Athletic of Philadelphia
Encyclopedia
| Philadelphia Athletics |
|---|
| Founded: 1860 |
| Folded: 1876 |
| League: National Association of Professional Base Ball Players National Association of Professional Base Ball Players The National Association of Professional Base Ball Players , or simply the National Association , was founded in 1871 and continued through the 1875 season... National League National League The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional... |
| Stadium: Jefferson Street Grounds Jefferson Street Grounds Jefferson Street Grounds was a baseball field located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was also known as Jefferson Park and Athletics Park. It was home to the Philadelphia Athletics from 1871 to 1876, five seasons in the... , (1871–1876) |
| Championships: 1 (1871) |
National Association of Professional Base Ball Players
The National Association of Professional Base Ball Players , or simply the National Association , was founded in 1871 and continued through the 1875 season...
, and later National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
, professional baseball team that played in the second half of the 19th century.
Early History
The city of Philadelphia "had been a baseball town from the earliest days of the game", fielding amateur teams since at least the early 1830s. In 1860, James N. Kerns formed a club, simply named "Athletic Base Ball Club", that soon dominated amateur play in the area (Jordan 1999). Harper's WeeklyHarper's Weekly
Harper's Weekly was an American political magazine based in New York City. Published by Harper & Brothers from 1857 until 1916, it featured foreign and domestic news, fiction, essays on many subjects, and humor...
chronicled a match between Athletic and Atlantic of Brooklyn
Brooklyn Atlantics
The Atlantic Base Ball Club of Brooklyn was baseball's first champion and its first dynasty.Established in 1855, Atlantic was a founding member of the National Association of Base Ball Players in 1857. In 1859, with a record of 11 wins and 1 loss, Atlantic emerged as the recognized champions of...
for the baseball championship in 1866. A famous Harper's illustration shows the Athletic players in uniforms with the familiar blackletter "A" on front.
When newspapers developed stand-alone game scores and league standings, the club was termed Athletic (Base Ball Club being dropped in any case). In prose the team was commonly called the Athletics, plural, and later generations have usually called both club and team the "Philadelphia Athletics". Athletic of Philadelphia is a compromise that contemporary readers would understand as an abbreviation for something like Athletic Base Ball Club, of Philadelphia in distinction from clubs of the same name in other cities.
National Association
Athletic turned professional in the late 1860s and helped establish the first league, National Association of Professional Base Ball PlayersNational Association of Professional Base Ball Players
The National Association of Professional Base Ball Players , or simply the National Association , was founded in 1871 and continued through the 1875 season...
(NA), which began play in 1871. It played home games at Jefferson Street Grounds
Jefferson Street Grounds
Jefferson Street Grounds was a baseball field located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was also known as Jefferson Park and Athletics Park. It was home to the Philadelphia Athletics from 1871 to 1876, five seasons in the...
until expulsion from the major leagues in 1876.
The Athletics were one of the most successful National Association teams, winning the first pennant with a record of 21 wins and 7 losses (.750), two games ahead of the Boston Red Stockings and Chicago White Stockings. Actually, the race was much closer: the primary official criterion then was neither games nor winning percentage, but wins, and the three clubs finished in the order given with 21, 20, and 19 victories. The final game of the season, played on October 30 in Brooklyn, saw Athletic defeat Chicago, 4–1, clinching the title. (Nate Berkenstock
Nate Berkenstock
Nathan "Nate" Berkenstock was the earliest-born professional baseball player, nearly four years older than the next-"oldest" player, Harry Wright, who born in 1835 and is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Berkenstock played in just one pro league game: the game that decided the first...
, a 40-year-old amateur who played right field for Philadelphia that day due to injuries, made his only big-league appearance in that game.)
While Boston dominated the NA, winning the other four pennants, the Athletics and New York Mutuals
New York Mutuals
The Mutual Base Ball Club of New York was a leading American baseball club almost throughout its 20-year history. It was established during 1857, the year of the first baseball convention, just too late to be a founding member of the National Association of Base Ball Players. It was a charter...
also fielded teams every year, with Philadelphia winning a few more games overall but never challenging Boston.
