Chuck Thibideau is an educational administrator who, over the course of 34 years, has taught social sciences at numerous California schools and served as principal of Ethel I. Baker Elementary School and Breen Elementary School. A passionate fan of Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics since he was eight years old, Chuck Thibideau attended the World Series with his father in 1974.
The 1974 World Series was played between the Athletics and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Heading into the series, Oakland was the two-time defending champions, but the team was plagued by various controversies in the clubhouse and front office. Teammates Blue Moon Odom and Rollie Fingers engaged in a fist fight prior to the series, while Catfish Hunter was threatening to become a free agent if he wasn't paid what he felt he was worth by team owner Charles Finley.
Despite the friction, the Athletics won Game 1 by a score of 3-2 over the Dodgers. Fingers picked up the win, Hunter earned the save, and "Mr. October" Reggie Jackson hit the first home run of the series off Dodgers pitcher Andy Messersmith. The Athletics lost Game 2 by a score of 3-2, but went on to win three consecutive games in Oakland, two of which were also by a 3-2 decision, to win its third consecutive World Series.
Fingers was named World Series MVP after registering a 1.93 ERA through four games, while Joe Rudi led Oakland's offense with four RBI. Oakland didn't win the World Series again until 1989, and haven't won it in the 30 years since.
