White Elephants 7, Astros 5
contributed by NeilT
We are such pikers. Bitch, bitch, bitch about a couple or three losing seasons, and it ain’t even in it. Now the As, there’s some losing.
Connie Mack (1862-1956) came to the A’s in 1901, the year the American League was formed. He had spent three years, 1894-1896, as a player-manager for the Pittsburgh Pirates, which were in the old National League—you may recall the National League—with a combined win/loss record of 149-134, for a .529 winning percentage. There’s nothing wrong with that, nothing at all. He then managed the Milwaukee Brewers, which as you know are a minor league team.
For his first seven years as a manager, Mack won 571 games and lost only 425, for a combined winning percentage of .571. His teams won the AL pennant twice, in 1902 (83-53, .610) and 1905 (92-56, .622). Over 162 games, a .622 winning percentage is 100 wins. In that year, 1905, the A’s met the Giants in the second World Serious. The first was 1903, but John McGraw refused to participate in 1904, so none was held. The Giants won the series, 4-1, and Christy Mathewson pitched and won three games. If the series had been seven games, Mathewson would probably have won four. All three games were complete game shutouts.
Of John McGraw, Mack later said “There has been only one manager, and his name is John McGraw.” Of Connie Mack, John McGraw had said in 1902 that Mack had a real white elephant on his hands.
In 1908, Mack had his first losing season, 68-85, .444. In 1909, the A’s had a 95-58 record, but it was only good enough for second to Detroit. Washington went 41-111 that year, which over 162 games would have been 45 wins, 117 losses. I feel for them.
That was ok though. In 1910, 1911, and 1913, the Elephants won the World Series, once against the Cubs and twice against the Giants. From that team, Frank Baker, Chief Bender, Eddie Collins, Herb Pennock, and Eddie Plank are in the Hall. And Mack, of course. They won the AL pennant in 1914, but lost the Series to the Boston Braves, who came from last place in late July to win the NL pennant. There’s something to be said for momentum.
In 1915, things happened. Connie Mack apparently was not a particularly good businessman. Is there a word for anti-prescient? Here’s Mack’s take on ticket prices: “The game has kept faith with the public, maintaining its old admission price for nearly thirty years while other forms of entertainment have doubled and tripled in price. And it will probably never change.”
Ticket prices were apparently not raised, and his television revenue was small, so in 1915 Mack sold off his players to make ends meet. From 1915 to 1924 the Athletics had losing seasons, for a total win-loss record of 528-961. Over a period of 10 years, that’s a win-loss percentage of .354. Did I mention that managers can no longer have an ownership interest in teams? Do you think the fans were pissed? Do you think there were any fans?
How low can you go? In 1916, the White Elephants won 36, lost 117. That’s a winning percentage of .235. They sucked.
In 1925, things turned around, and Mack put together one of the great baseball dynasties. There were old players, Ty Cobb, Zack Wheat, and Eddie Collins, and young players, Mickey Cochrane, Lefty Grove, Al Simmons, and Jimmie Foxx. Mack’s A’s won the AL pennant for three straight years, 1929, 1930, and 1931, and the World Series in 1929 (Cubs) and 1930 (Cardinals). They lost the Series to the Cardinals in 1931. You may recall the Cardinals. They still play in the National League.
In 1933, having failed to raise ticket prices and in the midst of the Great Depression, Mack sold his players off again. He would manage the A’s for 17 more years, from 1933 to 1950, and during that period he would see three .500+ seasons, 1947-1949. Barely 500+. Overall during that period he would lose 1,489 games and win 986. That’s a winning percentage of .398. Seventeen years.
Mack managed the A’s for 50 years. He holds the record for most games lost, 3,814. He also holds the record for most games won, 3,731. By the end, most things had apparently passed Mack by. From Wikipedia: “as he entered his 80s, his mental state became increasingly questionable. Mack would make strange decisions (which his coaches and players usually overruled) and call out for players from decades earlier to pinch-hit. He spent most games asleep in the dugout, leaving his coaches to run the team most of the time.” He was calling up pinch hitters from teams 20 years gone, like ghosts in the dugout.
One final Mack quote, when he retired: “I’m not quitting because I’m getting old, I’m quitting because I think people want me to.”
Meanwhile Astros lost last night, putting the A’s first in their division. Wait, our division. I keep forgetting. Keuchel gave up 5 runs in 3 1/3 innings, with 10 hits and 2 walks. Keuchel thought he was getting squeezed. Humber went 3 2/3 and gave up two more runs. Lo pitched a scoreless hitless 8th.
The ‘Stros bats were active. Villar went 3 for 5 with one double. Altuve, Crow, and Wallace all had two hits.
The good guys are now 47-94. From 1901 to 1950, the A’s had less than 47 wins three times, so hey, it’s not so bad.