Dick McBride
Dick McBride
James Dickson "Dick" McBride was an American Major League Baseball player from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who was the star pitcher and the player-manager for the Philadelphia Athletics of the National Association from through most of the when Cap Anson took over as player-manager for the...
served as regular pitcher for more than a decade and as captain throughout the NA seasons, which gives him manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
credit today. Other star players include Al Reach
Al Reach
Alfred James Reach was an Anglo-American sportsman who, after becoming one of the early stars of baseball in the National Association, went on to become an influential executive, publisher, sporting goods manufacturer and spokesman for the sport.Born in London, Al Reach was a regular for the...
in the 1860s and Cap Anson
Cap Anson
Adrian Constantine Anson , nicknamed "Cap" and "Pop", was a National Association and Major League Baseball first baseman...
who played from 1872 to 1875 (Anson took over as captain near the very end of the 1875 season).
During their five-year existence the Athletics won 165 games and lost only 86 for a winning percentage
Winning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
of .657. Notable players on their roster included Hall of Famer Cap Anson
Cap Anson
Adrian Constantine Anson , nicknamed "Cap" and "Pop", was a National Association and Major League Baseball first baseman...
, infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
Ezra Sutton
Ezra Sutton
Ezra Ballou Sutton was an American third baseman in the National Association and Major League Baseball from 1871-1888. Sutton collected 1,574 hits during this time period; he had a lifetime batting average of .294...
, and pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
/manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
Dick McBride.
National League (1876)
During the summer of 1875, the Chicago White StockingsChicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
moved decisively to improve its team by recruiting six stars then playing in Boston and Philadelphia. Four Red Stockings players (catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
Deacon White
Deacon White
James Laurie "Deacon" White was an American baseball player who was one of the principal stars during the first two decades of the sport's professional era...
, infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
s Cal McVey
Cal McVey
Calvin Alexander McVey was a professional baseball player during the 1860s and 1870s. McVey's importance to the game stems from his play on two of the earliest professional baseball teams, the original Cincinnati Red Stockings and the National Association Boston Red Stockings...
and Ross Barnes
Ross Barnes
Charles Roscoe Barnes was one of the stars of baseball's National Association and the early National League , playing second base and shortstop. He played for the dominant Boston Red Stockings teams of the early 1870s, along with Albert Spalding, Cal McVey, George Wright, Harry Wright, Jim...
, and pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Al Spalding
Albert Spalding
Albert Goodwill Spalding was a professional baseball player, manager and co-founder of A.G. Spalding sporting goods company.-Biography:...
) and Philadelphia Athletics third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
Cap Anson
Cap Anson
Adrian Constantine Anson , nicknamed "Cap" and "Pop", was a National Association and Major League Baseball first baseman...
would play for Chicago in 1876, with Ezra Sutton
Ezra Sutton
Ezra Ballou Sutton was an American third baseman in the National Association and Major League Baseball from 1871-1888. Sutton collected 1,574 hits during this time period; he had a lifetime batting average of .294...
remaining in Philadelphia for the Athletics' final season.
Chicago's William Hulbert
William Hulbert
William Ambrose Hulbert was one of the founders of the National League, recognized as baseball's first major league, and was also the president of the Chicago White Stockings franchise....
, assisted by player Albert Spalding
Albert Spalding
Albert Goodwill Spalding was a professional baseball player, manager and co-founder of A.G. Spalding sporting goods company.-Biography:...
and sportswriter Lewis Meacham, moved at the same time to organize a new league. Hulbert recruited first the St. Louis Brown Stockings
St. Louis Brown Stockings
The St. Louis Brown Stockings were a professional baseball club based in St. Louis, Missouri from 1875 to 1877.-History:Joining the National Association in the final season of that league, the Brown Stockings were the first team to represent St. Louis in a professional baseball association . The...
of the National Association
National Association of Professional Base Ball Players
The National Association of Professional Base Ball Players , or simply the National Association , was founded in 1871 and continued through the 1875 season...
