The Spanish Flu:
For the Phillies and A’s in 1918, the season ended abruptly on Sept. 2 due to the pandemic that hit Philadelphia extremely hard. But both teams were out of the running in 1918 and in the basement for 1919. So, they dodged a bullet!
Phillies Standings:
- 1918, 6th Place: 55-68 (123 Gms.), .447 and 26 Games Behind.
- 1919, 8th Place: 47-90 (137 Gms.), .343 and 47.5 GB.
A’s Standings:
- 1918, 8th Place: 52-76 (128 Gms.), .406 and 24 GB.
- 1919, 8th Place: 36-104 (140 Gms.), .257 and 52 GB.
But Tom Mack, an unfamous sibling, wasn’t as fortunate because he was a victim of the Spanish Flu. However, he had reportedly spent his final few hours talking family, business, and baseball with his brother: His passing shook up the Athletics owner.
In the only September World Series, the Red Sox won the 1918 Fall Classic for the final time before 2004 with Babe Ruth earning two of their four victories. Interestingly, Babe Ruth had twice survived the first –and weaker– wave of the Spanish Flu earlier in the year.
An important pandemic casualty for the sport was the spitball, which the majors banned prior to the 1920 campaign. Moreover, baseball had allowed two exceptions per franchise grandfathered in for 17 pitchers until their career’s end: The last retired during the 1934 season.
In 1920 and 1921, the Fightins acquired two players: right fielder Casey Stengel and Cliff Lee (outfielder, first baseman and catcher) respectively. Stengel averaged .292 and .305 during his two years in Philly. As for Clifford Walker Lee, he hit over .300 during 1921-23 with the Phils before finishing with the Cleveland Indians.