April 20 has delivered everything from Opening Day power displays to playoff wins. Today we look back at key moments the Phillies, Flyers, and Sixers.
Put Me in Coach
The Phillies opened the 1920 season with series in Brooklyn then the Polo Grounds against the Giants. On April 20 they were looking to take the rubber match. After 7 scoreless innings the Phillies mounted a rally with runners on first and second with 2 outs. Player/Manager Gavvy Cravath called his own number and rewarded himself with a 3-run homer to give the Phillies a 3-0 lead en route to a 3-0 win. For Cravath it was his 119th and final Major League home run. He retired as the modern-day Homerun King, until Babe Ruth broke his record the following season.
One Win Away
On this day in 1967 the Sixers beat the Warriors 122-108 in Game 3 of the NBA Finals to take a commanding 3 games to 1 lead. Hal Greer had 38 points and Wilt Chamberlain messed around and had an unofficial triple-double – 10 points, 27 rebounds and 10 blocks. Blocks wouldn’t become an official NBA start until the 1973-74 season. Wilt added 8 assists to his stat line. Rick Barry continued his monster Finals scoring a game high 43. He’d average 40.8 for the series which the Sixers would win in 6 games.
Flyers on a Roll
The Flyers won their fifth straight playoff game on this day in 1974, opening the Stanley Cup Semi-Finals with a 4-0 over the Rangers. Rick MacLeish had 2 goals and an assist, Gary Dornhoefer had 3 assists, while Bill Barber and Ross Lonsberry added their own goals. Bernie Parent blocked all 19 shots he faced for his first career playoff shutout.
Trivia – Bernie had 6 career playoff shutouts. Who holds the NHL record for career postseason shutouts? Answer below.
AI Torches the Hornets
The Sixers opened their first-round playoff series against the Hornets with a 98-90 win at the First Union Center. Allen Iverson scored a playoff career-high 55 points on 21-32 shooting including 3-5 from 3-point range. He added 10 from the free throw line. AI added 8 assists and 2 steals. The Sixers would win that series 4 games to 2 before bowing out to the Pistons 4-1 in the next round.
Stanley Cup Run Loading
After being down 1-0 after the first period the Flyers scored 4 straight goals including 2 on the Power Play by Jeff Carter. Danny Briere and Dan Carcillo scored as they beat the Devils 4-1 in Game 4 of their Quarterfinal series. Carter added an assist, Briere and Chris Pronger added two as the Flyers took a commanding 3-1 lead over New Jersey.
Trivia Answer – Martin Brodeur had 24 career shutouts in the Stanley Cup Playoffs besting Patrick Roy by one for the all-time lead.
Check back tomorrow for another look at This Day in Philly Sports History
The Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame’s ballot for its 2026 Induction Class, recognizes another distinguished group of athletes, coaches, and contributors who have helped shape the region’s proud sports tradition.
Among the nominees are longtime Philadelphia basketball figure Jimmy Lynam, international soccer legend Carli Lloyd, and NHL standout Johnny Gaudreau, along with many other accomplished figures representing sports across the professional, collegiate, and amateur levels.
“This year’s ballot reflects the extraordinary range of athletic achievement connected to the Philadelphia region,” said Kay Magee, Hall of Fame trustee and member of the Nomination and Ballot Committee. “From global stars to local legends, these nominees represent the depth and history of sports in our community.”
In addition to the modern-era ballot, the Hall also recognizes historically significant athletes and contributors through its Heritage category, honoring individuals whose accomplishments helped shape Philadelphia’s long and distinguished sports legacy.
Brief career profiles for the 2026 nominees can be found at: 2026 Nominee Bios
2026 Nominees
Art Still – Football Brian Dougherty – Lacrosse Carly Lloyd – Soccer David Reid – Boxing Gail Ramsay – Squash Gina Procaccio – Track & Field Hugh Douglas – Football Jack Bauerle – Swimming Jahri Evans – Football Jim Foster – Basketball
Jimmy Lynam – Basketball Johnny Gaudreau – Hockey Jon Runyan – Football Karen Borbee – Lacrosse Kate (Pierangeli) Pearson – Basketball LeSean McCoy – Football Mandee Amanda O’Leary – Lacrosse Pete Cipollone – Rowing Tim Mckee – Swimming Tra Thomas – Football
2026 Nominees
Agnes Stegmuller – Lacrosse/Field Hockey Andrew Matter – Wrestling Bart King – Cricket Battling Levinsky – Boxing Ben Shibe – Baseball Bertha Townsend Toulmin – Tennis Bill Holland – Auto Racing Bobby Smith – Soccer Charles Moore – Track & field
Don Haldeman – Marksmanship Douglas Stewart – Soccer E. Carroll Schaeffer – Swimming Edith Houghton – Baseball Frank Spellman – Weightlifting George Munger – Football Ken Myers – Rowing Ralph Morgan – Basketball Sherwood “Sherry” Magee – Baseball
Inductee: 1925 Darby Hilldales (Baseball, Class of 2025)
In 1925, the most dominant baseball team in the world didn’t play in Yankee Stadium. They played at Hilldale Park in Darby, Pennsylvania. They were the Hilldale Club—often called the “Darby Daisies”—and they were a juggernaut of the Eastern Colored League that forced the white baseball establishment to look on in silent awe.
