On May 17th, 1979, the Phillies scored 23 runs in a 23-22 win over the Chicago Cubs. Mike Schmidt homered in the top of the 10th and the Phillies held on to win. It was the second time the Phillies had scored 23 against the Cubs. On August 25th, 1922, the Cubs beat the Phillies 26-23 in the highest scoring game in MLB history (49 total runs).
On May 16th, 1976 Flyers winger Reggie Leach scored his NHL record-breaking 19th postseason goal in a losing effort as the Flyers lost to the Montreal Canadiens 5-3. The win gave the Canadiens their 19th Stanley Cup championship, defeating the reigning champion Flyers 4 games to 0. After the game, Reggie Leach was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the playoffs. Leach is still the only non-goalie to win the Conn Smythe Trophy from the defeated Stanley Cup Finals team.
Jayson Werth – Phillies/OF (2007-10) Jayson Werth was a member of the Phillies 2008 World Series Champions. Werth hit 95 HRs and 300 RBIs in his four seasons with the Phils. He also swiped 60 bases while being caught just 8 times. In 2008, Werth led all MLB in HRs vs. lefties with 16. He led the NL in doubles in 2010, and was a 2009 NL All Star.
On May 16th, 2008, vs Toronto Blue Jays, Phillies Jayson Werth hit a grand slam, a 3-run homer, and a solo shot for 8 total RBIs, tying a Phillies record.
Bob Clarke – Flyers/C (player 1969-84) (GM 1984-90, 1994-06), (executive 2007-present) Robert Earle Clarke was one of the greatest team captains in the history of the game. Clarkie played his entire 15-year career in the orange and black and captained the team to two Stanley Cup Championships. Clarke served as captain from 1973-79 and 1982-84. Clarke has served as team captain, assistant coach, General Manager, and Senior Vice President. He has been to four Stanley Cup finals as a player, three finals as a GM, and one finals as Sr.VP.
As a player, Clarkie was fierce and courageous. On March 19th, 1981, Clarke was hit in the face with a shot off the stick of linemate Reg Leach. Clarkie got stitched up and returned to score his 19th goal of the season. It was his 1,000th NHL point.
Clarkie was a three-time Hart Trophy winner, an eight-time NHL All Star, a Frank J Selke Trophy winner (1983), and a Bill Masterton Trophy winner (1972). He had three 100+ point seasons, and is the Flyers all-time leader in games played (1,144), assists (852), points (1,210), and shorthanded goals (32). The Bobby Clarke Trophy is awarded annually to the Flyers team MVP. In junior hockey, the WHL gives the Bobby Clarke Trophy to the league’s leading scorer.
In 1998, the Hockey News ranked Clarke 24th on their Top NHL Players of All-Time list. Clarke’s #16 has been retired by the team and he is a member of the Flyers Hall of Fame. Clarke was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1987.
Did you know… Flyers Hall of Famer Bobby Clarke wore the #36 for two games during a road trip in 1981. His jersey had been stolen and the number 36 was the only backup jersey available.
On May 15th, 1984, Flyers legend Bobby Clarke at age 34, retired as a player and was named the 4th General Manager in team history.
Brian Propp – Flyers/LW (1980-90) Brian Propp was a dominant winger for the Flyers’ teams that went to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1980, 1985, and 1987, and had the NHL record 35-game unbeaten streak. Propp, known for his trademark “guffaw,” scored the game-winning goal vs. New York Islanders (Billy Smith) in his NHL debut. Propper, a five-time All Star is 2nd all-time in Flyers goal scoring with 369 (Bill Barber), and assists with 480 (Bob Clarke), and 3rd in games played (790) and points (849) behind Clarke and Barber. Propp’s 356 goals in the 1980s were second most by a left winger. His 75 points in 1979-80 were an NHL record for a rookie LW (since broken). Propp holds the Flyers team season record for Game-winning goals (12), and short-handed goals (7 tied). He holds the NHL record for most career playoff assists by a LW (84), most career playoff points by a LW (148), and most career playoff power play goals by a LW (27). Propp was linemates with Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky for Gold Medal-winning Team Canada at the 1987 Canada Cup. Propp entered the Flyers Hall of Fame in 1999.
Barry Ashbee – Flyers/D (1971-74) Barry Ashbee won a Stanley Cup with the Flyers as a player (1973-74) and as an assistant coach (1974-75). In 1973-74 Ashbee was named a 2nd team NHL All Star, was 4th in Norris Trophy voting, and was a team high +52 for the season way ahead of runner-up Bobby Clarke (+35). Ashbee’s playing career ended that year during the playoffs when he took a puck to the eye off the stick of Dale Rolfe of the New York Rangers. Ashbee spent the next three years as a Flyers assistant coach. Near the end of the 1976-77 season, Ashbee was diagnosed with Leukemia. He died a month later on May 12, 1977. The Flyers retired Ashbee’s #4 and annually award the Barry Ashbee Trophy to the Flyers best defenseman as voted by a panel of local sportswriters.
On May 12th, 1977, Flyers defenseman Barry Ashbee died of leukemia. The Flyers retired Ashbee’s #4 and annually award the Barry Ashbee Trophy to the Flyers best defenseman as voted by a panel of local sportswriters.
