Toronto Raptors

Note: not all players or conditions are listed, only those affected the team most significantly will be shown.
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Record: 33 Wins - 49 Losses; 4th in Atlantic Division, 11th in Eastern Conference. They will play each other again in June of 2005 in Oakland, at McAfee Coliseum.

Vince Carter's mother also made comments to the media about a "wrestling match" that took place in the locker room between the coach and her son prior to his trade. The Phillies took the series against the A's, 2-1. Later in the season, Alston was suspended two games for "conduct detrimental to the team" for reportedly walking out of a scrimmage practice. In addition, Eric Williams requested a trade, unhappy with the lack of minutes he was receiving. Ceremonies were held for the first game of the 3 game series at Veterans Stadium, as former Philadelphia A's players were honored on the field. Of note, point guard Rafer Alston in a post-game interview contemplated retiring after a tough loss, as he continued to butt heads with Sam Mitchell. However, since the teams never faced each other in the World Series, they never played each other in games that counted; interleague play made the recent matchup possible. Coach Mitchell was also mired in controversies off the court. Previously they had only played each other in exhibition games, dubbed "The City Series", which was played annually.

However, the home fans were generally entertained as the team managed to thrive off the often well attended Air Canada Centre putting up a record of 22-19 at home. The Athletics played their former co-occupants of Shibe Park, the Phillies, for the first time in a championship season in June of 2003. The Raptors inability to win on the road (11-30) and generally poor defense made Sam Mitchell's first year as head coach unimpressive. While not ruling out relocating the A's elsewhere in the Bay Area, Wolff has stated his primary focus is finding a site in Oakland for a new baseball-only stadium. Shooting from beyond the arc was a big part of the Raptor's game as Toronto had the second best three point percentage after the Phoenix Suns. Rumors speculate that he wishes to move the team to San Jose, but those plans are complicated by the claims of the cross-bay San Francisco Giants that they own the territorial rights to San Jose and Santa Clara County. However, GM Babcock held on to Marshall, who eventually scored 12 three pointers in a game versus the Sixers on March 13, tying an NBA record. On March 30, 2005, the Athletics were sold to a group headed by Los Angeles real estate developer Lewis Wolff.

There was much speculation that Marshall would be traded before the trade deadline since he was up for free agency in the up coming season. Following this trend, some speculated that Barry Zito could land with a team in the National League West before Opening Day 2005, but no such trade happened. Veterans Jalen Rose and Donyell Marshall also shined on an otherwise lackluster team. Louis Cardinals. After the trade that saw Carter leaving, Chris Bosh stepped up to take the helm of franchise player, and performed admirably in his sophomore campaign; he ranked 10th in defensive rebounds for the season. Apart from Bosh's emergence, the restructuring looked to take a bit of a hit with rookie 8th first round draft pick, Rafael Araujo, struggling to keep a spot in the line up during the Raptor's half-hearted run for a playoff spot during the last month of the season. After the 2004 season, Athletics General Manager Billy Beane shocked many by breaking up the Big Three, trading Tim Hudson to the Atlanta Braves and Mark Mulder to the St. The two Williams also saw few minutes, and were generally under utilized until the end of the season. West Division.

Mourning did not show up to Toronto, forcing Babcock to buy out the remainder of his contract, leaving Mourning free to sign with the Miami Heat, where he had spent 7 years of his career prior. In 2004, the Athletics finished in 2nd place in the A.L. From that deal, the Raptors received Alonzo Mourning, Eric Williams, Aaron Williams and two future first-round draft picks from the New Jersey Nets. After becoming free agents, Giambi left for the New York Yankees after the 2001 season, while Tejada departed for the Baltimore Orioles after the 2003 season. The trading of the Raptors franchise player, Vince Carter finally came to fruition mid-season ending his 7 year tenure with the team. In recent years, the Athletics were best known for starting pitchers Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder, and Barry Zito, collectively referred to as “The Big Three,” as well as infielders Eric Chavez, Jason Giambi, and Miguel Tejada. Thus, much of the 2004-2005 season's action played itself out off the court. In two of those years (2001 against New York and 2003 against Boston), the Athletics won the first two games of the series, only to lose the next three straight and hence the playoffs.

Subsequently, their star player Vince Carter, demanded a trade during the off season. The Athletics made the post season playoffs for four straight years, 2000-2003, but lost the first round (best 3-out-of-5) in each case, 3 games to 2. With new general manager, Rob Babcock, and new head coach, Sam Mitchell, it was evident that restructuring of the organization was in operation. West Division, but could not advance beyond the first round of playoffs. Record: 33 Wins - 49 Losses. Perhaps as a result, the A’s at the turn of the 21st century were a team that usually finished at or near the top of the A.L. Rob Babcock was named GM on June 7, 2004. The Schott-Hofmann ownership allocated resources to building and maintaining a strong minor league system while almost always refusing to pay the going rate to keep star players on the team once they become free agents.

