Philadelphia Phillies
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For current news on this topic, see 2007 Philadelphia Phillies season |
| Philadelphia Phillies Established 1883 |
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| Retired Numbers | 1, 14, 20, 32, 36, 42 | ||
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(Also referred to as "Blue Jays" 1943-1945 despite formal name remaining "Phillies") |
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| Major league titles | |||
| World Series titles (1) | 1980 | ||
| NL Pennants (5) | 1993 • 1983 • 1980 • 1950 1915 |
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| East Division titles (7) [1] | 2007 • 1993 • 1983 • 1980 • 1978 |
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| Wild card berths (0) | None | ||
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[1] - In 1981, 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. |
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| Owner(s): David Montgomery, Giles Limited Partnership (Bill Giles), Claire S. Betz, Tri-Play Associates (Alexander K. Buck, J. Maholn Buck Jr. William C. Buck), Double Play Inc. (John S. Middelton) | |||
| Manager: Charlie Manuel | |||
| General Manager: Pat Gillick | |||
The Philadelphia Phillies are a professional baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 2004 to the present, the Phillies have played their home games at Citizens Bank Park in the South Philadelphia section of the city.
The "Phillies" name originates as a shortened version of the "Philadelphias", as the convention at the time was to call the team by their home city. They are nicknamed "the Fightin' Phils", or "The Phils". It is a convention in Phillies culture to substitute "F" with "Ph" in various terms or names, such as "the Phans".
One of the 19th century National League franchises, the club was founded in Philadelphia in 1883. Then the Philadelphia Quakers, the names "Quakers" and "Phillies" would coexist starting with their second year of existence, and continue until 1889. The team attempted to change names in 1943 to the Philadelphia Blue Jays to change the team's image, but it only lasted two years.
At the outset of the 20th century, the team made its home in the Baker Bowl. After much fighting to get out of their lease and the badly aging stadium, they moved into Connie Mack Stadium (then Shibe Park), home of their American League rivals, the Philadelphia Athletics. The A's would move in 1954 to Kansas City, Missouri, eventually moving to Oakland to become today's Oakland Athletics.
The Phillies have won one World Series Championship in their history, against the Kansas City Royals in 1980. In addition to their 1980 World Series victory, the Phillies have made four other World Series appearances, losing in 1983 to the Baltimore Orioles, in 1993 to the Toronto Blue Jays, in 1915 to the Boston Red Sox and being swept by the New York Yankees in 1950.
On September 30, 2007, the Phillies won the NL East Division for the first time since 1993, overcoming the New York Mets, who led the division for most of the season, on the season's last day.
Origins
In 1883, sporting goods manufacturer Al Reach (a pioneering professional baseball player) and attorney John Rogers won an expansion National League franchise for Philadelphia. They were awarded the remains of the Worcester Brown Stockings, a franchise which had folded in 1882. The new team was named the Quakers. The team's opening season .173 winning percentage is still the worst in franchise history.
In 1884, Harry Wright (the future Hall of Famer) was recruited as manager in the hope of reversing the team's fortunes. The team was rechristened the "Phillies" (an homage to their hometown) and in 1887 they began play at the Baker Bowl. Despite a general improvement from their dismal beginnings, they never seriously contended for the title. The standount players of franchise in the era were Billy Hamilton, Sam Thompson, and Ed Delahanty, who in 1896 set the major-league record (tied by several others) with 4 home runs in a single game.
Early 1900s
With the birth of the more lucrative American League in 1901, the Phillies saw many of their better players defect to the upstart, including a number of players who ended up playing for their crosstown rivals the Athletics, owned by former Phillies minority owner Benjamin Shibe.
While their former teammates thrived (the AL's first five batting champions were former Phillies), the remaining squad fared dismally, finishing 46 games out of first place in 1902. To add tragedy to folly, a balcony collapsed during a game at the Baker Bowl, killing 12, injuring hundreds, and forcing Beach and Rogers to sell the team to avoid financial ruin.
