Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Hey Philly...maybe you forgot?

Since the Eagles season ended 2 weeks ago, a lot of Philly fans are skipping right over the Flyers. "Oh, I can't wait til March;' "Pitchers and Catchers report in 3 weeks." I'm anxious to see the Phillies again my self, BUT a lot of Philly fans are seemingly skipping right over the Flyers. Who I might add, is atop the Eastern Conference, and leading the Atlantic Division with 3 games in hand to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Philadelphia Flyers have been one of the top teams since their installment in 1967 and one of the most consistent of the big 4 in Philly. But despite being one of the most consistent Philly sports teams they still get shunned away and over looked. Then again, most of hockey does, until playoff times.

Maybe I shouldn't be worried about it, hey no bandwagon fans right? I mean the Phillies have never been THIS popular up until their World Series win in 2008. Let's take a look at some stats and we'll evaluate this a bit further.

Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies have, for the better part of their existence been the red-headed stepchild of the MLB, often considered the "laughing stock" of Major League Baseball (I know we are all thankful that, that has changed in the last 4 to 5 years). But did you know Philadelphia had 2 MLB Teams up until 1955? The Phillies in the National League, and the Athletics (est. 1901) in the American League until 1955.

The Athletics where Philadelphia's most successful franchise to date. Having 2 dynastys in their span in Philly. The A’s s where one of the dominant teams out of the American League, winning the A.L. pennant nine times (1902, 1905, 1910, 1911, 1913 and 1914, 1929-1931), and winning the World Series in 1910, 1911 and 1913, 1929, and 1930). Obviously you see two different eras of dominance. They also won over 100 games in 1910 and 1911, 99 games in 1914, and 107 games in 1931. After their last World Series win in 1931, the team went from dominant, mediocre, to bottom feeder and later relocated to Kansas City in 1955, (after a few more relocations they set tent up in Oakland, where the team plays today.)

Back to the Phillies now, they have been in existence since 1883 (originally known as the Quakers). Making them the first athletic child of the city of brotherly love. They have 2 World Series Championships, 7 N.L. Pennants, and 10 Division Titles. But, it wasn't until around the early to mid 1940s that Philly showed that love as most of it went to the Athletics, even though the Athletics where just as bad if not worse then the Phillies. The Phillies where a decent team in the late 1800s, but failed to make it to the playoffs. The Athletics took their wind of the Phillies sails even more when Connie Mack, Nap Lajoie and Elmer Flick jumped to the A's. Then the loss of, big time star, Ed Delahanty, to another American League team resulted in the Phillies being bottom feeders of the league, and wouldn't contend for a playoff spot until the 1913, which would be the closest the 2 Philly ball teams would come to playing each other in the World Series.

After finishing 2nd to the New York Giants, and falling to 6th in the league in 1914, the Phillies came back in 1915 going to the World Series for the first time (Lost to the Boston Red Sox in 5 games).

After being purchased by a new owner (William Cox) in 148, a spark in attendance occoured over the next few years. The Phillies would return back to the Postseason in 1950, and facing the New York Yankees in the World Series. The Phillies were swept in 4 games.

The Phillies sunk back down into the bottom of the league until the 1970s where they made the postseason 3 consecutive years (1976 to 1978) but lost in the NL Championship Series all 3 times before going all the way and winning their first World Series in 1980. The team would then return to the playoffs in 1981, facing the Montreal Expos in the NL Divisional Series, loosing 3-1. They would again return to the World Series 2 years later, in 1983, but lost to the Baltimore Orioles 4-1. 10 years pass before the Phillies would have a taste at a playoff game again, this time it was 1993, going to the World Series loosing to the Toronto Blue Jays. Fast forward to the present day, and since 2003 the Phils have arguably enjoyed the best success in team history, including 4 straight NL Division Titles, 3 straight NLDS series wins, and 2 World Series appearances in 3 years.

