The Philadelphia / Kansas City / Oakland Athletics have the second most American League pennants (15) behind the Yankees. But it's way behind the Yankees, as the Bronx Bombers have 40 as of 2013.
But in the early years of the World Series, the Athletics, along with the Red Sox (who are third with exactly 13) were the early dynasty from the junior circuit.
The A's not only made, but won their first two World Series appearances in 1910 and 1911. They made it back in 1913, but came up a little empty.
With Ruth and the Yankees rolling along to six AL pennants in the 1920, there was precious little room for the Athletics, but they established another fine dynasty in the late 20s and early 30s. That team again won back to back in 1929 and 1930 and nearly a third time in 1930. Alas, it was their last pennant in Philadelphia.
The move to Kansas didn't change the team's fortunes. The Athletics failed to finish at .500 for all 13 years there. Worse, they often traded talented players like Roger Maris, Bob Cerv and Bud Daley to the New York Yankees. At one point, the Kansas Blues were the Yankees minor league team. In the 1950s and 60s, it was the Kansas City Athletics that provided New York with many a great player. Often, the A's got little return for anyone.
A move to Oakland in 1968 saw the team climb to and over .500 (82-80). Three years later, Oakland made it to the postseason, but lost to Baltimore in the ALCS. But the next year, the Oakland Athletics beat Detroit in the ALCS and were in the World Series. They faced an early version of the Cincinnati Reds' Big Red Marchine. It was a great Fall Classic. The A's prevailed in seven games.
The 1972 Athletics had a great team. Reggie Jackson was about to embark on a World Series career that earned him the nickname, Mr. October. Joe Rudi was one of the league's best defensive leftfielders, and a pretty good slugger. And there some good role players like Sal Bando and Bert Campaneris. Then, there was their pitching staff!
On the starting rotation, you had Vida Blue, only 6-10 but with an ERA of 2.80. You had Ken Holtzman, who would win 18 or more games every season with Oakland from 1972 to 1975. But the best pitcher Oakland had in those years was Catfish Hunter, whose first name was actually Jim. How about the bullpen?
There was Rollie Fingers, who was one of the very best of this or any era when it came to finishing. In 1972, all he did was win 11 games, save 21 and post and ERA of 2.51. There was also Bob Locker (6-1, 10 saves, 2.65 ERA) and Darold Knowles (5-1, 11 saves 1.37 ERA). How many times have you seen a team that had three pitchers with 10 or more saves?
But the Oakland Athletics of the 1970s were more than a one-trick pony. They repeated as World Series champs in 1973 with another great seven game triumph over the surprising New York Mets. In 1974, it took them just five games to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers. But four of the five games were decided by 3-2 scores, so it was never easy. Boston swept Oakland in the 1975 ALCS, ending the run.
The team would only make the postseason once in the next twelve years, but the arrival of the bash (cough, cough, "Juice") brothers, Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire, ushered in a new era of prosperity for the A's.
Complimenting them were the clutch hitting of Dave Henderson and the smooth fielding of shortstop, Walt Weiss. Terry Steinbach was the catcher and was underrated, too! Then, in 1989 they added the greatest leadoff hitter ever in Ricky Henderson.
The starting pitching was good on this team, too. Storm Davis (16-7) is sometimes forgotten, but always could be counted on. Then you had Bob Welch, who later authored a book about his battle with alcholism. But Bob would win 27 games in 1990. No pitcher has won as many or more games in a single season since. Then you had, Mr. Postseason, Dave Stewart. Stewart would win 20 or more games for Oakland from 1987 to 1990. Also in 1990, he no-hit my beloved Toronto Blue Jays. But how about the bullpen?
Dennis Eckersley? Now here was a man I feared! You'd turn the ball over to him in the 9th inning and it was lights out. He'd come in, and nine strikes later, the game was over. You've seen the clips of Gibson and Alomar hitting those long balls against him, right? Those were about the only time he ever blew a save. It was incredible.
Not so incredible or remembered were the men who made the transitions from the starter to Dennis. Gene Nelson was underrated. Rick Honeycutt, once a fine starter, became a more-than-fine relief man in Oakland. Also, Eric Plunk was tough. And although he didn't pitch much, Jim Corsi was also very good.
The team in 1988 lost the World Series to Los Angeles, which was ironic since that was the last team they faced when they had won back in 1974. But, with the addition of Henderson the next year, they routed the San Francisco Giants in four games. A surprise loss in 1990 to the Cincinnati Reds (again, note the irony there, as they had beaten them back in 1972) in 1990 ended Oakland's run. Or maybe my Toronto Blue Jays win over them in the 1992 ALCS stopped that?
Since then, Oakland has not returned to the World Series. But, they have made it back to the postseason many times. I think they've set the record for most Division Series' lost and most Division Series lost in five games. But it has been their approach to doing so that has garnered Oakland attention as the team to follow.
Signing players at amazing low prices due to using sabermetrics as an approach, the A's have been back to the postseason seven times since 1992. Sadly, they have lost six times in the Division Series, each time in five games. In 2006, they made it all the way to the ALCS, but lost to Detroit in just four games. But in any event, with an approach that has a recipe for success (and the A's have reached the postseason the last two years running), it might not be long before Oakland finds itself in the Fall Classic for the sixteenth time!
References
Seaver, Tom, and Martin Appel. Great Moments in Baseball. New York, NY: Carol Pub. Group, 1992. Print.
But in the early years of the World Series, the Athletics, along with the Red Sox (who are third with exactly 13) were the early dynasty from the junior circuit.
The A's not only made, but won their first two World Series appearances in 1910 and 1911. They made it back in 1913, but came up a little empty.
