Dave Stewart gets emotional sharing ‘proudest’ Athletics moment

Stew fights back tears revealing ‘proudest moment’ in Oakland originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea

Former Athletics pitcher Dave Stewart spent seven years from 1986 to 1992, then one more season in 1995 with Oakland. During his first stint, he’d go on to win various individual and team accolades.

Stewart was an All-Star in 1989, winning the 1989 World Series MVP and 1990 ALCS MVP while winning 20 or more games for four straight years with the A’s. As a result, Stewart has plenty of moments to choose from that were the most memorable during his tenure in Oakland.

The former A’s pitcher sat down with NBC Sports California’s Brodie Brazil on the latest episode of “All A’s” to discuss his proudest achievement with the team.

Stewart’s response might surprise some with plenty of on-field moments to choose from during his time in Oakland.

“I mean, we won a World Series, and I was the MVP in that, obviously. But in that same year, in 1990, I won the Roberto Clemente Award,” Stewart told Brazil. “That moment was huge for me.”

The Roberto Clemente Award is given to a player that exemplifies a commitment to community and understanding the value of helping others.

Stewart demonstrated these characteristics in 1990 by aiding various charitable associations after the Loma Prieta earthquake rocked the Bay Area on Oct. 17, 1989. The 6.9 magnitude earthquake occurred during the World Series between the A’s and Giants, resulting in the matchup being postponed for 10 days.

“San Francisco, they were a community all themselves, and Oakland was a community in itself, and I felt that the athletes that helped me with what we were doing here in Oakland, it wasn’t just for Oakland,” Stewart added. “It was for both communities. We did a real good job, I think, in helping to mend really broken and torn down community to come together with the city of San Francisco.

Story continues

“That was my proudest moment for the city to be a kid that had grown up here and have dreams of doing something great in the city and not just money because as an athlete, you can throw money into the city, which I did that too. I threw money into the community. But to put together the resources in a community, to help rebuild a community and bring it back.”

RELATED: Athletics’ ballpark project closer to reality after legal challenges rejected

Stewart will be honored by the A’s on Sunday, Sept. 11, when the franchise retires his No. 34 before their game against the Chicago White Sox.