Oakland A's relief pitcher Dennis Eckersley, center, is surrounded by teammates, Mark Phillips, left, catcher Terry Steinbach, and winning pitcher Dave Stewart, right, as they won the American League pennant by beating the Blue Jays 4-3 in the fifth game of the series in Toronto, Oct. 9, 1989. (AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy)

NEW ULM — New Ulm native and former major league catcher Terry Steinbach will be inducted into the Oakland A’s Hall of Fame on Saturday, Aug. 17, when the A’s host the San Francisco Giants.

Steinbach, who caught for Oakland from 1986-1996 before catching with the Twins from 1997-1999, said that he found out about his selection from a phone call.

“They have an alumni person who called and let me know that I had been selected,” he said.

With Oakland, the A’s won three consecutive American League pennants and a World Series title in 1989. He was a three-time All-Star player and was selected as the MVP of the 1988 All-Star game.

“It was kind of baffling because you play your career out there and you enjoy what you are doing, you are having fun and winning,” he said. “And you do not expect or think that this is going to happen. So when you suddenly get a call on something like this happening it was like, ‘Holy Cow’ — it was very humbling. It made me reflect on my career out there and the time you had and the success that our team and I had. It was like, ‘Man, that was a lot of fun.'”

He added that it is every kid’s dream to make it to the big leagues.

“And when you do and then get to the World Series — we were fortunate to get to three of them and win the one — it is the ultimate goal of an athlete regardless of what your sport is — is to get to the top of your profession.”

Steinbach will be one of five inductees that include the late Bill King, who announced A’s games, manager Dick Williams and players Miguel Tejada and Jose Canseco.

“You think about what you are going to say that day,” he said. “I am sure there is going to be a lot of emotion when I step up to the microphone. When you are standing with your teammates and peers — the Reggie Jacksons and Joe Rudis and the Gene Tenaces. Now you are in that group. There will be butterflies, I am sure, that day.”