Baseball Reference Blog
Top 5 Leaders in Home Runs for the Athletics
Posted by Darren Baker on December 31, 2024
It’s very sad to see the tradition-rich Athletics moving on from Oakland to Las Vegas. Of course, this team is used to relocating … first in Philadelphia, then to Kansas City, next stop Oakland, and eventually Las Vegas. Although the A’s have fallen on hard times, their winning ways are indisputable: 29 playoff appearances, 15 American League pennants, and 9 World Series titles (tied for 3rd all time). It’s going back a while, but Connie Mack’s Philadelphia Athletics had two impressive stretches during the first half of the 1900s. Then once the A’s were in Oakland, they added some more titles, including one of only two three-peats (1972-1974) in the Divisional Era. Later the Bash Brothers brought glory back in the late 80s. And even though they didn’t win a title, Billy Beane’s Moneyball teams of the early 2000s accomplished some remarkable stuff. This is one of MLB’s most unique franchises, and they have had some of the most unique sluggers. Let’s hop around the country and find out the leaders in home runs for the Athletics.
Bob Johnson
Position: Leftfielder
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-0, 180lb (183cm, 81kg)
Born: November 26, 1905 in Pryor, OK us
Died: July 6, 1982 (Aged 76-222d) in Tacoma, WA
Buried: Mountain View Memorial Park, Lakewood, WA
High School: Tacoma HS (Tacoma, WA)
Debut:
April 12, 1933
(Age 27-137d,
7,572nd in major league history)
vs. WSH 4 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
September 23, 1945
(Age 39-301d)
vs. NYY 2 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1933 season
Full Name: Robert Lee Johnson
Nicknames: Indian Bob
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Relatives: Brother of Roy Johnson
Career
55.6
6920
2051
288
.296
1239
1283
96
.393
.506
.899
139
There actually have been five players named Bob Johnson in MLB history, but the one we are focusing on is 5th on the Athletics all-time home-run list. For 10 seasons as a Philadelphia Athletic, this left fielder was a steady power presence for Philadelphia’s other baseball team. He had nine consecutive seasons of at least 20 home runs; three times he eclipsed 30 homers. That run also included seven straight years with 100+ RBIs and five seasons with an .900+ OPS. What makes Johnson’s stats more impressive is that the A’s were a struggling team during his time there. It is harder to put up impressive numbers when your lineup is short on skilled hitters. Although, he did have Jimmie Foxx with him for three seasons. But he wasn’t just a power source for the Athletics … he hit over .300 four times and had an OBP over .400 three times … that’s a professional at the plate. In addition to home runs, Johnson resides in the A’s top five for many categories: 2nd in total bases (2,824), 3rd in RBIs (1,040), 3rd in walks (853), 5th in slugging % (.520), and 5th in OPS (.915). Bob Johnson may be a common name, but he was far from a common hitter for the Philadelphia Athletics and is one of their all time leaders in home runs.
José Canseco
Positions: Outfielder and Designated Hitter
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-4, 240lb (193cm, 108kg)
Born: July 2, 1964 (Age: 60-144d) in La Habana, Cuba cu
Draft: Drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 15th round of the 1982 MLB June Amateur Draft from Carol City HS (Miami Gardens, FL).
