Arnie Portocarrero

Signed by the Athletics after he graduated from New York\'s George Washington High School, Portocarrero broke in with Philadelphia in 1954 after only two years of minor league experience and two years in the United States Army during the Korean War. In his first year in the majors, he was a franchise hope for the Athletics, who were in desperate shape both on the field and financially. It was hoped that the team might be good enough to improve attendance at Philadelphia\'s Connie Mack Stadium. The year before, some A\'s games had fewer than 2,000 people in the stands.\n', '

But the 1954 Athletics lost 103 games and finished last. Portocarrero posted a 9–18 record with a 4.06 earned run average; he finished second in the American League in games lost to Don Larsen of the Orioles and he led the league in wild pitches. The Athletics\' gate receipts did not improve, either. The team was so…