Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-07
ATHLETICS NOT LIKELY TO
BREAK MAJOR LEAGUE MARK
FOR CONSECUTIVE DEFEATS
Pittsburgh and Louisville Hold Records for
Greatest Number of Games Lost-Colones
Dropped 25 in Row
By CHANDLER D. RICHTER

U1HE ATHLETICS have won only two
i games since June i, when Joe Bush shut
out the Yankees by the score OF to 0. Since
that time the Mackmen have dropped "a
out Of 26 games, and It has been claimed
that they are very close to the worlds
record for losing streaks, but a careful
search of the back files OF Sporting Lie
reveals the fact that there is not one
chance in a thousand OF, the Meckmen
approaching the marks made by Louisville
in 1889 and Pittsburgh in 1890.
II also has been taken for granted for
years that the longest consecutive losing
streak was of 20 games, made by Louis
willie, of the American Association 0hen
a major league club in 1883, but this IS
Incorrect. The Louisville losing streak was
of 20 games and not 26.
This losing streak was started when
Matt Kilroy, Philadelphian, pitched
Baltimore to a IL to victory over the
Colonels on May 20 and ended on June %,
when the famous TOAD" Ramsey, con-
sldered one of the greatest southpaws the
game has ever produced, held st Louis to
I'VE hits and struck out 10 men, Louisville
winning, to 3, by batting Chamberlain,
another famous hurler, out of the box.
Pirates Record
The greatest losing streak over longer
National League, in 1890. The Pirates
hung up National League record for
consecutive defeats with 81. and also
started on another long streak imrnedi-
ately following the victory. To equal the
record made by the Pirates, the Athletics
must lose IA moro games In row.
BY losing IA games in row the Mack
mon would shatter the American League
record for consecutive defeats and be dan
gerously close to the worlds record. Eight
games have been lost in row and as the
American League record Ia 20 straight de-
feats, made by Boston in 1910, the Mack
men would pass this mark and be we'll on
the way toward Loulsville's mark
There is little danger of the Mackmon
losing IA more games in row as the team
has played far too well to have lost as many
as they have The Mackmen have batted
we'll and some splendid pitching has been
done by Myers, Bush Sheehan and Ma
bors, but tho miserable fielding and the
lack of team play permitted the pitchers
good work to go to waste.
Many of tho Mack defeats have been by
q one-run margin and in games where the
collegians have tailed more runs than are
usually needed to win n major league con-
test. The breaks will not go to the oppos-
ing teams much longer and the Mackmen
are likely to break loose with victory almost
any day now.
Lost 1874 Games
Not only is 1t unlikely that the Mackmen
will break the record for losing games over
a two month stretch but 1t also is almost
impossible for them to break the major
league record for defeats. It has frequently
been claimed that the major league record
for defeats in n season Is ia madc by
Pittsburgh in 1890. However, Cleveland,
in the National League, lost 1874 games in
1899.
To equal this mark the Mackmen would
have to lose SO of the SO games which are
yet to be played. 1t is possible that the
Mackmen will shatter the American League
record of 113 defeats, made by Washington
in 1904, but to do this II would be neces-
sary to lose sc of the SO games on the
schedule, which is not likely
The two most consistent losing streaks In
the history of the game were made by
Louisville and Pittsburgh in 1889 and 1890,