by Jim Montgomery | Apr 27, 2026 | This Day in Philly Sports History
Presented by the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame
Not the best Philly Sports weekend. The Phillies are a mess, the Sixers were blown out, and the Flyers couldn’t finish the sweep. Joel did return and say what you want about his injury history, the guy is tough. The Eagles hit all their areas of need, so we’ll see if the players pan out. The Flyers will look to finish off the Penguins tonight in Pittsburgh.
On the Verge of Clinching
Dr. J had an immediate impact on the Sixers, his first season coming over from the ABA. On this day in 1977 he scored 22 points, Doug Collins added 23 and The Mayor Steve Mix had 20 as the Sixers beat the Celtics to go up 3 games to 1 on the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. They’d lose the next game before knocking the Celtics out and eventually making the NBA Finals.
Schmidt Spoils Nolan’s No-no
The Phillies traveled to Houston in 1988, and Nolan Ryan was outstanding. He held the Phillies hitless through 8 1/3 innings before Mike Schmidt spoiled the no-hitter with a one out single. Lance Parrish then tied the game at 2 with a 2-run double. The Astros eventually walked it off in the bottom of the tenth but Mike Schmidt, who historically struggled against Ryan was able to spoil it.
Trivia – Which pitcher did Mike Schmidt have his highest career batting average against (minimum 40 at-bats) (Answer Below)
Staying Alive
The Flyers avoided being eliminated and forced a winner take all Game 7 in Pittsburgh with a 6-2 win over the Penguins at the Spectrum. Tim Kerr and Derrick Smith scored 2 goals each and Mark Howe added 3 assists. The Flyers would be the Pens in Game 7 setting up a matchup with the Canadiens in the Wales Conference Finals.
Sending the Vet out in Style
Ricky Ledee hit a first inning homerun which was the only run scored in the Phillies game against the Giants at the Vet. Kevin Milwood, who had been solid in his first year with the Phillies, was outstanding on this day. He threw 108 pitches, walked 3 while striking out 10 and not allowing a single hit to the Giants that day. It was the second no-hitter in the Vet’s history. Ledee also caught the final out to clinch it for Milwood.
Trivia Answer – Rick Reuschel. In 129 career at-bats Schmidt hit .403 with 7 homers and 26 RBI.
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by Jim Montgomery | Apr 24, 2026 | This Day in Philly Sports History
Presented by the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame
The Eagles traded up and selected Makai Lemon last night in the first round. April 23 has proven to be “super” for the Birds. The Sixers were also kings of the world, the Flyers stayed alive and a potential Hall of Famer made a grand debut.
We are the Champions
On this day in 1967 the Sixers beat the Warriors 125-122 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals thanks in part to a huge 4th quarter. The win brought the franchise their second NBA Championship. League MVP Wilt Chamberlain scored 24 points and grabbed 23 rebounds. Luke Jackson pulled down 21 boards and Rick Barry once again went over 40 points in the series. Hal Greer was quoted as saying “We knew we were going to win most of our games…it was just a matter of by how much.” The 66-67 Sixers went 68-13 and in honor of the NBA’s 35th anniversary they were named the greatest team ever. There have been quite a few great teams since then, but they are still considered one of the best teams in NBA history. The Sixers franchise won their first while in Syracuse as the Nationals in 1955.
Chase Utley’s Grand Debut
The Phillies beat the Rockies on this day in 2003. Making his first Major League start at second base was Chase Utley. He made it memorable and gave us fans a glimpse of what was to come. In the bottom of the 5th Utley hit a grand slam to break the game wide open. In true Chase Utley fashion, he sprinted around the bases. He also added a double and much like his homerun trot, his career was off to the races.
The Flyers Stay Alive
Facing elimination in the 2011Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Sabres, the Flyers responded with great resilience on the road. They fell behind 3-1 after the 1st period but battled back to send the game to overtime thanks to Scott Hartnell’s goal midway through the 3rd period. Ville Leino won it less than 5 minutes into the extra period to send the series back to Philly all tied at 3 games. Future Flyers GM Danny Briere had 2 goals, and the Flyers would send the Sabres packing with a 5-2 win two nights later setting up a series against their old rivals the Boston Bruins.
