For more than half a century, the Phillies and Athletics shared Philadelphia — and played for something the standings could not measure: city bragging rights.
The Philadelphia City Series was an annual contest held between the Philadelphia Athletics and the Philadelphia Phillies. The contests were exhibitions, but bragging rights were on the line. Especially during seasons where both clubs struggled, the City Series gave Philadelphia baseball fans something to look forward to.
This page houses recaps for every Philadelphia City Series game currently documented by the Philadelphia Baseball Review.
Games that defined the series
Six moments that show why these exhibitions became a distinctive part of Philadelphia baseball history.
Alexander, still dealing at 44
Grover Alexander allowed one run over five innings in a 5–1 Phillies win at Baker Bowl.
A city series full of legends
The 1928 games featured Lefty Grove, Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker and a teenaged Frankford High graduate named Bill Dietrich.
Roberts vs. Shantz
Robin Roberts threw a complete-game shutout in Portsmouth while Bobby Shantz struck out seven over five innings.
A television for Bloodworth
Jimmy Bloodworth homered, doubled home the tying run and was awarded a television set after the Phillies clinched the series.
Foxx faces his old club
Former Athletics great Jimmy Foxx homered for the Phillies and drew a standing ovation at Shibe Park.
Waddell strikes out 10 — and loses
Rube Waddell struck out 10, but Fred Mitchell held the Athletics to four hits in a 10-inning Phillies victory.
Explore the complete archive
Select a season to open its game-by-game recaps.
1950–1954
1954 Phillies win series, 2-1 3 games in archive
Vic Power launched a two-run homer into the upper deck in the ninth inning to lift the A's to the win. The A's had a three-run lead, but the Phillies answered with a five-run sixth. Lou Limmer finished 4-for-5 in the win with two runs scored. The two teams combined for 25 hits on the day.
Paul Penson, Bob Miller, and Steve Ridzik each tossed three innings to combine for the shutout. Ted Kazanski scored the lone run on the afternoon, leading off with a double in the sixth before crossing the plate on a Del Ennis single up the middle.
Tommy Qualters secured the victory and the series win for the Phils. The game was cut short to seven innings due to rain. Ed Burthschy whiffed seven for the Athletics. Vic Power was hit in the head with a pitch and was carted off the field. He eventually regained consciousness in the clubhouse but was taken to Presbyterian Hospital and was admitted for observation. Richie Ashburn scored a pair of runs while Stan Lopata finished 3-for-4 on the day.
1953 Series finished tied, 1-1 6 games in archive
A Granny Hamner grand-slam capped off an eventful ninth inning to give the Phils the win. Smokey Burgess finished the day with three hits for the Phils. The two clubs combined for 26 hits in the contest, including eight doubles, a triple, and two homers.
Al Clark slammed a two-out walk-off grand-slam for the Athletics. Steve Ridzik took the loss, surrendering three walks to load the bases before Clark's blast. Eddie Waitkus collected three of the Phils' eight hits on the day.
Both clubs scored four runs in the opening frame. Harry Byrd tossed a complete game for the Athletics, surrendering 10 runs on 10 hits. Steve Ridzik picked up the win. Richie Ashburn led the Phils at the plate, collecting three hits while driving in a pair. Elmer Valo hit a pair of solo shots for the A's in the loss.
Robin Roberts tossed a gem, surrendering just five hits on the afternoon over 94 pitches in a complete game effort to lead the Phillies. Bobby Shantz pitched well for the Athletics, chalking up seven strikeouts while surrendering just two hits over five innings of work.
Harry Byrd tossed a gem for the Athletics, surrendering just five hits. The two teams combined for seven errors on the day and all six runs were unearned. Karl Drews took the loss for the Phils.
The Athletics jumped out to a six-run lead but the Phillies put up eight unanswered runs, including four runs in the eighth to secure the win. Kip Kipper limited the Athletics to three hits over the final six frames to earn the victory. Five different hitters for the Phillies collected two hits.
1952 Phillies win series, 2-1 4 games in archive
Homers by Ed Waitkus, Dick Young, and Del Ennis paved the way for the Phils. Karl Drews and Ken Heintzelman combined for the shutout. The Athletics committed six errors on the afternoon.
Willie Jones and Del Ennis paced the Phillies with two hits each. Howie Fox added a homer and tossed six innings surrendering just four hits. Elmer Valo collected three hits in the loss.
Del Ennis delivered a three-run homer and Smokey Burgess collected three singles to lead the Phillies at the plate. The offense combined for 15 hits on the day. Elmer Valo and Gus Zernial collected two hits each for the Athletics in the loss.
