![The Atlantics of Brooklyn and the Athletics of Philadelphia formed one of the most intense rivalries during baseball’s pioneer era. This graphic depicts a match between the clubs at Philadelphia from 1865.](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/athletics_of_phil_1865_versus_atlantics_brooklyn.large-thumbnail.jpg)
Prelude to the Formation of the American Association
Six of the eight most populous cities in the United States were…
![The Jefferson Street Neighborhood in 1860. From 24th Street to where Turner’s Lane ends is the ballpark site.](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/01-JeffersonMap-1860-495x400.png)
The Jefferson Street Ball Parks (1864–91)
The Jefferson Street Neighborhood in 1860. From 24th Street…
![Civil rights activist Octavius Catto founded the Philadelphia Pythians in 1866.](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Octavius-C-Catto-495x400.png)
Philadelphia, October 1866: The Center of the Baseball Universe
In the late nineteenth century, Philadelphia was a hotbed of…
![The London-born Reach played for the Eckford club of Brooklyn in the early 1860s before joining the Athletics of Philadelphia in 1865.](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Al-Reach-NBL.large-thumbnail.jpg)
Did New York Steal the Championship of 1867 from Philadelphia?
Baseball was booming in the years immediately following the Civil…
![“John Mundell & Co’s solar tip shoes Lead All in bright Dongola solar tip, pebble goat solar tip, pebble grain solar tip,” proclaims this 1889 advertisement.](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Mundell_Solar_Tips_BainLOC_24868u.large-thumbnail.jpg)
Mundell’s Solar Tips: The Intersection of Amateur, Trade, Professional and Major League Baseball in Philadelphia
In Philadelphia, Mundell's Solar Tips moved back and forth among…
![Set the record for collective team batting average for a season at .350. Tuck Turner (back row, far right) hit .418, better than all three mem- bers of the “Hall of Fame” outfield, Ed Delahanty (.404), “Sliding Billy” Hamilton](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/tuck_turner_1-495x400.jpg)
Tuck Turner’s Magical 1894 Phillies Season
George A. “Tuck” Turner was a member of the National League…
![](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/ColumbiaPark-495x400.jpg)
Columbia Park II: Philadelphia American League, 1901–08
Columbia Park was the second ballpark in Philadelphia to carry…
![It was not until Connie Mack coerced him into coming to the Philadelphia Athletics in June 1902 that Waddell was finally able to harness his talents.](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Waddell1.large-thumbnail.jpg)
The Long Way to Philadelphia: The Strange Route Leading Rube Waddell To Join The Philadelphia Athletics
George Edward “Rube” Waddell was an original oddball lefty,…
![Philadelphia A's star pitcher missed the 1905 World Series, prompting questions about whether he suffered an injury in a fight or he was bribed not to play.](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Waddell-Rube-705-6_HS_PD.large-thumbnail.jpg)
The Strangest Month in the Strange Career of Rube Waddell
"Hugh Fullerton has a theory regarding left-handed pitchers that…
![](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/research-collection4_350x300.jpg)
Tim Hurst’s Last Call
It was an unlikely time for a post-game riot, even in a baseball-crazy…
![His major league career was essentially over when he pitched for the Hog Island team in 1918.](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Chief_Bender_Bain_LOC_17257u-495x400.jpg)
The Delaware River Shipbuilding League, 1918
Baseball leagues flourished in American shipyards during World…
![Jewish owner of a sporting goods store played a strategic role in promoting both black and white semi-pro baseball in Philadelphia.](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/15-Alpert-Image.large-thumbnail.jpg)
Harry Passon: Philadelphia Baseball Entrepreneur
Harry Passon, the Jewish owner of a sporting goods store,…
![Hall of Fame slugger started out as a catcher, but moved to first base after the A's acquired Mickey Cochrane.](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Foxx-Jimmie-14861-386x400.jpg)
The Real Jimmie Foxx
The story of Jimmie Foxx is bittersweet. In his prime, he was…
![“The Kid” always said that if he had it all to do over again, he’d have taken more batting practice —and this from a guy who would routinely take batting practice after everyone else had gone home.](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Williams-Ted-32.73_BAT_NBL-383x400.jpg)
The Day Ted Williams Became the Last .400 Hitter in Baseball
September 28, 1941. Shibe Park, Philadelphia. The Red Sox split…
![Became owner of the Phillies at age 33 and immediately demanded changes in player conditioning, stating, “I want the team to run morning and afternoon.”](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Cox-William-226-82_Grp_NBL-495x400.jpg)
The Philadelphia Phillies’ 1943 Spring Training
By 1942 World War II was already impacting the Philadelphia…
![Eddie Waitkus (National Baseball Hall of Fame Library)](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Waitkus-Eddie-3806.68-WT-k-NBL-375x400.jpg)
Eddie Waitkus and “The Natural”: What is Assumption? What is Fact?
Eddie Waitkus, the Fightin’ Phillies first-sacker, is best…
![Signed with the Phillies on June 16, 1953 but made only a single appearance in September and rode the bench the entire 1954 season.](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/qualters_rookie_card_1596x950.large-thumbnail.jpg)
Phillies Bonus Babies, 1953-57
Beginning in 1947 and ending in 1965, Major League Baseball…
![Signed with the Phillies on June 16, 1953 but made only a single appearance in September and rode the bench the entire 1954 season.](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/qualters_rookie_card_1596x950.large-thumbnail.jpg)
Tom Qualters’s Amazing 1954 Season for the Philadelphia Phillies
Thomas Francis Qualters was a bonus baby whom the Philadelphia…
![“Probably the only Philly fan in Philadelphia who doesn’t show signs of pennant fever is manager Gene Mauch,” reported the Philadelphia Bulletin.](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Mauch-Gene-1284-71a_HS_NBL.large-thumbnail.jpg)
1964 Phillies, Fans, and Media
The 1964 Phillies enjoyed a six-and-a-half game lead in the…
![Dick Allen, 1976 (TRADING CARD DB)](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Allen-Dick-1976.jpg)
Dick Allen’s Second Act
It is hard to imagine a more polarizing figure in Philadelphia…
![One of the most prominent Latino figures in big league front offices.](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Amaro211.large-thumbnail.jpg)
Fan Perspectives on Race and Baseball in the City of Brotherly Love
The history of baseball in America has always been closely…