Source: Hardball Times
Buzz Arlett, born in
Elmhurst (now a part of Oakland, in the vicinity of the Oakland
Coliseum) in 1899. A longtime pitcher and then power-hitting outfielder for
the Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League, Arlett played only one season
in the majors, in which he hit .313 with 18 homers.
Lew Fonseca, born in Oakland in 1899. A major league batting average
champion, who then served as a batting coach at the major league level for
many years.
Chick Hafey, born in Berkeley in 1903, and a graduate of Berkeley
High School. A very dubious selection to the Hall of Fame, Hafey was
nonetheless a terrific player, a power-hitting outfielder with a great arm.
He had two nephews,
Bud and
Tom Hafey, who graduated from Oakland High School, and played in the
major leagues.
Dick Bartell, born in Chicago in 1907, but a graduate of Alameda High
School in Alameda. Played 18 seasons in the big leagues.
Ernie Lombardi, born in Oakland in 1908, and a graduate of Cole
Elementary School in Oakland. A tremendous player, a legitimate Hall of Fame
catcher, and a lifelong Bay Area resident.
Lefty Gomez, born in
Rodeo (a very small town about 25 miles to the north of Oakland, on the
San Pablo Bay) in 1908, and a graduate of Richmond High School in Richmond.
A four-time 20-game winner for the New York Yankees, and a Hall of Famer.
Cookie Lavagetto, born in Oakland in 1912, a graduate of Technical
High School in Oakland. A third baseman, played ten years in the majors
despite missing four full seasons to World War II, then managed and coached
in the big leagues.
Augie Galan, born in Berkeley in 1912, and a graduate of Berkeley
High. Played 16 years in the major leagues, a three-time All-Star.
Joe DiMaggio, born in
Martinez (a fishing town on the Carquinez Strait between the San Pablo
and Suisun Bays, about 25 miles to the northeast of Oakland) in 1914. His
older brother Vince was also born in Martinez. The family then moved
to San Francisco, where younger brother Dom was born, and where the
boys grew up.
Len Gabrielson Sr., born in Oakland in 1915, a graduate of Technical
High. Appeared only briefly in the major leagues, but his son,
Len Gabrielson Jr., born in Oakland in 1939, also a graduate of
Technical, had a fairly substantial big league career.
Sam Chapman, born in
Tiburon (a Marin County fishing village across the San Francisco Bay
from Oakland) in 1916, and a graduate of the University of California at
Berkeley. Hit 180 major league home runs despite missing four seasons to
World War II military service.
Bill Rigney, born in Alameda in 1918, and a graduate of Oakland High
School. A major league infielder for eight seasons, and a major league
manager for eighteen.
Ferris Fain, born in San Antonio, Texas in 1921, but a graduate of
Roosevelt High School in Oakland. A five-time American League All-Star and
two-time batting champion.
Jackie Jensen, born in San Francisco in 1927, but a graduate of
University High School in Oakland, and a football as well as baseball star
at Cal Berkeley. The American League MVP in 1958.
Billy Martin, born in Berkeley in 1928, and a graduate of Berkeley High.
Played 11 tempestuous seasons in the majors, and managed for all or part of
19 more. One of the most colorful and controversial figures in baseball
history.
Andy Carey, born in Oakland in 1931, and a graduate of Alameda High
School. Played 11 years in the majors, but never developed into the star it
appeared he would.
J.W. Porter, born in Shawnee, Oklahoma in 1933, but raised in Oakland.
None of my sources inform me of exactly where he went to high school, but
Porter was an Oakland youth baseball legend. Despite his spectacular amateur
performance, Porter was never more than a bit player in the major leagues.
Elijah “Pumpsie” Green, born in Oakland in 1933, and a graduate of El
Cerrito High School in
El Cerrito (an Oakland suburb, between Berkeley and Richmond). Was the
first player of color for the last major league team to integrate, the
Boston Red Sox of 1959.
Jim Landis, born in Fresno, California in 1934, but a graduate of
Richmond High. A five-time Gold Glove winner in the American League.
Ernie Broglio, born in Berkeley in 1935, and a graduate of El Cerrito
High. One of the better pitchers in the National League in the early 1960s,
but generally remembered instead as the guy traded for future Hall of Famer
Lou Brock.
Frank Robinson, born in Beaumont, Texas in 1935, but a graduate of
McClymonds High. An all-time great player, and the first African-American
manager in major league history. A towering figure in baseball history.
