In the Big Inning - The Athletics were an original member of the American League, placed in Philadelphia to challenge the Phillies of the National League. Immediate legal battles ensued when the Athletics lured Nap Lajoie over from the Phils, which eventually led to an injunction from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Despite losing Lajoie, the Athletics remained in Philly until 1954 and had substantially more success than their cross town rivals.

Headed to Missouri - In 1955, the Athletics moved to Kansas City, where they would play 13 uninspired seasons, never finishing higher than sixth, and finishing last 4 times.

On to Oakland - In 1968, the Athletics became the third baseball team in California with a move to Oakland. The change of scenery was good for the A's, who won three World Series and five division titles in their first eight years in Oakland.

Best Trade in Team History - In 1989, the Athletics re-acquired Rickey Henderson from the New York Yankees for Greg Cadaret, Eric Plunk, and Luis Polonia. Polonia, Cadaret, and Plunk did little for the Yanks, while Henderson led the A's to the 1989 World Series Title, and then won the 1990 AL MVP.

Worst Trade in Team History - In a series of trades with the Red Sox in the mid-1930's, the Athletics traded away Lefty Grove and Jimmie Foxx to the Red Sox for Gordon Rhodes, George Savino, Bob Kline, Rabbit Warstler, and $275,000. None of the players they acquired, nor the cash, led to success, and the A's who had won three pennants and two World Series from 1929 to 1931 would not finish higher than fourth again until 1969.

All Oakland Athletics Stories

2008 Oaland A's Team Preview
There's something fishy going on in Oakland: The A's are better than you think they are.

Revisiting Billy Beane’s Perfect Draft 02/24/08
Nearly five yers after the famous 2002 draft, Richard takes another long look at Billy Beane's supposedly perfect draft.

2007 Oaland A's Team Preview 03/18/07
Keith forsees a bump in Oakland's long road of winning seasons.

Mailbag: The Scoop on the Hall of Fame 02/2007
Our Hall of Fame voting incites questions on just how much weight to give clutch performances.

Revolutionary Competitive Balance 1/29/07
Billy Beane's Athletics show how cash-strapped teams need to think outside the box.

Joe Morgan Hates the A's 10/7/06
At a reader's request, Keith postulates two theories as to why Joe Morgan might hate his former team.

2006 ALDS Preview - Athletics vs. Twins 10/2/06
Pitching - and Johan Santana in particular - will dictate the direction of this series, writes Asher.

Defending Beane 4/13/06
Keith has a couple of problems with Richard's methodology in slamming Billy Beane's remarks in Moneyball.

Billy Beane's Perfect Draft 4/13/06
The most in-depth analysis of Billy Beane's hypothetical 2002 Draft around.

2006 Oakland A's Team Preview 3/11/06
Asher perceives health to be the key to Oakland's 2006 season.

Athletics Archive