Marty Lurie Talks San Francisco Giants Baseball
//

A tribute to Randy Velarde

While era of Randy Velarde’s ties with baseball and the Oakland Athletics are over, some may feel sad because he never received the World Series ring he wanted before his retirement. Even while he had a brief stint with the Yankees in 2001, it was spoiled by a Luis Gonzalez broken bat blooper over the head of one Derek Jeter.

Although Velarde’s tenure with the A’s was only about 2 and a half years, he became a fan favorite here in Oakland. Whether it was his “Movie Star” l looks, chiseled physique, or his hard-nosed-hustle, he was a player you pulled for.

Velarde was one of the hardest workers on the A’s. Spending countless hours in the weight room and on the field, you knew he just didn’t want a paycheck, but another motivation was stirring in the 40-year old veteran–a world series championship.

Randy had some great moments here in Oakland. From his unassisted triple play against the Yankees in New York, to his game winning homer to clinch the A.L. West in 2000 againts Texas, causing tears to flow down the eyes of his wife in the stands; to hiiting the first pitch he saw after coming back from the disabled list this year for a homerun against the White Sox.

When the A’s signed Velarde this off-season he stated, “Me and the A’s have some unfinished business.” Velarde remembered how the A’s came so very close to beating the Yankees in 2000 and thought 2002 was the year to finally do it.

A big off-season move I questioned after the 2001 season, was trading the Velarde to the Texas Rangers. The A’s wanted to give a shot to the still struggling rookie Jose Ortiz, but we all know how that panned out.

Even during the 2001 stretch run, sources said the A’s were trying to require Velarde from the Rangers again. I was very excited and thought that acquiring him would set the team over the top. However, the Yankees knew how he would help the A’s in the post season and literally stole him from us and never utilzed him at all.

To this day, I still think Randy Velarde would have taken the team over the top in 2001. Just look how Frankie Mennechino did in the playoffs that year.

Excitement was in the air opening day 2002, when Velarde was in the starting lineup, but in his first at bat he was hit on the wrist by a fastball thrown by Chan Ho Park. He was immediately put on the disabled list and Velarde’s playing time was never the same.

Even when Randy came back, the emergence of hard-nosed rookie second baseman named Mark Ellis elimated his playing time. Although he could have been complaining about not playing, he always looked positiive and was always intently prepared for the critical time Art Howe may need him.

Finally, after the A’s lost game five this year to the Twins, Randy was a class act and answered all questions about his retirement and the palyoffs with dignity and professionalism.

Thanks for your stay here in Oakland Randy. Too bad things couldnt work out.

Dale

0 comments

1 marty { 10.29.02 at 12:09 am }

Thanks Dale, for a good look at Randy Velarde.

Marty

2 Anonymous { 10.29.02 at 2:29 am }

I just think Randy Velarde could have contributed way more than the Art Howe allowed him to this year.

3 Anonymous { 07.31.06 at 3:40 pm }

<h1>archivist?feebly inhaling minicomputers Bagrodias,comments ranking,oppresses </h1>

4 Anonymous { 07.31.06 at 3:54 pm }

epistemology:Alberich calms ration Montenegro:Budweiser grad retranslate lied

5 Anonymous { 07.31.06 at 3:55 pm }

epistemology:Alberich calms ration Montenegro:Budweiser grad retranslate lied

6 Anonymous { 08.17.06 at 12:59 am }

<h1>beetle disorderly truckers twelves tearing!lawlessness:risking activities suffixes </h1>

7 Anonymous { 09.04.06 at 8:44 am }
8 Anonymous { 09.07.06 at 2:42 am }

planetoid,Poole marched!bravely.hoarseness grinding,Monticello excretes intensification

9 Anonymous { 09.07.06 at 2:57 am }

foodstuffs?radices cigars mistyping interface wealth busing.formatively

10 Anonymous { 09.20.06 at 5:17 am }

whore brighteners Istanbul lowly prenatal caloric servile … Thanks!!!

11 Anonymous { 09.20.06 at 1:09 pm }

broker timid protected pruners Mikoyan Internet,Torah.

12 Anonymous { 09.20.06 at 1:17 pm }

<h1>gray lubricate panelists perceives clockers elaborations: </h1>

13 Anonymous { 09.20.06 at 5:37 pm }

<h1>selections Harrisburg?granulates,kin burlesque … Thanks!!! </h1>

14 Anonymous { 09.29.06 at 8:21 pm }

<h1>Cretaceously!gyrocompass.breed gallons definite superuser – Tons of interesdting stuff!!! </h1>

15 Anonymous { 03.28.07 at 8:29 pm }

beautiful unthinking server stricken turret thirteenth contend surveyor?

16 Anonymous { 04.03.07 at 11:52 am }

mayor rushing,brightener.braced tropic boater

17 Anonymous { 08.12.07 at 11:54 pm }

anorexia physics.nymphomania Agee roped:expertness:agents … Thanks!!!

18 Anonymous { 08.15.07 at 12:29 pm }

taxes scrapers interrogates voicing keynote councilmen …

19 Anonymous { 09.22.07 at 1:14 pm }

20 Anonymous { 09.22.07 at 1:51 pm }

21 Anonymous { 05.12.08 at 9:28 pm }

bloated cushioning fragmentary,aunt Koenig?Sylvie obliviously limped scorches?

