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Philadelphia Phillies
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The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and are the reigning 2008 World Series champions. The Phillies are a member of the East Division of Major League Baseball's National League. Since , the team's home has been Citizens Bank Park in the South Philadelphia section of the city.
The Phillies have won two World Series championships (against Kansas City in and Tampa Bay in ) and six National League pennants. The franchise has also experienced long periods of struggle.
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The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and are the reigning 2008 World Series champions. The Phillies are a member of the East Division of Major League Baseball's National League. Since , the team's home has been Citizens Bank Park in the South Philadelphia section of the city.
The Phillies have won two World Series championships (against Kansas City in and Tampa Bay in ) and six National League pennants. The franchise has also experienced long periods of struggle. The age of the team combined with its history of adversity has earned them the distinction of having lost the most games of any team in the history of Major League Baseball. The Phillies are also the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of American professional sports.
History
Early history
After being founded in 1883 as the "Quakers", the team changed its name to the "Philadelphias", after the convention of the times. This was soon shortened to "Phillies". "Quakers" continued to be used interchangeably with "Phillies" until 1890, when the team officially became known as the "Phillies". Though the Phillies moved into a permanent home at Baker Bowl in , they did not win their first pennant until nearly 30 years later, after the likes of standout players Billy Hamilton, Sam Thompson, and Ed Delahanty had departed. Player defections to the newly-formed American League, especially to the cross-town Athletics, would cost the team dearly over the next several years. A bright spot came in , when the Phillies won their first pennant, thanks to the pitching of Grover Cleveland Alexander and the batting prowess of Gavvy Cravath, who set what was then the modern major-league single-season record for home runs with 24. Poor fiscal management after this World Series appearance, however, doomed the Phillies to sink back into relative obscurity; from to they only had one winning season. Though Chuck Klein won the MVP in and the National League Triple Crown in , the team continued to flounder at the bottom of the standings for years.
Cox, Carpenter, and the "Whiz Kids" era
After lumber baron William B. Cox purchased the team in , the Phillies began a rapid rise to prominence in the National League, as the team rose out of the standings cellar for the first time in five years. The fans responded with an increase in attendance, but it soon became clear that not all was right in Cox' front office. Eventually, it was revealed by Cox that he had been betting on the Phillies, and he was banned from baseball. The new owner, Bob Carpenter, Jr., tried to polish the team's image by unofficially changing the name to the "Blue Jays"; however, the new moniker did not take, and it was quietly dropped by . Instead, Carpenter turned his attention to the minor league affiliates, continuing an effort begun by Cox a year earlier; prior to Cox' ownership the Phillies had paid almost no attention to player development. This led to the advent of the "Whiz Kids," led by a lineup of young players developed by the Phillies' farm system that included future Hall of Famers Richie Ashburn and Robin Roberts. Their season was highlighted by the last day, pennant-clinching home run by Dick Sisler to lead the Phillies over the Dodgers and into the World Series. The Phillies' popularity drove the Athletics to leave the city for Kansas City and, eventually, Oakland.
From lows to highs
As the Phillies sank back to mediocrity, a bright spot began to develop after the departures of the "Whiz Kids." The team seemed destined to make it to the World Series after strong showings in the early part of the decade. However, the Phillies squandered a six-and-a-half game lead with a ten-game losing streak to close the season, and lost the pennant by one game to the St. Louis Cardinals. The "Phold of '64" is one of the most notable collapses in sports history. The Phillies moved out of Connie Mack Stadium and into Veterans Stadium, and their new maroon uniforms, at the end of the decade. While some members of the team had admirable performances during the 1970s, the Phillies still clung to their spot at the bottom of the National League table. Ten years after the Phold, they suffered another minor collapse over August and September of , missing out on the playoffs yet again. However, the futility would not last much longer. After a run of three straight division titles from to , the Phillies won the NL East in behind pitcher Steve Carlton, outfielder Greg Luzinski, and infielders Mike Schmidt, Larry Bowa, and Pete Rose. In a memorable NLCS, with four of the five games needing extra innings, they fell behind 2–1 but battled back to squeeze past Houston on a tenth-inning game-winning hit by center fielder Garry Maddox, and the city celebrated its first pennant in 30 years.
