Terrence came a long way since his first days in Oakland Athletics camp, when the equipment manager misspelled his name on his bats. He arrived in the middle of the 1999 season as part of the deal that sent Kenny Rogers to the New York Mets, and was immediately billed as the A’s center fielder of the future. Stuck behind center field candidates Rich Becker, Ryan Christenson, and Bo Porter, Long began the season in the minors, but poor production at the leadoff spot in Oakland eventually pushed Long to the head of the line. By April he was a starter, finishing the season second among rookies with 18 long balls and batting .288.
