Al Simmons joined Philadelphia in 1924 after a standout run in the American Association, a right-handed outfielder with a peculiar "bucket-foot" hitting style that saw him step toward third base as he swung. While coaches initially tried to correct his localized mechanics, Connie Mack recognized a natural professional mainstay and let him be.  As often was the case, Mack was right.

Following an impressive rookie campaign, Simmons achieved a historic milestone in 1925 by leading the American League with 253 hits and an exceptional .387 batting average. He concluded the season as the runner-up in the MVP race, solidifying his reputation as a formidable figure of the era who merged refined bat control with considerable power. In 1927, he attained another level of excellence by posting a career-high batting average of .392.

Simmons reached his ultimate peak between 1929 and 1931, establishing a lineup that secured three consecutive American League pennants. He delivered the high-impact performance that contributed to back-to-back World Series victories in 1929 and 1930, batting above .300 with multiple home runs in each Series. During this period, he demonstrated comprehensive mastery of the league, winning consecutive batting titles in 1930 (.381) and 1931 (.390). Over this three-year span, he averaged more than 150 RBIs per season, acting as the strategic centerpiece of a team often regarded by historians as comparable to the esteemed '27 Yankees.

Following the 1932 season, due to the localized economic pressures of the Great Depression. In a move that signaled the end of the dynasty, Connie Mack sold his contract to the Chicago White Sox as part of a $100,000 package deal.  As an Athletic, Simmons would collect 1,827 Hits and belted 209 Home Runs with a Slash Line of .356/.398/.584.

Simmons would enter the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953.  Years later, in 1981, Simmons was inducted into the Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame and, in 2021, into the Athletics Hall of Fame.

Eddie Plank arrived in Philadelphia in 1901, skipping the minor leagues to become a key part of Connie Mack’s famous pitching staff. As the leading left-hander of the Deadball Era, "Gettysburg Eddie" threw with a sidearm style and was known for a cross-fire motion that puzzled batters for more than ten years. Over 14 seasons with the Athletics, he was a central figure during multiple championship periods, setting franchise records for longevity and durability that still stand today.

After a successful 17-win debut in 1901, Plank achieved a historic milestone by recording four straight 20-win seasons from 1902 to 1905. He was the driving force behind the Athletics’ 1905 World Series appearance, demonstrating exceptional skill on the mound despite limited run support; he posted a 1.59 ERA across two complete games and notably faced off against the legendary Christy Mathewson of the New York Giants in one of the most intense pitching duels in baseball history.

Between 1910 and 1913, acting as the veteran anchor for a team that captured three world titles. While localized arm trouble sidelined him for the 1910 postseason, he returned to reach a new plateau in 1911, winning 23 games and securing a vital victory in the World Series to help the Athletics claim the championship. He followed this with a career-high summit of 26 wins in 1912 and another brilliant postseason performance in 1913, where he finally outdueled Mathewson in the World Series clincher to secure his second ring. During this peak, he was a giant of efficiency, leading the American League in shutouts twice and proving that his sidearm curveball was the most reliable weapon in the game.

Following the 1914 season, the organization faced a localized financial crunch and the emergence of the Federal League. After the Athletics were upset by the "Miracle Braves" in the World Series, Plank was released and signed a higher-paying contract with the St. Louis Terriers. Plank compiled a 284-162 record, a 2.39 ERA, and 1,985 strikeouts as an Athletic.

Plank was chosen for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946 and the Athletics Hall of Fame in 2021.  Plank was also honored by the Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame in 1985.

Jimmie Foxx came to Philadelphia in 1925 as a 17-year-old farm boy. He was signed by Connie Mack after being recognized as a local sensation in Maryland. Renowned for his extraordinary physical strength and a swing that generated legendary distance, he was considered the most formidable right-handed hitter of his time. During his 11 seasons with the Athletics, he functioned as the primary source of power for the concluding significant Philadelphia dynasty.

