4 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 23, 2026, the number is 4.
Billy Martin, No. 4
Billy Martin is the best Athletics figure to wear No. 4 because his managerial run in Oakland defined a distinct era of A’s baseball: aggressive, chaotic, and winning at a level that immediately put the club in contention. In a franchise full of great players at this number, Martin’s case for No. 4 is about impact, identity, and results from the dugout.
From 1980 to 1982, Martin managed the A’s for three seasons and compiled a 215-218 record. The headline, though, is 1981, when he led Oakland to a first-place finish in the first half and a postseason berth during the split-season format.
Why Martin gets No. 4
Martin gets No. 4 because the A’s did not just get a manager. They got a full-blown style. The 1981 club became nationally famous for “Billy Ball,” a pressure system built on speed, bunts, hit-and-runs, and constant action.
The results backed it up. In 1980, Oakland jumped to 83-79, a big step forward and a legitimate push in the AL West. In 1981, Martin’s A’s went 37-23 in the first half, finished first, and reached the postseason. Across the full 1981 schedule, the A’s went 64-45 and then went 3-3 in the playoffs.
The tenure ended after 1982, but that 1980-81 stretch remains one of the clearest examples of a manager instantly changing the direction and personality of the franchise.
A’s coaching background and context
By the time he arrived in Oakland, Martin was already one of the most talked-about managers in baseball, with stops that included the Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, and multiple runs with the New York Yankees. In Oakland, the fit was combustible and perfect for the moment: a young roster, an owner willing to lean into the spotlight, and a fan base ready for something new.
For this countdown series, the case is not just that Martin managed the A’s. It is that his time in Oakland produced a signature season, a division race jolt, and a playoff appearance that still gets referenced whenever people talk about the most unique styles the A’s have ever played.
Other notable No. 4s
- Miguel Tejada
- Coco Crisp
- Carney Lansford
- Bill North
Career check
No. 4 goes to Billy Martin. Other players wore the number with distinction, but Martin’s A’s era produced a clear identity, a first-place finish in 1981’s first half, and a playoff run that still stands out in franchise history.
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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.
