#90: Andre Iguodala
Small Forward/Shooting Guard, Philadelphia 76ers (2004-2012)
- 15.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.7 steals per season with Sixers
- NBA All Star (2012)
- NBA All Defensive 2nd Team (2011)
One of several attempts by the Sixers to either pair up with or replace Allen Iverson, Andre Iguodala was the most successful of those experiments. In his nine seasons with the Sixers, Andre wasn't always the most liked player on the team by the fans, but he was always the most consistent. A solid defender, Iguodala was almost always on the best player the opposing team could offer and was named to the NBA All Defensive 2nd Team in 2011.
After years of struggling, the Sixers finally broke through in the lockout shortened 2011-2012 season. Without a playoff series win since the first time Allen Iverson was in Philadelphia, Andre Iguodala sunk two free throws with two seconds left on the clock to push the Sixers past the top seed Chicago Bulls in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Though his clutch moments were somewhat limited and he was never fully appreciated, Iguodala was the face of the Sixers after the Allen Iverson era. It wasn't always pretty, but Iguodala handled himself as a good basketball player and one of the best defenders in the NBA. Even though he was traded this past offseason, his contributions to the team as a whole give him a spot on this list.
#89: Danny Briere
Center, Philadelphia Flyers (2007-present)
- 118 goals, 149 assists with Flyers
- NHL All Star (2011)
- Three 20+ goal seasons
Let me just say this about the 2006-07 Flyers season: It sucked. The Flyers marked their 40th anniversary with the worst showing in team history, and they missed the playoffs for the first time since the early 1990s. They wasted little time turning things around in the offseason, and one of their key pickups was a free agent from Buffalo named Danny Briere. What Briere may lack in size, he more than has made up for in skill in his time with the Flyers, and his play in the playoffs has been nothing short of outstanding.
The Flyers quickly turned things around following that 2006-07 season, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals the very next season and the Stanley Cup Finals two years later. In the run to the Stanley Cup Finals, Briere recorded 30 points to lead the NHL and set a Flyers franchise record for points in a single playoff year. His offensive skills have been a big reason as to why the Flyers are once again one of the best teams in the NHL, and when the playoffs come and the lights are on brightest, you know that Danny Briere is going to perform.
#88: Darren Daulton
Catcher, Philadelphia Phillies (1983-1997)
- Three time NL All Star (1992, 1993, 1995)
- NL leader in RBI with 109 in 1992
- .253 average, 134 home runs, 567 RBI with the Phillies
One of the most popular players on the Phillies during his time in Philadelpha, Darren Daulton was a good, if not sometimes great catcher that bridged the gap between the Mike Schmidt era Phillies and the dark times that was the majority of Phillies seasons following the 1983 World Series. As a late season callup in 1983, Daulton didn't get a chance to play in that World Series, but ten years later, after finally getting a chance to play full time, Daulton would help lead the Phillies back to the World Series.
Most fans in Philadelphia know Daulton for that 1993 season, but he was more than just a one year wonder. His offensive numbers in the early part of the 1990s were among the best in baseball, and he led the National League in RBI in 1992 with 109. From 1990 through the 1993 season, Daulton twice broke the 100 RBI mark, an impressive feat for any player, let alone a catcher. After the '93 Phillies came up two games short of the World Series, Daulton stayed with the team until the 1997 season, when he was traded to the Florida Marlins halfway through the year. Playing mainly as a first baseman, Daulton finally got the World Series ring he deserved. Even though it came with another team, Phillie fans should have been happy to see one of their guys get that World Series title.
#87: Timmy Brown
Running Back/Kick Returner, Philadelphia Eagles (1960-1967)
- NFL Champion (1960)
- Three time NFL All Pro (1962, 1965, 1966)
- Three time Pro Bowler (1962, 1965, 1966)
Before Devin Hester, Josh Cribbs or Dante Hall, there was Timmy Brown. One of the first true return specialists in NFL history, Brown started his career with the Green Bay Packers, where he lasted all of one season before joining the Philadelphia Eagles in 1960. With the Eagles, Brown not only helped win the last championship that the Eagles have won, but he also became one of the best return men in NFL history.
Brown became the first player in NFL history to return two kickoffs for touchdowns in a single game, and set a then NFL record with a 105 yard kick return touchdown in 1961. His five return touchdowns are still near the top of the NFL record books. He wasn't just a return man, as he led the NFL in yards per carry with 5.4 during the 1965 season. Despite the drop off that plagued the Eagles throughout the 1960s following their championship, Timmy Brown was an exciting player to watch, and was ahead of his time when it came to being a return specialist.
#86: David Akers
Kicker, Philadelphia Eagles (1999-2010)
- Five time Pro Bowler with Eagles (2001, 2002, 2004, 2009, 2010)
- NFL All Pro team (2001)
- Most career points in Eagles history (1,323)
Yes, a kicker makes the list of top Philadelphia athletes. Do you want to know why? Go ahead, look back at the kickers that the Eagles had in the seasons leading up to when David Akers got to Philadelphia. I'll give you time.
Are you back now? Did you see the retreads like Eddie Murray, Gary Anderson and Chris Boniol on that list? Needless to say, before David Akers arrived with the Eagles, they weren't exactly known for their kicking skills. Akers changed that in a big way. After the Washington Redskins let him go, the Eagles brought Akers in partway through the 1999 season and assigned him to NFL Europe. When he was brought back for the 2000 season, little was known about him, but he quickly made an impact on a young, up and coming Eagles team. Akers served as the safety net for Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid's offense for the entire decade of the 2000s. Over the ten full seasons that Akers was with the Eagles, he set a franchise record for points, was named to five Pro Bowls and helped the Eagles reach five NFC Championships and Super Bowl XXXIX.
