The Oakland Athletics have actually gone 2-3 since I last wrote, and now stand at 22-62, a .262 winning percentage. They should easily pass the 1962 New York Mets (40-120) in wins at this pace. Of course, this also happened. Not everyday a scumbag tosses a perfecto against you. It's so on brand for this team to have good news and a gut punch in the same week.
The other really bad team, the Kansas City Royals have gone 1-4 since I wrote last, and are now at 23-59, a .280 winning percentage. That is starting to creep into the winning percentage of some fairly recent teams, like the 2018 Baltimore Orioles (47-115, .292). Of course, their owner is now doing the charade of "Build me a new ballpark because I can't make a real estate empire where our currently awesome ballpark is located right now" dance. Some things never change.
I think that some franchise moves needed to happen. The Boston National League team moving to Milwaukee, the Browns moving to Baltimore, and the Philadelphia Athletics leaving Philadelphia made some since. Even the Giants leaving New York made some sense.
But usually, it just stinks. The owner is very greedy, and wants new shiny toys, and they get the league behind them, and they go on a sabotage campaign with their current city, and either get a shiny new ballpark out of the deal (Marlins Stadium, Citi Field, New Yankee Stadium), or they move (Expos->Nationals, Senators->Rangers, KC A's->Oakland, Milwaukee-Atlanta). This is a hugely profitable business, propped up by laws that exist for no other business, and a LOT of public money.
The only team I somewhat admire for how they got their most recent stadium is the Giants. They built what is now Oracle Park themselves. The city did do improvements around the neighborhood (some), but taxpayers were not soaked terribly much. And the Giants have been building their own real estate empire themselves. While I hated what they were doing before the current ownership bought the team and built the stadium, I admire what they did to stay in San Francisco.
None of the other 29 teams have such a clean story about their stadiums.
Sometimes I wonder why I follow this sport. Oh, yeah. That's right. It's about the players. Go watch the good ones. They are all kinds of fun.
On to the LeaderLoser boards.
By Wins (sorted from worst to best)
We are going to be seeing all of the pandemic teams over the next few weeks. That season generated a lot of stat pollution, that's for sure.
All-time: The A's are in a four-way tie for 51st worst with the 1879 NL Syracuse Stars (22-62), the 2020 AL Texas Rangers (22-38), and the 1874 NA Brooklyn Atlantics (22-33). They are ahead of a five-way tie with 21 wins which I am not going to enumerate. Next with 23 wins are the 1890 NL Pittsburgh Alleghenys (23-113), the 2020 AL Detroit Tigers (23-35), and the 2023 AL Kansas City Royals (23-59), all tied for 55th worst all time. Next for the Royals at 24 wins are the 1880 NL Buffalo Bisons (24-58), the 1878 NL Indianapolis Blues (24-36), and the 2020 AL Boston Red Sox (24-36).
Since 1876: 4-way tie for 19th, then at 23rd, the A's (22-62), 1879 Syracuse (22-48), and the 2020 Rangers (22-38). Next is 1890 Pittsburgh (23-113), the 2023 Royals (23-59), and the 2020 Tigers (23-35). Next up: The 1880 Bisons (24-58), 1878 Indianapolis (24-36), and the 2020 Red Sox (24-36).
American League: The White Elephants (22-62) are still the worst all time, although they are tied with the 2020 Rangers (22-38). Next at 3rd are the Royals at 23-59, and the 2020 Tigers (23-35). Next on the leaderboards are the 2020 Red Sox. Whee.
Since 1900: The A's are 2nd, ahead of the 2020 NL Pittsburgh Pirates (19-41), and tied with the 2020 Rangers (22-38). The Royals are tied for 4th with the 2020 Tigers (23-35). Next is the 2020 Red Sox (24-36).
Since 1876, >100 games (otherwise known as the list I actually care about): The A's are 2nd, ahead of the 1899 NL Cleveland Spiders (20-134). The Pale Blue Hose are next. 4th on the list are the 1889 AA Louisville Colonels (27-111).
By Winning Percentage
All-time: #41 1882 NL Baltimore Orioles (19-54; .260) (there have been many many different franchises in Baltimore called the Orioles); #42 2023 AL Oakland Athletics (22-62; .262); #43 1880 NL Cincinnati Stars (21-59; .263)... #56 (3-way tie) 1941 NL Philadelphia Phillies, the 1939 AL St. Louis Browns, and the 1932 Boston Red Sox (43-111, .279); #59 2023 Kansas City Royals (23-59; .281); #60 1915 NL Philadelphia Athletics and 1928 AL Philadelphia Phillies (43-109; .283).
Since 1876: Same list except the 1882 Orioles are #25, the A's are #26, the Stars are #27... the three way tie at #39; Royals at #42; and the Wonder Twins of Philadelphia at #43.
American League: #3 1919 AL Philadelphia Athletics (36-104; .257); #4 A's (22-62; .262); #5 2003 AL Detroit Tigers (43-119; .265)... #7 (tie) 1932 Red Sox and 1939 Browns (43-111; .279); #9 Royals (23-59; .281); #10 1915 A's (43-109; .283)
Since 1900: #5 1919 A's (36-104; .257); #6 2023 Mt. Davis Specials (22-62; .262); #7 2003 Tigers (43-119; .265)... #11 Dynamic Trio of badness (43-111; .279); #14 The Fountain Drainage Sludge (23-59; .281); #15 Two forgotten Philadelphia teams (43-109; .283)
Notes
The 2023 Red Sox, Twins, Brewers, and Phillies all now have more wins than the 1962 New York Mets. Hurray! They don't suck!
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