He was replaced with Sam Mitchell, a former NBA player who had been an assistant coach of the Milwaukee Bucks the previous two seasons. Ever since that time, ownership has stated that a new baseball-only facility is necessary to ensure the economic viability of the Athletics. Immediately following the season, on April 17, head coach Kevin O'Neill was fired after making some remarks which were taken to question the team's commitment to winning. They chose 9,300-seat Cashman Field in Las Vegas, playing six "home" games there. The star individual performers were Carter, with 22.5 points per game, Donyell Marshall, who led the team with 10.7 rebounds per game, and rookie Chris Bosh, a 6-10 forward-center who averaged 11.5 ppg and 7.4 rpg and was named to the rookie all-star team. The Athletics were forced to play their first homestand elsewhere. The Raptors finished up the season 3 games out of the eighth and final playoff spot. The final insult was that construction was not finished by the start of the 1996 season.

Grunwald had been the GM since 1997. The bucolic view of the Oakland foothills enjoyed by baseball spectators was replaced with a jarring view of an outfield grandstand contemptuously referred to as "Mount Davis" after Raiders' owner Al Davis. With eight games to go in the regular season, the Raptors fired Glen Grunwald, the general manager on April 1. The agreement called for the expansion of the Coliseum to more than 63,000 seats. The team then suffered through a nine-game losing streak in February, dealing them a serious blow in the standings. Then, in 1994, a deal was struck whereby the Los Angeles Raiders would move back to Oakland for the 1995 season. After 50 games, though, they were 25-25 and in position to make the playoffs. After the Oakland Raiders football team moved to Los Angeles in 1982, many improvements were made to what had become a baseball-only facility.

The Raptors were inconsistent throughout 03-04, partly due to injuries to key players Jalen Rose, Rod Strickland, Alvin Williams and Vince Carter, with Davis traded early in the season for Rose. The Oakland Coliseum, though built as a multi-purpose facility, was considered by many to be one of the better ballparks in the major leagues. Record: 24 Wins - 58 Losses. The new owners were faced with another problematic issue, that of the venue where the team played. if anyone can add to this please do. In a turn of events eerily reminiscent of the A’s Roger Maris trade 28 years before, Mark McGwire celebrated his first full season with the Cardinals by setting a new major league home run record! In fact, McGwire came close to the record in 1997, when he split 58 homers between the A's and the Cards. At the end of the disastrous season (a year marred by defensive breakdowns that still occur today), Wilkens was unceremoniously dumped, ending a three-year stint with the team that started with so much promise but ended with too much disappointment. Louis Cardinals, including McGwire, Eckersley, and manager La Russa.

This was the year that Wilkens overtook Bill Fitch for the lead in most losses by a NBA coach, with his loss total getting dangerously close to his win total. Many landed with the St. Almost right from day one, the Toronto media went straight for the jugular when it came to Wilkens, chastizing him for his inability- or, perhaps, unwillingness- to really clamp down on his players when he had to (The Toronto Star's Dave Perkins once wrote that all Wilkens could do during a game where the Raptors self-destructed was sit and stand, instead of yelling at his players like Perkins says he should have been doing). Once again, the Athletics’ star players were traded or sold, as the new owners’ goal was to cut payroll drastically. However, right from the beginning of the season that optimism was lost: Carter went through a series of injuries, Davis started to express disinterest in Toronto (reportedly because his wife could not land a TV job in Toronto) and Wilkens' laissez-fair attitude created a team that lacked the motivation and spirit of the previous years' teams. Walter Haas died in 1995, and the team was sold to San Francisco Bay Area real estate developers Stephen Schott (no relation to one-time Cincinnati Reds’ owner Marge Schott) and Kenneth Hofmann, prior to the 1996 season. The 2002-03 season began with the same optimisim that the Raptors furnished in three straight playoff appearances. They restored the team’s official name of “Athletics” in 1981, having been discarded by Charles Finley in favor of simply “A’s.” And, after a 23-year hiatus, the elephant was restored as the club mascot in 1986.

Record: 42 Wins - 40 Losses; eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. During the 15 years of Haas ownership, the Athletics became one of baseball’s most successful teams at the gate, drawing 2,900,217 in 1990, still the club record for single season attendance, as well as on the field. Ben Wallace and Jerry Stackhouse's performances overwhelmed the offensively-limited Raptors. West championship in 1992 (but losing to Toronto in the ALCS), then finishing last in 1993. However, the injuries to Davis and Carter were highlighted in the 3-2 series loss to the Detroit Pistons. The team began a slow but steady decline, winning the A.L. In spite of an injury to Antonio Davis in January and a subsequent injury to Carter, the team made a record comeback to clinch a playoff berth. The A’s lone victory was a 4-game sweep of their cross-bay rivals, the San Francisco Giants, in the 1989 World Series.

