6 Baseball Players who Played with Pirates and Athletics
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 Pittsburgh Pirates and Oakland Athletics.
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 for both the Pirates and A’s.
Popular Pirates / A’s Choices
Guys in this tier are likely to be popular picks because of a combination of the impact they made on both teams and/or how recently they’ve played for both the Pirates and Athletics.
Dave Parker
Dave Parker, who played from 1973 to 1991, is best known for his time as an outfielder with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds. However, he also made stops with the A’s, Angels, Blue Jays and Brewers.
Parker was a powerhouse at the plate, racking up over 2,700 hits, 339 home runs, and maintained a .290 career batting average. He was a seven-time All-Star (Pirates, Reds, Brewers) and won two National League batting titles. His crowning achievement was in 1978 when he won the National League MVP award with the Pirates.
Also recognized for his defensive skills, Parker won three Gold Gloves (Pirates). His combination of power, hitting ability, and fielding skills made him one of the standout players of his era and led to his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2021.
Starling Marte
Starling Marte is in his 12th year in the majors and is currently an outfielder with the New York Mets. Prior to the Mets, he has played for the Pirates, Marlins, Diamondbacks and A’s.
Marte is a 2x All-Star (Pirates, Mets) and a two-time Gold Glove winner (Pirates). He’s currently 2nd among all active players in stolen bases with 337.
Marte has been an excellent player over the past decade and his recency with the A’s (2021) and his 8 years with the Pirates will be fresh in many fans’ minds.
*Marte has previously been the most popular pick for this square (Grid 96).
Jason Kendall
Jason Kendall is highly regarded for his role as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1996 to 2010. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, and the Kansas City Royals.
A three-time All-Star (Pirates), Kendall had a .288 lifetime batting average (.327 in ’98 with Pittsburgh), 75 home runs, and 744 RBIs. He also accumulated 189 stolen bases, an impressive number for a catcher.
His reputation for toughness and durability resulted in him catching over 2000 games, one of only a few catchers to reach this milestone.
Josh Harrison
Josh Harrison is well-known for his versatility on the field. He has played as a utility player, filling in at multiple positions including second base, third base, and in the outfield throughout his MLB career.
Harrison started his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2011, and his ability to excel in multiple positions soon made him a key asset for the team. He was named to the MLB All-Star team twice while with the Pirates, in 2014 and 2017.
His best season (so far) came in 2014 when he posted a .315 batting average with 13 home runs, 52 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases, earning him a 9th-place finish in National League MVP voting.
Rare Pirates / A’s Choices
Players in this tier are either well-remembered for one team but maybe not the other or they were solid players but not necessarily ‘all-stars’.
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.
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.
