Former Athletics first baseman Mark McGwire is returning to the franchise as a special assistant to player development. McGwire spent 12 seasons with the Athletics from 1986-97.
McGwire got off to a fast start with the Athletics. He won the AL Rookie of the Year award in 1987 after hitting 49 home runs, which was a rookie record at the time. He also helped lead the A’s to three straight World Series appearances from 1988-90, winning it all in 1989. That was the last year the Athletics won the World Series.
Big Mac finished with 363 home runs, 941 RBI and 1,1157 hits during his time with the A’s. McGwire was traded to St. Louis during the 1997 season. In his time there, he broke Roger Maris’ single-season home run record with 70 home runs, which was later topped by Barry Bonds’ 73 in 2001.
Despite being inducted into the A’s Hall of Fame in 2019, McGwire has been kept out of the MLB Hall of Fame after being tied to a steroid scandal.
After McGwire’s playing days ended, he had multiple stints on MLB staffs. He served as a bench coach for San Diego (2017-18) and as a hitting coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers (2013-15) and Cardinals (2010-12).
McGwire’s time with the Athletics in player development will look a lot different than his playing days. The A’s are about to play the second of at least three seasons at a Triple-A ballpark in West Sacramento, California. It’s the Athletics’ temporary home until their scheduled move to Vegas in 2028.
The Athletics went 76-86 and have promising young players such as Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson, Tyler Soderstrom and Lawrence Butler. The Athletics also acquired Jeff McNeil from the New York Mets in a trade this offseason.
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