The first half of the season ran well with expected contributions from the starters and the improvement Morris Peterson and Keon Clark. (In an almost-unrelated side note, Chicago columnist Mike Royko had predicted a Reds victory due to the "ex-Cub factor" - the A's had three ex-Cubs on their team). Expiring contracts had also been traded away, so unless the Raptors succeeded with their 2001-2002 lineup, it was unlikely they would remain a very competitive team. The Athletics lost the World Series in 1988 and 1990, losing the latter to the underdog Cincinnati Reds in a shocking 4-game sweep reminiscent of the A’s loss to the Braves 76 years earlier. Although the team was guaranteed a powerful starting line-up for one season, it was a dangerous gamble as overall player salary almost reached the cap, making significant free-agent signing impossible. Regular season dominance did not translate into post-season success, however. The Raptors' exciting playoff performance attracted even more fans and put unprecendented trust from the owners on Grunwald. In an attempt to satisfy Vince Carter so that he would resign with the team, long-term contracts were given to Alvin Williams, Jerome Williams and Davis, and former All-Star center Hakeem Olajuwon was signed, to provide Carter with a good supporting cast. Reminiscent of their Philadelphia predecessors, this A’s team finished with the best record of any team in the major leagues during all 3 years, winning 104 (1988), 99 (1989), and 103 (1990) games, featuring such stars as McGwire, Canseco, Weiss, Carney Lansford, Dave Stewart, and Dennis Eckersley.

Record: 47 Wins - 35 Losses; eliminated in the second round of the playoffs. pennant three years in a row. The series came down to the last 4 seconds of Game 7, when Vince Carter missed a fadeaway jumper, losing the series by 1 point. In 1987, La Russa’s first full year as manager, the team finished at 81-81, its best record in 7 seasons. Beginning in 1988, the Athletics won the A.L. Philadelphia took full advantage of its mismatch at center whereas Toronto counteracted with a fast-break offense with their shorter but quicker players. During the 1986 season, Tony La Russa was hired as the Athletics’ manager, a post he held until the end of 1995. Toronto's was much more balanced with Carter, Williams and Davis providing much of the offensive game and Chris Childs and Jerome Williams providing the defensive pressure. Rookies of the Year.

The Sixers relied on Allen Iverson and Dikembe Mutombo for their respective offensive and defensive abilities, along with steady help from Aaron McKie and other teammates. Under the Haas ownership, the minor league system was rebuilt, which bore fruition later that decade as Athletics José Canseco (1986), Mark McGwire (1987) and Walt Weiss (1988) were chosen as A.L. The next series against the Philadelphia 76ers was a landmark of exciting, entertaining play, and the best playoff performance by the Raptors so far. (then president of Levi Strauss & Co.) prior to the 1981 season. These, however, were non-factors, as it was abundantly clear that the Raptors were vastly superior to the overhyped, undertalented Knicks. Haas, Jr. The Raptors were also lucky, as Larry Johnson was shut down by a career-ending injury and Marcus Camby was plagued by his family kidnap. He then looked to local buyers, selling the Athletics to San Francisco clothing manufacturer Walter A.

In addition, Charles Oakley's remarks incited Vince to "play it like a man", and steady contribution from Antonio Davis prevailed over the less-focused Knicks. Though Finley found a buyer who would have moved the Athletics to Denver, the tentative deal was voided when the Oakland Coliseum refused to let the team out of its lease. Wilkens was credited for having Williams defend shooting guard Allan Houston and Carter defend small forward Latrell Sprewell, the two major offensive threats of the Knicks. As his estranged wife would not accept part of a baseball team in a property settlement, the team had to be sold. Toronto beat New York in the first round . The man who brought American League baseball to the San Francisco Bay Area was being sued for a divorce. As predicted by analysts, the team clinched a playoff berth without much difficulty. But, the Finley era was coming to a close.

Therefore, Raptors management decided to trade McGrady to the Magic during the 2000 offseason for a first-round draft pick in a sign-and-trade deal. Martin made believers of his young charges, “Billyball” was used to market the team, and the Athletics finished second in 1980. Furthermore, McGrady's natural position is at shooting guard, the same position as Carter. In a masterstroke, Finley hired Billy Martin to manage the young team. Although McGrady and Carter showed impressive improvement at the same time, much of the media and fan attention was focused on Carter, who dunked more often and thus was more entertaining to fans. After three dismal seasons on the field and at the gate, the team started to gel again. The loss of former star small forawrd Tracy McGrady was also a factor in the Williamson trade. In 1979, only 306,763 paying customers showed up to watch the A's, the team's worst attendance since leaving Philadelphia.