# of Seasons Active: 177 Playoff Appearances: 13 Division Titles: 10 NL Pennants: 7 World Series Wins: 2

sources:Philles.com,PhiladelphiaAthletics.org

Philadelphia Eagles

Established in 1933, the Birds came to town when the Frankford Yellow Jackets went bankrupt in 1931. The Eagles joined the NFL with the Pittsburgh Stealers and Cleavland Reds (folded) as expansion teams. The Eagles played in 3 different stadiums in the span of less than 10 years, Baker Bowl (1933-1935), Municipal Stadium (1936-1939; 1941), Shibe Park/Connie Mack Stadium (1940;1942-1957) and struggled to fill the seats (often being 5 to 10,000 short of capacity at Shibe Park).

The Eagles struggled in the first decade as a franchise in the NFL having consecutive loosing seasons through the 30's and early 40's. World War II made things worse and led to the Eagles and Steelers merging for the 1943 season. Both teams had incomplete rosters and merged into one team, forming the "Phil-Pitt Eagles," the team was renamed the "Steagles." The renamed team only lasted one year (and was never meant to be permanent), and at the end of the season, the teams went back to their familiar names, Eagles, and Steelers.

Times changed in the mid 40's when the team started to become more successful, starting with a 7-1-2 record after the team Philly/Pitts. merger. They earned a trip to 3 consecutive NFL Championship games, 2 of which they won in 1948, and 1949. In 1948 the Eagles beat the Chicago Cardinals in the blizzard (see Philly the Eagles CAN PLAY AND WIN in a blizzard!), 7-0. In 1949 they faced the Los Angeles Rams beating them 14-0, these tw0 shutouts make the Eagles as the only NFL team ever to win back-to-back championships with a shutout.

The Eagles will go on to win the last NFL Championship game in 1960, this would also be their League championship. This win is considered an epic win as the 1960 Eagles where the only team to beat coach Vince Lombardi & his Green Bay Packers in the playoffs. This also would prove big as this was the Eagles last playoff appearance for almost 2 decades (18 years) until they returned to the playoffs in 1978 but lost to the Atlanta Falcons 14-13.

They would appear in the playoffs 3x in a row after 1978, which included a trip to Superbowl XV. The Eagles faced the Oakland Raiders in New Orleans, and went in as the team to beat, but Oakland won the game with a score of 27-10.

After the 1981 playoffs the Eagles didn't see the playoffs again until 1988 and earned a trip to the playoffs for 3 consecutive years. All resulted in an early exit in the first round. They would miss the playoffs in 1991, before coming back in 1992, 1995, and 1996.

The Eagles have had arguably the best teams in team history in the new millennium. Earning postseason trips 10 out of 11 seasons, including a team high 5 consecutive years (2000-2004). After 3 seasons of being 1 game shy of advancing to the big game, they earned their second Superbowl berth in 2004 (Superbowl XXXIX) facing the New England Patriots. The Eagles would lose the game by 3 points (24-21), and once again Philly is snubbed of a Super Bowl Championship. After Superbowl XXXIX, fans would see the Eagles place a playoff berth 4 out of 6 seasons, but the Eagles would only get as high as the Conference Finals (2008).

# of Seasons active: 77: NFL Championships: 3 Playoff Appearances: 23
Division Championships: 11 Conference Championships: 3 Title Game Appearances (NFL Championship Game + Superbowl : 5)

sources: Sports Encyclopedia-Eagles

Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers are Philly's 2nd NHL team. The first team NHL team to play in Philly where the Quakers, but they only lasted 1 year with a 4-36-4 record. The team was disbanded at the end of the season, although talks where in place to bring them
back to Pittsburgh, the team never played again.

The Flyers came along in the 1967 NHL Expansion draft along with 5 other teams (St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, Oakland Seals, L.A. Kings, Minnesota North Stars) to boost the NHL to a 12 team league.

S
ide note: Oakland was relocated to Cleavland in '76, eventually merged with the North Stars in '78. A final move of the franchise was later created when the North Stars moved south to Dallas, TX, becoming the Dallas Stars in 1993).