Facing Kansas City in the 1980 World Series, the Phillies won their first world championship in six games thanks to the timely hitting of Mike Schmidt and Pete Rose. Schmidt, who was the National League MVP for the 1980 season, also won the World Series MVP finals award on the strength of his 8-for-21 hitting (.381 average), including game-winning hits in Game 2 and the clinching Game 6. Thus, the Phillies became the last of the 16 teams that made up the major leagues from to to win a World Series. The Phillies made the playoffs twice more after their Series win, in and , where they lost to the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series, but they would find their near-misses followed by a rapid drop back into the doldrums of the National League basement. The season would end with the Phillies at the bottom of the barrel, at last place in the National League East. However, their fortunes were about to change.
Recent history
The Phillies started the season hot, going 17–5 in April and powering their way to a 97–65 season. The Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves in the 1993 National League Championship Series, four games to two, to earn the fifth pennant in franchise history, only to suffer defeat by the defending world champion Toronto Blue Jays in the 1993 World Series. Toronto's Joe Carter hit a walk-off home run in Game 6 to clinch another Phillies loss. The players' strike in was a blow to the Phillies' attendance and on-field success, as was the arrival of the Atlanta Braves in the division due to league realignment. Several stars came through Philadelphia, though few would stay, and the minor league system continued to develop its young prospects, who would soon rise to Phillies fame.
In , the Phillies had their first winning season in eight years under new manager Larry Bowa, and would not dip their season record below .500 again from the season onward. In , the Phillies moved to their new home across the street from the Vet, Citizens Bank Park. Charlie Manuel took over the reins of the clubs from Bowa in 2005, and general manager Ed Wade was replaced by Pat Gillick. Gillick reshaped the club as his own, sending stars away in trades and allowing the Phillies' young core to develop. The age of the team combined with its history of adversity has earned them the distinction of having lost the most games of any team in the history of Major League Baseball. after the franchise lost its 10,000th game in , but that same core of young players, including infielders Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Jimmy Rollins, and pitcher Cole Hamels, responded by winning the East pennant the same season; however, they lost to the Colorado Rockies in the Division Series. In , they clinched their second straight division title and defeated the Milwaukee Brewers in the Division Series to record the franchise's first post-season victory since the 1993 World Series. Behind strong pitching from the rotation and offensive production from most members of the starting lineup, the Phillies won the 2008 National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers; Hamels was named the series' most valuable player. The Phillies would go on to defeat the Tampa Bay Rays in 5 games for their second World Series title in their 126 year history. Cole Hamels was named Series MVP.
Team uniform
Current uniform
The current team colors, uniform, and logo date to 1992. The main team colors are red and white, with blue serving as a prominent accent. The team name is written in red with a blue star serving as the dot over the "i"s, and blue piping is often found in Phillies branded apparel and materials. The team's home uniform is white with red pinstripes, lettering and numbering. The road uniform is traditional grey with red lettering/numbering. Both bear a script-lettered "Phillies" logo, with the aforementioned star dotting the "i"s across the chest, and the player name and number on the back. Hats are red with a single stylized "P". The script "Phillies" and the red trim are similar to the style worn by the team during 1950 to 1969.
During the season, the Phillies wore an alternate, cream-colored uniform during home day games in tribute to their 125th anniversary. The uniforms are similar to those worn from 1946 through 1949, featuring no pinstripes and red lettering bordered with blue piping. The accompanying cap is blue with a red bill and a red stylized "P." The uniforms were announced on November 29, 2007, where Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins, pitcher Cole Hamels and Hall of Famer Robin Roberts modeled the new uniforms.
The Phillies are one of five teams in Major League Baseball that do not display the name of their city, state or region on their road jerseys, joining the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, and the Tampa Bay Rays. They are also the only team in Major League Baseball to wear the number on the sleeve and the back.
Batting practice
The Phillies pioneered the use of the batting practice jersey in 1977, wearing a maroon v-necked top with the "Phillies" script name across the chest, as well as the player name and number on the back and a player number on the left sleeve, all in white. Currently, during spring training, the Phillies wear solid red practice jerseys with pinstriped pants for Grapefruit League home games, and solid blue batting practice jerseys with gray pants for away games.
