gold star for USAHOF

19. Jose Canseco

19. Jose Canseco
  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: July 2, 1964 in La Habana, La Cuba
  • Weight: 240 lbs.
  • Height: 6'4"
  • Bats: R
  • Throws: R
  • Debut: September 02, 1985
  • Final Game: October 06, 2001
  • Rookie of the Year - 1986
  • Most Valuable Player - 1988
  • Silver Slugger - 1988
  • TSN All-Star - 1988
  • TSN Player of the Year - 1988
  • Silver Slugger - 1990
  • TSN All-Star - 1990
  • Silver Slugger - 1991
  • TSN All-Star - 1991
  • Silver Slugger - 1998
  • TSN All-Star - 1998
  • MVP - 1986
  • MVP - 1987
  • MVP - 1988
  • MVP - 1990
  • MVP - 1991
  • MVP - 1994
  • Rookie of the Year - 1986
 
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Let’s forget about some of the things that made Jose Canseco famous (or infamous).  The steroid use.  The admission of steroid use.  Throwing other players under the bus by (accusing) discussing their steroid use.  The boxing.  Madonna.  The baseball that bounced off his head for a Home Run.

All true.

What is also true is that in the late 80s, Jose Canseco was among the most famous athletes in sports and offensively was an elite baseball player.

When Oakland drafted Canseco in the 15th Round in 1982, they likely did not think they had a future Rookie of the Year and MVP on their hands.  He won the latter award in 1986, where he had 33 Home Runs and 117 RBIs, and he would have a similar season in 1987 with 31 Home Runs and 113 RBIs.  These were good power numbers, but in 1988, he would do the unthinkable.

1988 was Canseco's MVP season, and for the first time, he would win the Home Run Title (42), RBI Title (124), and Slugging Title (.569).  He raised his Batting Average from the year before by .50 points and posting an On Base Percentage of .391.  He would also become the first player to collect 40 Home Runs and steal 40 bases in a season.  That year, he would also help take the A’s to the first of three straight American League pennants, with Oakland winning it all in 1989.

He would suffer injuries through much of 1989 and rebound well in 1990 with a 37 Home Run and 101 RBI year.  1991 was another great season, as he had 44 taters to win his second Home Run title, and he had 122 Runs Batted In while finishing fourth in MVP voting.

With Oakland leading the AL West by over six games in 1992, he was traded shockingly to the Texas Rangers on August 31.  Oakland was seeking pitching, and at the time, it was considered one of the most surprising deals in the history of the game. 

Canseco would return for one season in 1997 and had a 23 Home Run Season.

His overall numbers with the Athletics would see him blast 254 Home Runs with a Slugging Percentage of .507.  He was also a five-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger with Oakland.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Designated Hitter, Outfield
  • Acquired: Selected in the 15th Round of the Amateur Draft 6/7/82.
  • Departed:

    Traded to the Texas Rangers for Jeff Russell, Ruben Sierra, Bobby Witt, and Cash 8/31/92.

    Acquired (2): Traded from the Boston Red Sox for John Wasdin and Cash 1/27/97.

    Departed (2): Signed as a Free Agent with the Toronto Blue Jays 2/4/98.

  • Games Played: 1058
  • Notable Statistics: 662 Runs Scored
    1,048 Hits
    186 Doubles
    8 Triples
    254 Home Runs
    793 Runs Batted In
    135 Stolen Bases
    .264/.344/.507 Slash Line 
    27.3 bWAR

    26 Playoff Games
    15 Runs Scored
    19 Hits
    1 Double
    0 Triples
    7 Home Runs
    18 Runs Batted In
    5 Stolen Bases
    .213/.343/.461 Slash Line 
  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    World Series Champion (1989)
    MVP (1988)
    All-Star (1986, 1988, 1989, 1990 & 1992*)
    Rookie of the Year (1986)
    Silver Slugger (1988, 1990 & 1991)
    Highest Slugging Percentage (1988)
    Most Home Runs (1988 & 1991)
    Most Runs Batted In (1988)
    Highest OPS+ (1988)
    Most Extra Base Hits (1988)
    Highest Power-Speed # (1988 & 1991)
    Highest Win Probability Added (1991)


    *Canseco was traded to the Texas Rangers midway through the season.

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