Sports in Philadelphia facts for kids

Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies. They are the oldest sports team in America that has always kept the same name and city since 1883.

Then-Vice President Joe Biden watching a Philadelphia Union (MLS) soccer game in 2010.

Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania, is famous for its many sports teams and events. These include professional, semi-professional, amateur, college, and high school sports. Sports are a huge part of the city's culture and the wider Greater Philadelphia area. Philadelphia sports fans are known for being very passionate and knowledgeable about their teams.

Philadelphia is one of only thirteen cities in North America that has teams in the "Big Four" major sports leagues. Even more special, Philadelphia is one of just four cities where all these teams play right within the city limits. These major teams are:

The Philadelphia Phillies in Major League Baseball (MLB)
The Philadelphia Eagles in the National Football League (NFL)
The Philadelphia 76ers in the National Basketball Association (NBA)
The Philadelphia Flyers in the National Hockey League (NHL)

All these teams have been in Philadelphia since at least the 1960s. Each of them has won at least two championships. Since 2010, the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer (MLS) also plays here. This makes Philadelphia one of nine cities with a team in all five major sports leagues. Before the 1980s, Philadelphia also had other famous teams like the Philadelphia Athletics, the Frankford Yellow Jackets, and the Philadelphia Warriors.

The Philadelphia area also has many college sports teams. The Philadelphia Big 5 is a group of five basketball schools: La Salle University, the University of Pennsylvania, Saint Joseph's University, Temple University, and Villanova University. These schools, plus Drexel University, Delaware State University, and the University of Delaware, all compete in NCAA Division I. Temple University has the only top-level college football team (Division I FBS) in the area.

Besides professional and college sports, many semi-pro, amateur, and high school teams play in Philadelphia. The city hosts big events like the Penn Relays (a famous track and field meet) and the Collegiate Rugby Championship. Philadelphia has also hosted the annual Army-Navy football game more than any other city. Many famous athletes and sports figures are from Philadelphia. The city has also played an important role in the history of cricket and extreme wrestling in the United States.

What Championships Have Philadelphia Teams Won?

Major Professional Championships

Philadelphia teams in the five major leagues (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS) have won many championships. Here are some of their big wins:

1910 Philadelphia Athletics
1911 Philadelphia Athletics
1913 Philadelphia Athletics
1926 Frankford Yellow Jackets
1929 Philadelphia Athletics
1930 Philadelphia Athletics
1946-47 Philadelphia Warriors
1948 Philadelphia Eagles
1949 Philadelphia Eagles
1955-56 Philadelphia Warriors
1960 Philadelphia Eagles
1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers
1973-74 Philadelphia Flyers
1974-75 Philadelphia Flyers
1980 Philadelphia Phillies
1982-83 Philadelphia 76ers
2008 Philadelphia Phillies

For a long time, from 1983 to 2008, Philadelphia teams didn't win any major championships. People sometimes joked about a "Curse of Billy Penn." But in 2008, the Phillies won the World Series, which was a huge moment for the city!

Who Are Philadelphia's MVP Athletes?

Many Philadelphia players have won the MVP award in their leagues. This award goes to the best player in a season. Here are some of them:

Eddie Collins, AL MVP, 1914
Mickey Cochrane, AL MVP, 1928
Lefty Grove, AL MVP, 1931
Chuck Klein, NL MVP, 1932
Jimmie Foxx, AL MVP, 1932
Jimmie Foxx, AL MVP, 1933
Jim Konstanty, NL MVP, 1950
Bobby Shantz, AL MVP, 1952
Norm Van Brocklin, NFL MVP, 1960
Wilt Chamberlain, NBA MVP, 1960, 1966, 1967, 1968
Bobby Clarke, NHL MVP, 1973, 1975, 1976
Mike Schmidt, NL MVP, 1980, 1981, 1986
Julius Erving, NBA MVP, 1981
Moses Malone, NBA MVP, 1983
Eric Lindros, NHL MVP, 1995
Allen Iverson, NBA MVP, 2001
Ryan Howard, NL MVP, 2006
Jimmy Rollins, NL MVP, 2007

What Are Philadelphia's Biggest Sports Rivalries?

Philadelphia teams have big rivalries with teams from other major cities, especially New York City and Pittsburgh. These rivalries are often very intense!

Rivalries with New York City Teams

The Flyers and the Rangers getting ready for a face-off.

New York and Philadelphia have been rivals for a long time, and this carries over into sports. Teams from both cities often play in the same division, making their games extra exciting.

In baseball, the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets are big rivals.
In football, the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants have a long history of tough games.
In basketball, the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks often face off.
In hockey, the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers have one of the fiercest rivalries in the NHL. The Flyers also have a strong rivalry with the New Jersey Devils.
In soccer, the Philadelphia Union and the New York Red Bulls are rivals.

Rivalries with Pittsburgh Teams

Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are the two biggest cities in Pennsylvania. Their sports teams have strong rivalries in hockey, baseball, and football.

