Oakland A's Debut Game Lineup Trivia Quiz

Answer:

Opening day for the Oakland A's at the Oakland Coliseum was full of excitement for the Bay Area. Unfortunately, the Baltimore Orioles took the opener by a score to 4 to 1 when pitcher Dave McNally held the A's to only two hits that day. Surprisingly one of the hits was a single by pinch-hitter Tony LaRussa. Tony did not have a major career playing baseball but later became one of the greatest team managers in MLB history. He even later coached the Oakland A's.

The A's sent Lew Krause to the mound as their starter and he only lasted 5 1/3 innings and gave up four runs including three home runs (one to Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson.) Diego Segui came into the game in the sixth inning and retired both batters he faced, including striking out one. Paul Lindblad closed out the game by pitching three scoreless innings for Oakland.

Bert Campaneris played shortstop and led off the game for Oakland. He would later become a prominent member of the World Series team three years later. Bert is also famous for once playing all nine positions in a baseball game. Batting second was right fielder Reggie Jackson. Reggie struck out in three of his four plate appearances. He would later be nicknamed Mr. October while leading the A's and Yankees to World Series titles. Batting third was third baseman Sal Bando. After Sal left the Oakland A's, after a long career in Oakland, he played for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Batting cleanup was first baseman Ramon Webster. He was originally from Panama and got hurt in May of 1968, cutting his season short. Danny Cater, John Donaldson, and Phil Roof hit fifth through seventh in the lineup that day. Neither of the three became household names but will always have the designation of playing in the debut game at the Coliseum. Playing centerfield and battling eighth was Rick Monday. He was the star of the game that day as he hit a home run and scored the A's only run.

Paul Blair, Frank Robinson, Davey Johnson, Brooks Robinson, and Dave McNally all played for the Baltimore Orioles that day. Bill North and Ricky Henderson were future Oakland Athletics. North started in 1971 and Henderson in 1979. Rollie Fingers was originally a starting pitcher for Oakland in 1968 but didn't pitch in the opener.