| 1976 Oakland Athletics | ||
|---|---|---|
| League | American League | |
| Division | West | |
| Ballpark | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | |
| City | Oakland, California | |
| Record | 87–74 (.540) | |
| Divisional place | 2nd | |
| Owners | Charles O. Finley | |
| Managers | Chuck Tanner | |
| Television | KPIX-TV | |
| Radio | KNBR (Monte Moore, Bob Waller) | |
| ||
The 1976 Oakland Athletics season involved the A's finishing second in the American League West with a record of 87 wins and 74 losses, 2+1⁄2 games behind the Kansas City Royals. The A's failed to win the division (and make the playoffs) for the first time since 1970. The team set and still holds the American League record for most stolen bases with 341,[1] second in Major League Baseball's modern era (since 1901) to the 1911 New York Giants, who had 347.[2]
The Athletics did not eclipse this season's win total until 1988 (104 wins). Nearly all of the team's stars (Sal Bando, Rollie Fingers, Gene Tenace, Joe Rudi, Bert Campaneris, Don Baylor, Phil Garner, Billy Williams, Claudell Washington, and an injury-plagued Willie McCovey) departed after this season. This staggering mass exodus led to a 24-win plunge in 1977 to last place in the standings and attendance.