As the Quakers, to replace the disbanded Worchesters, who were based in Worchester, Massachusetts.

The Quakers played their inaugural game on May 1, 1883, at their home ground – the Recreational Park. In this, their first year, the Quakers managed to win only 17 of the 98 games they played. The following year, they chose to call themselves the Philadelphia Phillies, in honor of their home city. Though they started to win 70 games or so, they were still a mediocre team. In 1897, they slipped down to the 10th place finish, and in 1899, they were placed 3rd and had a 94-58 win-loss record.

The next few years did not leave much mark, and in 1915 – in their 33rd season – the Phillies won their first National League Pennant – the first of the five they have won over the years. They continued their good run to reach the World Series final, only to lose the seventh game to the Boston Red Sox.

In 1917, they lost their second run for the National League Pennant to the then Brooklyn Dodgers – who are the present Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Major League Titles

The Philadelphia Phillies have six Eastern Division titles to their name and they have won five National League Pennants. They won their solitary World Series title in 1980.

The Phillies went through the Houston Astros to earn their chance at the World Series title, where they met the Kansas City Royals. They beat the Royals 4-2 in six games to win their only World Series title, to date.

Honoring The Players

The Philadelphia Phillies have 33 players inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame. To honor their players, the Phillies have retired the jerseys of seven of their players, in addition to # 42 belonging to Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers – whose number has been retired throughout the Major League Baseball. The retired jersey numbers are:

# 1, Ritchie Ashburn – Played from 1948 to 1959.
# 14, Jim Bunning – Played from 1964 to 1967, and from 1970 to 1971.
# 20 Mike Schmidt – Played from 1972 to 1989.
# 32, Steve Carlton – Played from 1972 to 1986.
# 36, Robin Roberts – Played from 1948 to 1961.

Glover Cleveland Alexander – Played during the era when there were no jersey numbers. Played from 1911 to 1917, and in 1930.

Chuck Klein - Played wearing many different jersey numbers, though used # 3 the most. Played from 1928 to 1933, from 1936 to 1939, from 1940 to 1944, and coached from 1942 to 1945.