Notable players for the Athletics included future Baseball Hall of Fame member Wilbert Robinson and Al Atkinson.

In 1881, the team went on a barnstorming tour, and Sharsig took on two partners: player Charlie Mason and manager Horace Phillips.

[1] After the tour, Phillips jumped ship to the competing Quakers and was replaced on the management team by minstrel show performer Lew Simmons.

After winning the AA in 1883, in 1884 it was said that Sharsig, Simmons and Mason had cleared between $200,000 and $300,000 in just three years, then the greatest financial success scored in baseball.

In September 1890, the Athletics released or sold their players and finished the season with a pick-up team, losing the final 21 games.