Gus Zernial and Ray Murray homered for the Athletics while Richie Ashburn collected four hits for the Phillies. Ferris Fain drove in a pair of runs for the Athletics with a single in the third inning.
1951 Series finished tied, 2-2 4 games in archive
A Sam Chapman homer highlighted a four-run fifth inning to lift the Athletics to the victory. Hank Wyse and Bobby Shantz led the Athletics on the mound, combining to allow eight hits on the day. Del Ennis homered in the loss for the Phillies.
Sam Chapman again carried the Athletics, connecting for a homer while finishing with two hits. Alex Kellner secured the win, tossing 6 1/3 innings while surrendering four runs. Richie Ashburn collected three hits on the day for the Phillies.
The Phillies walloped on Carl Scheib, scoring eight runs on nine hits over just five frames. Ken Heintzelman tossed a complete game for the Phillies to collect the win. Andy Seminick homered to highlight a five-run fifth for the Phillies.
Ken Johnson tossed seven innings for the Phillies in the victory. The Athletics collected just two hits on the day. The contest was scoreless until the Phillies pushed across a pair of runs in the sixth on a throwing error by Lou Klein.
1950 Phillies win series, 2-1 3 games in archive
Bobby Shantz picked up the win for the Athletics despite surrendering four runs on six hits over five frames. Eddie Joost and Sam Chapman each homered in the win. Robin Roberts took the loss, giving up three runs over four innings. Mike Goliat hit a three-run homer for the Phillies in the loss.
Curt Simmons threw seven innings and the Phillies erupted for 12 hits to knock off the Athletics. Alex Kellner took the loss for the Athletics. Del Ennis homered and drove in four in the victory. Simmons also chipped in at the plate, collecting two hits while driving in a run. The Athletics left 13 runners on base.
Trailing with two outs in the eighth, the Phillies battled back to defeat the Athletics and win the City Series title. Jimmy Bloodworth homered for the Phillies in the seventh and drove in the tying run in the eighth with a double, setting the table for Stan Hollmig to deliver a single up the middle to give the Phillies a ninth inning lead. Alex Kellner took the loss for the Athletics. Bloodworth was awarded a television set for his performance.
1941–1949
1949 Phillies win series, 2-1 3 games in archive
Sam Chapman hit a walk-off single to left in the final frame to lift the Athletics to victory. Joe Coleman collected the win, surrendering three runs on seven hits. He struck out 10. Hank Majeski finished with three hits in the win.
Eddie Waitkus broke a tie in the seventh with a two-run homer while Robin Roberts tossed a gem to lead the Phillies. Waitkus finished with three RBIs. The Phillies collected just three hits on the day.
Connie Mack didn't play his regulars and started Zeb Eaton - a journeyman who hadn't pitched in the majors in nearly four years - and the Phillies made him pay. Eaton surrendered 10 hits and eight runs over four innings. Granny Hamner, Del Ennis, Stan Lopata, and Willie Jones collected three hits each in the win.
1948 Athletics win series, 3-2 5 games in archive
The Athletics were trailing 3-0 until erupting for four runs in the sixth inning. The offense hit around in the frame with Sam Chapman and Pete Suder each driving in runs to lead the charge. Both finished with two hits on the afternoon. Lou Brissie picked up the win, tossing four hitless innings in relief.
Rookie Johnny Blatnik singled home Ralph Caballero in the final frame to give the Phils a walk-off win. Trailing 3-1 entering the ninth, the Athletics scored a pair via a two-run blast by Hank Majeski. Lou Brissie tossed a complete game but took the loss. Andy Seminick finished 4-for-4 to pace the Phillies at the plate.
Curt Simmons recorded the win, surrendering three runs on four hits over seven innings. He also helped himself out at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 at the dish with a run scored. Richie Ashburn drove in three runs in the win while Harry Walker chipped in with three hits.
Rudy York singled in the ninth to score Pete Suder from second to lift the Athletics to a walk-off win, the second of the series. Bill McCahan tossed eight solid innings for the Athletics, surrendering two runs on seven hits.
Unlike future seasons, the two spring training contests were included in the City Series tabulations. The Athletics scored four runs in the eighth to win the contest. Ferris Fain delivered a two-run double while Don White delivered a two-run homer to the bleachers in left. Bill McCahan picked up the win, tossing 8 1/3 innings for the Athletics. Ralph Caballero finished with three hits in the losing effort for the Phils.
1947 Series finished tied, 2-2 4 games in archive
Skeeter Newsome opened the ninth with a double for the Phillies before moving to third and eventually scoring on a squeeze bunt by Jim Tabor. Barney McCoskey finished with three hits for the Athletics in the loss. Schoolboy Rowe recorded the win for the Phils.
