Birmingham A's: Difference between revisions
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The '''Birmingham A's''' were the [[Southern League of Professional Baseball|Southern League]] AA affiliate of the Kansas City Athletics, playing at [[Rickwood Field]] from [[1967]] to [[1975]]. They were a successor to the re-formed [[1964 Birmingham Barons]], also affiliated with the A's, which was the first racially-integrated professional sports team to play for Birmingham after the repeal of the city's [[segregation ordinances]] in [[1963]]. After the [[1965 Birmingham Barons|1965 season]], that team relocated to Mobile as the Mobile A's. | The '''Birmingham A's''' were the [[Southern League of Professional Baseball|Southern League]] AA affiliate of the Kansas City Athletics, playing at [[Rickwood Field]] from [[1967]] to [[1975]]. They were a successor to the re-formed [[1964 Birmingham Barons]], also affiliated with the A's, which was the first racially-integrated professional sports team to play for Birmingham after the repeal of the city's [[segregation ordinances]] in [[1963]]. After the [[1965 Birmingham Barons|1965 season]], that team relocated to Mobile as the Mobile A's. | ||
Revision as of 11:25, 23 June 2024
The Birmingham A's were the Southern League AA affiliate of the Kansas City Athletics, playing at Rickwood Field from 1967 to 1975. They were a successor to the re-formed 1964 Birmingham Barons, also affiliated with the A's, which was the first racially-integrated professional sports team to play for Birmingham after the repeal of the city's segregation ordinances in 1963. After the 1965 season, that team relocated to Mobile as the Mobile A's.
In 1967 Athletics owner Charlie Finley brought the team back to Birmingham, keeping the A's name. With manager John McNamara and future Hall of Famers Reggie Jackson and Rollie Fingers, the A's went 84-55 and took the 6-team Southern League title by 3.5 games.
The Athletics moved from Kansas City to Oakland, California in 1968. After a few strong seasons, the Birmingham club suffered along with the struggling league. The 1973 A's averaged only 305 fans per game at Rickwood.
The A's moved after the 1975 season and Rickwood did not see Southern League baseball again for 5 seasons.
Records
- 1967 Birmingham A's: 84-55 (champion)
- 1968 Birmingham A's: 66-74, 20 games behind the Asheville Tourists
- 1969 Birmingham A's: 78-62, 3 games behind the Charlotte Hornets
- 1970 Birmingham A's: 73-65, 5.5 games behind the Columbus Astros
- 1971 Birmingham A's: 48-93
- 1972 Birmingham A's: 49-90
- 1973 Birmingham A's: 50-88
- 1974 Birmingham A's: 54-81
- 1975 Birmingham A's: 65-69