baseball. Ownership shuffle After the 1887 season, Sharsig bought out Mason and Simmons, selling their shares of the club to H. C. Pennypacker and William Whittaker. Collapse of 1890 The last straw for the AA Athletics, and several other American Association teams, was the creation of the Players' League in 1890. The established leagues lost players to the upstart league, player salaries soared (by the standards of the day), and there simply were not enough fans to support three baseball leagues. The Athletics also had problems with their own payroll, with the salaries of Pennypacker and Whittaker causing additional financial trouble. Though the Players' League folded after a single season, it had taken its toll. In September 1890, the Athletics released or sold their players and finished the season with a pick-up team, losing the final 21 games. The Athletics were expelled by the league at the end of the season and was replaced by a new Philadelphia Athletics team, which previously played in the Players' League as the Quakers. The new team hired Sharsig as manager. See also 1882 Philadelphia Athletics season 1883 Philadelphia Athletics season 1884 Philadelphia Athletics season 1885 Philadelphia Athletics season 1886 Philadelphia Athletics season 1887 Philadelphia Athletics season 1888 Philadelphia Athletics season 1889 Philadelphia Athletics season 1890 Philadelphia Athletics season Philadelphia Athletics (American Association) all-time roster References External links Team index page, 1882-90 AA Athletics American Association (1882–1891) baseball teams Defunct baseball teams in Pennsylvania Sports in Philadelphia Athletics (American Association) Baseball teams established in 1882 Baseball teams disestablished in 1890