With Ruth and the Yankees rolling along to six AL pennants in the 1920, there was precious little room for the Athletics, but they established another fine dynasty in the late 20s and early 30s. That team again won back to back in 1929 and 1930 and nearly a third time in 1930. Alas, it was their last pennant in Philadelphia.
The move to Kansas didn't change the team's fortunes. The Athletics failed to finish at .500 for all 13 years there. Worse, they often traded talented players like Roger Maris, Bob Cerv and Bud Daley to the New York Yankees. At one point, the Kansas Blues were the Yankees minor league team. In the 1950s and 60s, it was the Kansas City Athletics that provided New York with many a great player. Often, the A's got little return for anyone.
A move to Oakland in 1968 saw the team climb to and over .500 (82-80). Three years later, Oakland made it to the postseason, but lost to Baltimore in the ALCS. But the next year, the Oakland Athletics beat Detroit in the ALCS and were in the World Series. They faced an early version of the Cincinnati Reds' Big Red Marchine. It was a great Fall Classic. The A's prevailed in seven games.
The 1972 Athletics had a great team. Reggie Jackson was about to embark on a World Series career that earned him the nickname, Mr. October. Joe Rudi was one of the league's best defensive leftfielders, and a pretty good slugger. And there some good role players like Sal Bando and Bert Campaneris. Then, there was their pitching staff!
On the starting rotation, you had Vida Blue, only 6-10 but with an ERA of 2.80. You had Ken Holtzman, who would win 18 or more games every season with Oakland from 1972 to 1975. But the best pitcher Oakland had in those years was Catfish Hunter, whose first name was actually Jim. How about the bullpen?
There was Rollie Fingers, who was one of the very best of this or any era when it came to finishing. In 1972, all he did was win 11 games, save 21 and post and ERA of 2.51. There was also Bob Locker (6-1, 10 saves, 2.65 ERA) and Darold Knowles (5-1, 11 saves 1.37 ERA). How many times have you seen a team that had three pitchers with 10 or more saves?
But the Oakland Athletics of the 1970s were more than a one-trick pony. They repeated as World Series champs in 1973 with another great seven game triumph over the surprising New York Mets. In 1974, it took them just five games to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers. But four of the five games were decided by 3-2 scores, so it was never easy. Boston swept Oakland in the 1975 ALCS, ending the run.
The team would only make the postseason once in the next twelve years, but the arrival of the bash (cough, cough, "Juice") brothers, Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire, ushered in a new era of prosperity for the A's.
Complimenting them were the clutch hitting of Dave Henderson and the smooth fielding of shortstop, Walt Weiss. Terry Steinbach was the catcher and was underrated, too! Then, in 1989 they added the greatest leadoff hitter ever in Ricky Henderson.
The starting pitching was good on this team, too. Storm Davis (16-7) is sometimes forgotten, but always could be counted on. Then you had Bob Welch, who later authored a book about his battle with alcholism. But Bob would win 27 games in 1990. No pitcher has won as many or more games in a single season since. Then you had, Mr. Postseason, Dave Stewart. Stewart would win 20 or more games for Oakland from 1987 to 1990. Also in 1990, he no-hit my beloved Toronto Blue Jays. But how about the bullpen?
Dennis Eckersley? Now here was a man I feared! You'd turn the ball over to him in the 9th inning and it was lights out. He'd come in, and nine strikes later, the game was over. You've seen the clips of Gibson and Alomar hitting those long balls against him, right? Those were about the only time he ever blew a save. It was incredible.
Not so incredible or remembered were the men who made the transitions from the starter to Dennis. Gene Nelson was underrated. Rick Honeycutt, once a fine starter, became a more-than-fine relief man in Oakland. Also, Eric Plunk was tough. And although he didn't pitch much, Jim Corsi was also very good.
The team in 1988 lost the World Series to Los Angeles, which was ironic since that was the last team they faced when they had won back in 1974. But, with the addition of Henderson the next year, they routed the San Francisco Giants in four games. A surprise loss in 1990 to the Cincinnati Reds (again, note the irony there, as they had beaten them back in 1972) in 1990 ended Oakland's run. Or maybe my Toronto Blue Jays win over them in the 1992 ALCS stopped that?
Since then, Oakland has not returned to the World Series. But, they have made it back to the postseason many times. I think they've set the record for most Division Series' lost and most Division Series lost in five games. But it has been their approach to doing so that has garnered Oakland attention as the team to follow.
Signing players at amazing low prices due to using sabermetrics as an approach, the A's have been back to the postseason seven times since 1992. Sadly, they have lost six times in the Division Series, each time in five games. In 2006, they made it all the way to the ALCS, but lost to Detroit in just four games. But in any event, with an approach that has a recipe for success (and the A's have reached the postseason the last two years running), it might not be long before Oakland finds itself in the Fall Classic for the sixteenth time!
References
Brenner, Richard J. The World Series: The Great Contests.
East End Publishing, 1989. Print.
Enders, Eric. 100 Years Of The World Series. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.
2005. Print.
Gamester,
George, and Gerald Hall. On Top Of The World: The Toronto Star’s Tribute To
The ‘92 Blue Jays. Doubleday Canada, 1992. Print.
Neft,
David S., Richard M. Cohen, and Michael L. Neft. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St.
Martin's Press, 1992. Print.
Seaver, Tom, and Martin Appel. Great Moments in Baseball. New York, NY: Carol Pub. Group, 1992. Print.
Shalin,
Mike, and Neil Shalin. Out By A Step: The 100 Best Players Not In The
Baseball Hall of Fame. Lanham: Diamond Communications, 2002. Print.
Sports Reference LLC. "(title of a particular
page or blank for general citation)." Baseball-Reference.com - Major
League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/.
Web. 4 Mar. 2014.
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