Going over the expansion draft of what would be the 1969 Seattle Pilots made me think about the franchise a little bit. How could a city that was given an expansion franchise lose that team after one season. The more I thought about it, the more I found some sense to the whole thing.
Expansion first hit baseball in the 1961 season. The Washington Senators, an original American League franchise, decided to move to Minnesota. While this was not the first time an MLB team changed locations, it was the first of its kind. Every other time a team relocated, it was at the expense of a team that had another baseball team in the same city of district. The Boston Braves moved to Milwaukee for the 1953 season, but Boston still had the Red Sox. The St Louis Browns moved to Baltimore for the 1954 season, but St Louis still had the Cardinals. The Philadelphia Athletics moved to Kansas City for the 1955 season, but Philadelphia still had the Phillies. As much as it was protested, the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants still moved to Los Angeles and San Francisco for the 1958 season. Because of all the New York bias, many refused to cope with the fact that New York still had the Yankees. So much, that the New York Mets were added to the National League for the 1962 season. But the move of Washington was the first of its kind.
The result of Washington's franchise moving to Minnesota led to baseball's first expansion. Washington, DC was left without a baseball team. That was the first time a MLB city was left without a team. MLB decided that Washington should have a team, which led to the re-addition of the Washington Senators to the AL for the 1961 season. Because scheduling conflicts would exist because one team is added, the AL added another team, the Los Angeles Angels. The decision of owner Charlie Finley to move the Kansas City Athletics to Oakland for the 1968 season bothered a lot of people, and left for Oakland for the 1968 season. The NL reacted to the unhappiness by granting the city of Kansas City an expansion franchise for the 1969 season.
So, if you have read to this point, you are probably saying, "I know about all that! What does all that have to do with Seattle losing its team after the 1969 season?" After a brief stay in Milwaukee, the Braves moved to Atlanta for the 1966 season. A similar outcry resulted in Milwaukee, but one that was for naught. Not only was Kansas City given a team for 1969, but cities that had never had an MLB team such as Seattle, San Diego and Montreal were given expansion teams. Why was Milwaukee not given an expansion team? Based on the history of the Senators and Athletics/ Royals, it was a fair question to be asked.
With new teams in San Diego and Montreal having long histories in the minor leagues, Seattle became vulnerable and a target of the baseball trust in the city of Milwaukee. Geographically, San Diego was a solid addition to baseball of the West Coast, joining LA and San Fran. There would have been some greater implications of trying to take the Expos out of Montreal. In the end, Milwaukee got a baseball team back, the Brewers from 1970 on. MLB did keep up with rewarding cities that lost teams by granting Seattle a franchise for the 1977 season. But, Washington did not have to wait at all to get a new team. Kansas City had to wait one full season. Milwaukee just four. Seattle had to wait a record seven seasons before they had a new team there. Of course, Washington now owns the record with a 33 year gap without having a baseball team. Montreal is entering its 10th season without a team in 2014. And from what has been heard, it seems unlikely there will ever be a professional baseball team in Montreal again. And that is sad.
Expansion first hit baseball in the 1961 season. The Washington Senators, an original American League franchise, decided to move to Minnesota. While this was not the first time an MLB team changed locations, it was the first of its kind. Every other time a team relocated, it was at the expense of a team that had another baseball team in the same city of district. The Boston Braves moved to Milwaukee for the 1953 season, but Boston still had the Red Sox. The St Louis Browns moved to Baltimore for the 1954 season, but St Louis still had the Cardinals. The Philadelphia Athletics moved to Kansas City for the 1955 season, but Philadelphia still had the Phillies. As much as it was protested, the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants still moved to Los Angeles and San Francisco for the 1958 season. Because of all the New York bias, many refused to cope with the fact that New York still had the Yankees. So much, that the New York Mets were added to the National League for the 1962 season. But the move of Washington was the first of its kind.
The result of Washington's franchise moving to Minnesota led to baseball's first expansion. Washington, DC was left without a baseball team. That was the first time a MLB city was left without a team. MLB decided that Washington should have a team, which led to the re-addition of the Washington Senators to the AL for the 1961 season. Because scheduling conflicts would exist because one team is added, the AL added another team, the Los Angeles Angels. The decision of owner Charlie Finley to move the Kansas City Athletics to Oakland for the 1968 season bothered a lot of people, and left for Oakland for the 1968 season. The NL reacted to the unhappiness by granting the city of Kansas City an expansion franchise for the 1969 season.
So, if you have read to this point, you are probably saying, "I know about all that! What does all that have to do with Seattle losing its team after the 1969 season?" After a brief stay in Milwaukee, the Braves moved to Atlanta for the 1966 season. A similar outcry resulted in Milwaukee, but one that was for naught. Not only was Kansas City given a team for 1969, but cities that had never had an MLB team such as Seattle, San Diego and Montreal were given expansion teams. Why was Milwaukee not given an expansion team? Based on the history of the Senators and Athletics/ Royals, it was a fair question to be asked.
With new teams in San Diego and Montreal having long histories in the minor leagues, Seattle became vulnerable and a target of the baseball trust in the city of Milwaukee. Geographically, San Diego was a solid addition to baseball of the West Coast, joining LA and San Fran. There would have been some greater implications of trying to take the Expos out of Montreal. In the end, Milwaukee got a baseball team back, the Brewers from 1970 on. MLB did keep up with rewarding cities that lost teams by granting Seattle a franchise for the 1977 season. But, Washington did not have to wait at all to get a new team. Kansas City had to wait one full season. Milwaukee just four. Seattle had to wait a record seven seasons before they had a new team there. Of course, Washington now owns the record with a 33 year gap without having a baseball team. Montreal is entering its 10th season without a team in 2014. And from what has been heard, it seems unlikely there will ever be a professional baseball team in Montreal again. And that is sad.
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