5 Baseball Players Who Played for A’s and Padres
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 San Diego Padres.
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 Padres.
Rickey Henderson
Rickey Henderson was one of my favorite baseball players growing up. In fact, somewhere in a closet, I have a baseball card binder with over 150 Rickey Henderson baseball cards.
Most of us probably remember Henderson as an Oakland A, back in the late 80s playing on the same A’s teams as the Bash Brothers.
But, he played for an incredible 25 years in the majors and played on 9 different teams during that span.
Rickey played 14 years with the A’s, but he also played for the New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, LA Dodgers, Anaheim Angels, Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays.
So, not only is he an acceptable answer for a player who played for both the A’s and the Padres, but Rickey Henderson is a very versatile Immaculate Grid answer that you can use quite often.
In fact, he also had over 1400 career stolen bases, over 2200 runs and over 3000 hits (all of which could appear as possible categories).
*Henderson has previously been the most popular pick for this square (Grid 102).
Miguel Tejada
Miguel Tejada racked up 6 All-Star awards and an MVP award in 2002 while playing with the Oakland Athletics. He led the league in RBIs with 150 in 2004 while with the Orioles. He also led the league in doubles with 50 in 2005 with the Orioles.
Tejada played for six different teams over his 16-year career – Oakland, Baltimore, Houston, Kansas City, San Diego and the San Francisco Giants.
Matt Stairs
Matt Stairs had a lengthy Major League career that spanned from 1992 to 2011, during which he played for 12 different teams, essentially making him an Immaculate Grid Hall-of-Famer.
Known for his power-hitting abilities, primarily as a pinch-hitter, he hit 265 home runs over his career and holds the record for the most pinch-hit home runs in MLB history with 23. Stairs had a career batting average of .262 with an OPS of .832, and recorded 899 RBIs.
Notably, in the 2008 postseason with the Philadelphia Phillies, he hit one of the most famous home runs in Phillies history, helping the team move onto the World Series that year.
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.
Rich Hill
Rich Hill is an Immaculate Grid beast. The left-handed pitcher has played for 13 different clubs over his incredible 19-year career – one that is still ongoing as I’m writing this (he’s currently pitching with the Padres).
Hill’s MLB journey began when he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2002. After making his major league debut in 2005, he had initial success with the Cubs, particularly in 2007 when he had a standout season. However, injuries, inconsistency, and command issues led to him bouncing around the minors and various MLB teams for several years.
After refining his pitching approach and mechanics, he experienced a career resurgence starting in 2015. At an age when many players see diminished returns, Hill became one of the most effective starters in baseball. This late-career renaissance led to stints with the Red Sox, Athletics, Dodgers, Twins, and Rays.
