Newman was involved in the first of two bench-clearing brawls with Lenny Randle and the Seattle Mariners on April 19, . The A's won the first half of the strike shortened season with a 37–23 record to return to the postseason for the first time since . In 1981 he also threw out 46.4% of attempted base-stealers, fifth-best of all catchers in the American League. In his only career trip to the postseason, Newman went hitless in nine plate appearances in the American League West division series and ALCS.