Tommy Hughes tossed five hitless innings for the Phillies while Jim Tabor and Charley Gilbert each finished with a stolen base and three hits on the afternoon.
Phil Marchildon recorded the win for the Athletics while Sam Chapman and Eddie Joost homered to lead the offense. Jim Tabor collected two hits for the Phils.
Bob Savage, Dick Fowler, and Joe Coleman led the Athletics on the mound, limiting the Phillies to two hits in the contest. Barney McCoskey paced the Athletics at the plate with two hits.
1946 Athletics win series, 2-0 6 games in archive
Andy Seminick scored the lone run of the contest in the third inning. He also led the Phils at the plate with two hits. Rookie Al Hodkey recorded the win, tossing three scoreless innings for the Phillies.
Bobo Newsome and Luther Knerr combined to toss a scoreless two-hit affair for the Athletics. Frank McCormick picked up the Phils two hits on the afternoon. Jack Wallaesa clubbed an RBI-triple in the fourth to open the scoring.
Bill James led the Elephants at the plate, collecting four hits - including a pair of doubles - while driving in a pair of runs in the win. Bobo Newsome surrendered two runs over five innings to record the win. He whiffed five.
Lou Novikoff singled up the middle in the eighth inning, scoring Johnny Wyrostek from second base to give the Phillies the victory. Right-hander Al Jurisich recorded the win, tossing four scoreless frames.
The Athletics jumped on hurler Tommy Hughes for eight runs over the first three frames. Jack Wallaesa finished with two hits for the A's while Sam Chapman homered and collected three hits in the win. Luther Knerr earned the win, tossing five solid innings.
The Athletics got to Schoolboy Rowe early, scoring three runs in the opening frame to set the tone for the afternoon. The Phillies committed five errors in the contest. Ford Garrison collected two hits for the Athletics in the win.
1945 Phillies win series, 2-1 3 games in archive
Dick Siebert drove in four runs and led the Athletics at the plate in the victory. Jimmy Wasdell and Vance Dinges collected three hits each for the Phillies. Former A's great Jimmy Foxx hit a solo-homer in the eighth for the Phillies, drawing a standing ovation. Don Black recorded the win for the Athletics.
Scheduled for seven frames and played as part of a War Bond Sports Show, the Phillies knocked off the Athletics behind a strong performance by hurler Dick Mauney who surrendered one run on six hits. He also drove in a run in the winning effort.
Vance Dinges hit a two-run single in the top of the ninth to give the Phillies a one run lead and ultimately the win. The Phillies had a 5-0 lead at one point, but the Athletics jumped on starter Jimmie Foxx in the fourth en-route to a six-run inning. Joe Berry recorded the win, surrendering six hits over five scoreless frames. The contest was played to benefit the National War Relief Fund.
1944 Series not contested 1 game in archive
Both teams used split-squads in the contest. The Phillies scored seven runs in the second inning and never looked back. Ted Cleslak and Wally Jackowicz each finished with two hits in the win. Julius Homokay tossed five frames and surrendered one run to earn the victory.
1943 Series finished tied, 2-2 4 games in archive
The Athletics scored five runs off Si Johnson to erase a one-run deficit en-route to the win. Francis Skaff homered for the Athletics and drove in a pair of runs while Eddie Mayo chipped in with three hits. Roger Wolff worked three innings and earned the win.
Eddie Mayo and Jo Jo White led the A's offense, combining for four hits out of the top two spots in the lineup. Jesse Flores recorded the win and whiffed four over five innings.
Merrill May drove in both runs for the Phillies while Charley Fuchs tossed five solid innings, surrendering just one hit in the win. Danny Litwhiler led all hitters with two hits on the day for the Athletics.
Earl Naylor hit a two-run homer in the sixth to break a 1-1 tie and push the Phillies to victory. Schoolboy Rowe earned the win, tossing four hitless innings in relief.
1942 No Series Held No games played
No games played.
1941 No Series Held No games played
No games played.
1927–1931
1931 Phillies win series, 3-2 5 games in archive
The Athletics collected 15 hits but left 13 men on base. Virgil Davis hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth for Phillies that proved to be the difference. The A's were without Al Simmons and George Earnshaw as both remained in Hot Springs, Arkansas, for Spring Training.
Hal Lee hit a solo blast off Max Butcher in the top of the 13th to lift the Phillies to the win. Roy Mahaffey went nine innings for the A's, surrendering one run on five hits. The two clubs traded runs in the tenth before Lee's homer in the 13th.
Jimmie Foxx collected three hits in the win, including a triple, and drove in a pair of runs.