During the 1910s and 20s, the Phillies were known primarily for their futility and the spendthrift tactics of their owner William Baker. Their only pennant came in 1915 thanks to the pitching of Grover Cleveland Alexander and the batting prowess of Gavvy Cravath, who set the major-league single-season record for home runs with 24. However, by 1917 Alexander had been traded away and the Phillies would not have another winning season until 1932. The primary stars of the era for the team were outfielders Cy Williams, Lefty O'Doul, and Chuck Klein, who captured the vaunted Triple Crown in 1933. Unfortunately, Philadelphia's cozy Baker Bowl proved to be a fertile hitting ground for Phillies opponents as well, and in 1930, the team surrendered 1199 runs, a major-league record still standing today.
1930s-1940s
Baker's death in 1930 left the team to his nephew, Gerald Nugent whose desire to build a contender was thwarted by his lack of financial clout. He was forced to trade what little talent the team had to make ends meet, and often had to use some creative financial methods to even field a team at all.[1] A major problem was the Baker Bowl, once considered one of the finest parks in baseball. Poor maintenance led the Phillies to abandon their field for the more modern Shibe Park, home of the Athletics, in 1938, following a protracted lease dispute with businessman Charles W. Murphy. Despite the change of scenery, attendance rarely topped 3,000 a game.
The nadir came in 1942, when the Phillies needed an advance from the league just to go to spring training. Nugent, unable to find a buyer, was forced to sell the franchise back to the league. A popular legend (considered false based on press accounts at the time) has it that Bill Veeck had agreed in principle to buy the Phillies from Nugent, but the deal was scuttled because of Veeck's pro-integration stance, which Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis did not support.[1] Instead, the team was sold to a lumber broker named William Cox, who immediately set out to remake the squad.
Cox's commitment and resources to the team were helpful, as the team rose out of the standings cellar for the first time in 5 years in 1943, and the fans responded in kind, as attendance rose for the first time in nearly 30 years. However, Cox's reign was short-lived. A hands-on owner, Cox clashed with and then fired his manager Bucky Harris. Out of revenge, Harris dropped a bombshell to the Philadelphia press--he had evidence that Cox was placing bets on his own team.
After an investigation, Cox admitted to making "sentimental" bets on the Phillies, and was banned for life by Landis. Author Rich Westcott was quoted by Sports Illustrated as saying Cox knew "next to nothing about baseball. Otherwise, why would he have bet on the Phillies?" [1] Soon afterward, Cox sold controlling interest in the Phillies to DuPont heir Robert R.M. Carpenter, who turned control over to his son, Bob, Jr.
Carpenter's first act was to try to change the team's name (and vicariously, its image) to the "Blue Jays" after a city wide vote on a new nickname. However, "Phillies" continued to appear on the team's jerseys, with a Blue Jay appearing on the sleeves. The experiment was dropped after only three seasons (1944 - 1946).
The Whiz Kids
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For more details on this topic, see 1950 World Series.
Carpenter, like Cox, wasn't afraid to spend the money it took to build a contender. He immediately started signing young players and devoted significant resources to the farm system. By the 1950s, the Phillies had gone from basement to pennant contender thanks to 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.
Although the Phillies led in the standings for most of the 1950 season, a late-season tailspin (triggered by the loss of Simmons to National Guard service) caused the team to lose the next eight of 10 games. On the last day of the season, the Phillies hung onto a one-game lead when Dick Sisler's dramatic tenth-inning, three-run home run against the Dodgers clinched the Phils' first pennant in 35 years. In the World Series, exhausted from their late-season plunge and recipients of poor luck, the Phillies were swept by the New York Yankees in four straight games. In 1954, the Athletics had moved to Kansas City, and sold Shibe Park (renamed Connie Mack Stadium in 1953) to the Phillies.
"Phold" of 1964
From 1919 through 1947, the Phillies finished last a total of 17 times and next to last seven times. A 1962 cartoon in a baseball magazine depicted a ballplayer arriving at a French Foreign Legion outpost, explaining, "I was released by the Phillies!"
