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Athletics Opening Day countdown: Mark McGwire is best No. 25 in A’s history

With 25 days left until Athletics Opening Day, this countdown names Mark McGwire the best A’s player to wear No. 25. He edges Tommy John by career WAR.

Athletics first baseman Mark McGwire fields during a game against the Seattle Mariners at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California.
Unknown date, Oakland, CA, USA, Athletics first baseman Mark McGwire in action against the Seattle Mariners at the Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Photo By Imagn Images

25 days remain until Athletics Opening Day at the Toronto Blue Jays on March 27, 2026. With Las Vegas on the horizon, this daily countdown tracks the best A’s players by jersey number.

Today, March 2, 2026, the number is 25.

Mark McGwire, No. 25

Mark McGwire is the best A’s player to wear No. 25 because the career value edges a loaded list. He also is the face of the number for this franchise.

Using the quick, consistent tiebreaker for this series, career WAR, McGwire wins a photo finish. He finished with 62.2 career WAR, just ahead of Tommy John at 61.6.

Why McGwire gets No. 25

McGwire gets No. 25 because the peak was loud and the legacy stuck. When people think A’s power eras, he is one of the first names that comes up.

He also wins the series tiebreaker by the slimmest margin. That is why he edges John in a number group that includes both.

Career start and background

McGwire was born Oct. 1, 1963, in Pomona, Calif. He played at Southern California.

He debuted with the Athletics in 1986.

Other notable No. 25s

  • Tommy John
  • Nick Swisher
  • Brent Rooker
  • Stephen Piscotty

Career check

McGwire owns No. 25 for the A’s on career value and franchise imprint. In this format, he is the clean answer

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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.

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