The Great Depression:
While the Phillies were out of contention during those financial-challenging summers, the A’s campaigns despite winning also didn’t have paying customers able to afford the leisurely activity of taking in a ballgame. And this crisis began with the 1929 stock market crash. Yes, Black Tuesday!
After the ’33 season, both organizations traded stars whose best days were nearing an end. The red pinstripes swapped Chuck Klein for $65,000 and warm bodies. And even though the Phils were one of two clubs not losing money, they weren’t making it either because of their annual low attendance.
Phillies Standings:
- 1929, 5th Place: 71-82, .464 and 27.5 Games Behind.
- 1930, 8th Place: 52-102, .338 and 40 GB.
- 1931, 6th Place: 66-88, .429 and 35 GB.
- 1932, 4th Place: 78-76, .506 and 12 GB.
- 1933, 7th Place: 60-92, .395 and 31 GB.
The ’29 Athletics were triumphant in their first World Series since 1913, and fans watched from their rooftops over the 12′ right field fence. Two days later, the stock market had crashed, and despite winning the 1930 Fall Classic and the 1931 AL pennant attendance was dropping by roughly 100,000 per summer.
To make the situation worse, those homeowners added bleachers in ’30 to their rooftops and were turning a quick profit. Eventually, John Shibe had added 38′ to the 12-foot wall –called “the Spite Fence”– before the 1935 campaign, but the Athletics finished eighth that season with little interest in the on-field product.
A’s Standings:
- 1929, 1st Place: 104-46 and .693.
- 1930, 1st Place: 102-52 and .662.
- 1931, 1st Place: 107-45 and .704.
- 1932, 2nd Place: 94-60, .610 and 13 Games Behind.
- 1933, 3rd Place: 79-72, .523 and 19.5 GB.
The Tall Tactician built his powerhouse with young talent that became too expensive leading to a selloff during the Great Depression. After, though, the 1932 campaign, Mack moved cleanup hitter Al Simmons and, then, the rest of the Mack Attack a year later. Financially, he received $125,000 and players for Lefty Grove.