Howie Makes a “Super” Pick
One night after passing on Justin Jefferson in favor of Jalen Reagor in the first round of the NFL – held on Zoom due to the Covid Pandemic – Howie made another surprising pick. In the 2nd round he shocked everyone and selected another Jalen #53 overall, this time Jalen Hurts out of Oklahoma. The Eagles already had a franchise quarterback with a large contract. Fortunately, much like when fans wanted Ricky Williams over Donovan McNabb, this pick off paid off for Howie and the Eagles. Since being drafted and eventually being named the starter in 2021, all Jalen has done is led to the Eagles to the playoffs every year, 2 NFC East Division titles, 2 Super Bowls, and a World Championship – winning the MVP. Jalen has faced a ton of criticism this offseason but if I had to bet, I’d put my money on Jalen.
Trivia – Which four quarterbacks were selected ahead of Jalen Hurts in the 2020 draft? (Answer Below)
Thank You
Thank you for reading this week. Be sure to subscribe so you can get notified of new posts. Once I get into a rhythm I plan on posting some special features on the weekend.
Trivia Answer – Joe Burrow #1, Tua Tagovailoa #5, Justin Herbert #6 and Jordan Love #26
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by Jim Montgomery | Apr 23, 2026 | This Day in Philly Sports History
Presented by the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame
What a game last night for the Flyers. Bring out the brooms! April 23 was a big day in Phillies history while the Flyers and Sixers have had some success as well. Let’s take a look at April 23 in Philly Sports History.
Day Turns to Night
By 1950 MLB night games had been a staple for most teams. However, a quirky NL rule didn’t allow the lights to be turned on if a day game ran long. That changed in 1949. On April 23, 1950, the Phillies were in Boston to play a doubleheader against the Braves. The Braves won the first game 4-3. Game 2 started under daylight but as the game progressed and dusk settled in, for the first time in MLB history they turned on the lights. Del Ennis hit an RBI double under the lights to give the Phillies a 6-5 win. This game and the new rule changed the way MLB games were scheduled. We now have late evening start times, and it also led to the advent of the twi-night doubleheader.
Mahaffey Strikeout King
The Phillies swept a doubleheader against the Cubs at Connie Mack Stadium on this day in 1961. Bobby Smith hit a walk-off homer to give the Phillies a 1-0 win in game 1. Frank Sullivan pitched a complete game shutout. In game 2 Johnny Callison homered and had 4 RBI as the Phillies completed the sweep with a 6-0 win. Art Mahaffey scattered 4 hits to get the complete game shutout. He struck out 17 Cubs setting the Phillies team record for strikeouts in a game and setting an MLB record for a right-handed pitcher.
Trivia – Who currently holds the Phillies single game record for strikeouts in a game? (Answer Below)
The PECO Power Play
The Flyers fell behind the Tampa Bay Lightning 2 games 1 in their quarterfinal series in 1996 after losing back-to-back overtime games. John LeClair and Ron Hextall led the way for the Flyers on this day. LeClair scored 2 power play goals and Hextall saved 21 shots as the Flyers won it 4-1. Joel Otto and Dale Hawerchuck also scored to help them even the series at 2 games apiece. They’d win the next two setting up a matchup with the Florida Panthers.
Ben Silences the Fans
Ben Simmons in Game 1 against the Nets in 2019, so much so that the fans at the Wells Fargo Center booed him. This led to Ben clapping back saying “If you’re gonna boo then stay on that side…” As you can imagine, that went over like a ton of bricks. Ben would bounce back with a triple-double in Game 2. On this day they finished off the Nets in a gentleman’s sweep, winning 122-100 in front of the home fans. The game wasn’t that close as Ben had 13 points, 6 boards and 4 assists. Joel Embiid dominated with 23 points and 13 rebounds in only 20 minutes – that’s all that was needed as the Sixers were set to take on the Raptors and future coach Nick Nurse in what would be an epic 7-game series.
Trivia Answer – In 1965 Chris Short pitched 15 innings against the Mets and struck out 18 to set the single game record for the Phillies. Mahaffey still holds the record for a 9-inning game.