As Vince familarized himself with the shooting guard position and played less time at small forward, Christie became expendable and was traded for small forward Corliss Williamson. However, he was a disappointment and was traded during the season for defensive workhorse Jerome Williams. The 1977 version of the A’s finished in last place, behind even the expansion Seattle Mariners, who entered the American League that year. Jackson was later traded to give more minutes for Williams. Three thousand miles and several decades later, one of baseball’s most storied franchises suffered yet another dismemberment of a dynasty team. He scored three quarters of his points in the 4th quarter during regular season. After 1976 the season, most of the Athletics’ veteran players did become eligible for free agency, and predictably almost all left. The season marked the development of Alvin Williams as a clutch performer. Three days later, Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn voided the transactions in the “best interests of baseball.”.

In addition, the team finally found a true point guard, when Grunwald signed veteran playmaker Mark Jackson to a 4-year deal with the team. On June 15, 1976, Finley sold left fielder Rudi and relief pitcher Fingers to Boston for $1 million apiece, and pitcher Blue to the New York Yankees for $1.5 million. Playoff failures led Grunwald to replace Butch Carter with Lenny Wilkens, who was a Hall-of-Fame coach and player with more than 30 years of coaching experience. Like his predecessor Connie Mack had done twice before, Charles Finley reacted by trading star players and attempting to sell others. Record: 45 Wins - 37 Losses; eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. The balance of power had shifted from the owners to the players for the first time since the days of the Federal League. This was also the first season at the Air Canada Centre, after four years of games at the cavernous SkyDome. Thus, all players not signed to multi-year contracts would be eligible for free agency at the end of the 1976 season.

Increased attendance and change of fan base also helped contribute to the decline of the Toronto Blue Jays. Arbitrator Seitz had ruled that baseball’s reserve clause only bound players for one season after their contract expired. Progressive team improvements and the rise to fame of Vince Carter attracted many fans around Toronto, many of whom were not previously basketball fans. As the 1976 season got underway, the basic rules of player contracts were changing. However, without significant playoff experience, the Raptors were swept by the New York Knicks in the playoffs. Despite the loss of Hunter, the A’s repeated as West Division champions in 1975, but lost the ALCS to Boston in a 3-game sweep. Rotation of Antonio, Oakley and Willis in the front court and the maturation of both Carter and McGrady helped the team make its first ever playoff appearance. As a result, Hunter became a free agent, and signed a contract with the New York Yankees for the 1975 season.

In the backcourt, Butch Carter rotated Carter, Christie, Williams and Dell Curry at the shooting guard position and Williams and Muggsy Bogues at point guard. On December 13, 1974, arbitrator Peter Seitz ruled in Hunter’s favor. Thus, during the 1999 draft, he decided to trade first-round draft pick Jonathan Bender for veteran power forward Antonio Davis from the Indiana Pacers, who had been forced to play off the bench behind teammate Dale Davis. After the Athletics' victory in the 1974 World Series, pitcher Catfish Hunter filed a grievance, claiming that the team had violated its contract with Hunter by failing to make timely payment on an insurance policy during the 1974 season as called for. He also knew that the aging Willis and Oakley would eventually have to play fewer minutes or risk injury. Reggie Jackson reported in his autobiography that when he asked for a raise following the 1972 season, Finley told him that his World Series check was his "raise". Grunwald decided that the solution to the Raptors' lack of a true point guard and a strong front court presence would have to come from mature veteran players. One tradition carried on from Philadelphia, which continues even into the 21st Century, is the low budget for players' salaries.

Record: 23 Wins - 27 Losses (a shortened 50-game schedule). A contemporary book about the team was called Moustache Gang. Although the team did not make the playoffs, many were optimistic with the brilliant performances from the Rookie of the Year Vince Carter and a much improved McGrady. the Squares,” as Cincinnati wore traditional uniforms and forbade facial hair on its players. The new coach Butch Carter, besides doing an excellent coaching job, also helped develop the young players on the team, especially future All-Star Tracy McGrady. The 1972 World Series against the heavily favored Cincinnati Reds was termed “The Hairs vs. With those two holes temporarily filled, the team won more games than ever before. Furthermore, in conjunction with a Mustache Day promotion, Finley offered $500 to any player who grew a mustache, at a time when every other team forbade facial hair.