In 1929, Foxx achieved a historic milestone by hitting 33 home runs and leading the league with a .463 on-base percentage. His clutch performance drove the Athletics to their first World Series win in fifteen years, notably batting .350 in the Fall Classic against Chicago. Throughout the franchise's two consecutive championships, he demonstrated complete command of the postseason, finishing with a .344 World Series batting average with the A’s.

In 1932, Foxx achieved a peak of personal productivity, delivering one of the most statistically impressive seasons in sports history. He topped the American League in home runs with a career-best 58, just missing the single-season all-time record, while also leading in RBIs (169), slugging percentage (.749), and OPS (1.218). This exceptional display earned him his first MVP Award, an honor he secured again in 1933 after achieving a Triple Crown with a .356 batting average, 48 home runs, and 163 RBIs. At this height, he was a formidable power hitter, combining raw strength with a strategic approach that enabled him to lead the league in both batting and slugging.

If there was a weakness with Foxx, it was that he struck out a lot and led the league in that less-than-desirable metric five times as an Athletic.

Due to budgetary reasons, the First Baseman was traded to the Boston Red Sox after the 1935 season, and he would continue to be a great player, winning the AL MVP for the third time in 1938.  As an Athletic, Foxx would post a sick Slash Line of .339/.440/.640 with 1,492 Hits and 302 Home Runs.

Foxx would enter the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1951, and was chosen for the Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame in 1979.  Decades later, in 2021, Foxx was elected into the Athletics Hall of Fame.

Rickey Henderson is a lot of things.  He is eccentric.  He often refers to himself in the third person.  He is the greatest leadoff hitter ever.  He is the ultimate base stealer.  He was a first ballot Hall of Famer.

He is all of those things.

Despite all of the other teams he played for (New York Yankees, Toronto, San Diego, Anaheim, New York Mets, Seattle, Boston, and Los Angeles), he is one other thing: an Oakland Athletic.

Henderson debuted for Oakland in 1979, and in 1980 he would set the American League Stolen Base Record with 100 while going to his first All-Star Game.  The following season was strike-shortened, but Henderson was again the Stolen Base leader (56) and would lead the AL in Runs Scored (89), Hits (135), and he was the runner-up for the American League MVP.  He would also earn his only Gold Glove this year and received his first Silver Slugger Award.

The fleet-footed Outfielder would break the AL record for Stolen Bases that he set in 1980 with a 130 SB season that set the standard regardless of the league.  He would have another 108 Stolen Bases in 1983 and 66 in 1984, both of which were league leading.  Henderson also established himself as a solid hitter who, in his first five full seasons (1980-84, not counting 1979), never had an On Base Percentage under .398.  This was an impressive run, but it ended when he was traded to the New York Yankees before the 1985 season. This was still the beginning and not the end.

Henderson was traded back to Oakland during the 1989 season, and the A’s, who were already loaded with talent, were going for it all.  Henderson helped Oakland win the World Series that year, which would be the only one he would capture as an Athletic.  He would have his best season ever in 1990, where he won the MVP by hitting a career-high 28 Home Runs and leading the AL in Runs Scored (119), OBP (.439), OPS (1.016), and batting .325.  The Athletics went to the World Series that year but were shocked by the Cincinnati Reds, who swept them in four games.  Henderson remained strong for Oakland but was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays midway through the 1993 season, and he would help them win the World Series.  In the off-season, he resigned with Oakland.

This period would begin his nomadic run, as he was with A's for only two seasons and would sign with the Padres as a Free Agent after.  He came back in 2008 for his fourth run, which lasted only one season, though it was a good one that yielded his last Stolen Base title.

When it was all said and done, Rickey Henderson would accumulate 1,270 runs and 1,768 Hits. 167 Home Runs, 867 Stolen Bases with a Slash Line of .288/.409/.430 as an Athletic. 

As of this writing, he is the all-time leader in Runs Scored (2,295) and Stolen Bases (1,406), much of which was accumulated in Oakland, which, as you saw above, was an awful lot!