Former uniforms
From 1970 to 1991, the Phillies sported colors, uniforms, and a logo that were noticeably different from what had come before, or since, but that were widely embraced by even traditionally minded fans. A dark burgundy was adopted as the main team color, with a classic pinstripe style for home uniforms. Blue was almost entirely dropped as part of the team's official color scheme, except in one area; a pale blue (as opposed to traditional grey) was used as the base-color for away game uniforms. Yet the most important aspect of the 1970 uniform change was the adoption of one of the more distinctive logos in sports; a Phillies "P" that, thanks to its unique shape and "baseball stitched" center swirl, remains instantly recognizable and admired, long after its regular use has ended. It was while wearing this uniform style and color motif that the club achieved its most enduring success, including a World Series title in 1980 and another World Series appearance in 1983. Its continued popularity with fans is evident, as even today Phillies home games can contain many fans sporting caps, shirts, and/or jackets emblazoned with the iconic "P" and burgundy color scheme.
Controversial uniform changes
For one game in 1979, the Phillies front office modified the uniform into an all-burgundy version with white trimmings, to be worn for Saturday games. They were called "Saturday Night Specials." The immediate reaction of the media, fans, and players alike was negative, with many describing the despised uniforms as pajama-like. As such, the idea was hastily abandoned. Mike Schmidt did wear the uniform during the MLB All-Star Tour of Japan following the 1979 season.
Another uniform controversy arose in 1994 when the Phillies introduced blue caps on Opening Day which were to be worn for home day games only. The caps were unpopular with the players, who considered them bad luck after two losses. The caps were dumped after being used on the field for a month.
Achievements
Awards
Five Phillies have won an MVP award during their career with the team. Mike Schmidt leads with three wins, with back-to-back MVPs in and , and his last win in . Chuck Klein , Jim Konstanty , Ryan Howard , and Jimmy Rollins all have one. Pitcher Steve Carlton leads the team in Cy Young Award wins, with four ( , and ), while John Denny and Steve Bedrosian each have one. Four Phillies have won Rookie of the Year honors as well. Jack Sanford was the winner in , while Dick Allen won in . Third baseman Scott Rolen took home the honors in , while slugging first baseman Ryan Howard was the most recent Phillies winner, in .
Of the fifteen players who have hit four home runs in one game, three were Phillies at the time (more than any other team). Ed Delahanty was the first, hitting his four in Chicago's West Side Park on July 13, 1896. Chuck Klein repeated the feat nearly 40 years later to the day, on July 10, 1936 in Pittsburgh's Forbes Field. 40 years later, on April 17, Mike Schmidt became the third and last, also hitting his in Chicago, these coming at Wrigley Field.
Wall of Fame
From 1978 to 2003, the Phillies inducted one former Phillie and one former member of the Philadelphia Athletics per year. Since 2004 they have inducted one Phillie annually. Players must be retired and must have played at least four years with the Phillies or Athletics. The last five years' inductees to the Wall of Fame are listed below:
Robin Roberts, Richie Ashburn, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton and broadcaster Harry Kalas have also been elected to the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame.
Hall of Famers
While not all of these players were enshrined with a Phillies cap, each of them was a part of the Phillies franchise at one point in his career. Names in bold were inducted with a Phillies cap.
Retired numbers
The Phillies have retired six numbers, and honored two additional players with the letter "P."
Community
Charitable contributions
The Phillies have supported amyotrophic lateral sclerosis research (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease) with the "Phillies Phestival" since . The team raised over $750,000 for ALS research at their festival, compared with approximately $4,500 at the inaugural event in 1984; the event has raised a total of over $10 million in its history. The ALS Association of Philadelphia is the Phillies' primary charity, and the hospitals they support include Pennsylvania Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, and Hahnemann University Hospital. Former Phillies pitchers Geoff Geary, now with the Houston Astros and who lost a friend to the disease, and Curt Schilling, now of the Boston Red Sox, are both still involved with the Phillies' cause.