Kevin Willis, another veteran acquired from trade, solidified the center position. Beginning in 1972, the Athletics began wearing jerseys of solid green or solid gold color, with contrasting white pants, at a time when all other teams wore all-white uniforms at home and all-grey ones on the road. Alvin also showed improvement, on the offensive end. The A’s teams of the 1970s were also known for their sartorial and tonsorial appearance. This was an excellent move, as Christie greatly refined his defensive game and became one of the elite defenders in NBA. Players such as Reggie Jackson, Sal Bando, Joe Rudi, Bert Campaneris, Catfish Hunter, Rollie Fingers, and Vida Blue formed the nucleus of these teams. The coaching staff temporarily solved the lack of a true point guard by rotating Dee Brown, Alvin Williams and Doug Christie to play the position. Finley termed this team the “Swingin’ A’s.” The players, in turn, often said they played so well as a team due to their universal dislike for their employer.

However, Oakley's leadership proved crucial to the success of the 1998-1999 Raptors. Unlike earlier Athletic championship teams, which thoroughly dominated their opposition, the A’s teams of the 1970s played well enough to win their division, then defeated teams that had won more games during the regular season, with good pitching, good defense, and clutch hitting. Many thought the trade would hurt the team, since he was trading away a promising prospect for an aging veteran. The Athletics won World Series championships in 1972, 1973 and 1974. Grunwald showed his better management ability than his predecessor by trading Camby to the Knicks for proven veteran Charles Oakley, whose tough mentality and playoff experience helped the maturity of the young players. Finley had built himself a winner. Record: 16 Wins - 66 Losses. West title in 1971, only to lose to the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Championship Series.

However, the players reacted by playing harder and Marcus Camby earned the first two triple doubles of his career in the last four games of the season. West Division behind the Minnesota Twins – their highest finish in 37 years! After another second-place finish in 1970, the A’s won the A.L. When Glen Grunwald was named to succeed Thomas in 1998, virtually nobody thought he could turn the team around, demonstrated by the booing from the crowd when he made his first appearance to Air Canada Centre for a speech. During that year, the Athletics finished second in the A.L. Thomas, a brilliant player and skilled evaluator of talent but lacking in management skills, failed to stop the downfall of the team which led to the dismantling of the core players and resignations of the head coach Darrell Walker and eventually of Thomas himself. With expansion to 12 teams in 1969, the American League was divided into two 6-team divisions. All optimism evaporated when the team was hit by numerous injuries in early 1997-1998 season. Managed by Bob Kennedy, the Oakland Athletics finished the 1968 season with an 82-80 record – their best record since 1952.

Record: 30 Wins - 52 Losses. The Athletics arrived in Oakland just as the team was beginning to gel. Marcus Camby who was drafted 2nd overall in the 1996 draft by the Raptors had a season to forget in his first season as a Raptor. Their overall record was 829-1,224, for a winning percentage of .404. Analysts predicted a playoff-contending or even a championship caliber team in a matter of a few seasons. During their 13-year existence, the Kansas City Athletics were arguably one of the worst teams ever in baseball, finishing in last or next to last place in 10 of those years. The team record improved by 9 games from its inaugural season and attendance was rising. Senator Stuart Symington of Missouri blasted Finley on the floor of the Senate, calling him "one of the most disreputable characters ever to enter the American sports scene,” and said Oakland was “the luckiest city since Hiroshima.” In 1969, Kansas City was awarded an American League expansion team, the Kansas City Royals.

Record: 21 Wins - 61 Losses. owners gave Finley permission to move the Athletics to Oakland for the 1968 season. Then-U.S. However, Stoudamire proved to be the one bright point in a terrible first season as he won Rookie of the Year honors by averaging 19 points and 9.3 assists per game. Finally, on October 18, 1967, A.L. The Raptors' pick of Stoudamire was greeted with boos from those present at the NBA Draft at the SkyDome in Toronto, many of whom bought into the hype surrounding UCLA star Ed O'Bannon. President Joe Cronin promised Finley that he could move the team after three years, and the suit was dropped. Isiah chose to build the franchise around Damon Stoudamire, a point guard out of Arizona. When Finley reacted to the Louisville vote by filing a lawsuit against Municipal Stadium, A.L.

After Isiah Thomas was named the general manager in 1995, he quickly staffed the management with his own personnel, including the first head coach Brandon Malone (who was later reunited with Thomas in the Knicks organization in 2003). These requests came as no surprise, as rumors of impending moves to Atlanta, Denver, Oakland, San Diego and Seattle had long been afloat. They are currently the only NBA team based outside of the United States. By another 9-1 vote his request was denied. The Toronto Raptors are a National Basketball Association team based in Toronto, Ontario. In 1964, he signed an agreement to move the A’s to Louisville, Kentucky (and hinted the team's name would change to "Louisville Sluggers"). (December 17, 2004.). His request was denied by a 9-1 vote.

