Jason Giambi

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Giambi made his major league debut with the Athletics in 1995. Originally used occasionally as an outfielder, third baseman, and first baseman, Giambi assumed the fulltime first base job upon the trade of Mark McGwire to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1997. In 1997 Giambi established the team's longest hitting streak since it had moved to Oakland in 1968, at 25 games. Giambi led the team in 1998 with 27 home runs, 110 runs batted in and a .295 batting average. In 1999, Giambi hit .315 with 33 homers, 105 walks (second in the league), and 123 RBIs (sixth). He came in eighth in MLB Most Valuable Player Award voting. Giambi hit two home runs in Oakland's 2000 season opener on April 3, the first Athletics player to ever do so. In the 2000 season, he led the league in on-base percentage (.476; leading the majors) and walks (137; a personal high and still the most walks in the AL since 1991). He hit .333 (seventh in the league) with 43 homers (second; a career high), 137 RBIs (fourth; a career high), 108 runs (10th), and a .647 slugging percentage (third). Giambi narrowly won the American League Most Valuable Player Award over Frank Thomas. His 2001 season was nearly identical. He led the league for the second year in a row in both on-base percentage (.477; a career best, and still the highest OBP in the AL since 1995) and walks (129). He also led the league in slugging percentage (.660; a career best), doubles (47; a career high), times on base (320), and extra base hits (87). He batted .342 (second in the American League; a career high) with 38 homers (seventh), 109 runs (sixth), and 120 RBIs (eighth). He finished a close second in MVP voting to Ichiro Suzuki, and won the Silver Slugger Award. Both years, he led the Athletics to the postseason, both times losing in the American League Division Series to the New York Yankees in five games.

In Their Own Story

The lights hummed over the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on April 3, 2000. Giambi stepped into the batter's box for the season opener. He hit two home runs that day, the first Athletics player to ever do so. The crowd roared as he rounded the bases, a sign of the MVP season to come. He would go on to lead the league in on-base percentage (.476) and walks (137), and narrowly win the American League Most Valuable Player Award over Frank Thomas.

Reader's Guide

Jason Giambi defined the Oakland Athletics' offense during his seven-year tenure from 1995 to 2001. Playing primarily at first base and designated hitter, he combined rare patience with explosive power, leading the league in walks four times and on-base percentage three times. His crowning achievement came in 2000 when he earned American League MVP honors. He led the Athletics to the postseason in both 2000 and 2001, though the team lost in the American League Division Series to the New York Yankees in five games each time. Giambi's legacy in Oakland includes leading the league in slugging percentage (.660) and doubles (47) in 2001, and hitting a career-high 43 home runs in 2000. After the 2001 season, he signed a seven-year $120-million deal with the New York Yankees.

Did You Know?

• Giambi was selected in the 43rd round (1,118th overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers during the 1989 MLB draft but did not sign.
• He played collegiate summer baseball for the Alaska Goldpanners in the Alaska Baseball League.
• Giambi hit two home runs in Oakland's 2000 season opener on April 3, the first Athletics player to ever do so.
• In 1997, Giambi established the team's longest hitting streak since it had moved to Oakland in 1968, at 25 games.
• Giambi has publicly apologized for using performance-enhancing drugs during his career.