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+====== Athletics ======
+===== Origins in Philadelphia =====
+The Athletics franchise was founded in 1901 in Philadelphia as a charter member of the American League.[([[https://www.sports-reference.com/history/baseball/expansions/1900-1925.shtml|Sports-Reference]])]
+===== The Longest-Tenured Manager =====
+Connie Mack was the team's first and longest-tenured manager, leading the Philadelphia A's for a remarkable 50 consecutive seasons from 1901 to 1950.[([[https://www.baseball-almanac.com/managers/Connie_Mack.shtml|Baseball-Almanac]])]
+===== World Series Champions in Philly =====
+The Philadelphia Athletics won five World Series titles in their history, with championships in 1910, 1911, 1913, 1929, and 1930.[([[https://www.mlb.com/history/world-series/winners|MLB.com]])]
+===== The White Elephant Emblem =====
+The team's "white elephant" logo originated from a taunt by New York Giants manager John McGraw, who called the A's a "white elephant," a worthless burden. Connie Mack adopted the elephant as a symbol of defiance.[([[https://www.si.com/mlb/2016/10/26/oakland-athletics-white-elephant-logo-meaning|Sports Illustrated]])]
+===== First Franchise Move =====
+After the 1954 season, the team moved from Philadelphia to Kansas City, where they played for 13 seasons before their next relocation.[([[https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/former-kc-star-writer-blair-kerby/article234850752.html|The Kansas City Star]])]
+===== The Charlie O. Finley Era =====
+Charles O. Finley, a charismatic and eccentric owner, purchased the franchise in 1960 and was responsible for its move to Oakland and many of its unique innovations, including the colorful uniforms.[([[https://apnews.com/article/769356396b27464197368ce4847e06a5|AP News]])]
+===== Three World Series in a Row =====
+The Athletics' dynasty of the early 1970s won three consecutive World Series titles from 1972 to 1974, a feat no other team has accomplished since.[([[https://theathletic.com/2647185/2021/07/15/the-72-as-reggie-jackson-and-a-baseball-dynasty-were-born/|The Athletic]])]
+===== The Mustachioed Champions =====
+In the 1970s, owner Charlie Finley offered bonuses to any player who would grow a mustache, a move that led to the "mustache gang" and a memorable visual for the championship teams.[([[https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/10/20/the-story-of-the-1972-oakland-as-the-mustache-gang-that-won-three-world-series-in-a-row/|The Mercury News]])]
+===== First Team to Pay a Player $100,000 =====
+In 1928, the Athletics made history by paying Hall of Famer Al Simmons the first-ever $100,000 salary in professional baseball.[([[https://www.baseball-almanac.com/salty/salty-s.shtml|Baseball-Almanac]])]
+===== A Free Agent Landmark =====
+Pitcher Jim "Catfish" Hunter was declared a free agent in 1974 after a contract dispute with owner Charlie Finley, a landmark moment that helped pave the way for modern free agency in baseball.[([[https://www.nytimes.com/1974/12/17/archives/hunter-is-declared-free-agent-baseball-arbitrator-upholds-his.html|The New York Times]])]
+===== The Bash Brothers' Legacy =====
+The "Bash Brothers," Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco, were the franchise's formidable power-hitting duo who led the Athletics to three consecutive World Series appearances from 1988 to 1990.[([[https://www.mlb.com/news/bash-brothers-mark-mcgwire-jose-canseco|MLB.com]])]
+===== The 1989 Earthquake Series =====
+Game 3 of the 1989 World Series between the A's and the San Francisco Giants was famously postponed for 10 days due to the Loma Prieta earthquake.[([[https://www.sfchronicle.com/worldseries/article/Loma-Prieta-earthquake-shook-up-the-1989-World-14530066.php|San Francisco Chronicle]])]
+===== A Perfect Reliever's Cy Young =====
+Dennis Eckersley won both the Cy Young Award and the American League MVP in 1992, becoming one of only a handful of relief pitchers to ever accomplish the feat.[([[https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2663953|ESPN]])]
+===== The Stolen Base King =====
+Rickey Henderson, who played for the A's in three different stints, holds the all-time Major League Baseball record for stolen bases with 1,406.[([[https://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_stob.shtml|Baseball-Almanac]])]
+===== Henderson's Runs Record =====
+Rickey Henderson also holds the all-time MLB record for runs scored with 2,295, surpassing Ty Cobb's long-standing record in 2001.[([[https://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/05/sports/baseball-henderson-gets-his-2-246th-run-tying-cobb.html|The New York Times]])]
