16 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 11, 2026, the number is 16.
Jason Giambi “Giambino”, No. 16
Jason Giambi “Giambino” is the best Athletics player to wear No. 16 because he produced elite seasons in Oakland and carried the lineup at its peak. He also has the signature hardware that separates him in this number group.
Giambi played eight seasons with the A’s from 1995-2001, then returned in 2009. In his Oakland prime, he became an MVP-level hitter and one of the biggest bats in franchise history.
Why Giambi gets No. 16
Giambi gets No. 16 because his Oakland run is loaded with production and impact. He hit .300 with a .406 on-base percentage and a .531 slugging percentage in 1,036 games with the A’s.
His peak was the separator. In 2000, Giambi won AL MVP after hitting .333 with 43 home runs, 137 RBIs, and a 1.123 OPS, then followed with a 9.2 WAR season in 2001 while hitting .342 with a 1.137 OPS.
Career start and background
Giambi was born Jan. 8, 1971, in West Covina, Calif. He went to South Hills High School, then played at Cal State Long Beach.
The Oakland Athletics drafted him in the second round of the 1992 MLB June Amateur Draft. He debuted with the A’s on May 8, 1995.
Other notable No. 16s
- Josh Reddick, 2012-2014
- Liam Hendriks, 2018-2020
- Billy Butler, 2015-2016
- Ed Charles, 1962-1967
Career check
No. 16 has plenty of names, but only one true Oakland MVP season. Giambi owns it because his prime years were loud, productive, and central to the A’s best modern run.
Related story
Dave Stewart to throw first pitch at Circa Opening Day event
Welcome to Dice City Sports — where we provide premium, exclusive, up-to-date news and analysis surrounding the Las Vegas sports scene. Follow along on social media, and check back for new articles daily!
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.
