Worst Team Ever

Several thousand converged on the Jefferson Street Grounds on April 22, 1876 to watch the Philadelphia Athletics host the Boston Red Stockings in the first game of the 1876 championship season. The game wasn't particularly interesting, but the story behind the fall of the National Association and rise of the National League is intriguing and filled with [some] shenanigans.

The Cranks discuss the changes in baseball in 1884 and how rules changes, equipment evolution, and a new major league impacted the Phillies' sophomore roster. The Phils used 14 catchers in 1884, more than any team in history.

Ed Delahanty was the second major league player to hit four home runs in a single game on July 13, 1896 in Chicago. The Phillies still managed to lose 9-8. Matt and Pierre briefly discuss the history of four home run games and focus on Bobby Lowe's four home run day and conclude with Delahanty's impressive performance at West Side Park.

The Cranks are on their way to Providence for a vintage baseball festival and talk about that time Charlie Ferguson no-hit the Providence Grays on August 29, 1885.

SABR member and author Justin McKinney joins Matt and Pierre to discuss the Jekyll and Hyde 1890 Philadelphia Athletics, a tale of two rosters. One version sat atop the American Association standings in July. The other version never won a game and didn't belong on a major league diamond.

Pierre takes the reins in this episode and provides a 1,000 foot overview of the 1871 Athletics, the first professional baseball league champions in history. Matt provides backstory for a few of the players.

CHEATERS! Cheaters? Maybe? Morgan Murphy and Piece Chiles develop an ingenious and completely unethical sign stealing scandal in 1899 and 1900.

Matt and Pierre introduce the podcast theme and the topics they will discuss in the future. They also discuss songwriter Howard S. Bott, who wrote a song in 1895 titled "The Game the Phillies Play."