High Schools: Carol City HS (Miami Gardens, FL), Coral Park HS (Miami, FL)
Debut:
September 2, 1985
(Age 21-062d,
15,078th in major league history)
vs. BAL 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
October 6, 2001
(Age 37-096d)
vs. MIN 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1986 season
Agents: Juan Iglesias • Previously: Bo McKinnis, Dennis Gilbert, Jeff Borris
Full Name: José Canseco
Nicknames: The Chemist
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Relatives: Brother of Ozzie Canseco
Career
42.4
7057
1877
462
.266
1186
1407
200
.353
.515
.867
132
Who was the first 40/40 player in MLB history? That is the same guy who is 4th on the Athletics all-time home-run list: Jose Canseco. In the late 80s and early 90s, Canseco and McGwire formed the formidable Bash Brothers in Oakland. In addition to his 252 home runs as an Athletic, this Cuban-born slugger has some other boast-worthy feats in Oakland: the 1986 AL ROY, the first 40/40 guy, the 1988 AL MVP, three AL Pennants (‘88-’90), and a 1989 World Series winner. In that MVP year, #33 for the A’s led the league in homers (42), RBIs (124), slugging % (.569), and OPS+ (170); don’t forget those 40 stolen bases, a .307 batting average, 120 runs, a 7.3 WAR, and a World Series appearance. Overall, Canseco had five seasons of 31 or home runs in Oakland. Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum wasn’t known for being a bam box either. This outfielder/DH was traded in the ‘92 season but returned in ‘97 to add 23 homers to his A’s numbers. He can also make the rare claim of having hit 30+ home runs for four different franchises. The Oakland teams of ‘88 to ‘90 were a dominant bunch, and one of the Athletics leaders in home runs, Jose Canseco, was a huge part of that success.
Reggie Jackson
Position: Rightfielder
Bats: Left • Throws: Left
6-0, 195lb (183cm, 88kg)
Born: May 18, 1946 (Age: 78-189d) in Abington, PA us
Draft: Drafted by the Kansas City Athletics in the 1st round (2nd) of the 1966 MLB June Amateur Draft from Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ).
High School: Cheltenham HS (Wyncote, PA)
School: Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ)
Debut:
June 9, 1967
(Age 21-022d,
12,583rd in major league history)
vs. CLE 3 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
October 4, 1987
(Age 41-139d)
vs. CHW 3 AB, 2 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1993.
(Voted by BBWAA on 396/423 ballots)
View Reggie Jackson’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1967 season
Full Name: Reginald Martinez Jackson
Nicknames: Mr. October
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Relatives: Cousin of Barry Bonds
Career
74.0
9864
2584
563
.262
1551
1702
228
.356
.490
.846
139
Reggie Jackson, one of the most clutch hitters in MLB history, got started with the Athletics and slammed 269 home runs with them to place 3rd on the A’s all-time list. From 1968 to 1975, Jackson never hit less than 23 homers in a season. He topped out with 47 home runs, 118 RBIs, and a league-leading 1.018 OPS in 1969. Also of note was Reggie’s titanic blast at the 1971 All-Star Game in Detroit (an estimated 539 feet). Those Oakland A’s teams won World Series titles in 1972, 1973, and 1974. In 1973, this Hall of Famer was the American League MVP with the league lead in a bunch of stats: 32 home runs, 117 RBIs, 99 runs, a .531 slugging %, a .914 OPS, and a 161 OPS+. Then Mr. October first showed himself as the 1973 WS MVP with a homer, 6 RBIs, 3 doubles, and a .941 OPS as the Athletics beat the Mets in seven games. We all know what Jackson did as a Yankee in October, but he also hit five home runs in the playoffs for the A’s. This potent lefty bat left Oakland after the ‘75 season to do his thing with the Orioles, Yankees, and the Angels, but he returned to the A’s in 1987 to close out his career with a 15-homer year. Reggie Jackson had a legendary career with 563 long balls (14th all time), and 269 of those home runs came with Oakland, making him one of the Athletics all-time leaders in home runs.
Jimmie Foxx
Positions: First Baseman, Third Baseman and Catcher
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-0, 195lb (183cm, 88kg)
Born: October 22, 1907 in Sudlersville, MD us
Died: July 21, 1967 (Aged 59-272d) in Miami, FL
Buried: Flagler Memorial Park, Miami, FL
High School: Sudlersville HS (Sudlersville, MD)
Debut:
May 1, 1925
(Age 17-191d,
6,192nd in major league history)
vs. WSH 1 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
September 23, 1945
(Age 37-336d)
vs. BRO 3 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1951.
