Philadelphia Athletics (1860–1876)

Founding and early success (1860–1875)

The team known as the Athletics turned professional in the later part of the 1860s and was a key force in creating the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players, the first league, which started in 1871. Their original home field was a spot at 15th and Columbia, a venue with no formal name that people just called the Athletic grounds. In 1871, they moved to Jefferson Street Grounds, where they played most of their home games until the league kicked them out after the 1876 season. The Athletics were a powerhouse in the National Association, taking the very first pennant with a 21-7 record, a .750 winning percentage that put them two games ahead of Boston and Chicago. But the race was tighter than that sounds: back then, the main measure was wins, not games back or percentage, so the three teams finished with 21, 20, and 19 victories in that order. The title was decided on October 30 in Brooklyn, when the Athletics beat Chicago 4-1. That season, Chicago had become a traveling team because of the Great Chicago Fire. In that final game, a 40-year-old amateur named Nate Berkenstock played right field for Philadelphia due to injuries, making his only big-league appearance. Dick McBride was the regular pitcher for over a decade and served as captain through all the NA seasons, which is why he gets manager credit today. Other stars included Al Reach in the 1860s and Cap Anson, who played from 1872 to 1875. At the very end of the 1875 season, Anson took over as captain. The Athletics also played a single game in Dover, Delaware on June 24, 1875, at the Fairview Park Fair Grounds. Over their five years, they won 165 games and lost 86, a .657 winning percentage. Notable players included Hall of Famer Cap Anson, infielder Ezra Sutton, and pitcher-manager Dick McBride. In the summer of 1875, Chicago made a big push to improve, recruiting six stars from Boston and Philadelphia. Four Red Stockings—catcher Deacon White, infielders Cal McVey and Ross Barnes, and pitcher Al Spalding—plus Athletics third baseman Cap Anson all played for Chicago in 1876. Ezra Sutton stayed in Philadelphia for the Athletics' final season.