The 1989 Oakland Athletics season saw the A's finish in first place in the American League West division, with a record of 99 wins and 63 losses, seven games in front of the Kansas City Royals. Oakland dominated the American League, earning their second consecutive AL West title, as well as marking the second straight year in which they finished with the best record in all of baseball. A's pitcher Dave Stewart recorded his third straight season of earning 20 or more wins while Rickey Henderson put on a dazzling offensive performance in the postseason as he approached the prospects of landing a three million dollar contract for the following season. The team defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in five games in the ALCS, then swept their cross-Bay rivals, the San Francisco Giants, in an earthquake-marred World Series. The Athletics looked to be a future dynasty by the close of the 1989 season. Offseason November 28, 1988: Mike Moore signs as a free agent with the Oakland Athletics. November 30, 1988: Billy Beane was signed as a free agent with the Oakland Athletics. Regular season Ken Griffey Jr. made his major league baseball debut on April 3, 1989, in a game against the Oakland Athletics. On August 22, 1989, Nolan Ryan struck out Rickey Henderson for the 5,000th strikeout in his career. Season standings Record vs. opponents Notable transactions April 6, 1989: Troy Afenir was traded by the Houston Astros to the Oakland Athletics for Matt Sinatro. April 6, 1989: Mike Norris was signed as a free agent with the Oakland Athletics. May 27, 1989: Jamie Quirk was signed as a free agent with the Oakland Athletics. June 5, 1989: Mike Mohler was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 42nd round of the 1989 amateur draft. Player signed August 18, 1989. June 21, 1989: Rickey Henderson was traded by the New York Yankees to the Oakland Athletics for Greg Cadaret, Eric Plunk, and Luis Polonia. July 24, 1989: Jamie Quirk was released by the Oakland Athletics. July 31, 1989: Glenn Hubbard was released by the Oakland Athletics. August 30, 1989: Ken Phelps was traded by the New York Yankees to the Oakland Athletics for Scott Holcomb (minors). Roster Game log |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#bbffbb" | 1 || April 3 || Mariners || 3–2 || Stewart (1–0) || Langston (0–1) || Eckersley (1) || 46,163 || 1–0 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#bbffbb" | 2 ||