Making history in a vacuum

Wally Schang

Big moment 109 years ago today in the career of Philadelphia Athletics’ left fielder Wally Schang as he becomes the first switch-hitter in major league history to homer from both sides of the plate in the same game.

The homers come during the Athletics’ 8-2 victory over the New York Yankees.

Not that many folks see Schang’s historic day on this Friday afternoon game at Shibe Park as the attendance reportedly is – count ’em – 25.

Not 2,500 or even 250.

Just 25 – about the same number of players and coaches on the bench when either team is batting.

And, yes, that total is the lowest attendance for a game in American League history before 2020, when no fans attend games as a precaution during the Covid pandemic.

The remarkably low attendance for this game in 1916 reflects the fortunes – or lack thereof – for the A’s as Schang’s outstanding game is good enough for only the 30th victory in Philadelphia’s first 131 games.

The A’s finish the season at 36-117 – a stunningly bad 54 1/2 games behind the American League pennant-winning Boston Red Sox.

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