The Oakland Athletics’ appearance in Philadelphia for a previous City Series clash highlights the franchise’s history as they prepare for another major move.
The Athletics formerly ruled the baseball world in Philadelphia before leaving the city. Now, the club returns to Citizens Bank Park for a three-game series against the Phillies as it prepares to relocate from Oakland to Sacramento — and possibly Las Vegas — after the season.
Before their first victory on Friday, Athletics manager Mark Kotsay discussed the A’s return to Philadelphia and the significance of the timing.
“I wasn’t born when the A’s were in Philadelphia, but there’s legacy here for sure,” says Kotsay. “I think with the transition of this organization leaving Oakland, you kind of look back on the foundation of the organization.”
The Athletics, the original American League club, were founded in Philadelphia in 1901. They were managed by Connie Mack, who led the team on the field for the first 50 seasons, an incredible record that was thought to be unbreakable. The A’s relocated into Shibe Park in 1909, and Mack quickly established a dynasty that won the World Series in 1910, 1911, and 1913. After shipping out the primary players from that club, the A’s assembled another strong force that won back-to-back championships in 1929 and 1930.
After losing in the World Series in 1931, the Athletics never regained their previous level of success in Philadelphia, as Mack sold off key pieces of his squad in the following years. The Athletics finished dead last in the American League in 11 of their final 20 seasons in Philadelphia before being sold and relocated to Kansas City, Mo., after the 1954 season.
The Athletics later relocated to Oakland, where they resided from 1968 until this season. The A’s won three consecutive titles from 1972 to 1974, followed by another in 1989. Since then, they’ve fielded several competitive teams. However, the Athletics have struggled on the field over the last three seasons as they begin their relocation process.
Kotsay has witnessed much of the A’s recent history firsthand, having spent 13 seasons with the organization since 2004. He was an outfielder with the Oakland Athletics from 2004 to 2007, then joined the coaching staff in 2016 before taking over as manager for the 2022 season. Kotsay understands the Oakland A’s structure and culture, but he admits to knowing less about the franchise’s early days.
He does, however, make the link to Philadelphia when he sees the elephant insignia that the A’s continue to wear on their jersey sleeve, a team badge that Mack supported in the early twentieth century.
“From the time I knew anything about the A’s,” Kotsay said of the elephant, “it’s always been part of it.”
since the series continues this weekend, the manager may notice a few people wearing the classic Philadelphia white elephant in the crowd, since some local baseball enthusiasts — possibly with grandparents or great-grandparents who backed the A’s in the past — still favour the AL club. Kotsay appreciates the opportunity, and he hopes that similar feelings will be felt in Oakland in the future.
“I think it’s great,” he said. “That is legacy, right? And this is something we’ve discussed with Oakland. When we depart Oakland, there is a legacy that we all hope and wish to carry on as A’s supporters.”
Understandably, there will be many harsh emotions, and supporters will harbour hatred toward the organization, its owner, and Major League Baseball for relocating the Athletics from Oakland. The same was true in Philadelphia in 1954. However, Kotsay believes that some fans will continue to support the squad. Nobody can take away the history of Oakland or any other city where the A’s play.
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