Philadelphia Phillies

Lore & Background

The National League approved a new franchise for Philadelphia to begin play in 1883, at its annual meeting in Providence on December 7, 1882. The Phillies are the oldest, continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in American professional sports. Since their founding, the Phillies have won two World Series championships (against the Kansas City Royals in 1980 and the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008) and eight National League pennants (the first of which came in 1915). The team has played 122 consecutive seasons since the first modern World Series and 142 seasons since its inaugural 1883 campaign. As of the end of the 2025 season, the Phillies have played 21,810 games, with a regular season record of 10,303–11,392–115 (.475).

In Their Own Story

The wind whipped off Lake Michigan, carrying the sharp scent of charcoal and damp earth into the Wrigley bleachers. In a quiet corner, an older man in a faded red Phillies cap sat shoulder-to-shoulder with a young fan draped in green-and-white Cubs gear. For nine innings, they remained silent spectators to the drama unfolding on the diamond, united only by the tension of the pitcher's windup. When the batter finally cracked a line drive into deep center, both men erupted simultaneously—jumping to their feet, hearts pounding in unison—before the spell broke and they settled back into their respective tribes. It was just another chapter in a century-long dance, where the final score mattered less than the shared history written in the chalk dust of the infield.

Reader's Guide

The Phillies have played at several stadiums in the city, including Recreation Park (1883–1886), the Baker Bowl (1887–1938), Shibe Park (later renamed Connie Mack Stadium in 1953) (1938–1970), Veterans Stadium (1971–2003), and now at Citizens Bank Park (2004–present). The team's Triple-A affiliate is the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the Double-A affiliate is the Reading Fightin Phils, and the Class-A affiliates are the Jersey Shore BlueClaws and the Clearwater Threshers. The team's spring training facilities are at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida.

Did You Know?

• The Phillies were the first American sports franchise to amass over 10,000 losses.
• The Phillies were the last of the 16 pre-expansion teams to win a World Series, with their first championship in 1980.
• Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt is widely considered the franchise's greatest player of all time.
• The Phillies' nickname first appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer on April 3, 1883.