+===== The Moneyball Theory =====
+The "Moneyball" era, popularized by a book and film, was the front office's philosophy of using sabermetrics to find undervalued players and build a competitive team with a limited budget.[([[https://www.mlb.com/news/moneyball-theory-origin-billy-beane-s-impact|MLB.com]])]
+===== The 20-Game Winning Streak =====
+In 2002, the Athletics won 20 consecutive games, setting an American League record that was immortalized in the film "Moneyball."[([[https://apnews.com/article/archive-oakland-athletics-billy-beane-c1008638b9754f9db57497ecb0a50f14|AP News]])]
+===== The A's All-Time Home Run Leader =====
+Mark McGwire is the all-time franchise leader in home runs with 363, a record he set during his tenure with the team from 1986 to 1997.[([[https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/OAK/leaders_bat.shtml|Baseball-Reference]])]
+===== The Only Mascot Named "Stomper" =====
+The team's mascot is an elephant named Stomper, a nod to the "White Elephant" nickname given to the original Philadelphia franchise.[([[https://www.mlb.com/athletics/fans/stomper|MLB.com]])]
+===== Shibe Park's Famous Neighbor =====
+The Philadelphia Athletics' home field, Shibe Park, was the first concrete-and-steel ballpark in Major League Baseball and featured an ornate tower that could be seen from the street.[([[https://www.philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/archive/shibe-park/|Philadelphia Encyclopedia]])]
+===== The "Mount Davis" Controversy =====
+In the 1990s, a large section of the outfield stands known as "Mount Davis" was built at the Oakland Coliseum to accommodate the NFL's Raiders, blocking the view of the surrounding hills and changing the stadium's character.[([[https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/article/Goodbye-Mount-Davis-11116298.php|San Francisco Chronicle]])]
+===== The Future Home in Las Vegas =====
+The Athletics are relocating to Las Vegas and have announced plans to build a new ballpark on the site of the former Tropicana Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip.[([[https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/athletics/a-s-unveil-final-renderings-of-las-vegas-ballpark-2826359/|Las Vegas Review-Journal]])]
+===== The First Designated Hitter =====
+On April 6, 1973, the A's' Orlando Cepeda became the first designated hitter in American League history, a new rule that was being tested for the season.[([[https://www.mlb.com/news/first-designated-hitter-in-mlb-history|MLB.com]])]
+===== An All-Green and Gold Uniform =====
+Charlie Finley famously introduced all-green and all-gold uniforms to the team in the 1970s, which were a radical departure from the traditional baseball whites and grays.[([[https://www.si.com/mlb/2016/09/20/oakland-athletics-1970s-uniforms-charles-finley|Sports Illustrated]])]
+===== The 1970s "Dynasty" Players =====
+The 1970s A's featured a roster of future Hall of Famers, including Reggie Jackson, Catfish Hunter, Rollie Fingers, and Joe Rudi.[([[https://www.mlb.com/athletics/history/hall-of-fame|MLB.com]])]
+===== Reggie Jackson's 1973 MVP =====
+Reggie Jackson won the 1973 American League MVP Award while playing for the A's, hitting 32 home runs and driving in 117 RBIs to lead the team to a World Series victory.[([[https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/mvp_award.shtml|Baseball-Almanac]])]
+===== The Oakland Era Begins =====
+The Athletics played their first game in Oakland on April 17, 1968, after their move from Kansas City.[([[https://www.sfgate.com/athletics/article/A-s-celebrate-50th-anniversary-of-first-Oakland-12841680.php|SFGate]])]
+===== The Franchise All-Time Strikeout Leader =====
+Lefty Grove, who pitched for the Philadelphia A's, holds the franchise record for most career strikeouts with 1,954.[([[https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/OAK/leaders_pit.shtml|Baseball-Reference]])]
+===== The First American League Cy Young Winner =====
+Jim "Catfish" Hunter was the first American League pitcher to win the Cy Young Award in 1974, which he did after pitching for the A's.[([[https://www.espn.com/mlb/history/awards/cyyoung|ESPN]])]
+===== Rickey Henderson's Career-Long Feat =====
+Rickey Henderson holds the record for most career lead-off home runs, hitting 81 of them during his career, many with the Athletics.[([[https://www.mlb.com/news/rickey-henderson-career-home-run-record-c290135310|MLB.com]])]
+===== The "Walk-Off" Streak =====
+The Athletics hold the all-time MLB record for the most walk-off wins in a single season with 17, which they accomplished in their 2012 season.[([[https://www.mlb.com/news/athletics-record-17-walk-off-wins-in-2012|MLB.com]])]
