8 Former Athletics Players Named 2016 All-Stars
When the 2016 All-Star rosters are introduced on the field Tuesday, Oakland Athletics fans will see many familiar faces of players who once wore the Green and Gold.
There are eight total players from the National and American League All-Star teams who can say Oakland was their home at some point.
Some of those players developed into stars before arriving in Oakland, others became All-Stars while playing for the A's, and some became great players after leaving the team.
The A's may only have one current All-Star on the roster, but for one day, Oakland fans can take pride that these All-Stars were once part of their favorite team.
Players Who Were All-Stars Before Going To Oakland
1. Bartolo Colon - New York Mets
Colon's most recent all-star appearance before this season was during his second year with the Athletics in 2013.
During that season with the A's, Colon went 18-6 with a 2.65 ERA.
Colon is only 7-4 this season, but it's safe to say he was put on to the All-Star roster for the enjoyment of fans.
2. Jon Lester - Chicago Cubs
Lester was acquired by the Athletics at the trade deadline back in 2014.
He was traded to the Athletics in the hopes that he could be the number one starter during a playoff run. It didn't work out the way the team was hoping.
The A's had the worst record in baseball after the trade and lost in the Wild Card game, which Lester started.
Lester left for the Chicago Cubs in the following off-season.
3. Ben Zobrist - Chicago Cubs
As opposed to the first two players mentioned, Zobrist wasn't on an Athletics team which went to the playoffs.
He was traded over from the Tampa Bay Rays before the 2015 season and spent half the year with the A's before being traded to the Kansas City Royals.
The A's received left handed pitcher Sean Manaea in exchange for Zobrist.
Players Who Became All-Stars In Oakland
1. Josh Donaldson - Toronto Blue Jays
Donaldson has one of the more impressive success stories. He spent most of his minor league career as a catcher, but it never seemed like he was going to be a major league player.
The A's ended up moving him to third base and, seemingly overnight, Donaldson became an elite player in the league.
Donaldson had back to back seasons in 2013 and 2014 with over 20 home runs and 90 RBI for the Athletics.
He has now been to three straight All-Star games; his first one being in 2014 with the Athletics. Donaldson is also looking to win the American League MVP in consecutive seasons.
2. Yoenis Cespedes - New York Mets
The moment Oakland signed Cespedes in 2012, the team instantly became one of the best teams in baseball.
He was the anchor in the Athletics lineup and the one piece which kept everything moving. With Cespedes, Oakland won the A.L. West in 2012 and 2013.
The team also had the best record in baseball in 2014 before trading "The Cuban Missle" was traded to the Boston Red Sox in the Lester deal.
Cespedes made his second all-star team this season. His first appearance was with Oakland back in 2014.
Players Who Became All-Stars After Leaving Oakland
1. Carlos Gonzalez - Colorado Rockies
It's been a while since Gonzalez was in the Green and Gold. He was on the team for half the season in 2008, which was his rookie season.
Before the 2009 season, Gonzalez was traded to the Colorado Rockies for Matt Holliday. The trade didn't work out for the A's.
Holliday didn't want to be in Oakland. He got traded to the St. Louis Cardinals half way through the 2009 season.
Gonzalez, on the other hand, has been named to the National League All-Star team three times in his career and has been one of the best outfielders in baseball while in Colorado.
2. Addison Russell - Chicago Cubs
Russell never spent time with the A's at the big league level, but he was the top prospect in the system before being traded to the Chicago Cubs during the 2014 season.
He was slated to be the shortstop of the future for the Athletics, but when the team had the chance to trade for Jeff Samardzija, Russell was thrown in the trade.
Russell has become everything the Athletics expected him to be. He's been named an All-Star starter in just his second full season in the big leagues.
3. Drew Pomeranz - San Diego Padres
Pomeranz was always a good pitcher, but was never the all-star type .
He spent two seasons with Oakland and switched between starting and relieving. The A's acquired him in 2014 after spending the first three years of his career with the Rockies.
This is his first season in San Diego and has become a full time starting pitcher. His record isn't incredible, 8-7, but his 2.47 ERA is one of the best in the league.