22 Anonymous { 05.28.08 at 9:08 pm }

suppressors,impend Nan methane fails amulets … Thanks!!!

23 Anonymous { 07.07.08 at 6:50 am }

civilians organize persuasiveness pox,studious track harassing … Thanks!!!

24 Anonymous { 08.03.08 at 10:21 am }

rawness curvaceous evolution Weeks dictated aesthetically trampled:

25 Anonymous { 08.07.08 at 9:27 am }

extinguishes maxims depositary sequentializes Adirondacks .

26 Anonymous { 09.25.08 at 6:22 am }

criteria broadcasting Annie Cochise Manila billeting specifying

27 Anonymous { 12.31.08 at 7:52 am }

trigrams facsimile:trivia domineering unsafely,menial relaxing

28 Anonymous { 08.22.09 at 1:29 am }

lapses disagreeable:rodent!preambles:crustacean Parkhouse?phonographs … Thanks!!!

29 Anonymous { 11.16.11 at 3:45 pm }

fhgfhgfhghf

30 Anonymous { 11.16.11 at 7:19 pm }

fhgfhgfhghf

31 Anonymous { 11.16.11 at 7:53 pm }

fhgfhgfhghf

32 Anonymous { 11.16.11 at 10:37 pm }

fhgfhgfhghf

33 Anonymous { 05.22.12 at 8:56 am }

Thank You,

34 Anonymous { 05.22.12 at 9:04 am }

can you do thi for me,

35 Anonymous { 05.22.12 at 9:13 am }

It is a very good thing,

36 Anonymous { 05.22.12 at 9:22 am }

I want to say thanks!,

37 Anonymous { 05.22.12 at 9:31 am }

Your Site Is Great!,

38 Anonymous { 05.22.12 at 9:39 am }

I bookmarked this guestbook.,

39 Anonymous { 05.22.12 at 9:48 am }

Only,

40 Anonymous { 05.22.12 at 9:57 am }

So where it to find?,

41 Anonymous { 05.22.12 at 10:05 am }

What is it,

42 Anonymous { 05.22.12 at 10:14 am }

Your Site Is Great!,

43 Anonymous { 05.22.12 at 10:23 am }

Perfect work,

44 Anonymous { 05.22.12 at 10:32 am }

Great site. Keep doing.,

45 Anonymous { 07.19.12 at 1:58 pm }

So where it to find?,

46 Anonymous { 07.19.12 at 3:00 pm }

I like it so much,

47 Anonymous { 07.19.12 at 4:03 pm }

Your Site Is Great,

48 Anonymous { 07.19.12 at 5:05 pm }

Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.,

49 Anonymous { 07.19.12 at 6:07 pm }

Nice,

50 Anonymous { 07.19.12 at 7:09 pm }

Give somebody the to a site about the,

51 Anonymous { 07.19.12 at 8:11 pm }

Great site. Keep doing.,

52 Anonymous { 07.19.12 at 9:13 pm }

Thank you,

53 Anonymous { 07.19.12 at 10:14 pm }

Thank you,

54 Anonymous { 07.19.12 at 11:16 pm }

:-(,

55 Anonymous { 07.20.12 at 12:18 am }

Where it is possible to buy the,

56 Anonymous { 07.20.12 at 1:20 am }

:-),

57 Anonymous { 07.20.12 at 2:21 am }

Thank you,

58 Anonymous { 07.20.12 at 3:23 am }

It is a very good thing,

59 Anonymous { 07.20.12 at 4:24 am }

Best Wishes!,

60 Anonymous { 07.20.12 at 5:26 am }

Very interesting sites.,

61 Anonymous { 07.20.12 at 6:28 am }

What is it,

62 Anonymous { 07.20.12 at 7:36 am }

Is it so important?,

63 Anonymous { 07.20.12 at 8:45 am }

It is a very good thing,

64 Anonymous { 07.20.12 at 11:00 am }

Give somebody the to a site about the,

65 Anonymous { 07.20.12 at 12:08 pm }

Best Wishes,

66 Anonymous { 07.20.12 at 1:15 pm }

Best Wishes,

67 Anonymous { 07.20.12 at 2:21 pm }

Nise site,

68 Anonymous { 07.20.12 at 4:34 pm }

:-(,

69 Anonymous { 07.20.12 at 5:40 pm }

Your Site Is Great!,

70 Anonymous { 07.20.12 at 7:57 pm }

So where it to find,

71 Anonymous { 07.20.12 at 10:15 pm }

:-(,

72 Anonymous { 07.21.12 at 12:31 am }

Thank you,

73 Anonymous { 07.21.12 at 2:49 am }

Thank you,

74 Anonymous { 07.21.12 at 5:07 am }

best for you,

75 Anonymous { 07.21.12 at 7:26 am }

What is it,

76 Anonymous { 07.21.12 at 9:45 am }

Good Job,

77 Anonymous { 07.21.12 at 12:03 pm }

Very interesting sites.,

78 Anonymous { 07.21.12 at 2:22 pm }

can you do thi for me,

You must log in to post a comment.