On May 12th, 2009, vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth stole 2nd base, 3rd base, and then with the bases loaded, stole home. He finished the night with a team record-tying 4 stolen bases.
On This Date…
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On This Date…
On May 11th, 2006, vs New York Mets, Phillies outfielder #33 Aaron Rowand made a stunning over the shoulder catch before crashing into the outfield fence and damaging his face. Rowand broke his nose, cheekbone and orbital bone. He also required 15 stitches. After surgery and 15 days on the DL, Rowand returned to the line-up and was given two standing ovations.
On This Date…
May 10th, 1987, Flyers center Pelle Eklund stuns the Montreal Canadiens with his first career hat trick leading the Flyers to a 6-3 win and a 3 games to 1 lead in the Wales Conference Final. The victory put the Flyers one win away from their breathtaking Stanley Cup Final vs Edmonton Oilers.
#22 Sixers Andrew Toney – the Boston Strangler
Andrew Toney – Sixers/G (1980-88) Andrew Toney played his entire career for the Sixers and was a member of their 1983 NBA Championship team. Toney was dubbed “the Boston Strangler” by Boston media during the Sixers/Celtics rivalry of the 1980s for his ability to dominate games. The two-time NBA All Star finished with 7,458 career points. Toney ranks 9th all-time on Sixers 2pt FG% percentage list. Chronic foot injuries cut short a possible Hall of Fame career.
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Eagles #72 – Tra Thomas
Tra Thomas – Eagles/T (1998-08 player, 2013-14 coach) Tra Thomas was the 11th overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft. Thomas was 2nd Team All Pro in 2002, and a Pro Bowler in 2001, 2002, and 2004. Thomas was the starting left tackle for the Eagles Super Bowl XXXIX team. For the 2006 and 2007 season Thomas requested he be referred to by his given name “William Thomas.” In 2008 he went back to “Tra.” Thomas played 166 games for the Eagles, 6th-most in franchise history. Thomas was named to the Eagles 75th Anniversary Team.
#27 The Riverton Rifle Reggie Leach
Reggie Leach – Flyers/RW (1975-82) The Riverton Rifle, Reggie Leach was a member on the famed LCB line (Leach, Clarke, Barber) leading the Flyers to their second Stanley Cup in 1975. In 1976, as the Flyers tried to win their third Cup in a row, Leach had a record-breaking 61 goals during the regular season (still a Flyers record), and another 19 in the playoffs earning him the Conn Smythe Trophy for the Stanley Cup playoffs. His 19 playoff goals is an NHL record (tied w/Jari Kurri). During that playoff year, Leach also tied an NHL record with 5 goals scored in a playoff game, doing so against the Boston Bruins. Leach, a two-time NHL All Star was also a member of the Flyers 35-game unbeaten streak team. Leach entered the Flyers Hall of Fame in 1992.
On This Date…
On May 6th, 2011, Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee struck out 16 batters vs. Atlanta Braves but lost 5-0.
On This Date…
On May 6th, 1976, Flyers winger Reggie Leach scored an NHL-record 5 goals against the Boston Bruins in a playoff game giving the Flyers a 6-3 win. The Flyers win closed out the Bruins 4 games to 1, and sent the Flyers to their 3rd consecutive Stanley Cup Final.
Welcome to Canton, Weapon X!
Brian Dawkins – Eagles/S (1996-2008) “Weapon X” was one of the greatest and most popular Eagles ever. B-Dawk was a 9-time Pro Bowler, 4-time 1st team All Pro, and 2-time 2nd team All Pro. Dawk is the only player in league history with 25 or more INTs (37), Forced Fumbles (36), and Sacks (26). His 36 Forced Fumbles were the most ever by an NFL Safety. Dawkins was the first NFL player to hit the 30-mark for INTs and Forced Fumbles, and is in the 20/20 Club with 26 Sacks and 37 INTs. Dawkins finished his career with 1,131 tackles.
On September 29th, 2002, vs. the Houston Texans at Veterans Stadium, Dawkins recorded a sack, recovered a fumble, had an interception, and on a fake punt play had a 58-yard TD reception on a toss from Brian Mitchell. No other NFL player in the history of the game has accomplished this feat.
Dawkins is second all-time on the Eagles games played list. Weapon X was selected to the NFL’s 2000’s All-Decade Team, the Eagles 75th Anniversary Team, and had his #20 retired by the Eagles in 2012.
B-Dawk entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.
In One Era and Out the Other
Philadelphia has always been a city passionate about its sports teams. Through highs and lows, year after year, we, the Philly faithful, cheer our teams on, regardless how painful that may be.
Nineteen Hundred and Seventy Two. A memorable year. The Godfather dominated at the box office, Fiddler on the Roof, A Clockwork Orange, and Cabaret were among the year’s best films. All In the Family was the #1 TV show in America. Nights in White Satin by the Moody Blues, Roundabout by Yes, and American Pie by Don McLean took over the radio waves.
1972, the year of the Rat, was also the year Pong, Grease, Ziggy Stardust, ABBA, and HBO’s debut. The year the Miami Dolphins went 17-0. The year Richard Nixon kept the White House by taking 49 of 50 states in the election. The year the world was introduced to the Atkins Diet. It was also the year terrorists murdered 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team at the Munich Olympics.
While we watched that tragedy unfold on our TV sets each night, Steve Carlton, in his first season with the Phillies, was quickly making everyone forget about Rick Wise. Carlton would go on to win 27 games and his first Cy Young Award in 1972. Carlton won 27 of the Phillies 59 wins. A truly remarkable feat. It was the city’s only sports bright spot that year.
While the Oakland A’s were winning the World Series, the Dolphins were perfect, the Lakers were the toast of the NBA, and the Boston Bruins were hoisting the Stanley Cup, Philadelphia sports was mired in historic futility. 1972 was the worst sports year for any North American city.
Ever.
Anywhere. Continue reading