(Voted by BBWAA on 179/226 ballots)
View Jimmie Foxx’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1927 season
Full Name: James Emory Foxx
Nicknames: Beast or Double X
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
93.0
8134
2646
534
.325
1751
1922
87
.428
.609
1.038
163
Jimmie Foxx is not only 2nd on the Athletics all-time home-run list, he was one of the best power hitters in MLB history. Double XX hit 302 of his 534 career homers (19th all time) with the Philadelphia Athletics. He debuted in 1925 at age 17 and eventually became a three-time American League MVP (two with the A’s and one with the Red Sox). From 1929 to 1935, Foxx’s season averages make you do a double take: 41 home runs, 139 RBIs, a .340 batting average, 122 runs scored, and a 1.095 OPS. The A’s won the World Series in 1929 and 1930, and they lost the Series in 1931. Jimmie’s collective numbers in those Fall Classics were 4 homers, 11 RBIs, a .344 batting average, and a 1.034 OPS. He won consecutive AL MVPs in ‘32 and ‘33. In ‘32, he led the AL in many vital stats: a 10.4 WAR, 151 runs, 58 homers, 169 RBIs, a .749 slugging %, a 1.218 OPS, and 438 total bases. He pretty much duplicated those numbers in ‘33 but added in the AL Triple Crown (48, 163, & .356). After leaving the Athletics for Boston in 1936, this first-ballot HOFer continued his dominant ways. A run of 13 straight years of 100+ RBIs really says it all. Foxx is still the all-time A’s leader in OBP (.440), slugging % (.640), OPS (1.079), and WPA (46.6). Jimmie Foxx’s offensive feats are almost mythical, so it is no surprise that he is one the all-time leaders in home runs for the Athletics.
Mark McGwire
Position: First Baseman
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-5, 215lb (196cm, 97kg)
Born: October 1, 1963 (Age: 61-053d) in Pomona, CA us
Draft: Drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 8th round of the 1981 MLB June Amateur Draft from Damien HS (La Verne, CA) and the Oakland Athletics in the 1st round (10th) of the 1984 MLB June Amateur Draft from University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA).
High School: Damien HS (La Verne, CA)
School: University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA)
Debut:
August 22, 1986
(Age 22-325d,
15,220th in major league history)
vs. NYY 3 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
October 7, 2001
(Age 38-006d)
vs. HOU 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1987 season
Agents: Robert Cohen
National Team: us USA (Oly,College)
Full Name: Mark David McGwire
Nicknames: Big Mac
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
Career
62.1
6187
1626
583
.263
1167
1414
12
.394
.588
.982
163
The Athletics all-time leader in home runs is the same guy who chased down Roger Maris’s single-season home-run record in 1998: Mark McGwire. Big Mac hit 363 round trippers with the Oakland A’s in the 80s and 90s. Paired with fellow Bash Brother Jose Canseco, McGwire was the runaway winner of the 1987 AL ROY Award with a league-leading 49 home runs, 118 RBIs, and a .987 OPS. The A’s won American League Pennants the following three seasons. This first baseman drilled a walk-off home run in Game 3 of the 1988 World Series even though the A’s lost the series to the Dodgers. Oakland did rebound in 1989 to beat the Giants to win it all. Seven times this man hit 30+ homers in Oakland, twice leading the AL (‘87 & ‘96). Mark’s best season with the Athletics was probably 1996 when he hit 52 home runs, drove in 113, had a .312 batting average, had a 1.198 OPS, and had a 196 OPS+. Before being traded during the 1997 season to the Cards, McGwire hit one of the longest home runs ever in the Kingdome off of Randy Johnson (an estimated 538 feet). We all know what history this slugger made once he got to St. Louis, but his power legacy began in Oakland. When he retired after the 2001 season, Big Mac’s home-run total was 583 (11th all time). Mark McGwire is one of the most famous power hitters of the last 50 years, and he is the deserving all-time home-run king of the Athletics.
Jimmie Foxx has the Athletics home-run record for a season. He hit 58 home runs in 1932 for the Philadelphia Athletics.
Mark McGwire is the Athletics career home-run leader with 363.
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