10 Most Enjoyable Seasons in Philadelphia Sports Fandom
I’ve gotten to see quite a few of the seasons, spanning almost five decades as a devout Philadelphia sports fan. Some of these seasons may seem like nothing more than cave scrawling for the younger crowd, but all of them made an impact. Remember, this is beginning to end criteria. How much did I enjoy the entirety of the ride? These are my Top 10 seasons as a Philadelphia sports fan!
10) 2009 Phillies
I thought that the defending World Champions were going back to back. It wasn’t meant to be. The Jimmy Rollins walk-off against the Dodgers in the NLCS was wild.
9) 1983 76ers
The season was too easy to be higher on my list. Even the playoffs had zero suspense. They were a great team, but it was a blip that didn’t last.
8) 1980 Phillies
I have high school memories of watching grown men cry. The season came together late, and the postseason was amongst the most stressful I can ever remember as a fan.
7) 1985 Flyers
My first year with the team and the most surprising run to a Stanley Cup Final appearance. They were the NHL’s youngest team led by the league’s youngest coach Mike Keenan. It was a look into a very bright future before the tragic death of Pelle Lindbergh the next November.
6) 1993 Phillies
They didn’t win, but that was worth the price of admission. The team exuded personality and swagger. I’ll never understand why Jim Fregosi went to Mitch Williams in Game 6. I asked him about it once when he was a scout with the Atlanta Braves. I swear he cursed me out under his breath.
5) 2004 Eagles
They started out great, but after three straight NFC Championship Game losses, the nerves were high. Then a blizzard hit before the Atlanta Falcons game. Happiness of a trip to Jacksonville and agony over the Donovan McNabb interceptions overshadowed heroism by Terrell Owens I’ll never forget.
4) 2008 Phillies
The 2007 season set the table for the 2008 season to be special. For much of the year, it wasn’t special enough. Great playoff moments and the weird World Series Game 5 rain delay that lasted two days was pure history and joy.
3) 2022 Eagles
After a 9-8 season, the last thing I expected was sheer dominance. Jalen Hurts and that defense were magical. The ride was crazy fun and the finish didn’t leave me griping. I’m just thankful I lived it.
2) 1987 Flyers
I was working with the team at the time as a young man. Experiencing that season from beginning to end was just amazing. The city was on fire, and I’ll never forget the Spectrum shaking above our coaches office when J.J. Daigneault scored to win Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.
1) 2017 Eagles
From the start of the season to the midseason blowout wins to the dramatic injury to Carson Wentz, I was on the edge of my seat. The late-season struggles with Nick Foles and the playoff run is just the stuff of legend. It still chokes me up.
Watch The John Kincade Show on the 97.5 The Fanatic YouTube page on weekday mornings from 6am-10am.
Philadelphia Sports Jersey Numbers: The Best To Ever Wear #1-99
#1: Bernie Parent
Bobby Clarke might be the signature player in Philadelphia Flyers history and their best all-time skater. However, Bernie Parent was probably their best player. His legacy is enough to beat out the great Richie Ashburn.
However, fans hope Jalen Hurts can someday seize the spot as the best #1 in Philly sports history.
#2: Mark Howe
The Flyers have retired four single-digit numbers, so get ready for an early overload. Mark Howe is the best defenseman in franchise history, and he deserves a legacy as more than just Gordie Howe’s son.
#3: Allen Iverson
The Answer was the clear and obvious answer. It’s no offense to Bryce Harper, but there’s no way Philly fans would ever respect a list that didn’t include Iverson.
#4: Lenny Dykstra
Barry Ashbee has his number retired by the Flyers, but “Nails” gets the nod. Dykstra was a core member of 1993 Phillies, one of the most beloved teams in the city’s history.
#5: Donovan McNabb
Say what you want about Donovan McNabb, but admit that he unquestionably deserves this spot.
#6: Julius Erving
Only the Doctor could keep Ryan Howard off this list. It was one of the toughest decisions of the entire exercise.
