7 Baseball Players who Played for A’s and Cardinals
There is a good chance that if you’ve found this page then you’re playing the Immaculate Grid.
That also means that today’s grid has asked for players that have played for both the Oakland A’s and the St Louis Cardinals.
And, it also means that you’re probably stuck on this particular box and you’re looking for a little help. Sound about right so far?
Well, good news, you’re in the right place.
I’ve done some research and have found players who played on both the A’s and the Cardinals.
Popular Choices
Guys in this tier made a lasting impression in both uniforms and/or they’ve played for both teams recently. They’re most likely to pull a pretty good percentage of the picks for this square.
Jason Isringhausen
Jason Isringhausen, a commanding presence from 1995 to 2012, is best known for his time as a closer with the Athletics and Cardinals. However, he also spent time with the Mets, Rays and Angels.
Isringhausen was a major player in the bullpen, notching more than 300 saves in his career, with his best season in 2004 when he saved 47 games for the Cardinals.
He was a two-time All-Star and was instrumental in the Cardinals’ success during his tenure, including their 2006 World Series win.
Rare Choices
These guys are generally remembered as either a Cardinals or an A, but not necessarily both.
Dennis Eckersley
My favorite closer of all time who I remember as the side arm closer of the Oakland A’s back in the late 80s is a Hall of Famer who played for 5 different teams over his 24-year career.
In addition to playing 9 seasons with the A’s, he also played for the Red Sox, Cubs, Indians and Cardinals.
If you’re also looking for stat columns, Eckersley had 390 saves in his career with a career-high of 51 in 1992 (with Oakland). He also has over 2400 strikeouts in his career – 200 in 1976 with the Indians (now Guardians).
Matt Holliday
Matt Holliday was a big-time player in baseball from 2004 to 2018. He started with the Rockies, had a nice run with the Cardinals, but also had brief stints with the A’s and Yankees.
Holliday was a beast at the plate and played a huge role in the Cardinals’ World Series win in 2011.
He hit over 300 home runs and maintained a strong .299 batting average throughout his career. He made the All-Star team seven times.
Jon Lester
Jon Lester was a powerhouse pitcher in baseball from 2006 until 2021. He’s thrown for the Red Sox, Cubs, Nationals, Cardinals and Athletics. Lester was a part of the Red Sox’s World Series wins in ’07 and ’13, and also helped the Cubs break their 108-year championship drought in 2016.
He finished his career with exactly 200 wins and struck out more than 2,400 batters. Lester was also a 5-time All-Star and NLCS MVP.
Orlando Cepeda
Orlando Cepeda, who played from 1958 to 1974, is most remembered for his time as a first baseman with the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals.
Cepeda’s prolific career included over 2300 hits, 379 home runs, and a robust .297 career batting average. Named the National League Rookie of the Year (Giants) in 1958 and MVP (Cardinals) in 1967, Cepeda was a seven-time All-Star (Giants, Cardinals).
Known for his power-hitting and steady glove at first base, Cepeda’s contributions were recognized with his induction into the Hall of Fame in 1999.
Ultra Rare Choices
The following players are considered ultra-rare because they’re generally not associated with either the Cardinals or the A’s. This is due to some combination of time spent with the club, popularity of the player and how long ago they were with the team.
Ron Gant
Ron Gant played from 1987 to 2003 and is probably best remembered for his time with the Braves and Reds. However, Gant played for 8 teams over his 16-year career making him an extremely versatile Immaculate Grid player.
Gant brought a dynamic mix of power and speed to the game, hitting over 300 home runs and stealing more than 240 bases during his career. In 1993, Gant hit a career-high 36 home runs and drove in 117 RBIs while finishing 5th in MVP voting.
Gant was a two-time All-Star and his 30-30 seasons (30 home runs and 30 stolen bases) in 1990 and 1991 were also high points in his career. After a devastating motorcycle accident before the 1994 season, Gant made an impressive comeback, proving his resilience and further endearing him to fans.
Dan Haren
Dan Haren, an effective right-handed pitcher, played from 2003 to 2015 in the Major Leagues. He was a part of eight different organizations, with substantial time spent with the Oakland Athletics, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Los Angeles Angels.
A three-time All-Star (A’s, Diamondbacks), Haren had a career that featured both durability and consistency, pitching over 200 innings in seven separate seasons.
He had a career 153-131 win-loss record, a solid 3.75 ERA, and an impressive 2013 strikeouts. Known for his control, Haren consistently ranked among the league leaders in strikeout-to-walk ratio.
