History of the Oakland Athletics

The Oakland Athletics, often referred to as the Oakland A's, began in Philadelphia in 1901. Fifty-five years later, they moved to Kansas City and in 1968, they moved to Oakland, California. The A's have had a long career of successes, except for a forty year dry spell from 1931 until 1971, when the team did not play in any postseason games. Their best season was in 1931 when they won 107 games and lost 45. They went to the postseason five times from 1970 to 1979 and again from 2000 to 2009.

1901-1909

The Athletics began as the Philadelphia Athletics of the American League in 1901. Their first manager was Connie Mack, who managed them from 1901 to 1950. In their first decade, they had eight winning seasons, but they only went to the postseason one time. They played their home games at Columbia Park from 1901 through 1908. They moved the games to Shibe Park in 1909.

The Athletics had winning seasons from 1901 through 1904. During that time, they had three future Hall of Famers on their roster. Eddie Plank joined the team in 1901, followed by Rube Waddell in 1902, and Chief Bender in 1903.

In 1905, the Athletics finished the season with 92 wins and 56 losses and their first American League pennant. They went on to face the New York Giants in the World Series and they lost the series in five games. They had winning seasons again in 1906 and 1907, but they didn't get to the postseason. Future Hall of Famer Eddie Collins joined the team in 1906, and he continued to play with them through 1914.

The Athletics had a losing season in 1908, but they came back strong in 1909, winning 95 games and losing 58. Another future Hall of Famer, Frank Baker was added to the roster in 1908.

1910-1919

In the next decade, the Athletics dominated the major leagues for the first five years, winning the American League pennant in 1910, 1911, 1913, and 1914, and becoming the World Series champions in 1910, 1911 and 1913.

The Athletics finished the 1910 season with 102 wins and 48 losses. They won their first World Series title by defeating the Chicago Cubs in five games. The following season, they had 101 wins and 50 losses, and their third AL pennant. They won their second World Series title in 1911, defeating the Giants in six games.

After winning 96 games in 1913, the Athletics again faced the Giants in the World Series. This time they defeated the Giants in five games. They had 99 wins and 53 losses in 1914, but they lost the World Series to the Boston Braves in four straight games.

Following the Athletics' 1914 season, most of the team's star players went to other teams and they suddenly became a losing team. In 1915, they had a miserable season with just 43 wins and 109 losses. This started a streak of losing records and last place finishes for the team that didn't end until 1925.

1920-1929

After nothing but losing seasons in the first half of the 1920s, Connie Mack turned the team around in the latter part of the decade. They once again had winning seasons from 1925 through 1929, with their best season in 1929, when they had 104 wins and 46 losses. They won the AL pennant and then defeated the Cubs in the World Series in five games.

A key to the Athletics' success in the latter half of the 1920s was the addition of future Hall of Fame players to their roster, starting with Al Simmons in 1924. The following year, Mickey Cochrane, Jimmie Foxx, and Lefty Grove were added.

1930-1939

The Athletics continued to have winning seasons from 1930 through 1933. They had 102 wins and 52 losses in 1930, and again won the AL pennant. They then faced the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series and won the title in six games. The following year, they had 107 wins and 45 losses. They again faced the Cardinals in the World Series in 1931, but they lost the series in seven games. It was their last postseason until 1971.

Although the Athletics had winning seasons in 1932 and 1933, the number of games they won kept decreasing and by 1934, they had fallen to 68 wins and 82 losses. This downhill slide hit a peak in 1936, when they lost 100 games.

1940-1949

The first six years of the 1940s were dismal ones for the Athletics and their fans. They lost 100 or more games in 1940, 1943, and 1946. They had winning seasons from 1947 to 1949, with their best record in 1948 with 84 wins and 70 losses. Connie Mack continued as their manager through the 1940s, ending his career with them after the 1950 season.

1950-1959

The Athletics continued to struggle in the 1950s, and they had just one winning season. In 1952, under new manager Jimmie Dykes, they had 79 wins and 75 losses. Eddie Joost took over as manager in 1954, but he was also unsuccessful in leading the team to a winning record.

Connie Mack's sons, who had taken over control of the team, sold the Athletics to Arnold Johnson, who proceeded to move the team to Kansas City in 1955. The team was then renamed the Kansas City Athletics and their home games were played at Municipal Stadium. Lou Boudreau took over as manager in 1955.

The Athletics did not fare any better, however, under Johnson's ownership and they continued to end up at or near the bottom of the league. Their last unsuccessful manager in the 1950s was Harry Craft, who led the team from 1957 through 1959.

1960-1969

At the end of 1960, the Athletics were sold to Charles Finley who, within twelve years, turned the Athletics into world champions. Finley took complete control of the team and began to invest in the Athletics' minor league teams and players. However, the Athletics didn't improve at all in the first eight years of Finley's control. They had only losing seasons from 1960 through 1967, with three seasons with 100 or more losses. During that time, they had eight managers.

Finley soon wanted to move the Athletics out of Kansas City but the American League and the state of Missouri did not give into Finley's requests until 1967, when they finally agreed to let him move the team to Oakland, California. In 1968, the new Oakland Athletics, also known as the A's, were born. Their new stadium for home games was the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

The A's started playing in Oakland with some young players who would one day be in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Players on this revitalized Athletics team included future Hall of Fame players Catfish Hunter, Rollie Fingers, and Reggie Jackson. The Oakland A's had their first winning season in 1968 with an 82-80 record. The next year, they finished second in the newly formed American League West division with 88 wins and 74 losses.

1970-1979

The Athletics were the dominant team in the AL West division in the first half of the 1970s, winning the division title five times. They had winning seasons from 1970 through 1976, and they won the division title every year from 1971 through 1975. Their best season was in 1971, when they had 101 wins and 60 losses.

