‘It’s special, man’: Oakland native Stewart has jersey retired by A’s

As a native of Oakland who grew up in the shadows of the Oakland Coliseum, Dave Stewart vividly recalls the excitement he felt when the A’s moved out west from Kansas City in 1968.

Stewart immediately became a regular at the Coliseum, with the seats down the right-field line his preferred spot so he and his cousins could get a glimpse of Reggie Jackson. With the Swingin’ A’s dynasty that captured three straight World Series titles from 1972-74 forming over the next few years, Stewart developed an affinity for the likes of Bert Campaneris, Catfish Hunter and Rollie Fingers.

“Every time I walk into that ballpark, I can replay different things on a given day,” Stewart said. “I remember when I was a little kid and Reggie was in right field with his back to the infield looking at me and my cousins collecting baseballs in the right-field seats. I remember when the A’s came to town and the first player I met was Ramón Webster. I remember ‘Campy’ Campaneris running around the bases and looking like he never touched the ground because his feet were so quick.”

Little did a teenage Stewart know that one day he’d be immortalized at that same stadium alongside those same legends he idolized. After living out a childhood dream by playing eight of his 16 seasons with the green and gold, Stewart had his jersey No. 34 retired before Sunday’s game against the White Sox. He became the sixth A’s player to have his number retired, and the first since Rickey Henderson—one of Stewart’s closest friends while growing up in Oakland—in 2009.