , , — , , 17,182 , , 65–72 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 138 , , August 31 , ,

, , 8–0 , , Adams (2–2) , , Wakefield , , — , , 32,116 , , 66–72 , - , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 139 , , September 1 , ,

, , 3–8 , , Sele , , Wasdin (7–7) , , — , , 15,021 , , 66–73 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 140 , , September 2 , ,

, , 0–5 , , Cone , , Prieto (4–7) , , — , , 20,159 , , 66–74 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 141 , , September 3 , ,

, , 10–9 , , Acre (1–2) , , Boehringer , , Johns (1) , , 11,621 , , 67–74 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 142 , , September 4 , ,

, , 3–10 , , Pettitte , , Telgheder (2–6) , , — , , 9,892 , , 67–75 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 143 , , September 6 , , Royals , , 7–1 , , Adams (3–2) , , Haney , , — , , 14,404 , , 68–75 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 144 , , September 7 , , Royals , , 13–6 , , Prieto (5–7) , , Belcher , , — , , 13,175 , , 69–75 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 145 , , September 8 , , Royals , , 8–7 (10) , , Corsi (6–0) , , Pichardo , , — , , 17,208 , , 70–75 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 146 , , September 10 , , @

, , 7–0 , , Telgheder (3–6) , , Robertson , , — , , 9,676 , , 71–75 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 147 , , September 11 , , @

, , 2–7 , , Radke , , Adams (3–3) , , — , , 9,493 , , 71–76 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 148 , , September 12 , , @

, , 3–4 (12) , , Stevens , , Mohler (5–3) , , — , , 9,712 , , 71–77 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 149 , , September 14 , , @ Indians , , 2–9 , , Nagy , , Wengert (7–10) , , — , , — , , 71–78 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 150 , , September 14 , , @ Indians , , 8–9 , , Plunk , , Small (0–2) , , Mesa , , 42,233 , , 71–79 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 151 , , September 15 , , @ Indians , , 10–9 (10) , , Reyes (7–10) , , Mesa , , — , , 42,226 , , 72–79 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 152 , , September 17 , , @

, , 5–1 , , Prieto (6–7) , , Springer , , — , , 17,827 , , 73–79 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 153 , , September 18 , , @

, , 1–3 , , Finley , , Adams (3–4) , , Percival , , 18,213 , , 73–80 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 154 , , September 20 , , @ Mariners , , 2–12 , , Carmona , , Wengert (7–11) , , Meacham , , 56,535 , , 73–81 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 155 , , September 21 , , @ Mariners , , 2–9 , , Moyer , , Telgheder (3–7) , , — , , 56,103 , , 73–82 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 156 , , September 22 , , @ Mariners , , 13–11 , , Mohler (6–3) , , Mulholland , , Taylor (15) , , 54,194 , , 74–82 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 157 , , September 23 , , Rangers , , 5–3 , , Wasdin (8–7) , , Witt , , Taylor (16) , , 10,164 , , 75–82 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 158 , , September 24 , , Rangers , , 3–7 , , Cook , , Small (0–3) , , — , , 9,694 , , 75–83 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 159 , , September 26 , , Mariners , , 7–5 , , Taylor (6–3) , , Charlton , , — , , 11,141 , , 76–83 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 160 , , September 27 , , Mariners , , 8–1 , , Telgheder (4–7) , , Mulholland , , — , , 25,132 , , 77–83 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 161 , , September 28 , , Mariners , , 3–5 (10) , , Carmona , , Acre (1–3) , , Charlton , , 30,057 , , 77–84 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 162 , , September 29 , , Mariners , , 3–1 , , Small (1–3) , , Torres , , Taylor (17) , , 34,462 , , 78–84 , - , - , ''Legend: = Win = Loss
Bold = Athletics team member''

Detailed records

Transactions

*June 4, 1996:

Eric Chavez Eric Cesar Chavez (born December 7, 1977) is an American professional baseball coach and former third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics (1998–2010), New York Yankees (2011–2012), and Arizona Diamondb ...

was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 1st round (10th overall) of the 1996 amateur draft. Signed August 27, 1996. *June 4, 1996: A. J. Hinch was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 3rd round of the 1996 amateur draft. Signed June 22, 1996.

Roster

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

''Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in'' 1996 Oakland Athletics Statistics and Roster
''Baseball-Reference.com''

Other batters

''Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in''

Pitching

Starting pitchers

''Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts''

Other pitchers

''Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts''

Relief pitchers

''Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts''

Awards and records

* Mark McGwire,

Silver Slugger Award The Silver Slugger Award has been awarded annually since 1980 to the best offensive player at each position in both the American League and the National League, as determined by the coaches and managers of Major League Baseball. These voters cons ...

* Mark McGwire, Major League record, 1st player to reach 50 Home Runs in one season before reaching 400 at-bats in a season''Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures'', 2008 Edition, p.371, David Nemec and Scott latow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York,

Farm system

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Edmonton, West Michigan

References

1996 Oakland Athletics
at ''Baseball Reference''
1996 Oakland Athletics
at ''Baseball Almanac'' * {{Oakland Athletics Oakland Athletics seasons Oakland Athletics season

Oak An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' (; Latin "oak tree") of the beech family, Fagaceae. There are approximately 500 extant species of oaks. The common name "oak" also appears in the names of species in related genera, notably ''L ...