Athletics to retire former World Series MVP Dave Stewart's No. 34

The Athletics announced Sunday that they will retire No. 34 in honor of Dave Stewart, one of the most accomplished pitchers in the team's Oakland-era history, next season.

The announcement was made during ceremonies honoring the 30th anniversary of the Athletics' 1989 World Series championship. Stewart was named MVP of that series, a sweep of the cross-bay San Francisco Giants that was interrupted by the catastrophic Loma Prieta earthquake.

"To have my number retired in my hometown, surrounded by people in and from my community, and hopefully for people to remember me as a permanent part of the Oakland A's franchise ... all I can say is wow and thank you," Stewart said, according to John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle.

Stewart will become the sixth Athletics player (not including Jackie Robinson's No. 42) to see his number retired by the franchise, and the first non-Hall of Famer to receive the honor. The A's previously retired No. 34 for Rollie Fingers in 1993.

Stewart, an Oakland native, morphed from a journeyman into one of the most feared American League right-handers upon joining the A's in 1986. Armed with a trademark stare that intimidated hitters, he won at least 20 games every year from 1987-90, was the AL Cy Young runner-up in 1989, and threw a no-hitter in 1990.

But it was in October when he truly left his mark as a dominating ace. Stewart led the Athletics to three straight AL pennants from 1988-90, winning the World Series MVP in '89 and ALCS MVP in '90. He posted a cumulative 2.22 ERA with 55 strikeouts and a .201 opponents average in 14 playoff starts for the A's, and his eight ALCS wins remains the all-time record.

After leaving the A's as a free agent in 1992, Stewart came back to Oakland in 1995 but retired after 16 ineffective starts.

All told, Stewart went 119-78 with a 3.73 ERA and 1,152 strikeouts over his eight seasons with the Athletics. His 22.8 WAR ranks fourth among pitchers in the franchise's Oakland era (since 1968).

Stewart was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame as part of its inaugural class last year.