CONNIE MACK IS GONE FIFTY YEARS

by Max Silberman

Februqry 8, 1956: A sad day for baseball fans. Connie Mack passes away at the age of 93.
A man born during the Civil War, born the son of Irish immigrants became the most dominant figure the game of baseball had known.

Connie Mack entered this world in East Brookfield, MA on either December 22 or 23 , 1862. No one really knew his true birthday as he was born just prior to midnight or just past it.

In 1886 he became a catcher for the Washington National Leaguers, moving to Buffalo in 1891 and Pittsburgh in 1891 where he would both play and manage until 1895.

In 1901 the American League was formed and Connie Mack assumed the role of manager which he would hold for half a century before retiring after the 1950 season.

Over that fifty year period, he added to his ownership shares becoming a majority owner in the late 1930s.

His knowledge of the game was unequalled but he is also remembered as a true gentleman, a man of compassion and kindness and the man who guided the Athletics to 9 pennants and 5 World's Championships. The first pennant came in 1902 and since the World Series had not yet begun, they might have had a 6th World Series victory!

When Connie Mack passed away fifty years ago this week, all of baseball and particularly Philadelphians felt a tremendous loss. May his memory live forever in the hearts and minds of A's fans everywhere.