16 days remain until Athletics Opening Day at the Toronto Blue Jays on March 27, 2026. With Las Vegas on the horizon, this daily countdown tracks the best A’s players by jersey number.
Today, March 11, 2026, the number is 16.
Jason Giambi “Giambino”, No. 16
Jason Giambi “Giambino” is the best Athletics player to wear No. 16 because he produced elite seasons in Oakland and carried the lineup at its peak. He also has the signature hardware that separates him in this number group.
Giambi played eight seasons with the A’s from 1995-2001, then returned in 2009. In his Oakland prime, he became an MVP-level hitter and one of the biggest bats in franchise history.
Why Giambi gets No. 16
Giambi gets No. 16 because his Oakland run is loaded with production and impact. He hit .300 with a .406 on-base percentage and a .531 slugging percentage in 1,036 games with the A’s.
His peak was the separator. In 2000, Giambi won AL MVP after hitting .333 with 43 home runs, 137 RBIs, and a 1.123 OPS, then followed with a 9.2 WAR season in 2001 while hitting .342 with a 1.137 OPS.
Career start and background
Giambi was born Jan. 8, 1971, in West Covina, Calif. He went to South Hills High School, then played at Cal State Long Beach.
The Oakland Athletics drafted him in the second round of the 1992 MLB June Amateur Draft. He debuted with the A’s on May 8, 1995.
Other notable No. 16s
Josh Reddick, 2012-2014
Liam Hendriks, 2018-2020
Billy Butler, 2015-2016
Ed Charles, 1962-1967
Career check
No. 16 has plenty of names, but only one true Oakland MVP season. Giambi owns it because his prime years were loud, productive, and central to the A’s best modern run.