The Philadelphia Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins have one of the most intense rivalries in the NHL.
Historically, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Phillies were big rivals in baseball. They aren't in the same division anymore, but their games are still fun to watch.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Eagles both started in the NFL in 1933. They used to play every year, but now they only play every four years.
There's also a strong college rivalry between the University of Pittsburgh and Penn State.

Other Important Rivalries

Philadelphia teams also have rivalries with teams from other cities like Boston and Washington, D.C..

Boston: The 76ers and Boston Celtics have a long history of playoff battles. The Flyers and Boston Bruins have also met many times in the NHL playoffs.
Washington, D.C.: The Eagles and Washington Redskins have been division rivals since 1933. The Flyers and Washington Capitals also play in the same division and have met in the playoffs.

Beyond the Northeast, the Eagles have a passionate rivalry with the Dallas Cowboys. The 76ers also have a big rivalry with the Los Angeles Lakers, often meeting in the NBA Finals. The Phillies have developed a rivalry with the Atlanta Braves, as both teams often compete for the division title.

Other Professional Sports Teams in Philadelphia

Football Teams

Ron Jaworski, a former Eagles quarterback and owner of the Philadelphia Soul.

The Philadelphia Soul is an Arena Football League team that started in 2004. They play at the Wells Fargo Center. The Soul won the ArenaBowl XXII championship in 2008. They have also won three conference championships.

Philadelphia also has women's football teams. The Philadelphia Liberty Belles played from 2001 to 2004 and started again in 2009. The Philadelphia Firebirds started in 2003, and the Philadelphia Passion play in the Legends Football League.

Baseball Teams

The 1874 Philadelphia Athletics. This was the first major league baseball team in Philadelphia.

While the Phillies are the only major league team now, other professional baseball teams play in the wider Delaware Valley area.

The Reading Fightin Phils are a minor league team connected to the Phillies. Many famous Phillies players like Mike Schmidt and Jimmy Rollins played for them.
The Camden Riversharks play in nearby Camden, New Jersey.
The Wilmington Blue Rocks play in Wilmington, Delaware.
Other Phillies minor league teams include the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, Lakewood BlueClaws, and Williamsport Crosscutters.

In the 1800s, Philadelphia had many other baseball teams that played in different leagues. Before Major League Baseball allowed all players, Philadelphia was also home to several Negro League teams. The Philadelphia Stars played from 1934 to 1948 and won a championship in 1934.

Ice Hockey Teams

The Philadelphia Phantoms playing their last season at the Spectrum. They later moved to Allentown and became the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

The Flyers have minor league teams in Eastern Pennsylvania.

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms are the top minor league team for the Flyers. They play in Allentown, Pennsylvania. They used to be called the Philadelphia Phantoms and won championships in 1998 and 2005.
The Reading Royals are another Flyers minor league team. They won their league championship in 2013.

Philadelphia has also had many other minor league hockey teams throughout its history, like the Philadelphia Arrows and the Philadelphia Firebirds.

Basketball Teams

The Delaware 87ers are the minor league team for the Philadelphia 76ers. They play in Newark.

In the past, Philadelphia had teams in the American Basketball League, an early professional league. The Philadelphia Sphas were a very successful team, winning seven championships.

Soccer Teams

The 1917–18 Bethlehem Steel F.C., a famous early soccer team.

Philadelphia has a long history with professional soccer. The first professional soccer league in the United States, the American League of Professional Football, was started here in 1894. Many teams played in the older American Soccer League, including the Philadelphia Ukrainians and Uhrik Truckers, who both won the US Open Cup.

Philadelphia also had indoor soccer teams like the Philadelphia Fever and the Philadelphia KiXX. The KiXX won championships in 2002 and 2007.

For women's soccer, Philadelphia had the Philadelphia Charge and the Philadelphia Independence. The Independence reached the championship game twice before their league ended.

Lacrosse Teams

The Philadelphia Wings playing against the Minnesota Swarm.

Philadelphia doesn't have professional lacrosse teams right now, but it used to have two.

The Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League played at the Wells Fargo Center. They were very successful, winning six league titles. They moved in 2014.
The Philadelphia Barrage was a Major League Lacrosse team that played from 2004 to 2008. They won three championships in their five years in Philadelphia.

Other Sports in Philadelphia

Rugby League

Rugby league is growing in popularity in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Fight play in the USA Rugby League and have won three championships.

Rugby Union

Rugby union is also becoming more popular. Several men's and women's rugby clubs play in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas, like the Schuylkill River Exiles Rugby Football Club and Philadelphia Women's Rugby.

Cricket

Cricket has a long history in Philadelphia. The city was a major center for American cricket in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Philadelphian cricket team played against top teams from around the world. The Philadelphia Cricket Club was founded in 1854. The city also hosts the annual Philadelphia International Cricket Festival.

Individual Sports and Events

Franklin Field at the University of Pennsylvania. This field hosts the annual Penn Relays.

