"Programs! Line-ups! You can't tell the players without a scorecard." A real fan didn't need a program to know who was on the field. You knew every player and all his stats. But if Dad wanted to spring for it, what the hell. It was sort of fun to keep score and look at the pictures, but you sure had your hands full. One eye on the ball, scorecard and peanuts in your lap, hot dog and pencil in one hand because you had to keep your mitt on the other.

Athletics '42

Connie Mack (Cornelius McGillicuddy) managed the A's for 50 years, 1901-1950, finally stepping down at the tender age of 88.

Cubs '47

1947 wasn't exactly a banner year for the Cubs. But then again, neither was 1948 or any year since. In fact, measuring by World Series appearances, the Cubs haven't had a banner year since 1945.

Yankees '46

The Yankees, by contrast, practically established squatters' rights to the October classic, winning five straight between 1949 and 1953, and appearing in something like 34 World Series to date, a record unlikely to be surpassed any time soon.

Braves '48

Spahn and Sain and Pray for Rain. The Braves got to the World Series in 1948 only to lose to the Cleveland Indians, a team that hadn't been there since 1920.

Athletics '53

Every team needs a mascot. For some reason the Philadelphia Athletics favored the Republicans' Elephant. Interesting, because the team moved to Kansas City following the 1954 season, then to Oakland in the late sixties under the ownership of Charlie Finley, a real jack-ass.