The Oakland A’s are renowned for their distinctive and vibrant uniforms, a visual identity that stands out in the world of sports. Their jersey designs have not only become iconic but also played a pivotal role in revolutionizing the concept of colorful and creative sports apparel decades ago. When you envision an Oakland A’s jersey, a plethora of classic and contemporary designs might come to mind. From the timeless home whites to the nostalgic gold sleeveless vests and the fresh kelly greens, the A’s have a rich tapestry of uniform history to explore.
To celebrate this legacy, we’re embarking on a quest to definitively rank the best Oakland A’s uniforms of all time. We’ve curated 16 diverse jersey designs, organizing them into four distinct brackets, and we invite you to participate in a community vote. Together, we’ll narrow down the competition to crown the ultimate Best Jersey in Oakland A’s History. This voting process mirrors our popular Community Prospect List, where your “Recs” in the comments section will serve as your votes. In this opening round, we’ll reduce the field from 16 contenders to the top eight.
Here are the four brackets that showcase the spectrum of Oakland A’s uniforms:
- Home Whites: modern whites, ‘80s Oakland print, ‘73 stripes, ‘68 kelly/white sleeveless
- Gold Tops: ‘70s pullover, ‘70s monochrome, ‘70s sleeveless vest, modern gold alts
- Green Tops: modern green, ‘70s pullover, solid green w/ piping, player’s weekend
- Wild Card: road grays, new kelly green, black tops 2000, black tops ‘08-’10
While a few notable designs are not included in this tournament, such as the green and gold variations of the ‘80s Oakland print, and the ‘70s green monochrome, this selection comprehensively represents the major uniform themes in A’s history. Let’s delve into each bracket and examine the contenders.
White Bracket
Four contenders: modern whites, ‘80s Oakland print, ‘73 stripes, ‘68 kelly/white sleeveless
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The White Bracket showcases the evolution of the Oakland A’s home white uniforms. The first matchup pits the modern home whites, epitomized by Dave Stewart, against the pioneering 1968 kelly green and white sleeveless vest design, as worn by Catfish Hunter. Intriguingly, both of these iconic Oakland A’s uniforms were donned by pitchers during their perfect games, adding a layer of historical significance to this pairing.
The second first-round contest features the 1970s stripes jersey, adorned with the classic “A’s” logo and exemplified by Vida Blue, facing off against the similar 1980s version. The latter iteration, worn here by Davey Lopes, distinguished itself by featuring “Oakland” emblazoned across the chest, marking a slight but noticeable design shift in these Oakland A’s jerseys.
Gold Bracket
Four contenders: ‘70s pullover, ‘70s monochrome, ‘70s sleeveless vest, modern gold alts
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The Gold Bracket shines a spotlight on the golden era of Oakland A’s alternate uniforms. In the top half, we see the 1970s gold pullover, a distinctive design featuring a pullover style instead of traditional buttons, complemented by stripes running down the sides of the pants. Joe Rudi perfectly embodies this classic look. Its opponent is the modern gold alternate jersey, revived by the team in 2011 and showcased here by Gio Gonzalez. This modern iteration pays homage to the golden age while adding contemporary touches to these Oakland A’s uniforms.
The bottom row presents two visually similar yet distinct gold Oakland A’s uniforms. On the left is the striking 1970s monochrome jersey, where both the shirt and pants are rendered in a vibrant, bright gold, as modeled by Ken Holtzman. On the right is another predominantly monochrome design, the 1970s sleeveless vest. This vest version, again worn by Vida Blue, emphasizes the green sleeves worn underneath, creating a subtle contrast within the monochrome gold scheme of these vintage Oakland A’s uniforms.
Green Bracket
Four contenders: modern green, ‘70s pullover, solid green w/ piping, player’s weekend
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The Green Bracket celebrates the verdant variations in Oakland A’s jerseys. Leading the top row is the modern green top, famously worn by Tim Hudson. This contemporary design features the “Athletics” script across the chest and is paired with a matching green-brimmed hat. Hudson’s high neck and long sleeves further accentuate the uniform’s striking green aesthetic. Facing it is the 1970s green pullover, a vintage gem showcased by a mustache-less Sal Bando. This pullover represents a classic era of Oakland A’s green uniforms.
In the bottom half, we have a unique matchup featuring Mike Fiers against himself, highlighting two distinct green Oakland A’s uniforms. On the left, Fiers sports the current green top with yellow piping, a staple in the modern A’s wardrobe. On the right, he wears the 2017-18 Player’s Weekend jersey with gold sleeves. This Player’s Weekend edition, predating its mono-white successor, is particularly notable for its rare gold cap with a green brim, possibly the only Oakland A’s uniform design to feature this color combination.
Wild Card Bracket
Four contenders: road grays, new kelly green, black tops 2000, black tops ‘08-’10
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The Wild Card Bracket encompasses the most diverse and unconventional Oakland A’s uniform designs. In the top row, we have the modern road grays, appropriately modeled by Sonny Gray. These contemporary gray Oakland A’s uniforms represent the team’s current away-game look. Challenging the road grays is the new kelly green jersey introduced in recent years, as worn by Matt Chapman. This newer kelly green design brings a vibrant and fresh take to the A’s color palette.
The bottom row showcases two iterations of the black Oakland A’s jerseys. On the right is the original black top from 2000, featuring a green script and worn here by Miguel Tejada. This marked a bold departure for the A’s, incorporating black into their traditionally green and gold color scheme. On the left is the sequel black top from 2008-10, distinguished by its white script and donned by Jason Giambi. This second black jersey offered a variation on the initial design, solidifying black as an occasional alternate color for Oakland A’s uniforms.
Now it’s your turn! Which of these iconic Oakland A’s uniforms are your favorites? Cast your votes for the first round in the comments section below!
