Athletics Opening Day countdown: 'Blue Moon' Odom is best No. 13 in A’s history

Odom gets No. 13 because he wore it the longest and mattered in the biggest moments. Plenty of players have had short stints with No. 13 in Oakland, but Odom is the one tied to the number for over a decade, including the run that made the A’s a powerhouse in the early 1970s.

There are more modern names fans recognize, but they didn’t wear No. 13 long enough (or impact the franchise enough in that number) to beat the combination of Odom’s tenure plus championships.

Career start and background

Odom was born May 29, 1945, in Macon, Georgia. His full name is Johnny Lee Odom, and “Blue Moon” became the nickname everyone knew.

He debuted in 1964 and spent the bulk of his career with the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics, later pitching briefly for Cleveland, Atlanta, and the White Sox. His A’s run is what makes him the No. 13.

Other notable No. 13s

• Gio Urshela
  • Jerry Blevins
  • Billy McMillon
  • Brent Gates
  • Matt Olson

Career check

No. 13 goes to Blue Moon Odom. He wore the number long enough to own it in A’s history, made All-Star teams, and is directly connected to the franchise’s championship identity in Oakland.

Related story