ow many more World Series titles could the Oakland A’s have won in the 1970s if free agency had not entered baseball?
The club had won three straight in 1972, ’73 and ’74, with a team as colorful as their gaudy green and gold uniforms.
The pitching staff alone would have kept them competitive: Jim “Catfish” Hunter, Ken Holtzman and Vida Blue anchored the rotation, and Rollie Fingers came out of the bullpen to save the games.
At bat, they boasted Reggie Jackson, Gene Tenace, Joe Rudi, Sal Bando, speedy Bert Campaneris, and speedier Billy North.
Then there was the owner Charlie Finley, who became as famous – and yes, as infamous – as his players. But mostly for the wrong reasons.
The A’s might have hugged and laughed and drank champagne together after winning a trio of World Series titles, but they also fought and cursed each other. And they mostly wanted to play for other teams. But one thing held them together: their collective hatred of the owner.