#8: Aaron McKie
The deck was stacked. With apologies to Shane Victorino, Mark Recchi, Nick Castellanos, Bob Boone, Juan Samuel, and Dave Schultz, the local product from Simon Gratz High School and Temple University needed to make the list.
#9: Nick Foles
It was the season that left the most impact on the legacy of Philadelphia sports. It would be a fairly insignificant footnote if Nick Foles hadn’t stepped in with a miraculous and unexpected performance.
#11: Jimmy Rollins
The Phillies were the team to beat in 2007. Jimmy Rollins was the sparkplug on and off the field for the best era in Phillies history from 2007-2011.
#12: Randall Cunningham
“The Ultimate Weapon” revolutionized the quarterback position. His stunning athleticism changed the game forever regardless of his lack of playoff success as a member of the Eagles.
#13: Wilt Chamberlain
Honor him for his time with the Sixers in the early years, his time with the Philadelphia Warriors, and his legendary career at Overbrook High School. He retired as the greatest basketball player of all time.
#14: Pete Rose
Pete Rose and Jim Bunning are both qualified to take the spot. Both had long and successful MLB careers that included important stints with the Phillies. Regardless of his behavior off the field, the all-time hits leader played such a major role in getting the Phillies over the hump in 1980.
#17: Harold Carmichael
There was a point when Scott Rolen looked like he would seize this spot pretty easily, but big Harold Carmichael still takes the crown. Former fan favorite Wayne Simmonds also gets an honorable mention, and Alshon’s Jeffery legacy should be more about a great performance in 2017 than a feud behind the scenes with Carson Wentz.
#18: Jeremy Maclin
Andy Reid never loved prioritizing wide receivers. He finally got it right toward the end of his tenure by drafting Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson in the early rounds.
#20A: Brian Dawkins
He was Weapon X, the Wolverine, BDAWK! He became possibly the most beloved player in Philly sports history because of his fiery leadership and bone-crushing hits like the one on Alge Crumpler in the NFC Championship Game after the 2004 season.
#20B: Mike Schmidt
He might not have gotten the kind of fan affection that Brian Dawkins did, but the greatest Phillie of all time wasn’t staying off this list. The glove, the bat, and everything else. Michael Jack was simply the best.
#21: Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid brought the Sixers out of a lull that lasted for over a decade after Allen Iverson left town. His raw athleticism is up there with the best centers in NBA history.
#22: Duce Staley
Double Duce was the centerpiece of a bad era before the Eagles entered yearly contention in the early 2000s, and he became a key weapon for Donovan McNabb during Andy Reid’s peak years. He did enough to hold off the former heart and soul of the Flyers, Rick Tocchet.
#23: Troy Vincent
Troy Vincent was a reliable constant on the outside for Jim Johnson and the Eagles during one of the best periods of sustained success in franchise history.
#24: Sheldon Brown
Sheldon Brown was a solid contributor for eight years in Philadelphia. Realistically, your first memory of him was for one play: the absolute destruction of Reggie Bush that qualified as a legal hit at the time.
#25: LeSean McCoy
Jim Thome was good enough and likable to make the list, but the all-time rushing leader in Eagles history needed a spot.
#26: Chase Utley
He was everything a ballplayer is supposed to be. Who in Philadelphia didn’t love Chase Utley?
#27: Malcolm Jenkins
One of the core leaders of the Super Bowl LII champions narrowly edges Aaron Nola and Flyers greats Ron Hextall and Reggie Leach.
#28: Claude Giroux
Claude Giroux had an unusual career trajectory in Philadelphia. He was a secondary piece on contending teams early in his career, but the franchise slipped by the time he took the captaincy. His overall consistency still lands him as one of the best Flyers of all time.
#29: LeGarrette Blount
Shady McCoy and Chuck Klein both wore 29 for shorter parts of their careers in Philadelphia, which justifies a short-term player as a better pick. LeGarrette Blount brought a power-running style to the 2017 Eagles as a steal in free agency on a one-year contract.
