1976 Oakland A's

[SmedIndy]

Here's a question for you.

The 76's A's not only stole bases at an incredible rate, but also went through about a 2-week or so period when they didn't have Fingers, Rudi or Blue due to the "sale" that was denied by Czar Kuhn, so they played with 22 guys.

How in the heck did they manage with 22 players, KNOWING that two of them (Alexander and Lintz) were just pinch runners?

Anyone recall?

[BuzzBuzzard]

Originally posted by SmedIndy
Here's a question for you.

The 76's A's not only stole bases at an incredible rate, but also went through about a 2-week or so period when they didn't have Fingers, Rudi or Blue due to the "sale" that was denied by Czar Kuhn, so they played with 22 guys.

How in the heck did they manage with 22 players, KNOWING that two of them (Alexander and Lintz) were just pinch runners?

Anyone recall? Yes. It is called the DH.

[sweaver]

Plus major reliance on middle relievers. Luckily the A's of that time had a very deep pitching staff, and still won the division.

[SmedIndy]

The 1976 A's finished second behind the Royals.

I guess the crux of the question is if anyone remembers what the roster makeup was during that time frame. Did they shuttle any players back and forth? With 2 pitchers out did they go to just 8 or did they bring one up?

Also, with 2 pinch runners is this the time Alexander got most of his 30 ABs? I think they had Tenace, Haney and Newman or Hosley catching, so if they had 3 catchers and 2 pinch runners there wasn't a lot of down time for anyone, excpet maybe Tommy Sandt.

That's what I'm after, not flippant replies.

[Skipper Steve]

You kidding? This place is sometimes "flippant-replies-r-us."

I have to go back to your first post. Was it really two weeks? Memory serves that it was closer to 2 days. And, if I'm right, that was no biggie.

Oakland was at Boston - at the time - - and I think Fingers and Rudi just made a left instead of a right when heading to the clubhouse - - so, there was no lost time traveling eiter.

For Blue, it all probably happened on his off days, so his lost time was basicaly nothing too.

At least this is how I remember it. May not be true. ;D

[SmedIndy]

I thought it was a week or two...that's what I remember really from some reading I did this summer. If it was just 2 days then it's moot really.

Rudi played just 130 games that year. Blue did make 37 starts and Fingers had 70 relief appearances, but the schedule may have made it easier to keep Blue semi-regular.

I still love playing that team in Diamond Mind, though. Runner on first, STEAL (even with Bando!)

[Skipper Steve]

Originally posted by SmedIndy
I thought it was a week or two...that's what I remember really from some reading I did this summer. If it was just 2 days then it's moot really.

Just checked - -

On June 15, 1976, Finley announced the sales of both Joe Rudi and Rollie Fingers to Boston for $1 million apiece and Vida Blue to the Yankees for $1.5 million.

Commissioner Bowie Kuhn on June 18, 1976, ruled that all three sales were null and void, and ordered the players back to the A's.

[BuzzBuzzard]

Originally posted by SmedIndy
That's what I'm after, not flippant replies. I wasn't being flippant. The DH rule enable a shorter roster.

[SmedIndy]

Originally posted by Skipper Steve


Just checked - -

On June 15, 1976, Finley announced the sales of both Joe Rudi and Rollie Fingers to Boston for $1 million apiece and Vida Blue to the Yankees for $1.5 million.

Commissioner Bowie Kuhn on June 18, 1976, ruled that all three sales were null and void, and ordered the players back to the A's.

But I thought Finley had a hissy-fit and basically didn't play these guys for a week or so afterwards and threatend Kuhn until he finally backed down. From what I recall, even AFTER they were ordered back, they may not have played.

I need to recheck this. Damn, it's going to bug me all weekend. I should probably bring my reference books into work....

[sweaver]

Originally posted by SmedIndy
The 1976 A's finished second behind the Royals.


That's what I'm after, not flippant replies.

You're right, I got this year mixed up with 1975, when the A's won the division but not the pennant. Finley did make noise about holding the players out, but it died out quickly in the pennant race. They didn't miss a whole two weeks.

Another at work, no reference books problem.

[Skipper Steve]

Originally posted by sweaver
Another at work, no reference books problem.

It's a terrible feeling, I know.

[SmedIndy]

Not at work now...so I looked in "The Ball Clubs" and it mentions that Finley filed a $10 million lawsuit against Kuhn after he returned the players to Oakland, and held out Rudi and Fingers until he finally caved. It said it was about two weeks, and Finley caved when the rest of the A's threatened to strike.

Does anyone have any box score info from 1976?

[Skipper Steve]

Originally posted by SmedIndy
Does anyone have any box score info from 1976?

Nothing that would help. I did check "The Baseball Timeline" Book - - it only has the 6/15 and 6/18 info.

[SmedIndy]

Well, let's just see if anything shows up. I may search the net to see if some demented soul has 1976 game by game info out there somewhere.