+===== No. 34 Retired for a Legend =====
+The Athletics retired jersey number 34 in honor of Rollie Fingers, who was a key reliever during the team's 1970s dynasty and a Hall of Famer.[([[https://www.mlb.com/athletics/history/retired-numbers|MLB.com]])]
+===== A Father and Son Legacy =====
+The team’s history includes a famous father-son duo: Connie Mack, the longtime manager, and his son Earle Mack, who also played for and coached the team.[([[https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=mackea01|Baseball-Almanac]])]
+===== A Team with Two Different City's Names in its Hall of Fame =====
+The franchise has retired numbers for players from both its Oakland and Philadelphia eras, a unique distinction shared by few other teams.[([[https://www.mlb.com/athletics/history/retired-numbers|MLB.com]])]
+===== The 2011 "Billy Beane" Trade =====
+The 2011 trade of Gio Gonzalez and other players for prospects was a major "Moneyball" move, netting the A's future All-Stars and helping to rebuild the team.[([[https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/7339794/oakland-athletics-trade-gio-gonzalez-washington-nationals|ESPN]])]
+===== Longest-Tenured A's Broadcaster =====
+Bill King, known for his unique and passionate style, served as the radio play-by-play announcer for the A's from 1981 to 2005, the longest tenure in franchise history.[([[https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Longtime-A-s-broadcaster-Bill-King-dies-at-78-3236712.php|SFGate]])]
+===== The All-Star Game Host of the '80s =====
+The Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum hosted the MLB All-Star Game in 1987, a year that showcased the rise of the team's late-1980s dynasty.[([[https://www.mlb.com/all-star/history/rosters|MLB.com]])]
+===== A Coin Toss Determined Home Field =====
+Home-field advantage for the 1972 World Series was determined by a coin flip, which the A's won against the Cincinnati Reds.[([[https://www.si.com/vault/1972/10/23/baseball-rules-change-for-world-series-was-first-of-many|Sports Illustrated]])]
+===== The 1929 World Series "Connie Mack's Bombers" =====
+The 1929 Philadelphia A's team, with its powerful lineup of Al Simmons, Jimmie Foxx, and Mickey Cochrane, was widely considered one of the greatest teams of all time and famously overcame a deficit in Game 4 of the World Series.[([[https://www.mlb.com/news/1929-world-series-athletics-vs-cubs|MLB.com]])]
+===== Rickey Henderson's Record-Setting Season =====
+In 1982, Rickey Henderson set the single-season MLB record for stolen bases with 130, a mark that has not been broken since.[([[https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/8302066/rickey-henderson-marks-30th-anniversary-single-season-steals-record|ESPN]])]
+===== A's to the Hall of Fame =====
+The franchise has had numerous players and managers inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, including Jimmie Foxx, Dennis Eckersley, and Frank "Home Run" Baker.[([[https://www.mlb.com/athletics/history/hall-of-fame|MLB.com]])]
+===== The Team's Second-Longest Winning Streak =====
+Before the 20-game streak, the franchise's longest winning streak was 19 games, which was achieved by the 1916 Philadelphia Athletics.[([[https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/OAK/streaks-2002.shtml|Baseball-Reference]])]
+===== The Only A's Triple Crown Winner =====
+Jimmie Foxx is the only player in franchise history to win the Triple Crown, which he did in 1933 by leading the league in batting average, home runs, and RBIs.[([[https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/triple_crown.shtml|Baseball-Almanac]])]
+===== The A's first home game at their new stadium =====
+The Athletics played their first home game at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on April 17, 1968, in a 4-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.[([[https://www.mlb.com/gameday/orioles-vs-athletics/1968/04/17/230156#game_state=final,game_tab=boxscore|MLB.com]])]
+===== Stomper's Introduction =====
+The Athletics mascot, Stomper, was introduced in 1997, replacing a number of short-lived and unofficial mascots that preceded him.[([[https://www.mlb.com/athletics/fans/stomper|MLB.com]])]
+===== The A's First Managerial Change in Over 50 Years =====
+After the retirement of Connie Mack in 1950, Jimmy Dykes was hired to be the A's new manager, marking the first time in the franchise's history that someone other than Mack was leading the team.[([[https://www.baseball-almanac.com/managers/Connie_Mack.shtml|Baseball-Almanac]])]

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