During 1962 and 1963, the Phillies began to climb back to respectability, and throughout the 1964 season, they seemed destined to make it to the World Series, with excellent performances from players such as rookie third baseman Dick Allen, starters Jim Bunning (obtained from the Detroit Tigers at the start of the season to shore up the pitching staff) and Chris Short, and star right fielder Johnny Callison. TV Guide went to press with a World Series preview that featured a photo of Connie Mack Stadium. However, from a 6½-game lead on the Cincinnati Reds with 12 games remaining in the season, Philadelphia collapsed in a 10-game losing streak (the first seven played at home). The crucial series came when the now second-place Phillies traveled to St. Louis to play the Cardinals after their losing home stand. They dropped the first game of the series to Bob Gibson by a 5-1 score, their eighth loss in a row, dropping them to third place. The Cardinals would sweep the three-game set and assume first place for good. The "Phold," as it is known, is one of the most notable collapses in sports history.
1970s
By 1970, Shibe Park was an aging stadium, and in the last day of the 1970 season at the stadium's last game the Phillies avoided last place by beating the Montreal Expos 2-1.
The Phillies opened the new Veterans Stadium in 1971, with hopes of a new beginning. In their first season there, pitcher Rick Wise hurled a no-hitter. That same season, Harry Kalas joined the Phillies broadcasting team. In 1972, the Phillies were the worst team in baseball, but newly acquired Steve Carlton won nearly half their games (27 of 59 team wins) In that same year, ownership of the Phillies was "inherited" by Robert "Ruly" Carpenter III when his father stepped down.
By 1974, the Phillies began their quest for a championship that would be theirs 6 years later. That year second baseman Dave Cash coined the phrase "Yes We Can" for the Phils. And, for a while, it looked as if they could. They led the division for 51 days. But in August and September the Phillies went 25-32 and it was "No They Couldn't".
The Phillies achieved some success in the mid-1970s. With such players as Carlton, third baseman Mike Schmidt, shortstop Larry Bowa, and outfielder Greg Luzinski, the Phillies won three straight division titles (1976-78). However, they fell short in the NLCS, against the Reds in 1976 and the Dodgers in 1977-78. In 1979, the Phillies acquired Pete Rose, the spark that would put them over the top.
1980s and 1990s
The Phils won the NL East in 1980, but to win the league championship, they would have to defeat the Astros. In a memorable NLCS, with 4 of the 5 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 and only world championship in 6 games, thanks to the timely hitting of Mike Schmidt and Pete Rose. They are one of only four MLB teams with only one World Series championship - and by far the oldest.
The team made the playoffs in the strike-shortened 1981, losing to Montreal in the special pre-LCS playoff series. After the 1981 season, the Carpenter family sold the team to a group of investors led by Bill Giles and Dave Montgomery. Two years later, the "Wheeze Kids" would win another pennant, only to lose the 1983 World Series to Baltimore in 5 games.
During the early 1980s, when baseball was becoming more drug-conscious, several Philadelphia players admitted to having used amphetamines from time to time. A memorable Philadelphia Daily News headline dubbed the team "The Pillies".
1993 National League Champs
- See also: 1993 National League Championship Series and 1993 World Series
After Mike Schmidt retired in 1989, the Phillies had a string of losing seasons, until their World Series berth in 1993. Beloved by their fans, this team, which included stars such as Darren Daulton, John Kruk, Lenny Dykstra, and Curt Schilling, surprised the city and the nation by going from last place in the National League East in 1992 to a 97-65 record and a division title. The team was often described as "shaggy," "unkempt," and "dirty." The previous year, noting the presence of the clean-cut Dale Murphy, Kruk himself described the team as "24 morons and one Mormon." Their character endeared them to fans, and attendance reached a record high the following season. As a play on the legendary 1927 New York Yankees' Murderers' Row, the team's dirty, mullet-wearing look was dubbed "Macho Row."
The Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves (the two time defending National League Champions) in the 1993 National League Championship Series, four games to two, to earn the fifth pennant in franchise history. They faced defending World Champion Toronto Blue Jays in the 1993 World Series. Philadelphia lost the Series in six games, with Toronto's Joe Carter hitting a low inside curveball for a walkoff three-run home run off Mitch "Wild Thing" Williams in Game 6, to win a second consecutive championship for the Blue Jays. Following that loss, Williams was the subject of death threats and other hostile reaction from some irate Phillies' fans.
