In addition to two Major League teams in the Philadelphia Phillies and the Philadelphia Athletics, the Quaker City was also home to some outstanding Negro baseball clubs. On occasion, the Negro clubs would square off against the professional white clubs. The summaries below outline these contests.
1869
September 3, 1869: Olympic 44, Pythians 23 (Jefferson Street Grounds)
This contest marked the first interracial game in Philadelphia baseball history.
September 16, 1869: Pythians 27, City Item 17 (Athletic Grounds)
This was the second interracial game in Philadelphia. The City Item was a newspaper at the time and was owned and founded by Col. Thomas Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald was a supporter of equality and used his newspaper to promote baseball throughout the city. The white City Item team scored five runs in the first, but the Pythians responded by scoring runs in each of the final seven innings of the contest.
1882
July 19, 1882: Philadelphia 17, Orion 1 (Recreation Park)
The Phillies were not yet part of the National League when this contest was played, but instead were aligned with the League Alliance. This contest appears to be the first in Orion history.
1901
September 30, 1901: Athletics 4, Cuban X Giants 4 (Columbia Park)
Deadlocked after 11 frames, the contest was called due to darkness. Davey Dunkle tossed a complete game for the Athletics, surrendering four runs (two earned) on eight hits. Bill Hallman (a Philly native who played for the Milwaukee Brewers during the regular season) homered and was one of four hitters in the lineup to record two hits. The Giants carried a two-run lead into the sixth before Mack's Elephants plated a run in the sixth and seventh to even things. John Nelson surrendered 12 hits for the Giants while Ray Wilson picked up three hits to pace the offense.
1902
October 2, 1902: Athletics 8, Philadelphia Giants 3 (Columbia Park)
Poor defense hurt the Giants as seven of the Athletics eight runs on the day were unearned. Socks Seyold and Doc Powers collected two hits each in the win.
October 6, 1902: Athletics 13, Philadelphia Giants 9 (Columbia Park)
The two clubs combined for 34 hits on the afternoon. Buck Freeman led the Athletics with four hits while scoring three runs. Highball Wilson struck out three and was credited with the win. The Giants scored six runs over the final two frames, but it wasn't enough. Charlie Grant, William Farrell, and Sol White collected three hits each in the loss.
1906
April 14, 1906: Athletics 13, Philadelphia Giants 13 (10 Inn.) (Atlantic City, NJ)
The Athletics "B" team (AKA the Yanigans) blew a five-run lead in the ninth and then allowed the Giants to score again the 10th inning before the game was halted. The two teams combined for 38 hits on the day with Harry Armbruster leading the way with six. Jim Brynes homered for the Athletics while Pete Hill and Danny McClellan collected three hits each for the Giants.
October 12, 1906: Athletics 5, Philadelphia Giants 4 (Seaboard Park, Chester, PA)
The two clubs combined for seven errors on the day. Eddie Plank recorded the win, whiffing seven while surrendering five hits. Harry Buckner hit a solo homer for the Giants in the loss.
October 13, 1906: Athletics 5, Philadelphia Giants 0 (Camden, NJ.)
Rube Waddell collected 18 strikeouts while surrendering just two hits in the win. The Giants second hit came in the ninth inning after the Athletics outfielders decided to sit down as a stunt in support of Waddell's dominance on the afternoon. Waddell also doubled in the victory and scored a pair of runs. Topsy Hartsel and Socks Seybold finished with two hits each for the Athletics.
1907
October 19, 1907: Athletics 3, Philadelphia Giants 0 (Camden, NJ)
The Athletics "touring" team took advantage of a pair of doubles from Topsy Hartsel and three errors by the Giants to cruise to a victory. Rube Vickers collected eight strikeouts in the win while surrendering just four hits and a walk. Harry Buckner doubled for the Giants in the loss.
1909
October 8, 1909: Athletics 5, Philadelphia Giants 2 (Camden, NJ)
Simon Nichols tripled in the opening frame to drive in three runs to set the tone for the Athletics. Danny Murphy finished with two hits while Cy Morgan secured the win, tossing a complete game while surrendering two runs on eight hits. Bruce Petway finished with two hits in the loss.
1913
October 5, 1913: Lincoln Giants 9, Phillies 2 (Olympic Field, Harlem, NYC.)
A day after being swept by the New York Giants to end the regular season, the Phillies remained in New York City to face the Black Champion Lincoln Giants. Smokey Joe Williams bested Grover Alexander, securing the win while surrendering two runs on eight hits while throwing a complete game. He whiffed nine. Spotswood Poles collected three hits in the win for the Giants. Alexander surrendered 12 hits in the contest and collected six strikeouts.
1914
October 11, 1914: Lincoln Giants 10, Phillies 4 (Olympic Field, Harlem, NYC.)
