13 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 14, 2026, the number is 13.
Blue Moon Odom, No. 13
John “Blue Moon” Odom is the best Athletics player to wear No. 13 because he actually defined the number across an era of winning. He wore it through the heart of the franchise’s early Oakland years, made two All-Star teams, and was part of three World Series championship clubs.
This is not a “best career WAR” pick. It’s a “best A’s No. 13” pick. And for this jersey number, Odom’s longevity in the uniform and his role on title teams gives him the clearest claim.
Why Odom gets No. 13
Odom gets No. 13 because he wore it the longest and mattered in the biggest moments. Plenty of players have had short stints with No. 13 in Oakland, but Odom is the one tied to the number for over a decade, including the run that made the A’s a powerhouse in the early 1970s.
There are more modern names fans recognize, but they didn’t wear No. 13 long enough (or impact the franchise enough in that number) to beat the combination of Odom’s tenure plus championships.
Career start and background
Odom was born May 29, 1945, in Macon, Georgia. His full name is Johnny Lee Odom, and “Blue Moon” became the nickname everyone knew.
He debuted in 1964 and spent the bulk of his career with the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics, later pitching briefly for Cleveland, Atlanta, and the White Sox. His A’s run is what makes him the No. 13.
Other notable No. 13s
- Gio Urshela
• Jerry Blevins
• Billy McMillon
• Brent Gates
• Matt Olson
Career check
No. 13 goes to Blue Moon Odom. He wore the number long enough to own it in A’s history, made All-Star teams, and is directly connected to the franchise’s championship identity in Oakland.
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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.
