Philadelphia Phillies, A’s: 1914-19, 1929, 1941, 2020

Troubling times are here again for Phillies and A’s baseball, but World War I, the Spanish Flu, the Great Depression and World War II preceded the current pandemic to their supporter’s dismay from 1914 through 1945.

Uncertainty everywhere:   

While Philadelphia Phillies fans wait, the lords of baseball are considering Arizona, Florida and Texas as possible sites for an abbreviated season, and those state governors are making virus-related decisions. Unfortunately, those executives could limit the locations available to the MLB. Where are the baseball gods?

IN OTHER WORDS:        “But it is possible that, in the days ahead, these years we have lived through may eventually be thought of simply as a period of disturbance and regression.” – Hjalmar Branting

Like the elements affecting play on the diamond, doing things mostly right during a pandemic can determine the campaign’s length or no baseball this summer. Therefore, science and politics are the X factors for less than a full 162 and its location. But if the virus is seasonal, that will be a dynamics-changer.

In 1914, World War I had begun, and drafted stars affected the standings plus the sport’s bottom line. And some owners decided to move top-tier –albeit aging– talent due to uncertainty. Yes, the Fightins and the Athletics faced this challenge.

Even though war was nearing its end, the Spanish Flu was overlapping it. And it affected the baseball schedule, the World Series, and some unforgettable stars of that era as well. In fact, one even survived it twice!

To complete the “hat trick” of disasters, the stock market crashed. Well, the A’s under Connie Mack had experienced these detours before, plus attendance dropped 64.6 percent from 1929 to 1933. And that financial beating led to Mack’s second selloff.

In ’41, World War II meant drafted players including the game’s brightest stars. It also featured regulars who couldn’t serve in the military, but their playing days were just a limited opportunity. However, one pitcher did stand out on the red pinstripes because of his “Hall of Fame” credentials.

Though the current pandemic has stopped this campaign cold, previous major disruptions had led to financial difficulties for many organizations. So, the end result was either selling or trading stars to keep those franchises afloat, but it was especially painful for successful Philly clubs. But the present Fightins are okay.

WWI:             

For the Phillies, 1914 was their 27th year and it was the A’s 14th summer. But World War I also began that July in Europe. Eventually, America entered the conflict in 1917 with players drafted after season’s end. Hello, basement!

In 1913, the Federal League (FL) had become the third major league through 1915, and they declared war in 1914 on the National and American Leagues. They lured players away and even one star in mid-season. Additionally, they had filed an antitrust lawsuit in 1915 against organized baseball, but it ended in a settlement.

The Phils had lost key players to the FL and the draft, but fearing Pete Alexander –Grover Cleveland Alexander– wouldn’t be the same after returning from the war and needing money they dealt him to the Chicago Cubs after the 1917 campaign. From 1915-17, he won 30 games each summer with four one-hitters in 1915.

Even though a bomb had triggered epilepsy and affected Alexander’s hearing, he was still a dominant hurler. But he had only recorded his sub-2.00 ERAs for 1915-17 and 1919-20 after all sub-3.00 ERAs in his first four seasons: The Fightins had seven of his best nine campaigns from 1911 through 1926.

Phillies Standings:

• 1914, 6th Place: 74-80, .481 and 20.5 Games Behind.
• 1915, 1st Place: 90-62 and .592.
• 1916, 2nd Place: 91-62, .595 and 2.5 GB.
• 1917, 2nd Place: 87-65, .572 and 10 GB.
• 1918, 6th Place: 55-68, .447 and 26 GB without Alexander.
• 1919, 8th Place: 47-90, .343 and 47.5 GB.

Before Beantown’s years without winning the Fall Classic, the Boston Braves had triumphed over the A’s in 1914. and the Boston Red Sox defeated the red pinstripes in 1915. Overlapping also, the Athletics had lost Chief Bender to the FL in 1915, but he joined the Phils for his last two summers in 1916-17.

A’s Standings:

• 1914, 1st Place: 99-53 and .651.
• 1915, 8th Place: 43-109, .283 and 58.5 Games Behind.
• 1916, 8th Place: 36-117, .235 and 54.5 GB.
• 1917, 8th Place: 55-98, .359 and 44.5 GB.
• 1918, 8th Place: 52-76, .406 and 24 GB.
• 1919, 8th Place: 36-104, .257 and 52 GB.

Since the A’s had expensive stars, the possibility of World War I and the FL with their eyes on Mack’s roster, he decided to sell off big names to solve his financial problems. And his Athletics fell from the “penthouse” to the cellar.

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.

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.

WWII:             

In 1940, the Phillies (50-103) and the A’s (54-100) were cellar dwellers without drafted stars. The Fightins finished no higher than seventh place once, while Mack’s white elephants managed to finish fifth in their one summer out of the basement. Hard to do, Harry!

Despite the player quality, president Franklin Roosevelt wanted fans who missed the draft and were working long hours to have some entertainment during their leisure. So, the owners did their best to accommodate him with better-than-nothing baseball. Sound familiar?

The first big league regular drafted in 1941 was the Phils Hugh Mulcahy. Interestingly, his nickname was Losing Pitcher, but the red pinstripes helped with that. He reportedly stated he was going to a winning team.

Phillies Standings:

• 1941, 8th Place: 43-111, .279 and 57 Games Behind.
• 1942, 8th Place: 42-109, .278 and 62.5 GB.
• 1943, 7th Place: 64-90, .416 and 41 GB.
• 1944, 8th Place: 61-92, .399 and 43.5 GB.
• 1945, 8th Place: 46-108, .299 and 52 GB.

When you hear the name Jimmie Foxx, you think of the A’s slugging first sacker. Basically, he felt he could hit 1945’s replacements with 80 percent of players in the military or war-related jobs. By mid-season, though, he was only batting .268 with one home run and seven RBIs through 89 contests.

While his legs and eyesight weren’t as good, his arm had plenty of bullets. So, the now moundsman made two starts plus seven relief appearances. And it allowed him to retire after the campaign with a 1-0 mark and a 1.59 ERA for 22 2/3 innings.

A’s Standings:

• 1941, 8th Place: 64-90, .416 and 37 Games Behind.
• 1942, 8th Place: 55-99, .357 and 48 GB.
• 1943, 8th Place: 49-105, .318 and 49 GB.
• 1944, 5th Place: 72-82, .468 and 17 GB.
• 1945, 8th Place: 52-98, .347 and 34.5 GB.