Barry Zito from the Chronology

Dec 28, 2006 - The Giants sign free agent P Barry Zito to a 7 year, $126 million contract. Several teams, including the Mets, with a five year $75 million offer, and the Rangers, came up short.

Oct 3, 2006 - The Athletics edge the Twins, 3-2, in the opener of their AL Division Series on the strength of a pair of HRs by Frank Thomas. Barry Zito gets the win for Oakland.

Apr 14, 2006 - Kevin Millwood of the Rangers tops Barry Zito of the A's as both go 7 innings in the 6-3 Texas win. Frank Thomas of the A's hits his 200th HR as a DH to join Babe Ruth and Ernie Banks as the only big-leaguers to hit 200 or more homers at two different positions. Ruth hit 357 as a right fielder and 313 as a left fielder, Banks hit 210 as a first baseman and 277 as a shortstop. Thomas hit 249 as a first baseman.

Apr 8, 2006 - Barry Zito, Kiko Calero, Joe Kennedy, and Huston Street combine to 1-hit the Mariners as the Athletics cruise to a 3-0 victory. Richie Sexson’s 2nd-inning 2B is Seattle’s only hit.

Apr 3, 2006 - The Yankees roll by the A's, 15-2 as Alex Rodriguez has a grand slam and 5 RBI. Hideki Matsui has 4 hits, including a 3-run homer, to drive in 4. Randy Johnson, with 7 IP, is the recipient of the offense. A's starter Barry Zito joins Brad Havens (1983) and Dave Stewart (1995) as the only Opening Day starters since 1945 to give up seven or more runs and record just four outs. The A's are wearing a right-sleeve arm patch on their home uniforms in memory of Bill King, their lead radio announcer since 1981. The patch features a microphone emblazoned with King's name and his signature call, "Holy Toledo." The Blue Jays are paying tribute to Tom Cheek who broadcast 4,306 consecutive regular-season games beginning with the team's first ever in 1977. The team will wear a left-sleeve arm patch featuring a microphone and the initials "TC."

Oct 2, 2003 - Oakland's Barry Zito shuts down the Red Sox‚ 5-1‚ to give the Athletics a 2-0 lead in their Division Series. Oakland scores all its runs in the 2nd inning‚ with Eric Byrnes' 2-run double a key blow.

Nov 6, 2002 - Oakland's 24-year-old Barry Zito wins the AL Cy Young Award.

Oct 4, 2002 - The A's hit 4 HRs and Barry Zito hurls the club to a 6-3 win over the Twins to give Oakland a 2 games to 1 lead in their division series. Ray Durham hits an inside-the-park homer to open the game and Scott Hatteberg follows with another round-tripper. Jermaine Dye and Terrance Long also homer for Oakland.

Jun 16, 2002 - Barry Zito wins his 8th straight game as Oakland beats their rivals‚ the SF Giants‚ 2-1. The win gives the A's a 58-37 record against the National League‚ the best inter-league record of any team. The A's will finish the season 16-2 against the NL.

Oct 7, 2000 - The A's defeat the Yankees‚ 11-1‚ behind Barry Zito to tie their division series at 2 games apiece. Olmedo Saenz hits a 3-run homer off Roger Clemens for Oakland.

Sep 30, 2000 - Don't mess with Texas? The Athletics pound the Rangers‚ 23-2‚ in the highest scoring game in Athletics history‚ and also the most runs allowed by Texas in a game. Oakland scores 9 runs in the 1st inning‚ capped by Randy Velarde's 2-run HR. Miguel Tejada hits a grand slam in the 5th‚ the ML record 14th of the year for Oakland and 8 more A's are plated in the 7th. Fourteen players score runs to set a new ML record. Barry Zito is the easy winner.

Jun 2, 1999 - The Devil Rays make Josh Hamilton the 1st HS player in 6 years to be selected No. 1 in major league baseball's amateur draft. He'll sign for $3.96 million. The Marlins take another Josh-Beckett-with the 2nd pick and sign him for $3.625 million‚ while C Eric Munson‚ a Braves 2nd round pick in '96‚ goes to Detroit at number 3 and signs for $3.65 million. In a spending glut that will have scouts brushing up on their Latin American geography‚ 34 players‚ including all but one first rounder‚ will sign for $1 million or more; 76 players in the 1st ten rounds get $500‚000 or more; 127 players sign for $200‚000+. The Pirates ink 39th round pick Patrick O'Brien for $500‚000. The Baltimore Orioles are the first team in the 35-year history of Baseball's amateur draft to have four first round picks. Only 2 pitchers will make it as far as AAA this year-A's Barry Zito‚ a first rounder‚ and Diamondbacks Jeremy Ward‚ a 2nd round pick. Other first rounders include Jason Jennings (Rockeis)‚ Kurt Ainsworth (Giants)‚ Ben Sheets (Marlins)‚ and Matt Ginter (Chicago). The Cardinals take Albert Pujols on the 13th round (402nd overall).