#30: Brian Mitchell
He was a kick returner and a backup running back who spent more time in Washington than in Philadelphia, but who else did you want here? Ilya Bryzgalov?
#33: Cliff Lee
Cliff Lee wore 33 in his second stint with the Phillies, which wasn’t as successful as his first. However, another 34 deserved a spot right next to him.
#34: Roy Halladay
The fiercest competitor Phillies fans have ever watched first pitched for Philadelphia at age 32. All he did in his first season was win the National League Cy Young with a perfect game and a playoff no-hitter on his record. Not too many guys can top Charles Barkley.
#35: Cole Hamels
It takes someone special to carry a team on his back to a World Series at age 24. He ended up with a more impressive overall track record in a Phillies uniform than Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee.
#36: Brian Westbrook
Westbrook was a no-brainer. He was a reliable and consistent dual threat as a rusher and a receiver out of the backfield and a fan favorite for eight seasons in Philadelphia.
#37: Eric Desjardins
Eric Desjardins was the top defenseman on the Flyers during the late 1990s and early 2000s who pushed the puck up the ice to stars like Eric Lindros and John LeClair. He received Norris Trophy votes seven times.
#38: Curt Schilling
He might not be the most likable retired player in the world, but he was the most successful Phillies pitcher of the 1990s.
#39: Brett Myers
Myers entered the folklore of Phillies playoff history by drawing a nine-pitch walk against C.C. Sabathia during the 2008 National League Division Series. He spent eight total seasons in red pinstripes.
#40: Tyrone Hill
Tyrone Hill was never a star player, but he never had to be. He was one of many role players who formed incredible chemistry as the collective complement to Allen Iverson for a trip to the NBA Finals in 2001.
#42: Elton Brand
Elton Brand became a key contributor to the #ShowYaLuv era of the 76ers. He later returned for second stint and eventually for a role in the front office.
#43: Darren Sproles
It was fair to question whether he could even see over top of Lane Johnson or Jason Peters. The 5-foot-6 speedster made his only three career Pro Bowls as a member of the Eagles over the final six years of his career.
#44: Kimmo Timonen
Kimmo Timonen wasn’t the flashiest player the Flyers have ever had. However, he was one of the steadiest defensemen in franchise history for seven seasons.
#45: Zack Wheeler
It’s tough to top Tug McGraw and Tom Brookshier, but it’s a testament to just how good Zack Wheeler has been since signing in free agency before the 2020 season. The addition is the shrewdest move Matt Klentak made during his tenure.
#46: Quinton Mikell
Mikell started his career in Philadelphia wearing 46. His one Pro Bowl appearance came wearing 27, but he had an impressive track record as a solid starter for eight seasons with the Eagles.
#47: Larry Andersen
“LA” spent six seasons with the Phillies. He once threw 32 consecutive innings.
#48: Danny Briere
He was a good scorer at the top of the lineup during the regular season, but Danny Briere truly made his mark during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
#49: Tommy Greene
It could’ve gone to Jose Mesa, but Tommy Greene had the most memorable moments. He was a solid member of the 1993 National League champions, and he threw a no-hitter in 1991.
#50: Jamie Moyer
The Phillies acquired Jamie Moyer when he was 43. He somehow spent five years in Philadelphia. The Souderton native and Saint Joseph’s graduate became one of the best local interest stories of the 2008 World Series.
#51: Carlos Ruiz
Carlos Ruiz was the reliable backstop for the best era in Phillies history. He managed one of the most talented pitching staffs ever assembled and blossomed into a top-tier offensive catcher as his career progressed.
#52: Ricky Bottalico
Ricky Bo made the 1996 National League All-Star team in the highlight of his seven-year career over two stints with the Phillies.
#53: Bobby Abreu
53 is one of the rare numbers that had a worthy choice from each of the four franchises. Hugh Douglas, Darryl Dawkins, and Shayne Gostisbehere fell short of Abreu, one of the most consistent offensive players the Phillies have ever had.
