Connie Mack’s last big yard sale

Connie Mack, center, with catcher Mickey Cochrane, left, and Lefty Grove

     In one of his semi-regular yard sales to help pay the bills, Philadelphia Athletics manager Connie Mack sends future Hall of Fame pitcher Lefty Grove, along with pitcher Rube Walberg and second baseman Max Bishop, to the Boston Red Sox 91 years ago today for infielder Rabbit Warstler, pitcher Bob Kline and – most important for Mack – $125,000.

On the same day, Mack also ships another future Hall of Famer in catcher Mickey Cochrane to Detroit for journeyman catcher Johnny Pasek and, of course, $100,000.

Lefty Grove with the Red Sox

     Pasek measures his time with the A’s in minutes, though, as he quickly joins pitcher George Earnshaw in yet another trade, this one to the Chicago White Sox, for another journeyman catcher in Charlie Berry and – cha-ching – $20,000.

     Aside from raking in $245,000 in cash from the three trades, Mack also no longer has to pay Grove and Cochrane, who in 1933 combine to earn $44,600.

As for Grove, he spends the final eight years of his career with the Red Sox, winning 105 games for them to finish with an even 300 victories over 17 seasons between Philadelphia and Boston.

Mickey Cochrane with the Tigers

As for Cochrane, the Tigers immediately name him their player-manager and Cochrane responds in 1934 and ’35 with two All-Star seasons as a player and two American League pennants as a manger – falling to the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1934 World Series before beating the Chicago Cubs in the ’35 Series.

Alas for Mack, his beloved Athletics after the trades from 91 years ago today finish with a losing record in each of the next 13 seasons before finally inching over .500 in 1947.

Mack remains the Athletics’ manager through 1950, but he never again seriously challenges for the American League pennant as he does when Grove and Cochrane are two of his best players in Philadelphia from 1925-33.