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by Jim Montgomery | Apr 22, 2026 | This Day in Philly Sports History
Presented by the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame
It’s Flyers vs. Penguins, Game 3 tonight. April 22 provided one of the best moments in the rivalry. Today we look at Claude Giroux setting the tone, the first NBA championship in Philly and a groundbreaking moment for the Phillies franchise, albeit 10 years late.
Philly’s First NBA Championship
In 1947 the Philadelphia Warriors, playing their first season as a member of the Basketball Association of America (BAA), beat the Chicago Stags 4 games to 1 to win the championship. On this day they won 83-80 at the old Philadelphia Arena on 45th and Market. The Warriors were coached by legendary coach Eddie Gottlieb. The BAA history and statistics are counted by the NBA, making the Warriors the very first NBA champions. The BAA and National Basketball League (NBL) merged in 1949 to form the NBA. The Warriors would win another championship in Philly in 1956 before moving to San Francisco in 1962. The move paved the way for the Syracuse Nationals to move to Philly the following year and become the Sixers. As for the Stags? They folded after the 1950 season.
The Phillies Finally Integrate
Jackie Robinson broke MLB’s color barrier in 1947. To say that the Phillies had a complicated history with integration is an understatement. On this day in 1957 John Kennedy entered the game to pinch run for Solly Hemus in the 8th inning of a 5-1 loss to the Dodgers becoming the Phillies first black player to play in a game. The Phillies were the third to last MLB to integrate, just over 10 years after Jackie Robinson’s debut. For Kennedy it was short live as he only played in 5 games, mostly as a pinch runner. It wouldn’t be until Dick Allen in 1964 that the Phillies had a black star, but Kennedy paved the way.
The Shift
The Flyers were looking to close out the Penguins in Game 6 at their quarterfinal series at Wells Fargo Center. Claude Giroux was not going back to Pittsburgh for Game 7. On the opening shift he leveled Sydney Crosby 5 seconds into the game sending the crowd into a frenzy. On the same shift he blasted a shot past Marc-Andre Fleury to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead 32 seconds into the game. It set the tone as they rolled to a 5-1 win setting up a showdown with another rival, the Devils in the next round. G and Jakub Voracek added 2 assists in this game. Giroux had an amazing series, scoring 14 points (6 goals and 8 assists). Who’s going to have a “shift” tonight?
Coots with a Gutsy Display
In 2018 the Flyers were playing the Penguins in the quarterfinals once again. Sean Couturier missed Game 4 after tearing his MCL in practice. With the Flyers down 3 games to 1, Coots returned for Game 5 and scored the game winner. Fast forward to this day in 2018 and Game 6, and no one could have predicted what he had in store for an encore. Playing on a torn MCL, Couturier recorded a hat trick and 2 assists. Unfortunately it was enough as the Penguins Jake Geuntzel scored 4 goals to lead the Pens to an 8-5 win, eliminating the Flyers. Coots left it all out on the ice that day, however.
Break out the Brooms!
Playing without Joel Embiid, the Sixers beat the Nets in Game 4 96-88, sweeping them out of the playoffs. Tobias Harris scored 25 and had 12 boards, B-Ball Paul Reed scored 10 and 15, and James Harden had 17 and 11 assists. The win set up a matchup with the Celtics in the second round.
Trivia – How many sweeps do the Sixers have in 7 game series all-time and when were they? (Answer Below)
A Blown Opportunity
One year later the Sixers were up in Madison Square Garden looking to even their first round series at a game apiece. The Sixers appeared poised to send the series back to Philly tied leading by 5 with 30 seconds remaining. Unfortunately, the wheels fell off. Kyle Lowry had a chance at a steal but missed. A friendly bounce 3-pointer by Villanova’s Jalen Brunson brought the Knicks within 2. Tyrese Maxey turned the ball over (maybe a foul??), Dante DiVincenzo (another Nova guy) missed a 3 but Isaiah Hartenstein grabbed the offensive board and dished it DiVincenzo who didn’t miss the second attempt to put the Knicks up 1. A missed Maxey layup, a couple of Knicks free throws and a Joel Embiid missed 3 point shot and the Knicks headed to Philly up 2-0 after winning 104-101. Kudos to Jo for playing through Bells Palsy. If the Sixers won, the entire complexion of the series changes.
