The other night I happened to see an excellent 1950's movie called It Should Happen to You, starring the brilliant Judy Holliday and introducing Jack Lemmon. At one point in the movie, the day's scores are given, including St. Louis 10, Philadelphia 9 and Philadelphia 6, Brooklyn 5. Ah ha, this movie was made while the Athletics were still in Philadelphia---and sure enough, released in January 1954, the flick was made in 1953. Owner Connie Mack packed up his ball team at the end of that season and took them to Kansas City, which turned out to be a stop on the way to Oakland.
Even now, the Philadelphia Athletics are the most successful franchise in Philadelphia sports history, winning five world championships between 1910 and 1930. In 1996. Ernie Montella founded the Philadelphia Athletics Historical Society in Hatboro, Pennsylvania, not far from Philadelphia. When Montella started the organization, which functions as a museum and gift shop, some 120 former members of the Philadelphia A's teams were still alive. That number is now down to about 40. The volunteers who run the museum and shop are also aging and fewer young baseball fans even know about the Athletics' history in Philadelphia, though some of it is featured at the Phillies' park.
Shop sales have been the main part of the museum's revenue but, thanks in part to the economy, those sales have declined in recent years. As a result, the society is now forced to think about closing down or perhaps finding a taker for its collection of memorabilia.
I've been to the museum a couple of times but not for several years. It was sad to read this news online. As soon as the weather shapes up, I shall have to take a drive to Hatboro.