The Dominance by the Numbers: The 1925 Hilldales finished the season with a staggering .746 winning percentage (53-20-1 in league play). Their roster was a “Who’s Who” of Hall of Fame talent. They were led by third baseman Judy Johnson, who batted a blistering .378 that season, and the legendary catcher Biz Mackey, who hit .327 while being widely considered the best defensive catcher of any race. On the mound, they featured Nip Winters, a left-handed ace who went 17-6 with a 2.56 ERA.
The Anecdote: The World Series Revenge The 1925 season was a mission of redemption. The year prior, the Hilldales had lost a heartbreaking inaugural Negro League World Series to the Kansas City Monarchs. In ’25, they met the Monarchs again. The series was a brutal, cross-country affair. In the deciding Game 6, the Hilldales didn’t just win; they exerted their will, clinching the title and proving that Philadelphia was the epicenter of Black baseball excellence.
The Historical Context: To support the Hilldales in 1925 was an act of community pride. In an era of segregation, the “Daisies” were a symbol of Black economic and athletic power. Owner Ed Bolden was a pioneer who proved that a Black-owned sports franchise could be a commercial and athletic success.
The Philly Connection: We often talk about the “Whiz Kids” of 1950 or the “Cardiac Kids” of 1980, but the 1925 Hilldales were the original Philly dynasty. They played with a “small ball” precision—aggressive baserunning, elite defense, and clutch pitching—that would define Philadelphia baseball for a century. Including them in the Hall isn’t just a nod to the past; it’s a correction of history.
The Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame is proud to partner with the National Liberty Museum on its newest exhibition, “In the Arena: Sports and Assembly,” opening March 6 at the museum’s home at 321 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia.
Part of the larger exhibition “American Assembly at 250 – The Forgotten Freedom,” the exhibit explores how sports have become one of the most powerful and familiar forms of collective gathering in American life. From packed stadiums to neighborhood courts, sports have long served as spaces where communities unite, voices are heard, and shared identity is formed.
As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame is honored to support the National Liberty Museum in presenting an exhibit that highlights the unique role sports have played in American civic life.
As part of this collaboration, the Hall of Fame has loaned several artifacts from its collection, including the historic 1936 ATA Championship Trophy won by Germantown’s Ora Washington. Washington was a trailblazer in both tennis and basketball, and her story reflects the powerful intersection of sports, community, and social progress that this exhibit seeks to highlight.
The Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame is home to the Philadelphia Sports Heritage Collection, the largest and most comprehensive collection of Philadelphia sports artifacts and memorabilia in the world.
Available for viewing with no admission fee at the Hall of Fame’s Museum Preview Gallery, the collection allows fans to experience the rich history of Philadelphia sports up close. Among the highlights are:
The original glass backboards from the Palestra
World Series tickets printed for the ill-fated 1964 Phillies season
Ray Didinger’s press pass and game notes from the Eagles’ Super Bowl victory
A section of hockey dasher board from the Spectrum
Ticket windows from Veterans Stadium
Current presentations feature exhibits dedicated to Philadelphia’s four Eagles championship teams, the Palestra, the Philadelphia Athletics, legendary sports writer Bill Lyon, football standout Irving Fryar, and coaching icon Herb Magee, along with a gallery honoring every Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame inductee.
A Regional Presence Through Partnerships
Beyond its Museum Preview Gallery, the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame regularly shares its collection with the broader community through partnerships across the Delaware Valley.
The Hall served as the local subject matter expert and primary exhibitor for the Smithsonian Institution’s Sports: Breaking Records, Breaking Barriers exhibition at the National Constitution Center. The collection has also been featured in baseball exhibitions at both the National Constitution Center and the Atwater Kent Museum.
Currently, items from the collection are also on display at Shibe Vintage Sports locations throughout the region, continuing the Hall’s mission to make Philadelphia’s sports history accessible to fans across the city and beyond.
Iconic Artifacts and Untold Stories
The Philadelphia Sports Heritage Collection continues to grow, preserving the moments and milestones that define the city’s sports identity. Additional items in the collection include:
The final bat used by Dick Allen as a Phillie
A complete set of tickets from the 1928 World Series
A 1929 World Series program
Willie Mosconi’s personal set of practice billiard balls
The hockey stick used by Rick MacLeish to score the game-winning goal in Game 6 of the 1974 Stanley Cup Final
Together, these artifacts tell the story of a city where sports are more than games—they are part of the fabric of Philadelphia itself. Explore the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame Online Archives: https://hub.catalogit.app/philadelphia-sports-hall-of-fame
Opening Events and Special Guests
Prior to the public opening, the National Liberty Museum will host a VIP Preview and Reception on March 5 from 5:30–9:00 PM.
Special guests will include Ron Jaworski, Valerie Still, and Dave Schultz. Jaworski and Still are Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame inductees, while Schultz represents the legendary Flyers teams that captured back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975 which are also Hall of Fame Inductees.
In the Arena
“In the Arena: Sports and Assembly” is more than an exhibit—it is a reminder that sports have always been a gathering place for community, identity, and expression.
From neighborhood games to championship parades, Philadelphia has long stood at the center of that story. Through this partnership, the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame is proud to help bring that story to life as part of a national celebration of freedom, unity, and shared experience.