The Giants erupted for eight runs in the fifth inning to put the game out of reach. Dick Wallace and Joe Williams led the Lincoln offense with three hits each. Williams also excelled on the mound, whiffing six on the afternoon while also limiting the Phillies to six hits. Rube Marshall took the loss for the Phils.
1915
October 17, 1915: Lincoln Giants 1, Phillies 0 (Olympic Field, Harlem, NYC.)
Joe Williams notched 10 strikeouts and surrendered just five hits on the afternoon. Frank Forbes scored the winning run in the eighth on a Jesse Bragg single to center. George Chalmers took the loss for the Phillies, surrendering the one run on seven hits. He struck out six.
October 24, 1915: Phillies 4, Lincoln Giants 2 (Olympic Field, Harlem, NYC.)
Joe Judge (spent 1915 with Washington as a rookie) and Milt Stock collected two hits each in the win for the Phillies. Philly scored four runs on Joe Williams in the opening frame and that proved to be all the Phils needed. Joe Bush (spent 1915 with the Athletics) secured the win, surrendering two runs on six hits.
1917
October 6, 1917: Hilldale 6, All-Americans 2 (Shibe Park)
Joe Williams tossed a complete game for Hilldale and scattered two runs on seven hits in the win. Spot Poles collected two hits and scored three times for Hilldale. He also made several tough plays in center. Bullet Joe Bush took the loss for the All-Americans.
October 13, 1917: All-Americans 11, Hilldale 5 (Hilldale Park)
Seven unanswered runs through the first five innings put the game out of reach for Hilldale. Doc Sykes took the loss, lasting just four frames. Amos Strunk and George Burns (Detroit) collected three hits each in the win for the All-Americans. Ralph Young (Detroit) scored three runs to pace the All-Americans.
October 20, 1917: All-Americans 10, Hilldale 4 (Hilldale Park)
The All-Americans jumped on Joe Williams early and never let up, scoring eight runs over the first five frames. Four hitters collected two hits each in the win for the All-Americans.
1920
October 4, 1920: American All-Stars 2, Hilldale 1 (Baker Bowl)
Scrappy Brown made a pair of errors at second base and both were crucial in the defeat. Otto Briggs finished with two hits in the loss and scored a run. Ivy Griffin and Chick Galloway each finished with two hits while Roy Moore led the All-Stars at the plate with three hits.
October 5, 1920: Stengel's All-Stars 5, Hilldale 2 (Baker Bowl)
No details available.
October 6, 1920: Stengel's All-Stars 4, Hilldale 3 (Baker Bowl)
Lee Meadows tossed a complete game, scattering three runs on six hits for Stengel's All-Stars in the win. Hilldale committed seven errors. Pelayo Chacon, a member of the Cuban baseball Hall of Fame, collected two hits in the loss.
October 7, 1920: Hilldale 5, Babe Ruth Stars 0 (Baker Bowl)
Willis Flornoy tossed a complete game gem for Hilldale, scattering just three hits. Babe Ruth played first base and was hitless in the loss. Louis Santop collected three hits in the win while Phil Cockrell scored twice while starting in right field.
October 8, 1920: Babe Ruth Stars 5, Hilldale 3 (Baker Bowl)
Babe Ruth homered and his Yankee teammate Carl Mays finished with five hits in the win. ??? Walsh also homered while tossing a complete game, surrendering just three runs on five hits. Otis Starks was saddled with the loss for Hilldale.
October 8, 1920: St. Louis Giants 7, Phila Nationals 1 (St. Louis)
A team comprised of multiple players from the Phillies lost to the Giants. Oscar Charleston finished with four hits a pair of stolen bases. Bill Hubble surrendered 12 hits in the loss. Bob Meusel, the brother of Irish Meusel, collected three hits to pace the Phila Nationals (though Bob Meusel played his rookie season in 1920 with the Yankees.)
October 9, 1920: Stengel's All-Stars 5, Kansas City Monarchs 3 (Association Park, Kansas City)
Speed Martin of the Cubs tossed a complete game and surrendered just five hits. Casey Stengel scored three runs in the win while Cotton Tierney, a rookie with the Pirates, finished with three hits.
October 10, 1920: Stengel's All-Stars 1, Kansas City Monarchs 0 (Association Park, Kansas City)
No details available.
October 11, 1920: Stengel's All-Stars 3, Kansas City Monarchs 0 (Association Park, Kansas City)
No details available.
1921
October 4, 1921: Athletics 3, Atlantic City Bacharch Giants 1 (Mount Holly, NJ)
The Athletics "touring" squad was led by hurler Frank Heimach who tossed a complete game while helping himself with two hits and a run scored. Oliver "Ghost" Marcelle scored the Giants lone run and finished with two hits.
October 5, 1921: Athletics 8, Atlantic City Bacharch Giants 7 (Reading, PA)
The Bacharch Giants carried a 6-1 lead into the eighth before the Athletics exploded for seven runs. Chick Galloway and Emmet McCann led the attack with two hits each.
