Dallas Braden

In 2004, Braden began the season with the Class A Short Season Vancouver Canadians. He made eight relief appearances, picking up a pair of victories and was promoted to the Class A Kane County Cougars and pitched exclusively as a starter. He made five starts for Kane County, and posted a 2–1 record.

In 2005, Braden split the season between the Class A-Advanced Stockton Ports and the Double-A Midland RockHounds. He posted a 6–0 record for the Ports, and a 9–5 mark for the RockHounds. His composite total of 15 wins led all A's minor league pitchers and earned him Pitcher of the Year honors for the Athletics organization.[4] He underwent shoulder surgery in the 2005–06 offseason.[4] At the beginning of his minor league career, Braden was known for throwing the screwball; he abandoned it shortly after his shoulder surgery.[5]

Braden began the 2006 season on a rehabilitation assignment with the rookie league Arizona League Athletics. He made six starts, going 2–0 and moved up to Stockton, where was also 2–0 with a 6.23 ERA. He was promoted to Double-A Midland where he made one start, giving up six runs in 3+1⁄3 innings pitched while receiving a no decision. His composite 2006 numbers were: 4–0 record, 4.10 ERA, 55 strikeouts and eight walks in 37+1⁄3 innings of work.

Braden began 2007 in Double-A Midland and was called up to the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats after one start. When Rich Harden got hurt on April 23, he was called up to the majors to replace him.[6] On April 24, 2007, Braden made his first major league start and picked up the win against the Baltimore Orioles.[7] He went 1–8 that season for Oakland, pitching 72+1⁄3 innings across 20 games (14 starts) with 55 strikeouts and 26 walks.

In 2008, Braden split time between Triple-A Sacramento and Oakland. He posted an ERA of 4.14 in 19 MLB games (10 starts), pitching 71+2⁄3 innings with 41 strikeouts and 25 walks.

Braden was Oakland's Opening Day starter in 2009, giving up three runs in six innings to the Los Angeles Angels on April 6 and taking the loss.[8] He spent the entire season with Oakland, appearing in 22 games (all starts) while compiling an 8–9 record with 3.89 ERA, pitching 136+2⁄3 innings with 81 strikeouts at 42 walks.

Braden warming up before a game against the Boston Red Sox in 2010

On April 6, 2010, Braden's first outing of the season, he struck out a career high 10 batters in seven innings, allowing one run on four hits and walked one.[9] He received a no-decision, but the team got the win in the tenth inning.

On April 22, Braden was pitching against the New York Yankees when he became angry with Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez for breaking an unwritten rule when Rodriguez ran across the pitcher's mound on his way back to first base after a foul ball. At the end of the inning as the players were switching sides, Braden yelled at Rodriguez. Rodriguez offered no apology and later engaged Braden in the press, pointing to his short career and losing record.[10]

Perfect game

On May 9, 2010, Braden pitched the 19th perfect game in MLB history against the Tampa Bay Rays in Oakland.[11] He did it in 109 pitches, 77 of which were strikes, with catcher Landon Powell behind the plate. Braden had lost his mother to melanoma, so pitching the 19th perfect game in major league history was of even greater significance to Braden because he achieved the feat on Mother's Day.[12] 10 years later, Braden claimed to have pitched the game while hung over.[13]

The Athletics celebrated the feat during the next homestand. On May 17, the A's placed a commemorative graphic on the outfield wall, next to Rickey Henderson's retired number. May 21 was called "Dallas Braden Day" by the City of Oakland. On May 22, Braden was awarded with the key to the city of Stockton at a Stockton Ports minor league game.

Braden went on to finish the 2010 season with an 11–14 record in 30 starts for the A's. He threw five complete games along with two shutouts, pitching a total of 192+2⁄3 innings with 113 strikeouts at 43 walks.

Braden pitching in 2011

Braden went on to pitch in three starts in 2011, with a 1–1 record and 3.00 ERA, before feeling discomfort in his shoulder. It was revealed he had a torn capsule in his left shoulder and would need immediate surgery. Braden missed the remainder of the 2011 season.

On December 13, 2011, Braden avoided arbitration by signing a one-year deal. He made $3.35 million in guaranteed money, with $400,000 in incentives. Braden missed the entire 2012 season and on August 21, Braden required an additional surgery, this time to repair the rotator cuff of his shoulder. The surgery would also sideline him for the first half of the 2013 season. Following the season, Braden was let go and he became a free agent. Braden officially announced his retirement on January 14, 2014, citing his arm being a "shredded mess".[14]

Overall, in his five seasons with Oakland, Braden appeared in 94 MLB games (79 starts), compiling a 26–36 record with 4.16 ERA while pitching 491+1⁄3 innings with 305 strikeouts and 141 walks. He did not have any postseason appearances, as the Athletics did not have a winning season in any of Braden's years with the team.

Braden threw four pitches: a cutter at 82 MPH, a fastball at 86–88 MPH, a slurve at 72–79 MPH and a changeup at 72 MPH.[15]