Fan support
Phillies fans have earned a reputation over the years for their generally rowdy behavior. In the 1960s, radio announcers for visiting teams would frequently report on the numerous fights breaking out in Connie Mack Stadium. Immediately after the final game at the old park, many fans ran onto the field or dislodged parts of the ballpark to take home with them. Later, at Veterans Stadium, the notorious 700 Level gained a reputation for its "hostile taunting, fighting, public urination and general strangeness."
Some memorable incidents include racially-charged discrimination against the Phillies' first African-American player, infielder Richie Allen. Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Burt Hooton's poor performance during game three of the 1977 National League Championship Series has often been attributed to the crowd's taunting. In addition, J.D. Drew, the Phillies' first overall draft pick in , never signed with the Phillies following a contract dispute with the team. Instead, he re-entered the draft the next year and was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals. Phillies fans were angered over this disrespect and threw batteries at Drew. Many sports writers have noted the passionate presence of Phillies fans, including Allen Barra, who wrote that the biggest roar he ever heard from Philadelphia fans was in 1980 when Tug McGraw, in the victory parade after the World Series, told New York fans they could "take this championship and shove it."
To attract more fans, the Phillies franchise has used promotions. Two prominent examples are the Hot Pants Patrol, a group of young ladies designed to attract male customers to the ballpark, and the Phillie Phanatic, who has been called "baseball's best mascot." In Phillies fan culture, it is also not unusual to replace an "f" with a "ph" in words, such as the Phillie Phanatic, or the "Phold" of '64.
Season-by-season records
The records of the Phillies' last five seasons in Major League Baseball are listed below.
Current roster
Team managers
Over 126 seasons, the Phillies franchise has employed 51 managers. The duties of the team manager include team strategy and leadership on and off the field. Seven managers have taken the Phillies to the postseason, with Danny Ozark leading the team to three playoff appearances. Dallas Green and Charlie Manuel are the only Phillies managers to win a World Series: Green in 1980 against the Kansas City Royals; and Manuel in 2008 against the Tampa Bay Rays. Gene Mauch is the longest-tenured manager in franchise history, with 1,332 games of service in parts of eight seasons (–). The records and accomplishments of the last five Phillies' managers are shown below.
Minor league affiliations
Radio and television
As of 2009, the Phillies' flagship radio station is WPHT, 1210 AM. The Phillies' television stations are Comcast SportsNet (CSN) and WPHL-TV (My PHL 17) with some early season games are shown on Comcast Network Philadelphia (formerly known as CN8) when there are conflicts on CSN with 76ers and Flyers games. CSN produces the games shown on the above-mentioned stations. Harry Kalas calls play-by-play in the first three and last three innings, and the fourth inning on the radio. Scott Franzke provides play-by-play on the radio (except for the fourth), with Larry Andersen as the color commentator. Chris Wheeler and Gary Matthews both provide color commentary on TV, with Tom McCarthy calling play-by-play in the fourth through sixth innings. Spanish broadcasts are on WUBA, 1480 AM with Danny Martinez on play-by-play and Bill Kulik and Juan Ramos on color commentary.
See also
Footnotes
Article
- In , a mid-season players' strike split the season. Philadelphia, with the best record in the East Division when play was halted, was declared the first-half division winner. The Phillies' record over the entire season was third-best in the division, 2½ games behind St. Louis and Montréal.
Retired numbers
- Grover Cleveland Alexander played in the era before Major League players wore numbers; the Phillies have honored him with the "P" logo from the 1915 season, their first World Series appearance.
- Chuck Klein wore many numbers while with the Phillies, including 1, 3, 8, 26, 29, and 36. The Phillies wore the Old English "P" during his first six seasons; thus, they chose to use it to honor Klein.
Season records
- The Finish column lists regular season results and excludes postseason play.
- The Wins and Losses columns list regular season results and exclude any postseason play.
- The GB column lists "Games Back" from the team that finished in first place that season. It is determined by finding the difference in wins plus the difference in losses divided by two.
Team managers
- #: running total of the number of Phillies' managers. Thus, any manager who has two or more separate terms is only counted once.
- #49: Larry Bowa won the Manager of the Year Award in .
External links
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