1990s and 2000s
1994-2005
With the 1994 players' strike, most of the Phillies' fan base was greatly offended, and since then the team has had little success either on the field or at the gate. Both were negatively affected by the realignment of the Atlanta Braves into the National League East in 1994, as the Braves won the division every year until 2006, often by wide margins. Despite the relative lack of success, many current baseball stars rose to prominence during this era in Phillies history, including Scott Rolen, Bobby Abreu, Randy Wolf, Placido Polanco, and perhaps most notably Schilling. In addition, the nucleus of the current Phillies club (Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Brett Myers, and Cole Hamels) was developed during this era.
The opening of the new Citizens Bank Park brought fans new hope, which quickly faded as the team failed to meet expectations in the '00 decade. On October 10, 2005, general manager Ed Wade was fired after his eighth season. Soon after, the Phillies hired Pat Gillick, who, ironically, was the general manager of the 1992 and 1993 Toronto Blue Jays' Championship teams.
2006
Continuing what he had begun in the off-season, general manager Pat Gillick engaged in a flurry of trades in an effort to transform the character of the team and to obtain financial flexibility for what he termed "retooling." On July 26, 2006, the Phillies traded backup catcher Sal Fasano to the New York Yankees for minor league infielder Hector Made. Two days later, the Phillies traded third baseman David Bell, who was due to become a free agent during the off-season, to the Milwaukee Brewers for minor league pitcher Wilfredo Laureano.
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The team responded well to the changes. All-Star second baseman Chase Utley was free to bat third, and Ryan Howard batted cleanup; more importantly, they assumed a team leadership role along with shortstop Jimmy Rollins. On August 18, Gillick acquired veteran left-hander Jamie Moyer for the starting rotation. Immediately afterwards, and following a win over the Washington Nationals on August 29, the Phillies record stood at 66-65, trailing the San Diego Padres by a mere half game in the wild-card race. By September 24, the Phillies had captured and lost the wild-card lead and were tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers. With identical 82-74 records, both teams took to the road for the final six games, the Phillies to Washington and Florida, the Dodgers to Colorado and San Francisco. On September 30, both the Dodgers and Padres won their respective games and as a result, the Phillies were eliminated from playoff contention while two games behind with only one left to play.
The special assistant to the General Manager and long-time Phils coach, John Vukovich, died of brain cancer on March 8, 2007, and was honored on August 10, 2007 by the Phillies organization, which installed a plaque bearing Vukovich's name and accomplishments on the "Wall of Fame" in the Ashburn Alley outfield concourse at Citizens Bank Park. For the 2007 season, the Phillies are also wearing a black circular patch on their right uniform sleeves bearing the letters "VUK" in white.
Ryan Howard was named the National League's Most Valuable Player, narrowly edging the St. Louis Cardinals' Albert Pujols to claim the top honor in the National League.
2007: 10,000 losses and an incredible finish
- See also: 2007 Philadelphia Phillies season
The Phillies began the 2007 season with a 5-3 home loss on April 2 to the Atlanta Braves after 10 innings. After the first fifteen games, the Phillies limped to a 4-11 record, but then found a five game winning streak to put them back into contention in the National League East. After 40 games, the Phillies finally reached the .500 mark at, 20-20. They also became the first franchise in MLB to lose 10,000 games.
Heading into the All-Star break the Phillies split their win/loss record at 44-44, hampered by the loss of starting pitchers Freddy Garcia and Jon Lieber due to injuries that sidelined them for the remainder of the season. They found a bright spot in young pitcher Kyle Kendrick, who rose from the Phillies' AA team in Reading, Pennsylvania to the Phils starting rotation in 2007.
Three Phillies were named to the 2007 All Star Game in San Francisco, CA. Chase Utley was the starting second baseman for the National League squad and center fielder Aaron Rowand was named as a backup (his first All Star appearance). Starting pitcher Cole Hamels also appeared in his first All Star Game.
On July 15, 2007, the Phillies lost their 10,000th game, 10-2 to the St. Louis Cardinals. [2] The Phillies became the first North American professional sports franchise to lose 10,000 games.
