From the record-setting five straight divisional and three straight World Series championships in the early 70's to the Bash Brothers, Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco in the late 80's, to the exploits of current stars Jason Giambi and Johnny Damon, Champions recreates the excitement of the three distinct championship eras of the A's in Oakland. Written by celebrated author and award-winning sports columnist Glenn Dickey, who has covered the team for more than thirty years, this book features not only the heroics of well-known players like Reggie Jackson, Catfish Hunter, Rollie Fingers, Ricky Henderson, Dennis Eckersley, and Mark McGwire, but also a cast of other colorful characters, like the flamboyant, unpredictable, and always controversial Charlie Finley. Despite the distractions of orange colored baseballs, gold bases (used on Opening Day in 1970, and immediately banned by the league), and "glow-in-the-dark" uniforms, Finley created a winning tradition in Oakland that was restored under managerTony LaRussa a decade and a half later and is being renewed now with the current crop of young superstars put together by general manager Billy Beane. The A's were established in Philadelphia in 1901 at the founding of the American League, and the publication of Champions is timed to coincide with the franchise's 100th anniversary.