#54: Jeremiah Trotter
It’s a borderline crime to leave Brad Lidge off the list, but the Axe Man had a much longer period of success in Philadelphia. The hard-hitting linebacker made all four of his career Pro Bowls in midnight green.
#55: Brandon Graham
The most impactful play in the history of Philadelphia sports was enough in itself to get Brandon Graham on the list. He’s also an incredible story for overcoming the “draft bust” label to get to that point.
#56: Zach Eflin
He was never an ace, but Zach Eflin developed into a solid option in the middle or back of the Phillies starting rotation throughout the down period of the franchise through 2021. He stayed around long enough to claim his reward, playing an unexpected but important bullpen role in the run to the 2022 World Series.
#57: Ryan Madson
He wore three different numbers during his time with the Phillies. His best years came wearing 63 and 46, but he deserves a shoutout for wearing a number that happens to have minimal competition.
#58: Trent Cole
He was never necessarily as feared by opponents or as beloved by Eagles fans as much as some of Philadelphia’s all-time great defensive ends. However, Trent Cole was one of the most consistent and reliable pass rushers the Eagles have ever had.
#59: Derrick Burgess
Burgess left Philadelphia too early after beginning his career as a solid rotational pass rusher. He broke out for 16 sacks in 2005 in his first year after leaving the Eagles. DeMeco Ryans would’ve been a solid choice as 59 as well.
#62: Jason Kelce
Think past the Super Bowl parade speech for a minute. Jason Kelce is one of the best Eagles of all time based solely on what he did AFTER he turned 30.
#63: Hank Fraley
Fraley played center for a unit that protected Donovan McNabb during one of the most successful spans in Eagles history from 2001-2005.
#64: Andrew Bellatti
He didn’t have the best competition here, but Bellatti gets the nod. He did a serviceable job as a middle relief pitcher during the run to the 2022 World Series.
#65: Lane Johnson
Chuck Bednarik and Brian Dawkins have the legacy as the toughest and most feared Eagles. However, Lane Johnson helped the team to Super Bowl LVII with painful injuries that you probably don’t want to think about.
#67: Jamaal Jackson
Jackson played center for the Eagles for seven seasons. His claim to fame was appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated with Jason Kelce for a feature about training camp position battles.
#68: Jaromir Jagr
Jagr only played one season for the Flyers, but it was more than just a simple cup of coffee. Playing next to one of the best hockey players in history helped significantly with the development of a young Claude Giroux.
#69: Jon Runyan
The signing of Jon Runyan indicated a new aggressive strategy in free agency for the Eagles. He delivered in a big way by bringing the attitude necessary to compete for a Super Bowl.
#70: Rasmus Ristolainen
He might not be the best defenseman the Flyers have ever seen, but the fans can always use a big hitter on the blue line.
#71: Jason Peters
He didn’t have the best ending to his career in Philadelphia, but seven Pro Bowls in 11 seasons with the Eagles play a much more important role in defining his legacy.
#72: Tra Thomas
Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan were the pillars that protected Donovan McNabb in the prime years of his career. A reliable offensive line is the basis for a good NFL organization, and Thomas was a big part of the Andy Reid era.
#73: Shawn Andrews
Andrews is an interesting case study with the benefit of hindsight. If he went public about his mental health issues off the field in modern times, the fan base probably would have reacted differently. He deserves this spot on the list based on two Pro Bowls despite the unfortunately short career of a very talented player.
#74: Owen Tippett
His best competition was Winston Justice, so Owen Tippett deserves some love. He helped people get over the loss of Claude Giroux relatively quickly.
#75: Vinny Curry
Vinny Curry was up and down in two stints with the Eagles. Some of his best moments came as a contributor to the most dominant unit for the 2017 Eagles, which ultimately justified the second-round pick.
#76: Shawn Bradley
He certainly wasn’t the strongest big man, but Shawn Bradley averaged double figures in two of his three seasons after the Sixers used the second-overall pick on him in 1993.