On September 21, Jimmy Rollins became the first player in major league history to collect 200 hits, 15 triples, 25 home runs, and 25 stolen bases in the same season. Rollins also became the 4th player to have at least 20 home runs, 20 triples, 20 doubles, and 20 stolen bases in a season on September 30, securing the feat on the last day of the season with a sixth inning RBI triple.
On September 12, the Phillies were seven games behind the New York Mets in the National League East, and it appeared as if their division hopes were dashed. However, the Mets suffered an epic collapse on the likes of the "Phold of 1964," going 4-11 over the next fifteen games while the Phillies parried with a strong 12-3 record. The Phillies defeated the Mets in eight consecutive encounters and ultimately overtook the Mets by one game on September 28. The Phillies fell back into a first-place tie the following day with a Mets win and a Phillies loss, with only one game remaining in the regular season to decide the champion of the National League Eastern Division.
The Mets would lose their final game of the season while the Phillies won theirs, clinching the division for the Phillies for the first time in 14 years. The Phillies won the final game behind 44 year old Jamie Moyer, who in 1980 skipped a day of high school to attend that year's Phillies championship parade down Philadelphia's Broad Street.
After their historic comeback, they were swept in three games by the Colorado Rockies after losing 2-1 in Game 3 on October 6, 2007. It was the first time since 1976 that the Phils were swept in postseason series.
Team 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", though for interleague play the cap sports a blue visor with a blue star in the middle of the letter "P".
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 darker red/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/logo/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 anywhere from a quarter to a third of the crowd sporting caps, shirts, and/or jackets emblazoned with the iconic "P" and burgundy color scheme. Occasionally the team plays in throwback uniforms that resemble the style.
For a brief period 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. [3]
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.
Currently, during spring training (except for the 1992 to 1996 seasons, when they were still wearing leftover 70-91 inspired gear) 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. The Phillies are the only major professional sports team in Philadelphia that does not have a so-called third or "Sunday jersey" for regular-season play; the Eagles, Flyers, and 76ers all currently have alternative jerseys/uniforms for home play.
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 [citation needed]. Later, at Veterans Stadium, the notorious 700 Level gained a reputation for its "hostile taunting, fighting, public urination and general strangeness." [4]
Memorable incidents include fans throwing batteries and booing J.D. Drew, the Phillies' No. 1 overall draft pick in 1997 who had gotten into a contract dispute with the team, and Dodgers pitcher Burt Hooton's poor showing in Game 3 of the 1977 NL Championship series, often attributed to the crowd's taunting. [5] Many sports writers have noted the passionate presence of Phillies fans, including Allen Barra, who wrote: "The biggest roar I ever heard out of 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.' The main point of winning the Phillies' only World Series trophy seemed to be as leverage for sticking it to New York." [6]
Phan Phavorites
Many recent Phillies players have had a fan group named "Phan Phavorites". While many role players have had groups, few have endured for more than a short while.
Notable players with fan groups include:
- Former Phillies LHP Randy Wolf with his "Wolfpack" doing Michael J. Fox's dance from the movie Teen Wolf.
- Former Phillies RHP Vicente Padilla with his "Padilla Flotilla": men dressed in sombreros who would "paddle" after every Padilla strike out.
- Former Phillies C Sal Fasano with "Sal's Pals": men with fake mustaches and backwards batting helmets.
- Many current Phillies, including Cole Hamels, Jimmy Rollins, Chris Coste "The Coste Guard", Carlos Ruiz, Shane Victorino"The Phlyin' Hawaiians", Chase Utley "Chase's Chicks" and "Utley's Uglies", Pat Burrell, Ryan Howard "Howard's Homers", and Jamie Moyer "Moyer's Lawyers" have phan clubs. There is even a 'generic' fan club that supports no player in particular.
Celebrity fans
The Phillies are well known for having attracted a solid celebrity fan base, many of whom are past or present Philadelphia residents, including:
- Samuel Alito, U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
- Kevin Bacon, actor.
- Ron Bennington, XM Satellite Radio personality.
- Bill Cosby, actor and comedian.
