First Rookie in MLB History Hits Four Home Runs in Single Game

The Oakland A's, officially known as the Oakland Athletics, were a professional baseball team based in Oakland, California, from 1968 to 2024. The organization was a member of Major League Baseball's (MLB) American League West Division. While the team's primary focus was on baseball, its operations involved significant business and organizational aspects, particularly in managing finances and leveraging data analytics to build competitive teams on a limited budget. ### History The Athletics franchise began in Philadelphia in 1901, moved to Kansas City in 1955, and finally settled in Oakland in 1968[1][4]. During their time in Oakland, the team experienced considerable success, winning four World Series championships, six American League pennants, and 17 Western Division titles[1]. ### Key Achievements Under the leadership of general manager Billy Beane in the early 2000s, the A's became known for their strategic use of sabermetrics, a data-driven approach to evaluating player performance. This approach allowed the team to consistently field competitive teams despite having one of the lowest payrolls in MLB[3]. Notable players include Rickey Henderson, Dennis Eckersley, and Reggie Jackson. ### Current Status In 2023, MLB owners approved the team's relocation to Las Vegas, marking the end of their tenure in Oakland. The team played a temporary stint in West Sacramento before moving to Las Vegas, where they will establish a new permanent home[1][4]. ### Notable Aspects The A's were recognized for their innovative approach to baseball management and their ability to find talent without breaking the bank. Their story inspired the book and film "Moneyball," highlighting the team's use of statistical analysis to gain a competitive edge[3]. The team's legacy includes 17 former players elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame[1].

The **Seattle Mariners** are a professional Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Seattle, Washington, competing in the American League (AL) West Division. Established as an expansion team in 1977, the Mariners initially played at the Kingdome before moving to their current home, T-Mobile Park, in 1999[1][3]. The team’s name reflects Seattle’s strong maritime heritage, and their colors—navy blue, northwest green (teal), and silver—have evolved since inception, symbolizing the Pacific Northwest[1]. The Mariners’ early years were challenging, marked by frequent losing seasons and instability. Notably, Seattle’s first major league team, the Seattle Pilots, only lasted one season (1969) before relocating due to financial troubles, which led to a lawsuit that eventually secured Seattle a new franchise—the Mariners—in the late 1970s[4][9]. The franchise struggled through the 1980s, but the late 1980s and 1990s saw a transformation driven by drafting and acquiring key players such as Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martínez, Jay Buhner, and Randy Johnson[6][9]. Seattle’s peak success came in the mid-1990s. The Mariners clinched their first playoff berth and division title in 1995, highlighted by Edgar Martínez’s iconic walk-off double against the New York Yankees that preserved baseball in Seattle[1][6]. They won a second division title in 1997 and returned to the playoffs in 2000 and 2001, with the latter season setting an American League record of 116 wins. Japanese star Ichiro Suzuki joined in 2001, further elevating the team’s profile[1][8]. However, the Mariners have struggled with postseason success, enduring a prolonged playoff drought from 2002 through the late 2010s, despite occasional bursts of competitive play. The team faced management and payroll challenge