When looking back at the incredible rosters of the late 1980s and early 1990s Oakland Athletics, it’s natural to be drawn to the dazzling superstars, the thunderous home runs of the "Bash Brothers,” or Rickey Henderson’s exciting base running. But behind the scenes of those tense pennant races, manager Tony La Russa needed a smart, steady presence behind the plate. He found that in Terry Steinbach, a former infielder who proved over many years to be one of the most reliable, clutch-hitting catchers of his era.
Originally starting out as a third baseman from the University of Minnesota, Steinbach spent his early days in the minor leagues working on perfecting his swing. Thanks to the thoughtful efforts of the Oakland front office, he was then surprisingly switched to catcher. Transitioning to this new defensive role wasn't easy, but when he finally made his major league debut late in the 1986 season, and even hit a home run in his very first at-bat, it was obvious that his football-player build was ideal for the physical demands of catching. By 1987, he had taken on most of the catching responsibilities, balancing excellent game-calling skills with a strong arm to help stabilize a young and promising pitching staff.
Steinbach quickly developed into a leading offensive asset at a position typically low in offensive output. He recorded four seasons with at least 120 hits and demonstrated credible power in the middle of the lineup by surpassing ten home runs on six occasions in the green and gold.
His unwavering consistency garnered him extensive national recognition through three All-Star selections (1988, 1989, and 1993). He notably secured the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award at the 1988 Midsummer Classic by driving in both American League runs with a home run and a sacrifice fly, thereby establishing his reputation as a premier frontline athlete.
His true value, however, was established during the period when the autumn leaves began to change. Steinbach served as a crucial tactical component during Oakland's remarkable sequence of reaching three consecutive American League pennants from 1988 to 1990. He demonstrated consistent performance with minimal variance at the sport's most prestigious level, achieving a commendable batting average of .281 over 25 high-stakes postseason games. During the historic 1989 World Series sweep against the rival San Francisco Giants, Steinbach delivered an exemplary performance, driving in seven runs—including a decisive, game-changing three-run homer in Game 3—to contribute significantly to securing the world championship.
While the championship nucleus began to splinter, he saved his most explosive offensive performance for his final summer in Northern California. During 1996, a rejuvenated Steinbach terrorized American League pitching staffs, hitting a career-high 35 home runs and 100 RBIs to lead all major league catchers in power. After that peak, he tested free agency and returned home to finish with the Minnesota Twins.
With the A’s, Steinbach amassed 1,144 hits, 205 doubles, and 132 home runs over 1,199 games behind the plate.
That was his last season in Oakland, as he signed with the Minnesota Twins as a Free Agent afterward. He would have 132 Home Runs with 1,144 Hits with Oakland.
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