Dick Williams took over as manager of the A's in 1971, and he led them to 101 wins and 60 losses. They faced the Baltimore Orioles in the AL Championship series and they were swept in three games. The following year, Williams led the team to 93 wins and 62 losses and another division title. They then went on to defeat the Detroit Tigers in the ALCS. They won their first of three consecutive World Series titles in 1972 by defeating the powerful Cincinnati Reds in seven games.

Williams continued to manage the Athletics in 1973, leading them to 94 wins and 68 losses and another division title. They defeated the Orioles in the ALCS in five games and then defeated the New York Mets in the World Series in seven games.

Alvin Dark took over as manager in 1974, and he led the Athletics to another division title with 90 wins and 72 losses. Once again, they faced the Orioles in the ALCS and won the series in four games. In the World Series, they took home their third consecutive title by defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games.

In 1975, the Oakland A's reign ended when they lost the American League pennant to the Boston Red Sox in three straight games. At the same time, player contract rules changed and free agency became a part of modern baseball. At the end of the 1976 season, many of the Athletics' star players became free agents and they left for other teams. This left a huge void in the A's lineup and the team once again fell to the bottom of the league.

1980-1989

In 1980, Finley hired Billy Martin as manager of the Athletics. The team had some good young players, including Rickey Henderson, and they ended up in second place in the AL West division in 1980 with 83 wins and 79 losses. The following year, prior to the start of the new season, Finley sold the A's to Walter A. Haas, Jr., president of the Levi Strauss company.

The 1981 season was cut short by a strike and, although the A's had a good partial season and they won the AL West division series against the Kansas City Royals, they were swept in the pennant series by the New York Yankees.

From 1982 through 1986, the Athletics had only losing seasons under four managers (Billy Martin in 1982, Steve Boros in 1983 and 1984, Jackie Moore from 1984 through 1986, and Tony La Russa in 1986). The hiring of La Russa proved to be a turning point for the team.

By 1987, the A's were back on the road to winning, ending the season with an 81-81 record. That year, future Hall of Fame pitcher Dennis Eckersley joined the team.

La Russa led the Athletics to 104 wins and 58 losses in 1988, and he was named the AL Manager of the Year for that feat. They won the AL West division title and then swept the Red Sox in the ALCS in four games. They lost the World Series to the Dodgers.

In 1989, La Russa led the Athletics to another division title with 99 wins and 63 losses. They then faced the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALCS and they won the series in five games. They went on to win the World Series title by defeating the San Francisco Giants in four straight games.

1990-1999

The Athletics continued having winning seasons in 1990, 1991, and 1992. They had 103 wins and 59 losses in 1990, and one more AL West division title. They then swept the Red Sox in the ALCS, but then lost the World Series to the Reds in four straight games.

La Russa led the Athletics to another postseason in 1992, when they had 96 wins and 66 losses. He was again named the AL Manager of the Year, but he couldn't lead the team past the ALCS, which they lost to the Blue Jays in six games. He continued to manage the team through 1995, but they didn't have a winning season with him after 1992.

In 1995, Haas died and the Athletics fell under new ownership. The new owners, in an effort to cut the teams budget, sold and traded star players, including Mark McGuire and Dennis Eckersley. Even winning manager Tony La Russa was traded. Art Howe replaced La Russa, but he couldn't lead them to winning seasons in 1996 and 1997.

In 1998, Billy Beane was hired as general manager of the Athletics. His approach was the beginning of sabermetrics and it quickly proved successful. Howe led the Athletics to a winning season in 1999, but no postseason play. However, that season was the start of a new winning streak for the team. The rise of the Oakland team under Beane's leadership is chronicled in the book and movie, "Moneyball."

2000-2009

Howe continued to manage the Athletics in 2000, and he led them to three more division titles. They won the title in 2000 with 91 wins and 70 losses, and in 2001 with 102 wins and 60 losses. They lost the AL Division series both years to the Yankees. He again led the Athletics to a winning season in 2002 with 103 wins and 59 losses. They again lost the ALDS, this time to the Minnesota Twins.

Ken Macha took over as manager in 2003, and he led the Athletics to winning seasons from 2003 through 2006. They had 96 wins and 66 losses in 2003, and they again won the AL West division title. As in the previous three years, they lost the ALDS, this time to the Red Sox in five games. Finally, in 2006, after winning the AL West division title with 93 wins and 69 losses, they won the ALDS by defeating the Twins in three straight games. They were then swept by the Tigers in the ALCS.

These winning Athletics teams had a trio of top pitchers - Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder, and Barry Zito. However, these players eventually left the Athletics, with both Hudson and Zito going to the other Oakland-San Francisco area team, the Giants. After they left, the Athletics once again went on a losing streak.

2010-2018

After several years of losing seasons, the Athletics changed managers and brought in Bob Melvin in 2011. A year later, the team was again a winning one, going to the playoffs as leaders of the AL West division. AL Manager of the Year Melvin led the team to 94 wins and 68 losses in 2012. However, he wasn't able to lead them to an ALDS title, losing the series to the Tigers in five games.

The Athletics had another strong, winning season in 2013, finishing with 96 wins and 66 losses. But, once again, they lost the ALDS to the Tigers. Melvin led them to 88 wins and 74 losses in 2014, and an AL Wild Card spot. They lost the Wild Card game to another Central division team, the Kansas City Royals. Two players who helped the Athletics get to the postseason from 2012 through 2014 were third baseman Josh Donaldson and outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.

The Athletics had three losing seasons and three fifth place finishes in the AL West division from 2015 through 2017. Then, in 2018, they surprised most baseball experts and fans by winning 97 games and a Wild Card spot. They lost the Wild Card game to the Yankees with a score of 7-2.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Oakland Athletics
Baseball Reference - Oakland Athletics