Hal Lee hit a game-tying solo homer in the seventh that highlighted a four-run frame. Lefty Grove was saddled with the loss, surrendering five runs over seven innings in the loss.
Al Simmons collected three hits while Jimmie Foxx hit a homer and drove in a pair in the win. George Earnshaw collected the win, surrendering one run over five innings while whiffing three.
1930 Phillies win series, 3-2 6 games in archive
Tommy Thevenow collected three hits to pace the Phillies while Lefty O'Doul chipped in with a pair of doubles. The game took just an hour and thirty-three minutes to complete.
Jimmie Foxx hit a pair of homers while Homer Summa and Bing Miller each finished the afternoon with three hits. The Athletics collected 18 hits in the contest. George Earnshaw surrendered two hits over five innings in the win.
Don Hurst singled in the eighth, scoring Lefty O'Doul to ultimately give the Phillies the win. O'Doul finished the day with three hits, a pair of stolen bases, and two runs scored. Lou Koupal recorded the win for the Phils.
John Milligan failed to record an out in the second inning before being lifted. The Athletics scored all of their runs over the first three frames. Doc Cramer and Bing Miller drove in three runs each. Roy Mahaffey tossed a complete game, surrendering eight hits while fanning three.
Denny Southern hit a walk-off three-run homer to left to lead the Phillies to a win. Jimmie Foxx homered twice in the loss for the Athletics. Claude Willoughby pitched well for the Phillies, surrendering just four hits over eight frames. By Speece recorded the win, tossing a perfect ninth inning.
Grover Alexander, at the age of 44, surrendered one run over five strong innings for the Phillies to collect the win. Don Hurst homered for the Phillies while Denny Southern collected three hits. Max Bishop collected three hits in the losing effort for the Athletics.
1929 Series finished tied, 2-2 4 games in archive
The Athletics collected just five hits on the afternoon with Mickey Cochrane and hurler Rube Walberg accounting for them all. The Athletics scored three runs in the seventh on a pair of costly errors by Terry Lyons and Fresco Thompson.
Don Hurst hit an RBI-single to push the winning run across in the eighth for the Phillies. Bernie Friberg followed with a single to center scoring two more runs for insurance. Homer Summa picked up a pair of hits for the Athletics, including a homer in the fourth.
Claude Willoughby tossed a complete game for the Phillies, surrendering one run on seven hits. Jimmie Foxx collected the lone RBI for the Athletics. Spud Davis led the Phillies at the plate, finishing with three hits, including a double.
A seven-run fifth put the game away for the Athletics. Mule Haas, Max Bishop, and Bing Miller collected three hits each. Every player in the starting lineup collected at least a hit for Mack's Elephants. Lefty Grove tossed three scoreless innings and whiffed three.
1928 Athletics win series, 5-1 7 games in archive
Tris Speaker homered and Lefty Grove whiffed six over four innings to set the tone for Mack's Athletics. Jim Ring took the loss for the Phillies.
The Phillies overcome a five-run deficit with Jimmy Wilson delivering an RBI-double in the eighth to tie the contest. Joe Boley scored the winning run after reaching with a double to open the 11th. Mule Haas finished with four hits in the win.
Eighteen-year-old left fielder Bill Dietrich, a Frankford High grad, made a game-saving catch in the ninth — robbing Joe Bush of a liner that likely would have cleared the bases and lifted the Athletics. Ty Cobb collected a pair of hits in the loss, while Jimmy Wilson homered to help lift the Phillies to the win.
Mule Haas homered in the ninth to give the Athletics a short lived lead before Rube Walberg committed a balk in the bottom half, allowing the Phillies to tie and force extras. Tris Speaker drove in Jimmy Dykes with the winning run in the 11th.
Lefty Grove collected nine strikeouts over five innings and helped himself at the plate with a triple in the win. Ty Cobb finished with two hits.
A two-run blast by Joe Hauser in the eighth highlighted a seven-run barrage over two innings to capture the win. Jimmy Wilson homered for the Phillies in the loss. The Phillies loaded the bases in the ninth, but Ossie Orwoll was able to buckle down and quell the threat.
Charity game for Charles Mason, a former owner of the Athletics. Game was not considered a City Series contest, per the Philadelphia Inquirer on 4/10/28. Jimmie Foxx and Joe Hassler drove in both runs for the Athletics in the seventh.
1927 Athletics win series, 4-1 7 games in archive, including 2 Florida exhibitions
Fresco Thompson hit a two-run homer in the second inning, and triples by Henry Sand and Russ Wrightstone gave the Phillies a 3–1 lead in the third. The Athletics scored four runs in the fifth, aided by hits from Eddie Collins and Bill Lamar, Zeke Wheat’s double, and two Phillies errors. Rube Walberg held the Phillies scoreless over the final four innings.