, independent clubs from Louisville and Cincinnati (the Louisville Grays
Louisville Grays
The Louisville Grays were a 19th century U.S. baseball team and charter member of the National League, based in Louisville, Kentucky. They played two seasons, 1876 and 1877, and compiled a record of 65–61. Their home games were at the Louisville Baseball Park. The Grays were owned by...
and Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
), and four eastern clubs: the Athletics, the New York Mutuals
New York Mutuals
The Mutual Base Ball Club of New York was a leading American baseball club almost throughout its 20-year history. It was established during 1857, the year of the first baseball convention, just too late to be a founding member of the National Association of Base Ball Players. It was a charter...
, the Hartford Dark Blues
Hartford Dark Blues
The Hartford Dark Blues were a 19th century baseball team. The team was based in Hartford, Connecticut.-History:They were a member of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players in 1874 and 1875 and the National League in 1876 and 1877...
, and the Boston Red Stockings
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
. Three NA clubs still in business were excluded: the Philadelphia Whites, Brooklyn Atlantics
Brooklyn Atlantics
The Atlantic Base Ball Club of Brooklyn was baseball's first champion and its first dynasty.Established in 1855, Atlantic was a founding member of the National Association of Base Ball Players in 1857. In 1859, with a record of 11 wins and 1 loss, Atlantic emerged as the recognized champions of...
, and the New Haven Elm Citys
New Haven Elm Citys
The New Haven Elm Citys was a professional baseball team based in New Haven, Connecticut. The existed for one season, in the National Association in . The Elm City played 47 games during their existence, and had a win–loss record of 7–40. They played their home games at the Howard Avenue Grounds...
. The Athletics and Mutuals were selected rather than the Whites and Atlantics, as the new National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
granted exclusive territories to all member clubs. New Haven was too small a city and the club had declined to travel West in 1875, playing only three home games apiece with Chicago and St. Louis. On Saturday, April 22, 1876, the Athetics played in the first game in the history of Major League Baseball, losing to the Boston Red Caps
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, 6–5.
After having spent fifteen years as a strong and stable club, the Athletics fared poorly in the new National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
, finishing seventh with 14 wins in 60 games, 38 wins behind Chicago. Near the end of the season, the financially-troubled team refused to make a western road trip, finishing with 35 games played at home and 25 away.
Mutual of New York also refused, owing the western teams nine home games. Both clubs were expelled from the National League, which simply contracted from eight to six for the 1877
1877 in baseball
-Champions:*National League: Boston Red Caps*International Association: London‚ Ontario‚ Canada Tecumsehs*League Alliance: Indianapolis Hoosiers & Lowell Ladies' Men *New England Association: Lowell Ladies' Men...
season.
The 1876 Athletics were managed by Al Wright
Al Wright (baseball manager)
Alfred Hector Wright was a Manager in Major League Baseball. He managed the Philadelphia Athletics of the National League during the 1876 season.His career managerial record was 14-45 in 60 games for a finish of seventh place....
and played their home games at the Jefferson Street Grounds
Jefferson Street Grounds
Jefferson Street Grounds was a baseball field located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was also known as Jefferson Park and Athletics Park. It was home to the Philadelphia Athletics from 1871 to 1876, five seasons in the...
. Their top-hitting regular was left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
George Hall
George Hall (baseball player)
George William Hall was a professional baseball player who played in the National Association and later the National League. Born in Stepney, England, Hall later immigrated to the U.S...
, who batted .366 with a slugging percentage of .545. Another strong batter on the team was third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
Levi Meyerle
Levi Meyerle
Levi Samuel Meyerle was an American Major League Baseball player who played for eight seasons in organized professional league play...
, who hit .340. The best pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
on the team was Lon Knight
Lon Knight
Alonzo P. "Lon" Knight, born Alonzo P. Letti , was an American right fielder, right-handed pitcher and manager in Major League Baseball...