- Jim Cramer, television personality and former hedge fund manager.
- Kevin Eubanks, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno band leader.
- Tina Fey, actress and comedian.
- Art Garfunkel, singer and songwriter[7].
- Daryl Hall, musician from Hall & Oates.
- Bernard Hopkins, boxer.
- Michael Johns, former White House Presidential speechwriter[8].
- Jamie Kennedy, actor and comedian.
- Tim McGraw, country music singer and son of former Phillies relief pitcher Tug McGraw [9].
- James A. Michener, former author[10].
- John Oates, musician from Hall & Oates.
- Ryan Phillippe, actor.
- Ed Rendell, Pennsylvania Governor.
- Rob Reiner, actor and director.
- Antonin Scalia, U.S. Supreme Court Justice[11] [12].
- Beanie Sigel, rapper.
- Michael Smerconish, radio personality.
- Will Smith, rapper and actor.
- Stone Cold Steve Austin, former professional wrestler.
Trivia
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Trivia sections are discouraged under
Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
- 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 on July 13, 1896 at West Side Park in Chicago.
- Chuck Klein on July 10, 1936 at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh.
- Mike Schmidt on April 17, 1976 at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
- Numerous attempts have been made to change the team's name from the Phillies—the longest, continuous name in American professional sports history. In the 1910s, reporters tried to revive the original "Quakers" or "Live Wires." In 1944, owner Robert Carpenter Jr. held a contest to rename the team won by Elizabeth Crooks, whose entry was "The Blue Jays." Although the Blue Jays served as the unofficial team name from 1944-45, it was abandoned by 1946. [13]
- During the team's tenure at Baker Bowl during the 1920s, an outfield wall advertisement stated, "All the Phillies use Lifebuoy". A graffiti artist sneaked into Baker Bowl and wrote on that ad, "And they still stink!" (Lifebuoy being a brand of deodorant soap). Variations of the joke were also employed by detractors of other losing teams.
- One of five MLB teams that do not display the name of their city, state or region on their road jerseys, joining the Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals.
- Of the sixteen original American and National League teams (i.e, those in existence prior to the 1961-1962 expansion of the two leagues), the Phillies were the last team to win their first World Series, with their 1980 defeat of the favored Kansas City Royals in six games being their only World Series championship.
- In April 2008, the Phillies will move their Triple A affiliate, the Ottawa Lynx, to Allentown, Pennsylvania, where the team will play in a newly-constructed 7,000-capacity stadium, Coca-Cola Park. The move has been greeted enthusiastically because it will bring the Phillies' AAA affiliate closer to the team's Philadelphia fan base while also moving the team into a new stadium. The team will be rechristened as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, a spoonerized name on "pig iron", which was part of the region's steel industry.