The Phillies scored four runs in the third inning against Ed Rommel, with doubles by Henry Sand, Russ Wrightstone, Fresco Thompson, and Al Nixon. They added a run in the fourth, while Hal Carlson held the Athletics to four hits over five innings. Hub Pruett allowed two hits in the final four innings to complete the shutout.
The Phillies carried a 1–0 lead into the eighth inning of the series opener. Eddie Collins, Ty Cobb, and Fitz French scored as the Athletics rallied for three runs, with Dudley Branom’s single providing the decisive hit. Joe Scott held the Athletics scoreless until that eighth-inning rally.
The Phillies and Athletics remained tied through nine innings as Ed Rommel, Jack Quinn, Hal Carlson, and Art Decatur kept the scoring low on a cold afternoon. Jimmy Dykes singled off Decatur in the 11th to drive home the winning run. The Athletics’ second straight victory gave them a 2–0 lead in the series.
Trailing 3–2 in the eighth inning, the Phillies took the lead on Jimmy Wilson’s two-run homer off Eddie Ehmke. They added two runs in the ninth when Dick Attreau tripled home Fresco Thompson and Dick Spalding. Jim Willoughby held the Athletics to one run over the final four innings as the Phillies earned their lone official series victory.
The Athletics scored twice in the third inning, turning hits by Jimmie Foxx, Bill Lamar, Ty Cobb, and Al Simmons into the runs they needed. Rube Walberg held the Phillies to one run on six hits, and Foxx helped protect the lead with a leaping catch of Fresco Thompson’s line drive in the sixth. The victory gave the Athletics a 3–1 series lead and secured the championship.
Eddie Collins homered on the second pitch he saw from Clarence Mitchell, giving the Athletics a first-inning lead. The Athletics added a run in the sixth on Dudley Branom’s single and another in the seventh, while Lefty Grove and Rube Pate combined to shut out the Phillies. The win completed the five-game series with the Athletics taking four of five.
1903–1909
1909 Phillies win series, 5-1 6 games in archive
Sherry Magee reached base with a hit in the eighth and scored later in the frame on a Kitty Bransfield double to give the Phillies a victory. George McQuillan recorded the win with seven strikeouts while scattering just three hits. Magee finished 3-for-4 and scored both runs for the Phils.
A three-run first inning gave the Phillies an early lead they never relinquished. Lew Moren tossed a complete game for the Phils, scattering seven hits. Eddie Plank took the loss, but helped himself at the plate with three hits.
Jack Coombs limited the Phillies to one run on five hits and also delivered the deciding hit with a two-run single in the seventh.
Sherry Magee again delivered a game-winning hit with a single in the eighth to break a 4-4 tie. Otto Knabe finished with two hits, including a double.
Charles Dooin made a key throw from behind the plate to pickoff the potential tying run in the ninth to ensure a win for the Phillies. Otto Knabe finished with two hits and two runs for the Phils. Chief Bender finished 2-for-3 for the Athletics in the loss.
Otto Deininger finished with three hits to lead the Phils offense. Lew Moren secured the win, scattering two runs on eight hits. He whiffed four.
1903 Phillies win series, 4-1 5 games in archive
Rube Waddell was outstanding, but Roy Brashear hit a sac-fly in the 10th before Rudy Hulswitt laced a single to push across an insurance run in the 2-0 victory. Waddell finished with 10 strikeouts, a pair of walks, and one hit batter. Fred Mitchell collected the win, limiting the Athletics to four hits on the afternoon. Attendance was 6,543, according to the Inquirer.
John Barry, Bill Keister, and Klondike Douglass hit successive singles in the 10th to secure a walk-off win. Jack McFetridge whiffed three and surrendered five runs on nine hits and five walks. Athletics shortstop Monte Cross was ejected from the contest by umpire August Moran for arguing.
Bill Keister collected two doubles in the win, while Bill Duggleby collected the victory. Chief Bender took the loss for the Athletics, allowing four runs. Roy Brashear and Klondike Douglass both collected key hits in the win.
Rube Waddell tossed another gem, but came away with the win this time. The Hall of Famer collected six strikeouts while surrendering one run on six hits. Danny Murphy collected three hits in the victory, while Monte Cross and Danny Murphy had two hits each.
John Barry drove in hurler Fred Mitchell with the winning run in the 10th via a sac-fly. Mitchell surrendered just five hits on the afternoon and whiffed just one. Eddie Plank took the loss.