2004- 2005 season: traded Vince Carter to the New Jersey Nets for Alonzo Mourning, Eric Williams, Aaron Williams, and two future first round draft picks. owners for permission to move the Athletics to Arlington, Texas. 2004 offseason: signed Rafer Alston. On September 18, 1962, after less than two full years of ownership, Finley asked the A.L. 2003-2004 season: traded Jerome Williams and Antonio Davis to the Bulls for Jalen Rose and Donyell Marshall. But, while laying the groundwork for a future championship team, Finley began shopping the Athletics to other cities, despite his promises that the A’s would remain in Kansas City. 2002 offseason: lost Keon Clark through free agency to the Kings. And, in 1963, he replaced the traditional elephant mascot with a Missouri mule – not just a cartoon logo, but a real mule, which he named after himself -- “Charlie O, the Mule.”.

2002 offseason: lost Chris Childs through free agency to the Nets. In 1963, he changed the team’s colors to “Kelly Green, Fort Knox Gold and Wedding Gown White.” In 1967, he replaced the team’s traditional black cleats with white ones. 2000-2001 season: traded Mark Jackson to the Knicks for Chris Childs. Finley also made changes to the team’s uniforms. 2000-2001 season: traded Kevin Willis to the Denver Nuggets for Keon Clark. The Athletics, owners of the worst record in the American League in 1964, had the first pick in the first draft, selecting Rick Monday on June 8, 1965. 2000-2001 season: traded Corliss Williamson to the Detroit Pistons for Jerome Williams. Thus, Finley was spared from having to compete with wealthier teams for top talent.

2000 offseason: signed Mark Jackson. He was assisted in this endeavor by the creation of the baseball draft in 1965, which forced young prospects to sign with the team that drafted them – at the price offered by the team – if they wanted to play professional baseball. 2000 offseason: traded Tracy McGrady to the Magic for a 1st round draft pick. More importantly, he poured resources into the minor league system for the first time. 2000 offseason: traded Doug Christie to the Kings for Corliss Williamson. He purchased a bus, pointed it in the direction of New York City, and had it burned, to symbolize the end of the “special relationship” with the Yankees. 1999 offseason: signed Muggsy Bogues. Finley, though, promised the fans a new day.

1999 offseason: signed Dell Curry. The Athletics finished in a tie for dead last with the expansion Washington Senators, nine games behind the other expansion team, the Los Angeles Angels. 1999 draft day: traded 1st round draft pick Jonathan Bender to the Pacers for Antonio Davis. In 1961, Finley's first year as team owner, the American League had expanded to ten teams. 1998 offseason: traded with the Rockets for Kevin Willis. Finley, who soon thereafter bought out the minority owners. 1998 offseason: traded Marcus Camby to the Knicks for Charles Oakley. In December of that year, controlling interest in the team was purchased by another Chicagoan, insurance executive Charles O.

1997-1998 season: traded Damon Stoudamire to the Portland Trail Blazers for Alvin Williams. Arnold died in 1960. 1996-1997 season: traded with the New York Knicks for Doug Christie. It is perhaps not a coincidence that the "Old" Yankees became less competitive after Charles O. Finley bought the A's and stopped providing talent to the Yankees. 2004 8th overall Rafael Araujo. Once "home," Terry became a 20-game winner for New York. 2003 4th overall Chris Bosh. batters, Terry apparently was ready to return. In May, 1959 the Yankees sent Jerry Lumpe and two washed-up pitchers to the Athletics for Terry.

2002 20th overall Kareem Rush (draft-day trade for 27th overall Chris Jeffries). After getting nearly two years of experience facing A.L. 2001 17th overall Michael Bradley. So, in June, 1957 they traded him to the A's in an eight-player deal. 2000 21st overall Morris Peterson. The Yankees brought up a promising young pitcher, Ralph Terry, in 1956, but were reluctant to use him in critical situations. 1999 5th overall Jonathan Bender (traded for Antonio Davis). However, there were others.

1998 4th overall Antawn Jamison (traded on draft day for 5th overall pick Vince Carter). The trade no one ever forgot was the one made after the 1959 season, when the A’s sent young right fielder Roger Maris to New York for his aging counterpart, Hank Bauer, in a seven-player deal. 1997 9th overall Tracy McGrady. In fact, Johnson had a pre-existing cozy relationship with the Yankees' front office, an obvious conflict of interest that was winked at by the rulers of the game at that time. 1996 2nd overall Marcus Camby. Attendance declined, with fans and even other clubs charging that the A’s were little more than a minor league farm team for the Yankees. 1995 7th overall Damon Stoudamire. It didn’t work.