Season-by-season records
| Philadelphia Phillies - 1883 to 2007 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | W - L | Win % | Finish | Playoffs |
| 1883 | 17-81 | .173 | 8th in NL | - |
| 1884 | 39-73 | .348 | 6th in NL | - |
| 1885 | 56-54 | .509 | 3rd in NL | - |
| 1886 | 71-43 | .623 | 4th in NL | - |
| 1887 | 75-48 | .610 | 2nd in NL | - |
| 1888 | 69-61 | .531 | 3rd in NL | - |
| 1889 | 63-64 | .496 | 4th in NL | - |
| 1890 | 78-54 | .591 | 3rd in NL | - |
| 1891 | 68-69 | .496 | 4th in NL | - |
| 1892 | 87-66 | .569 | 4th in NL | - |
| 1893 | 72-57 | .558 | 4th in NL | - |
| 1894 | 71-57 | .555 | 4th in NL | - |
| 1895 | 78-53 | .595 | 3rd in NL | - |
| 1896 | 62-68 | .477 | 8th in NL | - |
| 1897 | 55-77 | .417 | 10th in NL | - |
| 1898 | 78-71 | .523 | 6th in NL | - |
| 1899 | 94-58 | .618 | 3rd in NL | - |
| 1900 | 75-63 | .543 | 3rd in NL | - |
| 1901 | 83-57 | .593 | 2nd in NL | - |
| 1902 | 56-81 | .409 | 7th in NL | - |
| 1903 | 49-86 | .363 | 7th in NL | - |
| 1904 | 52-100 | .342 | 8th in NL | - |
| 1905 | 83-69 | .546 | 4th in NL | - |
| 1906 | 71-82 | .464 | 4th in NL | - |
| 1907 | 83-64 | .565 | 3rd in NL | - |
| 1908 | 83-71 | .539 | 4th in NL | - |
| 1909 | 74-79 | .484 | 5th in NL | - |
| 1910 | 78-75 | .510 | 4th in NL | - |
| 1911 | 79-73 | .520 | 4th in NL | - |
| 1912 | 73-79 | .480 | 5th in NL | - |
| 1913 | 88-63 | .583 | 2nd in NL | - |
| 1914 | 74-80 | .481 | 6th in NL | - |
| 1915 | 90-62 | .592 | 1st in NL | Lost World Series to Boston Red Sox, 1-4. |
| 1916 | 91-62 | .595 | 2nd in NL | - |
| 1917 | 87-65 | .572 | 2nd in NL | - |
| 1918 | 55-68 | .447 | 6th in NL | - |
| 1919 | 47-90 | .343 | 8th in NL | - |
| 1920 | 62-91 | .405 | 8th in NL | - |
| 1921 | 51-103 | .331 | 8th in NL | - |
| 1922 | 57-96 | .373 | 7th in NL | - |
| 1923 | 50-104 | .325 | 8th in NL | - |
| 1924 | 55-96 | .364 | 7th in NL | - |
| 1925 | 68-85 | .444 | 6th in NL | - |
| 1926 | 58-93 | .384 | 8th in NL | - |
| 1927 | 51-103 | .331 | 8th in NL | - |
| 1928 | 43-109 | .283 | 8th in NL | - |
| 1929 | 71-82 | .464 | 5th in NL | - |
| 1930 | 52-102 | .338 | 8th in NL | - |
| 1931 | 66-88 | .429 | 6th in NL | - |
| 1932 | 78-76 | .506 | 4th in NL | - |
| 1933 | 60-92 | .395 | 7th in NL | - |
| 1934 | 56-93 | .376 | 7th in NL | - |
| 1935 | 64-89 | .418 | 7th in NL | - |
| 1936 | 54-100 | .351 | 8th in NL | - |
| 1937 | 61-92 | .399 | 7th in NL | - |
| 1938 | 45-105 | .300 | 8th in NL | - |
| 1939 | 45-106 | .298 | 8th in NL | - |
| 1940 | 50-103 | .327 | 8th in NL | - |
| 1941 | 43-111 | .279 | 8th in NL | - |
| 1942 | 42-109 | .278 | 8th in NL | - |
| 1943 | 64-90 | .416 | 7th in NL | - |
| 1944 | 61-92 | .399 | 8th in NL | - |
| 1945 | 46-108 | .299 | 8th in NL | - |
| 1946 | 69-85 | .448 | 5th in NL | - |
| 1947 | 62-92 | .403 | 7th in NL | - |
| 1948 | 66-88 | .429 | 6th in NL | - |
| 1949 | 81-73 | .526 | 3rd in NL | - |
| 1950 | 91-63 | .591 | 1st in NL | Lost World Series to New York Yankees, 0-4. |
| 1951 | 73-81 | .472 | 5th in NL | - |
| 1952 | 87-67 | .565 | 4th in NL | - |
| 1953 | 83-71 | .526 | 3rd in NL | - |
