This Day in Philly Sports History

Presented by the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame

The Phillies dropped the second game of the series to the Red Sox last night and look to bounce back against an old friend tonight. The PGA Championship starts today at Aronimink in Newtown Square. The PGA was founded by Rodman Wanamaker (son of John), a Philly Native. The prestigious Wanamaker Trophy is named after him. May 14 saw a first for the Phillies, some Stanley Cup Playoff memories for the Flyers and the start of The Process.

Feels Like the First Time

The Philadelphia Quakers (the Phillies’ original team name) finally broke into the win column after losing their first eight games. They beat the Chicago White Stockings on this day in 1883 12-1 in a make up game from a May 10 rainout for the first win in team history. The Quakers ended their inaugural season with a 17-81-1 record. The White Stockings are not the team you think. They would go on to become the Chicago Cubs.

Mediocre at Best

1918-1948 was by far the worst stretch of Phillies baseball all-time with the Phillies only having one winning season. On this day in 1922 they beat the Cardinals 5-1 in St. Louis bringing the team’s all-time record to 2,827 wins and 2,827 losses (ties do not count in official MLB records). This was the last time that the franchise was .500 or better. They’d drop their next twelve in a row and haven’t been this close since.

Trivia – Of all of the professional teams of the four major sports (MLB/NBA/NFL/NHL) to play games in Philly, which of them have a record of .500 or better? (Answer Below)

On the Brink of the Finals

The Flyers beat the Nordiques 2-1 to go up three games to two in the Wales Conference Finals. Joe Patterson and Murray Creaven scored for the Flyers while Pelle Lindburgh stopped thirty Quebec shots as the Flyers moved within one game of their first Stanley Cup Final since 1980.

We’re Baaaack

In 1987 the Flyers looked to rebound from a disappointing and emotionally draining 1985-86 season where their burgeoning star goalie was tragically killed in a car accident. I. Ron 6 of the Wales Conference Finals four different Flyers scored goals as the Flyers returned to their second Stanley Cup Final in three years when they beat the Canadiens 4-3. Ron Hextall, in the midst of a Conn Smythe run saved 29 of 32 shots he faced, and the Flyers were poised to make another Stanley Cup run.

Trust the Process

The Process appears to be dead – some may argue that it has been dead but on this day in 2013 we had no idea what a ride we were about to embark on. Sam Hinkie was hired as the Sixers GM and basketball in Philly would never be the same.

Trivia Answer – The Flyers, Eagles, Sixers, Warriors, and Frankford Yellow Jackets all have records of .500 or better during their time in Philly.

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