OAKLAND -- Dennis Eckersley, Rollie Fingers, Rickey Henderson, Catfish Hunter, Reggie Jackson, Dave Stewart and Charlie Finley will be inducted into the A's inaugural Hall of Fame class, the team announced on Tuesday.
The team will honor the inductees in a ceremony on Sept. 5 before the A's host the Yankees at the Coliseum, where a display will also be set up in the future. The A's plan to induct a new class into their Hall of Fame annually, with a committee voting on its members.
"Our franchise is built on the history of legends," A's president Dave Kaval said. "The Athletics Hall of Fame allows us to recognize the individuals who have shared our identity and brought us success."
The A's first class includes six Baseball Hall of Fame players and Finley, a former owner who moved the franchise from Kansas City to Oakland in 1968 and helped construct a team that won three consecutive World Series from 1972-74.
Hunter, Fingers and Jackson were part of the dynasty in the early '70s. Hunter's No. 27 was the first number the A's retired. He won the Cy Young Award in 1974, notching a career-high 25 wins that season. He also tossed the first perfect game in franchise history in 1968. Fingers, a seven-time All-Star, won or saved eight World Series games during the A's championship run. Jackson claimed 1973 World Series MVP honors after winning the AL MVP in the regular season. He made six All-Star teams while with the A's.
Eckersley, Henderson and Stewart starred on the A's 1989 championship team. Stewart was the MVP of that World Series, recording two wins in a sweep over the Giants. He also won at least 20 games in four consecutive seasons (1987-90). Eckersley spent nine seasons with the A's, leading the league in saves in 1988 and 1992. He is the only pitcher in Major League history to have 100 saves and 100 complete games. Henderson, baseball's all-time steals leader, won the AL MVP Award in 1990 and made six All-Star teams with the A's.