#77: Michael Bennett
Michael Bennett only spent one season in Philadelphia. However, he was the best pass rusher on a team coming off a Super Bowl victory the previous season.
#78: Hollis Thomas
Tank was always a solid clog in the middle of the defensive line. His hit on Michael Vick in the NFC Championship Game after the 2004 season certainly got the crowd going.
#79: Brandon Brooks
Brooks signed with the Eagles before the 2016 season. He admirably overcame a mental health battle off the field to become a key part of an offensive line that helped carry the team to a victory in Super Bowl LVII. Flyers fans hope that Carter Hart can someday overtake this spot.
#80: Cris Carter
The best years of his career didn’t come with the Eagles. However, he outperformed players like James Thrash and Jordan Matthews by a longshot.
#81: Terrell Owens
Jason Avant played eight seasons with the Eagles, and T.O. only played two (plus he ruined one). You cannot deny his dominance in 2004, however. He played at a level that no other Eagles receiver has reached.
#82: Mike Quick
Quick made five Pro Bowls in nine seasons with the Eagles. He is one of the most well-respected alumni of the organization.
#83: Vince Papale
Disney didn’t do it justice, but the Delco native had one of the most inspiring stories in Eagles history.
#85: Art Monk
His career with Washington certainly outweighed it, but Art Monk had a cup of coffee with the Eagles in 1995.
#86: Zach Ertz
People didn’t think he would last after a weak effort to make a block against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2016. It now seems silly for an Eagles legend who caught the game-winning touchdown for the only Super Bowl in franchise history.
#87: Brent Celek
He wasn’t the best tight end the Eagles have ever had, but he might be the toughest. Celek spent 11 seasons in Philadelphia and earned the respect of pretty much anyone he came in contact with.
#88: Eric Lindros
The story is one of the most intriguing in Philadelphia sports history. Lindros was supposed to be the next Wayne Gretzky, and he never brought a Stanley Cup to Philadelphia. However, at his peak, Lindros performed at a higher level than any Flyers player in history. He deserves a legacy based on his outstanding performance on the ice.
#89: Chad Lewis
Chad Lewis was always the reliable security blanket Donovan McNabb needed. He made three Pro Bowls with the Eagles.
#90: Corey Simon
Corey Simon isn’t one of the most glorified Eagles of all time. However, the former sixth-overall pick became a major contributor to Jim Johnsson’s defense.
#91: Fletcher Cox
If you look up and down the roster of the 2017 Eagles, you’ll notice that Fletcher Cox was the best player at his position on the team.
#93: Jevon Kearse
The Freak had his best seasons with the Tennessee Titans before he came to the Eagles. However, he played at a high enough level for a good enough team in 2004 to top Jakub Voracek and Tim Jernigan.
#94: Josh Sweat
Howie Roseman found a gem in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Sweat went from an afterthought to a rotational player to a key contributor to a borderline star.
#95: Mychal Kendricks
Kendricks didn’t develop as smoothly as some people would’ve liked after the Eagles drafted him in the second round in 2012. However, he eventually stepped up as a solid option at linebacker for the 2017 Eagles.
#96: Clyde Simmons
Eagles defensive linemen own the 90s on this list. Simmons recorded an astounding 19 sacks in 1992.
#97: Jeremy Roenick
Darwin Walker also would’ve been a fair choice, but Jeremy Roenick became a Flyers fan favorite for his gritty style of play in three seasons toward the end of a long NHL career. His Game 6 overtime winner against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs was one of the most exhilarating moments in franchise history.
#98: Mike Patterson
Connor Barwin built a great reputation in the Philadelphia community, but he only spent four seasons with the Eagles. Patterson was a model of consistency for 115 games over eight seasons.
#99: Jerome Brown
He was gone too soon. Jerome Brown was a force in five NFL seasons before a tragic death at age 27 in 1992.
#0: Tyrese Maxey
Why not include 0? Maxey is the type of guy who deserves a shoutout.
