EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS
Originally, the use of sophisticated quantitative analysis to influence baseball personnel
decisions in Oakland began with Sandy Alderson, the GM of the Oakland A's from 1983 to
1997. Alderson was a Harvard-educated lawyer who entered the A's organization in 1981 as
general counsel before taking the GM role in 1983. Early on in his tenure, Alderson was
intrigued by the work of early sabermetrician Bill James, who had developed sophisticated
methods Of statistical analysis pertaining to baseball.4 While Alderson understood the possible
implications of the analysis, the open checkbook of then owner Walter Haas and the on-field
success of manager Tony LaRussa dissuaded him from any possible trailblazing.5 However,
following a change in A's ownership in 1995,6 a drop in player payroll provided
Alderson with the conditions necessary to begin experimenting with James' concepts. Suddenly
on a tight budget, Alderson was forced to explore non-traditional routes of player selection
namely on-base percentage. By the time Alderson stepped aside following the 1997 season,
Beane, at only 35 years of age, was well versed in the concept of sabermetric evaluation and was
ready to accelerate its adoption as the A's new GM. Beane emphasized: "Given our