Current: Rob Babcock (hired on June 7, 2004). The cash was used to pay the bills, with the veterans perhaps having star appeal that could improve attendance. March 1998 - April 2004: Glen Grunwald. During the Johnson ownership, any good young players on the Athletics were invariably traded to the Yankees for aging veterans and cash. 1995 - March 1998: Isiah Thomas. What no one realized at the time was that that number would remain the club record for attendance until 1982 -- the Athletics’ 15th season in Oakland!. Current: Sam Mitchell (hired on June 29, 2004). In 1955, the new Kansas City Athletics drew 1,393,054 to newly renovated and newly renamed Municipal Stadium, a club record easily surpassing the previous record of 945,076 in 1948.

2003 - 2004: Kevin O'Neill. When Arnold Johnson moved the Athletics to Kansas City, fans turned out in record numbers for the era. 2000 - 2003: Lenny Wilkens. pennants, their overall record from 1901-1954 was 3,886 games won and 4,239 games lost, for an overall winning percentage of but .478. Feb 1998 - 2000: Butch Carter. Though they won 5 World Series and 9 A.L. 1996 - Feb 1998: Darrell Walker. Connie Mack once said, “You can’t win them all.” The Philadelphia A’s didn’t come close.

1995 - 1996: Brendon Malone. Newspaper writers also often referred to the team as the "Mackmen" during their Philadelphia days, in honor of their patriarch. Rafer Alston PG. The team name is typically pronounced "ath-LET-ics", but their long-time team owner Connie Mack called them by the old-fashioned colloquial pronunciation "ath-uh-LET-ics". Morris Peterson F/G. Eventually the American League club, initially known by the storied name "Athletic of Philadelphia", went with the normal flow and became the plural "Philadelphia Athletics". Rafer Alston PG. That practice continued into the 1900s.

Alvin Williams G. In the various league standings they were listed as "Athletic" rather than "Philadelphia". Jalen Rose G. The members of the Athletic team wore an old-English "A" to emphasize the point. Donyell Marshall PF. From the beginning in the 1860s, the actual team name was the singular "Athletic of Philadelphia". Chris Bosh C/F. That oddity echoed the team's origins.

Jerome Williams (JYD Junkyard Dog). The typical uniform had only a stylized "A" on the left front, and likewise the cap usually had the same "A" on it. Damon Stoudamire. Furthermore, not once did "Philadelphia" appear on the uniform, nor did the letter "P" appear on the cap or the uniform. Hakeem Olajuwon. An interesting note is that, except for 1954 when the uniforms had "Athletics" spelled out in script across the front, the team's name never appeared on either home or road uniforms. Tracy McGrady. On October 12, 1954, the owners voted to approve the sale of the Athletics to another Chicagoan, real estate developer Arnold Johnson, so that he could move the team to Kansas City for the 1955 season.

Antonio Davis. Finley), the American League owners were determined to "solve" the "Philadelphia problem" by moving the team elsewhere. Keon Clark. Though last minute offers were put on the table to buy the Athletics to keep them in Philadelphia (including one made by Chicago insurance executive Charles O. Doug Christie. During that year the team wore uniforms trimmed in blue and gold, in honor of the Golden Jubilee of "The Grand Old Man of Baseball." However, the team continued to slide, attendance plummeted, and revenues continued to dwindle. Vince Carter (Vinsanity, Half man Half Amazing, Air Canada). The 1950 season would be 88-year-old Mack’s 50th and last as A’s manager, a Major League record that will surely never be broken.

Marcus Camby. By now Mack and his immediate family were the team’s sole stockholders, and he had no intention of firing himself. Charles Oakley (Oaktree, Blagnum). Save for a 5th place finish in 1944, the A’s finished in last or next-to-last place every year from 1935-1946. Though he intended to rebuild once more, Mack was already 68 years old when the A’s last won the pennant in 1931, and many felt the game was passing him by. The Athletics finished 5th in 1934, then last in 1935.

The construction of the "spite fence" at Shibe Park, blocking the view from nearby buildings, only served to irritate potential paying fans. After a second-place finish in 1932 and 3rd in 1933, Mack again sold or traded his best players in order to reduce expenses. The Great Depression was well under way, and declining attendance had drastically reduced the team’s revenues. There are those who feel the 1929 A’s were the best team in baseball history, even surpassing the 1927 Yankees. In each of the three years, the A's won over 100 games.

