Memorial Day and the Phillies: A Match Made in South Philly Heaven
The early origins of baseball in Philadelphia are so old that some of its very history is not even recorded.
Recreation Park — which was a destination for sport and leisure even before 1861 — was transformed to accommodate Union Cavalry during the American Civil War. Or the famous Jefferson Street Fairgrounds, which were once the home of the Philadelphia Athletics.
Like most of MLB history, when it comes to Memorial Day baseball, our Phillies have a long association.
You might probably expect that from a team that is the most historic not only in Major League Baseball but in all of American sports in the United States, dating from as far back as an MLB Opening Day in 1883 — that our Phillies have seen some memorable Memorial Day matchups. You’d be quite correct.
PHOTO: Dennis Lee/Imagn Images
Phillies outfielder Chuck Klein not only hit one home run in the Depression-era double-header in 1931, but also hit two. During the 1950 season, the Dodgers beat the Phillies twice in Brooklyn. By the end of that year, it was the Phillies, not the Dodgers, who would advance to the World Series in 1950. A left-handed pitcher on that team — Curt Simmons — who just three years earlier had struck out eleven Phillies players during an exhibition game — would set a club record for strikeouts in an MLB debut in 1947. That record would be tied this past weekend when 23-year-old Phillies Pitcher Mick Abel retired nine Pirates players.
In 1980, another World Series team would beat those same Pittsburgh Pirates 7–6. 2025 In 2023, the Phillies didn’t play a game on Memorial Day. Mick Abel was sent down to the minors, and the Phillies once again don’t play on Memorial Day this year.
Oh well — maybe next year.
PHOTO: Dennis Lee/Imagn Images
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