1996 Oakland Athletics season


The Oakland Athletics' 1996 season was the team's 29th in Oakland, California. 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. 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 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 Athletics' offense was only slightly better. As had been the case in prior years, slugger Mark McGwire was the main draw; he crushed a league-high 52 home runs in 1996. Designated hitter Gerónimo Berroa and catcher Terry Steinbach belted 36 and 35 home runs, respectively; secondary hitters Scott Brosius, Jason Giambi, and Ernie Young contributed 22, 20, and 19. The Athletics, as a team, hit 243 home runs ; a low team batting average, however, ensured that they would finish the season with only 861 runs.
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

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Detailed records




MonthGamesWonLostWin %
April251312145145
May271116120142
June291415175162
July271710163139
August301119130170
September241212128142
Total1627884861900

Transactions

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
PosPlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
CTerry Steinbach145514140.27235100
1BMark McGwire130423132.31252113
2BBrent Gates6424765.263230
3BScott Brosius114428130.3042271
SSMike Bordick155525126.240554
LFPhil Plantier7323149.212731
CFErnie Young141462112.2421964
RFJose Herrera10832086.269630
DHGerónimo Berroa153586170.29036106

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
PlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
Jason Giambi140536156.2912079
Rafael Bournigal8825261.242018
Tony Batista7423871.298625
Matt Stairs6113738.2771023
George Williams5613220.152310
Allen Battle4713025.19215
Pedro Munoz3412131.256618
Damon Mashore5010528.267312
Brian Lesher268219.232516
Torey Lovullo658218.22039
Scott Spiezio9299.31028
Izzy Molina14255.20001
Kerwin Moore22161.06300
Webster Garrison590.00000

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGIPWLERASO
1679.2555.6530

Other pitchers

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

Relief pitchers

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

Awards and records

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Edmonton, West Michigan