Ron Hansen, born in Oxford, Nebraska in 1938, but a graduate of Albany
High School in
Albany (another Oakland suburb, adjacent to El Cerrito). Played 15
seasons in the major leagues.
Curt Flood, born in Houston, Texas in 1938, but attended McClymonds,
and a graduate of Technical High. You may have heard of him.
Vada Pinson, born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1938, but a graduate of
McClymonds. A significant star, played 18 years in the majors.
Tommy Harper, born in Oak Grove, Louisiana in 1940, but a graduate of
Encinal High School in Alameda. Played 15 seasons in the big leagues.
Willie Stargell, born in Earlsboro, Oklahoma in 1940, but a graduate
of Encinal. Had a 21-year major league career, was a seven-time All-Star,
won an MVP award, and was elected to the Hall of Fame.
Aaron Pointer, born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1942, but a graduate of
McClymonds. A brief major league playing career, but he’s notable as the
older brother of the famed singing group,
The
Pointer Sisters, and also for being a longtime NFL referee.
Joe Morgan, born in Bonham, Texas in 1943, but a graduate of
Castlemont High School in Oakland. Generally regarded as the greatest
all-around second baseman in the history of baseball.
Rudy May, born in Coffeyville, Kansas in 1944, but a graduate of
Castlemont High. Pitched 16 years in the majors.
Tug McGraw, born in Martinez in 1944, and a graduate of St. Vincent
Ferrer High School in
Vallejo (the port town across the Carquinez Strait from Martinez), and
an attendee of Vallejo Junior College. A major star relief pitcher for the
New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies from the late 1960s through the
early 1980s. The father of country music superstar
Tim McGraw.
Bill Buckner, born in Vallejo in 1949, and a graduate of Napa High
School in
Napa (the famed wine-producing town, about 40 miles north of Oakland).
Amassed over 2,700 hits in a 22-year major league career, but will go down
in history for his fateful error in the bottom of the tenth inning of the
sixth game of the 1986 World Series.
Chris Speier, born in Alameda in 1950, and a graduate of Encinal High.
Played 19 seasons in the major leagues.
Dennis Eckersley, born in Oakland in 1954, and a graduate of
Washington High School in
Fremont (about 25 miles to the south of Oakland). Pitched in the majors
for 24 years, and made the Hall of Fame in recognition for his combined
performance as a starting pitcher and closer.
Claudell Washington, born in Los Angeles in 1954, but a graduate of
Berkeley High School. Played in the majors for 17 years.
Ruppert Jones, born in Dallas, Texas in 1955, but a graduate of Berkeley
High. A 12-year major league career, and a two-time All-Star.
Dave Stewart, born in Oakland in 1957, and a graduate of St. Elizabeth’s
High School in Oakland. Was a 20-game winner for the Oakland Athletics for
four consecutive seasons.
Gary Pettis, born in Oakland in 1958, and a graduate of Castlemont High.
A five-time Gold Glove winner in the American League.
Willie McGee, born in San Francisco in 1958, but a graduate of Harry
Ells High School in Richmond. Played 18 seasons in the majors, a four-time
All-Star and an MVP.
Rickey Henderson, born in Chicago in 1958, but a graduate of
Technical High in Oakland. Played 25 seasons in the major leagues, and
generally regarded as the greatest leadoff hitter in the history of
baseball.
Lloyd Moseby, born in Portland, Arkansas in 1959, but a graduate of
Oakland High. Played 12 seasons in the big leagues, was an All-Star and a
Silver Slugger winner.
Randy Johnson, born in
Walnut Creek (about 15 miles to the east of Oakland) in 1963, and a
graduate of
Livermore High School (about 30 miles to the south and east of Oakland).
Widely seen as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history.
Kenny Williams, born in Berkeley in 1964. Had a modest six-year career
as a major league player, but went on to become the General Manager who
built the 2005 World Series Champion Chicago White Sox.
Jimmy Rollins, born in Oakland in 1978, and a graduate of Encinal
High. A three-time National League All-Star through the age of 27.
Dontrelle Willis, born in Oakland in 1982, and a graduate of Encinal
High. The 2003 National League Rookie of the Year, and runner-up in the
National League Cy Young Award vote in 2005, and a two-time All-Star though
the age of 24.
SUMMARY
16 players born in the 1930-45
10 players 46-60
2 in 1960s
and so far:
1 in 1970s 1 in 1980s
Randy Johnson is the only white player since 1954 and He grew up in
Livermore.