In 1927 and 1928, the Athletics finished second to the New York Yankees, then won pennants in 1929, 1930 and 1931, winning the World Series in 1929 and 1930. After that, Mack began to build another winner. The team would finish in last place every year after that until 1922, when it finished 7th. As a result, the Athletics went from a 99-53 (.651) won-loss record and 1st place finish in 1914, to a record of 43-109 (.283) and 8th (last) place in 1915, and then to a modern major league low winning percentange of 36-117 (.235) in 1916.

teams, preferring to let the "prima donnas" go and rebuild with younger (and less expensive) players. Mack refused to match the offers of the F.L. teams for players. and N.L.

had done 13 years before, the new league raided existing A.L. As the A.L. A third major league, the Federal League, had been formed to begin play in 1914. Mack himself alluded to that rumor years later, but also debunked it, asserting that factions within the team along with the allure of the Federal League had distracted the team.

In his book To Every Thing a Season, Bruce Kuklick points out that there were suspicions that the A's had thrown the Series, or at least "laid down", perhaps in protest of Mack's notorious thriftiness. After the heavily favored A’s lost the 1914 World Series to the underdog Boston Braves in a 4-game sweep, Connie Mack traded, sold or released most of the team’s star players. Plank holds the club record for career victories, with 284. The team was known for its “$100,000 Infield,” consisting of John "Stuffy" McInnis (1b), Eddie Collins (2b), Frank "Home Run" Baker (3b) and Jack Barry (ss), as well as pitchers Eddie Plank and Charles "Chief" Bender.

They won over 100 games in 1911 and 1912, and 99 games in 1914. pennant six times (1902, 1905, 1910, 1911, 1913 and 1914), winning the World Series in 1910, 1911 and 1913. In the early years, the A’s won the A.L. As a Philadelphia team, the Athletics were either a very good team or a very bad team.

Lajoie was traded to the Cleveland Broncos (now the Cleveland Indians) and did not set foot on Pennsylvania soil until the National Agreement was signed between the two leagues in 1903. This order, though, was only enforceable in the state of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia Phillies. teams received a jolt when, on April 21, 1902, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court invalidated Nap Lajoie's contract with the Athletics, and ordered him returned to his former team, the N.L.

The Athletics as well as the 7 other A.L. contracts. in defiance of their N.L. The new league recruited many of its players from the existing National League, persuading them to “jump” to the A.L.

The team’s inaugural year saw second baseman Nap Lajoie [la-ZHWAY] lead the league in hitting with a .426 batting average, still an American League record. After John McGraw told reporters that Shibe had a “white elephant on his hands," Mack defiantly adopted the white elephant as the team mascot, though over the years the elephant has appeared in several different colors. In fact, the name "Athletic" for Philadelphia's team dated back to the "amateur" days of the national game, in the 1860s. Mack in turn persuaded Philadelphia manufacturer Benjamin Shibe as well as others to invest in the team, which would be called the Philadelphia Athletics, a name used by earlier teams in the National Association, National League, and American Association.

President Bancroft (Ban) Johnson recruited former player Connie Mack to run the club. A.L. The Athletic franchise was formed in 1901, one of eight charter members of the American League, the others being the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Americans, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Blues, Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Washington Senators. The team is often called the A's.

They are in the Western Division of the American League. The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. Phoenix Athletics. Stockton Ports
Kane County Cougars
Vancouver Canadians.

Midland RockHounds. Sacramento River Cats. American League
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Pitching Strikeouts: 349 Rube Waddell (1904). Pitching Wins: 31 Lefty Grove (1931), Jack Coombs (1910). Walks: 149 Eddie Joost (1949). Strikeouts: 175 Jose Canseco (1986).

Hitting Streak: 25 games Jason Giambi (1997). Stolen Bases: 130 Rickey Henderson (1982) (Major League Record). Triples: 12 Phil Garner (1976). Doubles: 47 Jason Giambi (2001).

Runs: 123 Reggie Jackson (1969). Hits: 204 Miguel Tejada (2002). Batting Average: .342 Jason Giambi (2001). Runs Batted In: 137 Jason Giambi (2000).

Home Runs: 52 Mark McGwire (1996). Dick Williams. Billy Martin. Connie Mack, Owner, General Manager, Manager 1901-1951.

Ken Macha. Tony La Russa. Art Howe. Charlie Finley.

Alvin Dark. Billy Beane, General Manager 1997-present. Sandy Alderson. 43 Dennis Eckersley (will be retired August 13, 2005).

42 Jackie Robinson (retired throughout baseball). 34 Rollie Fingers. 27 Catfish Hunter. 9 Reggie Jackson.

Joe Rudi (1974-76). Vic Power [PHI] (1954) - [KC] (1955-58). Mark McGwire (1990). Ray Fosse (1971).

Eric Chavez (2001-04). Gold Glove Award