Trivia Answer – 1983 vs. Knicks, 1983 vs. Lakers, 1985 vs. Bucks, and 2023 vs. Nets
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by Jim Montgomery | Apr 21, 2026 | This Day in Philly Sports History
Presented by the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame
April 21 is the birthday of a Philly Spring staple. It has also featured hat tricks, career highs, power streaks, and triple-doubles. Today we look at key Flyers and Sixers playoff moments, the emergence of Cole Hamels and the Penn Relays.
Happy Birthday to You
First, we hop in The Way Back Machine and start in 1895. Wanting to add some buzz around Penn’s track program, Frank B. Ellis created the Pennsylvania Relay Carnival. The initial event featured nine relay races and drew about 5,000 fans to Franklin Field. Today it is the oldest and largest relay competition in the U.S. It has been run every year since 1895 except for 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid Pandemic. Over the past 131 years, The Penn Relays has turned into a global phenomenon featuring the best high school, collegiate and professional athletes. Some notable stars to run in the Penn Relays include Jim Thorpe, Jesse Owens, Roger Bannister, Edwin Moses, Wilt Chamberlain, Jim Brown, Carl Lewis, Michael Johnson, and Usain Bolt. This year’s relays take place April 23-25. If you’ve never attended the Relays, I highly recommend making the trip to West Philly.
A Propper Hat Trick
The Flyers were looking to take a 2-0 lead over the Islanders in the Patrick Division Finals on this day in 1985 at the Spectrum. Brian Propp recorded a hat trick, Tim Kerr added a goal and an assist while Pelle Lindburgh made 26 saves as the Flyers won their 5th straight postseason game to take a 2-0 lead. They would win the next game before eliminating the Islanders in 5 games. After taking care of the Nordiques in 5 they ran into a buzzsaw named the Edmonton Oilers.
The Phillies Ace Arrives
Cole Hamels staked his claim to Ace status on this day in 2007. The Phillies beat the Reds 4-1 at Great American Ballpark. Hamels pitched a complete game 5-hitter, striking out a career high 15 while only walking 2. He was aided by an Abraham Nunez, Chase Utley, Wes Helms around the horn triple play in the fifth inning. Chase Utley homered and doubled knocking in 3 of the Phillies runs. Aaron Rowand also homered but the story was Hamels who gave us all a glimpse of what was to come.
Utley on Fire
One year later the Phillies were in Colorado. They overcame a 5-2 deficit by scoring 2 runs in the 6th, 2 runs in the 8th, and 3 runs in the 9th. The rally including back-to-back homers by Jayson Werth and Chase Utley, Werth’s being an inside-the-parker. For Utley it was his fifth straight game with a homerun tying the club record. During the streak he hit 6 homers in 5 days. He later had another five-game homer streak that season – making him one of four players to have two separate streaks in the same season (Harmon Killebrew, Frank Thomas, Barry Bonds). Pat Burrell also went deep as the Phillies won it 9-5.
Trivia – Seven Phillies have homers in 5 straight games. Who are they? (Answer Below)
Ben Simmons was Magic
On this day in 2018 the Sixers took a commanding 3 games to 1 lead over the Heat in their 1st Round series, beating them 106-102 in Miami. Joel Embiid was not his typical self, scoring 14 and grabbing 12 boards but turned the ball over 8 times. Ben Simmons though stepped on the court and was trouble for the Heat. Ben messed around and had a 17-point, 13-rebound, 10-assist, triple-double. He became the first rookie since Magic Johnson to have a playoff triple-double. Magic had 5 during the 1980 playoffs, the last coming against the Sixers in Game 5 of NBA Finals against the Sixers.
Trivia Answer – Dick Allen (1969), Mike Schmidt (1979), Bobby Abreu (2005), Chase Utley 2x (2008), Rhys Hoskins (2017), Odubel Herrera (2018) and Trea Turner (2023)
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