, who won 10 games, lost 22, and had an ERA of 2.62.
Record
| Year | W | L | T | Games | Rank in games (in wins) |
| 1861 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 14 | |
| 1862 | 1 | 1 | 2 | non-member | |
| 1863 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 2 (4th in wins) | |
| 1864 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 10 (tie 3rd) | |
| 1865 | 15 | 3 | 18 | 2 (2nd) | |
| 1866 | 23 | 2 | 25 | 2 (2nd) | |
| 1867 | 44 | 3 | 47 | 1 (1st) | |
| 1868 | 47 | 3 | 50 | 2 (tie 1st) | |
| 1869 | 45 | 8 | 53 | 3 (3rd) | |
| 1870 | 65 | 11 | 1 | 77 | 2 (tie 3rd in wins) |
Championship matches with professional teams (1869–1870) and with professional leagues (1871–1876)
| Year | W | L | T | Games | Rank in games (in wins) |
| 1869 | 15 | 7 | 22 | 3 (tie 2nd in wins) | |
| 1870 | 26 | 11 | 1 | 38 | 2 (3rd) |
| 1871 | 21 | 7 | 28 | 6 (1st place) | |
| 1872 | 30 | 14 | 3 | 47 | 4 (4th place) |
| 1873 | 28 | 23 | 1 | 52 | 6 (5th place) |
| 1874 | 33 | 22 | 55 | 6 (3rd place) | |
| 1875 | 53 | 20 | 4 | 77 | 3 (3rd place) |
| 1876 | 14 | 45 | 1 | 60 | 7 (7th place) |
Source for season records: Wright (2000) has published records for dozens of NABBP teams each season, relying on a mix of game and season records in contemporary newspapers and guides. Dozens of leading clubs by number of matches are included, as are many others. The records do not consistently cover either all games played or all championship matches between NABBP members.
Notable alumni
- Lip PikeLip PikeLipman Emanuel "Lip" Pike the "Iron Batter", was one of the stars of 19th century baseball in the United States. He was the first player to be revealed as a professional , as well as the first Jewish player...
, major league baseball 4x home run champion
See also
- 1871 Philadelphia Athletics season1871 Philadelphia Athletics seasonWith the debut of the first professional baseball league, the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players, the Athletic Baseball Club of Philadelphia was one of the first clubs to join. The Athletics had been around since 1860 as an amateur club...
- 1872 Philadelphia Athletics season1872 Philadelphia Athletics seasonIn its second year in the National Association, the 1872 Athletic Baseball Club of Philadelphia finished in fourth place with a record of 30-14.-Roster:-Starters by position:...
- 1873 Philadelphia Athletics season1873 Philadelphia Athletics seasonThe 1873 Athletic Baseball Club of Philadelphia finished in fifth place in the National Association with a record of 28-23. First baseman Cap Anson batted .398 and was second in the league batting race.-Roster:-Starters by position:...
- 1874 Philadelphia Athletics season1874 Philadelphia Athletics seasonThe 1874 Athletic Baseball Club of Philadelphia finished in third place in the National Association with a record of 33-22. Dick McBride pitched all of the team's innings and led the league with a 1.64 earned run average.-Roster:-Starters by position:...
- 1875 Philadelphia Athletics season1875 Philadelphia Athletics seasonThe 1875 Athletic Baseball Club of Philadelphia finished in second place in the National Association with a record of 53-20. The NA folded after this season, and the Athletics joined the new National League for the 1876 season.-Roster:...
- 1876 Philadelphia Athletics season1876 Philadelphia Athletics seasonAfter five seasons in the National Association, the Philadelphia Athletics finished the first season of the National League with a record of 14-45, good for 7th place...
- Athletic Base Ball Club of PhiladelphiaAthletic Base Ball Club of PhiladelphiaAthletic Base Ball Club of Philadelphia is a vintage base ball team based in Philadelphia, which plays by 1864 National Association Rules. Athletic is a member of the Mid Atlantic Vintage Base Ball League...