| 1954 | 75-79 | .487 | 4th in NL | - |
| 1955 | 77-77 | .500 | 4th in NL | - |
| 1956 | 71-83 | .461 | 5th in NL | - |
| 1957 | 77-77 | .500 | 5th in NL | - |
| 1958 | 69-85 | .448 | 8th in NL | - |
| 1959 | 64-90 | .416 | 8th in NL | - |
| 1960 | 59-95 | .383 | 8th in NL | - |
| 1961 | 47-107 | .305 | 8th in NL | - |
| 1962 | 81-80 | .503 | 7th in NL | - |
| 1963 | 87-75 | .537 | 4th in NL | - |
| 1964 | 92-70 | .568 | 2nd in NL | - |
| 1965 | 85-76 | .528 | 5th in NL | - |
| 1966 | 87-75 | .537 | 4th in NL | - |
| 1967 | 82-80 | .506 | 5th in NL | - |
| 1968 | 76-86 | .469 | 7th in NL | - |
| 1969 | 63-99 | .389 | 5th in NL East | - |
| 1970 | 73-88 | .453 | 5th in NL East | - |
| 1971 | 67-95 | .414 | 6th in NL East | - |
| 1972 | 59-97 | .378 | 6th in NL East | - |
| 1973 | 71-91 | .438 | 6th in NL East | - |
| 1974 | 80-82 | .491 | 3rd in NL East | - |
| 1975 | 86-76 | .531 | 2nd in NL East | - |
| 1976 | 101-61 | .623 | 1st in NL East | Lost NLCS to Cincinnati Reds, 0-3. |
| 1977 | 101-61 | .623 | 1st in NL East | Lost NLCS to Los Angeles Dodgers, 1-3. |
| 1978 | 90-72 | .556 | 1st in NL East | Lost NLCS to Los Angeles Dodgers, 1-3. |
| 1979 | 84-78 | .519 | 4th in NL East | - |
| 1980 | 91-71 | .562 | 1st in NL East | Won NLCS vs Houston
Astros, 3-2. Won 1980 World Series vs Kansas City Royals, 4-2. |
| 1981 | 59-48 | .551 | 1st/3rd in NL East | Lost NLDS to Montreal Expos, 2-3. |
| 1982 | 89-73 | .549 | 2nd in NL East | - |
| 1983 | 90-72 | .556 | 1st in NL East | Won NLCS vs Los
Angeles Dodgers, 3-1. Lost World Series to Baltimore Orioles, 1-4. |
| 1984 | 81-81 | .500 | 4th in NL East | - |
| 1985 | 75-87 | .463 | 5th in NL East | - |
| 1986 | 86-75 | .534 | 2nd in NL East | - |
| 1987 | 80-82 | .494 | 4th in NL East | - |
| 1988 | 65-96 | .404 | 6th in NL East | - |
| 1989 | 67-95 | .414 | 6th in NL East | - |
| 1990 | 77-85 | .475 | 4th in NL East | - |
| 1991 | 78-84 | .481 | 3rd in NL East | - |
| 1992 | 70-92 | .432 | 6th in NL East | - |
| 1993 | 97-65 | .599 | 1st in NL East | Won NLCS vs Atlanta
Braves, 4-2. Lost World Series to Toronto Blue Jays, 2-4. |
| 1994 | 54-61 | .470 | 4th in NL East | - |
| 1995 | 69-75 | .479 | 2nd in NL East | - |
| 1996 | 67-95 | .414 | 5th in NL East | - |
| 1997 | 68-94 | .420 | 5th in NL East | - |
| 1998 | 75-87 | .463 | 3rd in NL East | - |
| 1999 | 77-85 | .475 | 3rd in NL East | - |
| 2000 | 65-97 | .401 | 5th in NL East | - |
| 2001 | 86-76 | .531 | 2nd in NL East | - |
| 2002 | 80-81 | .497 | 3rd in NL East | - |
| 2003 | 86-76 | .531 | 3rd in NL East | - |
| 2004 | 86-76 | .531 | 2nd in NL East | - |
| 2005 | 88-74 | .543 | 2nd in NL East | - |
| 2006 | 85-77 | .524 | 2nd in NL East | - |
| 2007 | 89-73 | .549 | 1st in NL East | Lost NLDS to Colorado Rockies, 0-3. |
| Totals (1883-2007) | 8853-10029 | .469 | - | - |
| Playoffs | 22-38 | .373 | - | - |
| Playoff Series | 4-9 | .308 | - | - |
- World Series Championships - 1 (1980) [14]
- National League Pennants - 5 (1915, 1950, 1980, 1983, 1993)
- National League East Division Championships - 7 (1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1983, 1993, 2007)