1923
October 9, 1923: Hilldale 3, vs. Art Summer's Major League All-Stars 0 (Shetzline Park)
Phil Cockrell tossed a gem for Hilldale, surrendering one hit in a dominant performance. Newt Allen scored twice in the win while Judy Johnson made several outstanding defensive plays at third base. Curly Ogden, a Swarthmore native and a hurler with the Athletics, took the loss.
October 10, 1923: Hilldale 3, Art Summer's Major League All-Stars 2 (Smedley Field, Chester, Pa.)
Louis Santop opened the ninth with a single before Tank Carr came in as a pinch-runner and ultimately scored the game-winning run. Nip Winters scattered seven hits and tossed a complete game in the victory.
October 11, 1923: Hilldale 3, Art Summer's Major League All-Stars 2 (Shetzline Park)
Tank Carr delivered a walk-off hit in the final frame to lift Hilldale to victory. He finished with two hits while Biz Mackey chipped in with two of his own. Lewis Hampton tossed three scoreless innings in relief to secure the victory.
October 12, 1923: Athletics 11, Hilldale 6 (Shetzline Park)
Every player in the Athletics lineup collected at least a hit in the win. The two clubs combined for 22 hits in the affair.
October 13, 1923: Hilldale 3, Athletics 1 (Hilldale Park)
Phil Cockrell scattered nine hits but kept the Major Leaguers in check. Frank Warfield led the Hilldale offense with two hits and scored twice. Newt Allen chipped in with two hits.
October 20, 1923: Hilldale 9, Athletics 4 (Hilldale Park)
Hilldale relied on three double plays and some pair of hits from Dick Lundy, Otto Briggs, and Judy Johnson to roll to victory. Eddie Rommel was saddled with the loss. Heinie Scheer collected three hits for the A's in the loss.
1924
October 12, 1924: Athletics 4, Baltimore Black Sox 2 (Maryland Park, Baltimore, Md.)
Fran Welch collected three hits, including a double, triple, and a homer in the win. He also scored three runs. Eddie Rommel collected the win while Bing Miller chipped in with two hits.
October 12, 1924: Baltimore Black Sox 8, Athletics 7 (7 Inn.) (Maryland Park, Baltimore, Md.)
The A's jumped ahead with three runs n the second, but Baltimore answered with four in the bottom of the frame and never looked back. Bob Hasty took the loss, surrendering eight runs on 11 hits. Max Bishop, Bing Miller, and Harry Riconda collected two hits each in the loss.
1926
October 1, 1926: Hilldale 3, Earl Mack Stars 2 (Harlan Field, Wilmington, Del.)
Phil Cockrell outdueled Fred Heimach in the win. John Beckwith hit a two-run homer in the eighth to give Darby the lead and ultimately the win.
October 2, 1926: Hilldale 6, Earl Mack Stars 1 (Hilldale Park)
The Daisies collected 10 hits off Lefty Grove to coast to a convincing win. Oscar Charleston homered in the win. Nip Winters tossed a complete game and surrendered just seven hits on the afternoon. Otto Briggs finished with three hits to pace Darby.
October 6, 1926: Earl Mack Stars 1, Hilldale 0 (Bloomsburg Fair Grounds, Pa.)
Fred Heimach tossed a completed game shutout for the Stars. Ernie Padgett led the Stars with two hits and scored the lone run in the sixth inning on a George Burns sacrifice-fly. This contest, according to the Chicago Defender, marked the first time a Negro team played the Bloomsburg Fair.
October 7, 1926: Hilldale 3, Earl Mack Stars 0 (Bloomsburg Fair Grounds, Pa.)
Phil Cockrell tossed a shutout and surrendered just six hits in the win. Tank Carr finished with two hits for Hilldale in the win. Lefty Grove gave up seven hits in the loss.
October 8, 1926: Hilldale 4, Earl Mack Stars 1 (Bloomsburg Fair Grounds, Pa.)
A three-run third innings proved to be the difference for Hilldale. Red Ryan collected the win while Jack Quinn was saddled with the loss. Otto Briggs and Oscar Charleston finished with two hits each.
October 9, 1926: Hilldale 4, Earl Mack Stars 3 (Hilldale Park)
Hilldale jumped on Rube Walberg for three runs in the opening frame to set the tone. Otto Briggs and Oscar Charleston each collected an RBI in the win.
1934
October 16, 1934: Philadelphia Stars 8, Dean Barnstormers 0 (Shibe Park)
The Stars scored six runs over the first two frames and cruised to victory. Biz Mackey drove in three runs while Jake Dunn and Jud Wilson each drove in a pair. Webster McDonald tossed the shutout, surrendering four hits to along with one walk. He whiffed four.
October 16, 1934: Philadelphia Stars 4, Dean Barnstormers 3 (7 Inn.) (Shibe Park)
Slim Jones recorded the win while Jud Wilson drove in three runs. The game was called early due to darkness.