Founded in 1883, the National League's Philadelphia Phillies are the longest standing, one-name, one-location team in all professional American sports. From 1919 to 1947, a stretch of 29 seasons, the Philadelphia Phillies finished last or next to last 24 times. Seventeen times during that period they were dead last. The 1950 World Series matched "The Whiz Kid" Phillies and the perennial AL champ Yankees. Predictably the Yanks took care of the overmatched the Phillies in four games, and it would be 30 years before Philadelphia Phillies returned to the Fall Classic.

The greatest player in Phillies history might be Mike Schmidt. The Hall of Fame third baseman played from 1972 to 1989, the most successful period in franchise history.

The Phillies failed to post a winning record in any season from 1994-2000, but by 1999 they were re-building behind promising youngsters Scott Rolen, Bobby Abreu, and Mike Lieberthal. In 2001, under new manager Larry Bowa, the Philadelphia Phllies pushed the Braves in the NL East, staying in contention until the season's final week. Despite high expectations, the Philadelphia Phillies were unable to finish higher than third in 2002 and 2003.

 

Citizens Bank Park made its debut on Monday, April 12, 2004, with the Inaugural Home Opener as the Phillies took on the Cincinnati Reds.

Order Philadelphia Phillies tickets today!

Buy Philadelphia Phillies Tickets