OAKLAND — Dave Stewart could be forgiven for perhaps being a bit in awe.
Here he was, the kid from Oakland, who was mentored by Reggie Jackson and knew all about Charlie Finley, Rollie Fingers and Jim “Catfish” Hunter. He was teammates with Dennis Eckersley and of course, his childhood friend, Rickey Henderson.
They, including Stewart, were all part of the inaugural class of the Athletics Hall of Fame that was celebrated in a pre-game ceremony Wednesday at the Coliseum before the A’s played the New York Yankees.
“People walk down different paths,” Stewart said, “but for me to grow up a stone’s throw away from here and on this day, go into the Oakland A’s Hall of Fame with guys that I watched, admired and emulated, there is just no better feeling.