<P> Rumors abounded that Johnson's real motive was to operate the Athletics in Kansas City for a few years, then move the team to Los Angeles (the Brooklyn Dodgers would later move there from New York City after the 1957 season). Whatever the concern about the move to Kansas City, fans turned out in record numbers for the era . In 1955, the Kansas City Athletics drew 1,393,054 to Municipal Stadium, a club record easily surpassing the previous record of 945,076 in 1948; in fact, it was the third - highest attendance figure in the majors, behind only the all - powerful Yankees and the also recently relocated Milwaukee Braves in the National League (1953 - 1969). That number would never be approached again while the team was in Kansas City, and would remain the club record for attendance until 1982--the Athletics' 15th season in Oakland . This was mainly because the A's were barely competitive; in five years under Johnson's ownership, the closest they got to a winning record was 1958, when they finished 73 - 81, eight games below . 500 and 19 games out of first . </P> <P> Johnson's previous business ties to the Yankees resulted in several trades between the Athletics and the "Bronx Bombers" that helped keep the New York dynasty afloat . Invariably, any good young A's player was traded to the Yankees for aging veterans and cash . Over the years, Johnson would trade such key players as Roger Maris, Bobby Shantz, Héctor López, Clete Boyer, Art Ditmar and Ralph Terry to New York; in return, he did receive some talented younger players such as Norm Siebern and Jerry Lumpe, and the cash helped the team pay the bills . However, with few exceptions, the trades were heavily weighted in favor of the Yankees . This led to accusations from fans, reporters and even other teams that Johnson ran the A's as a Yankee farm team at the major - league level; ironic, since the old Kansas City Blues had been the Yankees' top minor league affiliate from 1936 to 1954 . </P> <P> On the positive side, Johnson devoted attention to player development for the first time in the history of the franchise . Previously, longtime owner Connie Mack (1862 - 1956), either did not or could not spend any money building a farm system, a major reason why his Philadelphia teams fell from World Series champions to cellar - dwellers so quickly . When Johnson bought the team, the A's only had three scouts in the entire organization . Johnson did make some improvements to the farm system, but was unwilling to pay top dollar for players that could get the A's within sight of contention . </P> <P> Johnson was returning from watching the Athletics in spring training when he was fatally stricken with a cerebral hemorrhage . He died in West Palm Beach, Florida on March 3, 1960 at the age of 53 . </P>

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