Philadelphia hosts many individual sports events. The Penn Relays at Franklin Field is the largest early-season track and field meet in the United States. The city also hosts the annual Broad Street Run, a 10-mile race, and the Philadelphia Marathon.

Boxing in Philadelphia

Joe Frazier, a heavyweight boxing champion who lived in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia has a rich history in boxing. The 2300 Arena is a well-known boxing venue. The classic movie Rocky, about a boxer, takes place in Philadelphia.

Many famous boxers are from Philadelphia or lived there. Joe Frazier, a former world heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medalist, lived in Philadelphia. Bernard Hopkins is another famous boxer from Philadelphia, known for fighting well into his 40s.

Racing in Philadelphia

Smarty Jones at the Philadelphia Park Racetrack. He won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 2004.

Philadelphia has a history with horse racing. William Penn, who founded Pennsylvania, reportedly raced horses in Philadelphia. Famous horses like Man o' War and Smarty Jones have ties to the Philadelphia area. Parx Casino and Racing hosts many horse races today.

The Manayunk area of the city hosts the annual Philadelphia International Championship bike race. A key part of the race is the "Manayunk Wall," a very steep street.

Other Individual Sports

Golf: Philadelphia has a long golf history. The Golf Association of Philadelphia is the oldest regional golf association in the U.S. Famous courses like Aronimink Golf Club and Merion Golf Club have hosted major tournaments.
Tennis: The Philadelphia Freedoms are a professional tennis team. Famous tennis players like Bill Tilden are from Philadelphia.
Pool: Willie Mosconi, a Philadelphia native, is considered one of the greatest pool players ever, winning 15 world championships.
Figure Skating: The Philadelphia Skating Club and Humane Society is the oldest figure skating club in the United States.

Philadelphia and the Olympics

Rower John B. Kelly Sr., who won three Olympic Gold Medals.

Philadelphia has tried to host the Olympic Games several times. Many athletes from Philadelphia have competed in the Olympics, winning medals in sports like gymnastics, swimming, track and field, and rowing.

Sports Media and Films in Philadelphia

Philadelphia has a large media market, meaning many people watch TV and listen to radio here. NBC Sports Philadelphia is a TV channel that covers most Sixers and Flyers games, along with college sports.

Many famous sports broadcasters and writers are from Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Sports Writers Association gives out awards every year.

Several movies have been made about sports in Philadelphia:

The Rocky movies follow the boxing career of Rocky Balboa.
The movie Invincible is about Vince Papale's time playing for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Broad Street Bullies is a documentary about the early history of the Philadelphia Flyers.
Silver Linings Playbook features a main character who is a big Eagles fan.

Famous Sports People from Philadelphia

Dawn Staley, a basketball coach and WNBA All-Star.

Paul Arizin, one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.

Many famous athletes were born, grew up, or went to college in Philadelphia.

Basketball players: Dawn Staley, Kobe Bryant, Earl Monroe, Rasheed Wallace, and Kyle Lowry.
Football players: Herb Adderley, Marvin Harrison, Joe Flacco, and Matt Ryan.
Baseball players: Mike Trout, Roy Campanella, and Reggie Jackson.
Hockey players: Hobey Baker and Mike Richter.
Soccer players: Carli Lloyd and Walter Bahr.

Many famous coaches are also from Philadelphia, including Tommy Lasorda (baseball), Joe McCarthy (baseball), and John Chaney (basketball).

Many people from Philadelphia have competed in the Olympics, including gymnast Mohini Bhardwaj, swimmer Brendan Hansen, track and field star Carl Lewis, and figure skater Tara Lipinski.

Other important sports figures include Flyers owner Ed Snider, Phillies owner Connie Mack, and former NFL commissioner Bert Bell. Many of these accomplished people are in the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame.

Images for kids

Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia, home of the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League.
Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia, home of the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League and the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association.
Subaru Park in West Chester, home of the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer.
The Philadelphia Eagles are presented with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after winning Super Bowl LII on February 4, 2008.
The Frankford Yellow Jackets 1926 team photo. This was Philadelphia's first professional football team, winning in 1926.
The Philadelphia Phillies' final game at Veterans Stadium on September 29, 2003.
Phillies players rush the field at Citizens Bank Park after winning the 2008 World Series on October 29, 2008.
Four-time NBA MVP Wilt Chamberlain (right) and former teammate Nate Thurmond.
Dave Schultz, who played for the Philadelphia Flyers from 1971 to 1976.
Subaru Park, home of the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer (MLS).
Bethlehem Steel F.C. around July 1921.
Philadelphia Union club photo, 2017.
Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the main development team for the Philadelphia Flyers, playing in Allentown, December 2019.
The 2005 Army–Navy football game, played at Lincoln Financial Field.
College basketball at the University of Pennsylvania's Palestra.
Boathouse Row on the Schuylkill River, a symbol of Philadelphia's rowing history, April 2006.
Harry Kalas, a beloved announcer for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1971 to 2009.

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Sports in Philadelphia Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.