The Athletics announced Friday, April 24, that Dave Henderson, Mark Ellis, John “Blue Moon” Odom and Sandy Alderson will be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame on Sept. 12.
The ceremony will be held before the A’s face the Seattle Mariners at 6:40 p.m. PT. It is a four-person class that stretches across several defining chapters of franchise history, from the early Oakland dynasty to the 1989 title team and into the front-office era that helped reshape modern roster building.
A class with range
This class works because it does not live in one decade.
Odom connects the group to the A’s three straight World Series championship teams from 1972-74. Henderson brings back the peak Coliseum years, the 1989 sweep of the Giants and one of the most recognizable personalities from that era. Ellis represents the early-2000s A’s, when defense, pitching and roster efficiency became part of the club’s identity.
Then there is Alderson, whose imprint sits behind much of it. As general manager, he built the A’s teams that reached three straight World Series from 1988-90, including the 1989 championship club.
Hendu still resonates
Henderson played six seasons with the A’s from 1988-93 and became one of the club’s most beloved players.
He hit .263 with 104 home runs and 377 RBIs in 702 games with Oakland. His first season with the A’s was his best at the plate, as he hit .304 with 94 RBIs in 1988. Then, in 1991, he hit 25 home runs and made the American League All-Star team.
But Henderson’s place in A’s history goes beyond the line. He hit two home runs and drove in four runs in Game 3 of the 1989 World Series against San Francisco, then finished the sweep batting .308. Known for his smile, his energy and his “still having fun” autograph, Henderson gave center field its own personality.
Henderson died in 2015. His widow, Nancy, and son, Trent, will rep
Ellis made defense matter
Ellis spent nine of his 12 major league seasons with the A’s and became one of the best defensive second basemen of his era.
He played 1,056 games for the Athletics, hitting .265 with 204 doubles, 86 home runs and 434 RBIs. He also remains the franchise leader in home runs by a second baseman with 84.
Still, defense is the centerpiece of his case. Ellis posted a .997 fielding percentage in 2006, which was then a major league record for second basemen. He also led major league second basemen in fielding percentage again in 2008.
His 2005 season added another layer. After missing all of 2004 with a dislocated right shoulder, Ellis came back and hit a career-best .316.
Odom and Alderson bridge eras
Odom was part of the A’s rise after the move from Kansas City to Oakland, then delivered in October during the dynasty years.
He went 80-76 with a 3.53 ERA in 269 games with the Athletics, including 214 starts. He led the A’s in wins in their first two seasons in Oakland, winning 16 games in 1968 and 15 in 1969. He was an All-Star both years.
However, October is where his case sharpens. Odom went 3-1 with a 1.13 ERA in 10 postseason appearances, including four starts, while pitching for three straight championship teams.
Alderson’s impact came from the front office. Hired by the Haas family after the 1981 season, he became Vice President of Baseball Operations in 1983 and later served as general manager from 1983-97. He also served as A’s president from 1993-95 and again from 1997-98, then returned as a senior adviser from 2019-20.
In the end, this class is less about one moment than the full shape of A’s history. It honors stars, stability, October performance and the executive vision behind one of the franchise’s strongest runs.
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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.