The Flyers were an immediate success in the NHL, they won their with a record of 31-32-11 in their first season. With top players selected in the expansion draft and a purchasing of the Quebec Aces, as the Flyers minor league affilite, they had a young talented team. This included the likes of Bernie Parent, Doug Favell, Ed Van Impe, Joe Watson, Lou Angotti, Gary Dornhoefer. They won the division (West aka the expansion division) at 73 points making it to the playoffs in their first season. Unfortunately they were ousted in the first round by the St. Louis Blues in 5 games (4-1).

After the inaugural season, Lou Angotti left the team, and Ed Van Impe was replaced as captain of the Flyers. The Flyers would make the payoffs again in their second year, finishing 3rd in the division but where again defeated by the Blues, this time in 4 games. The Flyers would fail to make the playoffs the following year finishing 5th in the division. Ed Snider was tired of team being out-toughed, and after the 1969 season, he would begin to create something that Philly fans loved and opposing teams feared.

Snider wanted the team to become tougher. The team began to acquire tough skillful players, first taking a chance on drafting a 19 year old kid from Flin-Flon, Mantobia named Bobby Clarke (17th overall), and also drafting Dave Shultz (52nd overall). Later the team drafted tough guys like Bob "The Hound" Kelly, Don "Big and Bird" Salaski. Along with the Flyers other tough skilled players, like Watson, Dornhoefer, Bill Clement and with the scoring touches of Clarke, Bill Barber, and Reggie Leach
became the Broadstreet Bullies.

This style of rough and tough antics became a strong point for the Flyers, they put fear into their opponents with fighting and intimidation. This turned into success on and off the ice, Philly embraced the Flyers new style and the team themselves saw new success as a young team. In 1973-1974 season they proved that, as they became the first expansion team to beat an Original 6 team (NY Rangers) in a playoff series. After going all 7 games, and winning game 7 the Flyers earned their first berth to the Stanley Cup Final, facing the Bobby Orr and the Boston Bruins. 6 Games later Philly had their first Stanley Cup. A year later the Flyers would repeat as Cup Champions beating the Buffalo Sabers 4-2.

The team would go back to the Final in 1976, but where swept in 4 games by the Montreal Canadiens. The team would make it to the playoffs 13 straight seasons, appearing in the Stanley Cup Final of 1981, 1985, and 1987.

The roughest times of the team where after the 1986-1987, where they missed the playoffs 6 straight seasons. They finished 5th or last (6th) in those 6 years. The team would come out of their "dark ages" and return to the Conference Finals in 1995, loosing out to the eventual Stanley Cup Champions, the New Jersey Devils, in 6 games.

They would go back to the Cup Finals in 1997, but where swept in 4 games by the Detroit Red Wings. The Flyers would not miss the playoffs again (excluding the 2004-2005 lockout) until the dismal 2006-2007 season.

The team rebounded the very next year, with coaching and managerial coaching as well as several key trades, they made it all the way to the Conference Finals loosing to Pittsburgh 4-1. As new GM Paul Holmgren continued to make several trades and acquisitions, as well as our young top talent grooming into being on the roster, the Flyers started to become a serious contender for years to come. From the magical run to the Cup Final in 2010, to the dominance fans have seen thus far in the 2010-2011 season.

# Of Seasons Active: 44 Championships won: 2 Playoff Appearances: 35 Division Championships: 15 Conference Championships: 8

sources: FlyersHistory Flyers-Official

So as you can see the Flyers have been the more dominant team in Philly over the course of their existance, representing Philly's true work ethic, hard working, and blue collar. You may go as far in saying, they helped establish the blue collar work ethic for all the major sports in Philly. The top 3 Philly teams are doing great, we are probably the second best (first in fan passion) sports city in the USA, 2nd to only Boston. So do me a favor, take a look at this team, we are witnessing something great here on the ice in Philly, so respect them also.

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