Anyway, it's pretty intriguing, even in a DH league, that you have a 22 man roster for 2 weeks, including 2 pinch runners and 3 catchers, and play an odd strategy (run 'em all except the old guys like Billy Williams or the catchers) and still wind up second in a close race.

[sweaver]

Originally posted by SmedIndy
Not at work now...so I looked in "The Ball Clubs" and it mentions that Finley filed a $10 million lawsuit against Kuhn after he returned the players to Oakland, and held out Rudi and Fingers until he finally caved. It said it was about two weeks, and Finley caved when the rest of the A's threatened to strike.

Does anyone have any box score info from 1976?

OK, I dug out my issues of The Sporting News from 1976. On June 13 the A's were in 5th place in the 6-team West. Joe Rudi was leading the team in RBI's and second in average, Vida Blue was tied for the team lead in wins, and Rollie Fingers was leading the team in saves. The A's played Milwaukee on the 13th, and Rudi was playing LF and batting cleanup. Neither Blue nor Fingers appeared in the 5-4 loss. Fingers had saved the game on the 12th, Blue started and lost on the 11th. The 14th was an off day. On the 15 the A's started a series against Boston, hence the different clubhouse story. None of the three players appeared. Don Baylor, who had been playing 1B, played LF, with Gene Tenace, battling knee ligament problems, at 1B and Larry Hosley catching. Effectively, Hosley replaced Rudi in the lineup. According to a story in the July 10 TSN, "A threatened strike by A's players was averted on June 27 when owner Charlie Finleyacquiesced to their demands and allowed outfielder Joe Rudi and pitchers Rollie Fingers and Vida Blue to return to action."
Rudi played left and Fingers got the save in relief on the 27th, after 2 weeks on the sidelines. Blue did not start again until July 2. In the meantime, Baylor played LF and Tenace manned 1B, with Hosley or Haney catching. When Rudi returned to the lineup, Baylor went to DH, pushing Billy Williams to the bench for awhile. In Fingers' absence, Jim Todd and Paul Lindblad finished games, and the rotation was Torrez, Mitchell, Bosman and Norris.

[sweaver]

Addendum: by July 28, the A's were in third, behind KC and Texas, and 8 and a half out. So I guess it didn't really hurt too much. They gained 2 games on the Royals in the two weeks.

[SmedIndy]

Would that be Larry Haney and Tim Hosley? No other reason on Earth that Hosley played in 30 some games.

Now I see how they did it. God, what a yucky rotation for a while. Still can't believe Blue had 37 starts missing 2 weeks or so. Wow. They were men back then!

of course Chuck Tanner was the manager, so he probably just listened to whatever Charlie O. said to do...

And how in the $*&#%$* was Texas that high in the standings?? That was an AWFUL team, really. They finished fourth with smoke and mirrors and the White Sox, I guess.

Thanks for the help!;)

[Skipper Steve]

NICE work sweaver! :thumb:

Double :thumb: :thumb:

Man, I once had every issue of TSN from something like 1978 to 1989 and all the BB Weeklys from Day One to 1994 - - and my wife finally got me to toss them a few years back.

What's your secret?

[sweaver]

My wife is a bigger packrat than I am. Actually I have been trying to sell some of these old ones on eBay recently.

[Skipper Steve]

Originally posted by sweaver
My wife is a bigger packrat than I am. Actually I have been trying to sell some of these old ones on eBay recently.

Smart - - mine was before the days of e-bay. Once again, timing is everything!

[SmedIndy]

Thanks again. Mystery solved. I can relax, and safely pinch run Larry Lintz for McMullen in the eighth inning of a close game without fear!

But still, missing 2 weeks and still starting 37 games. We're lucky if a guy can start 27 games now!

[sweaver]

Originally posted by SmedIndy
Thanks again. Mystery solved. I can relax, and safely pinch run Larry Lintz for McMullen in the eighth inning of a close game without fear!

But still, missing 2 weeks and still starting 37 games. We're lucky if a guy can start 27 games now!

And really, Blue was out for 3 weeks. The A's were on a 4-day rotation, and Blue was their best pitcher so he got a lot of work.

Plus, Lintz and Alexander were usable players, unlike Herb Washington. Lintz played a passable middle infield and could hit a bit, and Alexander was a decent outfielder but no real stick.

[Yogi#8Fan]

If it's any help, here's the list of the 1976 Oakland A's staff (http://www.baseballreference.com/teams/OAK/1976.shtml).

[SmedIndy]

Originally posted by sweaver


And really, Blue was out for 3 weeks. The A's were on a 4-day rotation, and Blue was their best pitcher so he got a lot of work.

Plus, Lintz and Alexander were usable players, unlike Herb Washington. Lintz played a passable middle infield and could hit a bit, and Alexander was a decent outfielder but no real stick.


Yeah they were USABLE, but Lintz just had one official at-bat, so obviously Tanner (or should I say Finley) trusted Sandt more than Lintz.

I guess Alexander rubbed off on Tanner, because he was FAM-I-LEE in '79.