by Max Silberman

It is highly doubtful that any of our readers remember the 1916 season, ninety years ago. It is also very probable that most fans would claim the 1962 New York Mets were worthy of that “Worst Team” reference.

The Mets finished their inaugural season with a record of 40-120 (.250) but our beloved Athletics were even more inept with a record of 36-117 (.235). And this just two years after appearing in the World Series!

For a number of reasons that 1914 team was broken up due to financial constraints that made it difficult for Mack to compete with salary wars from the Federal League and so many leftover “dynasty” players who earned big money.

Between the 1914 World Series loss and 1916, Eddie Collins was sold to the Chicago White Sox as was Jack Lapp. Herb Pennock was waived to the Red Sox, Jack Barry was sold to the Red Sox, Bob Shawkey was peddled to the Yankees as was Frank ” Home Run” Baker. Larry Kopf was sold to the Reds and Eddie Murphy was sold to the White Sox.

In those days before politically correct behavior and compassion for the handicapped, it was common practice for baseball teams to employ a hunchback as a team mascot. Players would rub the hunchback’s back for luck before batting, Why anyone would consider these unfortunate souls “lucky” is hard to understand.

The 1916 Athletics probably knew they were in for a rough season following the death of Louis Van Zelst (the mascot) at a very young age from physical deformities.

It took Connie Mack until the mid 1920s to restore the team to respectability and not until 1929 did the team capture the American League pennant. Whether this disaster was by happenstance or design, students of the game can only speculate but rarely have the mighty fallen so far or so fast as the Athletics between 1914 and 1916.

And what was Connie Mack’s comment about the 1916 Athletics? Replied Mr. Mack: “You can’t win them all.”