Special Edition: "Page Refresh"

[Wella's note: As promised, I'm providing a forum for my friends to write in Oakland Athletics Journal. If you have an original baseball-related article for publication in this Special Edition space, email it to me. ]

Page Refresh
by GeneralChiang

Based on my limited experience playing organized softball in Alameda, I can tell you that nothing intimidates a pitcher more than a large, athletic, African-American hitter with power. That's why I was so glad the A's landed future Hall Of Fame designated hitter Frank Thomas in the offseason. “The Big Hurt” has always been a favorite player of mine for his mastery of the strike zone (no easy feat for a 6' 5” hitter). I look for Thomas to bring back the Oh crap! Look who's up with men on base factor that was last seen when Jason Giambi anchored the A’s offense in 2001.

Frank Thomas' arrival has triggered memories of another Oakland designated hitter, Mitchell Page. As a rookie in 1977, Mitchell Page led the Athletics in batting average (.307), stolen bases (42), runs scored (85), and RBIs (75). He also clubbed 21 home runs, just one behind third baseman Wayne Gross who was the A's All-Star Game representative that year. At the end of the 1977 season, Page finished as the runner-up to Baltimore's Eddie Murray for American League Rookie of the Year.

The 1977 version of the Oakland A's was a team in transition. Only two years removed from their last Western Division title in 1975, the A's roster saw enormous turnover due to the introduction of free agency. A roster of All-Stars like Sal Bando, Joe Rudi, Rollie Fingers, Phil Gardner, Ken Holtzman, Catfish Hunter, and Reggie Jackson seemed to have evaporated overnight. The team had some young talent (Mike Norris, Tony Armas, Steve McCatty) that wouldn't blossom until the arrival of Billy Martin as manager three years later. The most memorable feature of the A's in 1977 was Mitchell Page's outstanding rookie season. Nicknamed “The Rage”, the talented rookie provided the slight glimmer of hope to the team's fan base which was accustomed to winning World Series.

My most lasting memory of Mitchell Page was the intimidating way he conducted himself. “The Rage” would silently step into the batter’s box and stare down the pitcher with a vengeful glare, like Clint Eastwood in an Italian western. His frightening presence at the plate caused pitchers to often pitch around him, even though he was a notorious free swinger. “The Rage” was, quite simply, one mean-looking S.O.B.

Greatness, unfortunately, eluded Mitchell Page. His offensive numbers would gradually decline each of the following years. By 1981, with manager Billy Martin totally remaking the A's into a contender, Mitchell Page lost his DH job to former New York Yankee Cliff Johnson. Page stayed with the A's until 1983 and ended his career as a Pittsburgh Pirate in 1984.

Mitchell Page is currently the batting instructor for the Washington Nationals. But I will always remember his intimidating presence that gave flavor and identity to a young, overlooked team in Oakland.

GeneralChiang has been following the Bay Area sporting scene since he was six years old.