Learned this from Herm last night at the Vous. Why do the A’s have a white elephant as their mascot? This from their media guide: In 1901 Connie Mack and his Philadelphia Athletics helped form the American League. The following year, New York Giants Manager John McGraw dismissed the A’s with contempt, calling them “The White Elephants,” implying Mack shouldn’t be allowed to spend money without supervision. Mack defiantly adopted the White Elephant as the team insignia, and in 1902, the A’s won the American League pennant.