Kickers don't have that much of an impact on the game, unless they're a kicker like David Akers. Special teams players like him don't come around that often, and it's easy to say that he was the best kicker that the Eagles have ever had. Even though he's with San Francisco now, I can do nothing but wish him the best. He's really one of the best players I ever saw play with the Eagles.
#85: Pat Burrell
Left Field, Philadelphia Phillies (2000-2008)
- 2008 World Series champion
- Fourth in Phillies history in home runs (251)
- Eighth in Phillies history in RBI (827)
Whether you know him as The Bat, The Bait or something else, Pat Burrell was a key member of the Philadelphia Phillies during his time with the team. A year after the J.D. Drew debacle, the Phillies had the first overall pick in the Major League draft, and used it to select Burrell. Pat was called up during the 2000 season and made a quick impact, finishing with 18 home runs and 79 RBI in just 111 games. Over the rest of his time with the Phillies, Burrell never hit less than 20 home runs in a single season, and was always a main piece in the middle of the lineup.
Despite his success, Burrell was often seen as a player that never lived up to their fullest potential, partially due to the fact that the Phillies didn't make the playoffs until the 2007 season. By that time, many of the other young prospects the Phillies had were making an impact with the team, and Burrell was no longer the centerpiece. However, he continued to play well, and hit .253 with 63 home runs and 183 RBI during the two playoff seasons the Phillies had with him here. While he only had one hit during the 2008 World Series, you all know how important that was in getting the Phillies their ring that year. That hit sums up Pat Burrell just about perfectly. He wasn't always the best, but when he needed to step up, you knew that he could.
#84: Garry Maddox
Center Field, Philadelphia Phillies (1975-1986)
- 1980 World Series Champion
- Eight time Gold Glove winner (1975-1982)
- .284 batting average, 85 home runs, 566 RBI, 189 stolen bases with Phillies
"Two-thirds of the Earth is covered by water. The other one-third is covered by Garry Maddox." When Harry Kalas made that statement about the Phillies center fielder, he was only using some hyperbole. In his career with the Phillies, Garry Maddox had one of the best gloves in all of baseball, and helped the Phillies turn into a winner after two decades of frustration. An eight time Gold Glove winner, Maddox could also contribute with his bat and his legs on the basepaths.
Through most of his time in Philadelphia, Maddox's glove could not be matched, and his defensive contributions helped not only the rest of the position players on the field, but the pitching staff as well. When it came to the playoffs, Maddox was solid, batting .271 in 29 playoff games with the Phils. Ever since Maddox retired in 1986, the Phillies have been looking for another "Secretary of Defense." They need to stop looking. Garry Maddox was one of a kind.
#83: Tom Brookshier
Defensive Back, Philadelphia Eagles (1953, 1956-1961)
- NFL Champion (1960)
- Two time Pro Bowler (1959, 1960)
- 20 interceptions, eight fumble recoveries with Eagles
Another member of the 1960 NFL Champion Philadelphia Eagles, Tom Brookshier may be more well known now as a broadcaster than a defensive back. However, in his seven seasons in the NFL with the Eagles, Brookshier was one of the best defensive backs in the league. He started out quickly with eight interceptions in his rookie season before spending the next two years with the United States Air Force.
When he returned, Brookshier picked right up where he left off. In 1957, Brookshier intercepted four passes, and he was named to the Pro Bowl in both the 1959 and 1960 seasons. In 1960, Brookshier helped shut down wide receivers in every game that the Eagles played, and the season ended with Vince Lombardi's only postseason loss in his career as the Eagles won the NFL Championship. Sadly, Brookshier's career would end the next season due to a compound leg fracture, but his legacy with the Eagles continues to this day. The Eagles retired his number 40, making him one of only eight players to have their number retired with the Eagles. Brookshier was a good broadcaster, but he may have been an even better player with the Eagles.
#82: Larry Bowa
Shortstop, Philadelphia Phillies (1970-1981)
- 1980 World Series Champion
- Five time All Star (1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979)
- Sixth in Phillies history for hits (1,798)
Known for his fiery attitude and great defense, Larry Bowa might be the second best shortstop in Phillies history. Much like Garry Maddox, Bowa helped the Phillies go from one of the worst teams in the National League to a World Series champion in 1980. A two time Gold Glove winner, Bowa set a National League record for games played at shortstop, and Major League records for fielding percentage for a career and a single season.
Bowa could also do some things with his bat, finishing his Phillies career with 1,798 hits, good for sixth on the all time list. Of course, most newer Phillies fans might remember Bowa more as the manager of the Phils from 2001 through the 2004 season. While he did win Manager of the Year for the 2001 campaign, Bowa's personality wasn't well suited for managing some of the personalities that this current Phillies team still has. He did help lay the groundwork for the 2008 championship team, and his glove and plate skills helped the Phillies get their first World Series, and that's why he gets a place on this list.
#81: Tra Thomas
Offensive Tackle, Philadelphia Eagles (1998-2008)
- Three time Pro Bowler (2001, 2002, 2004)
- One time All Pro (2002)
- Missed just one start in ten years with Eagles
One half of the best bookend tackle combination in Eagles history, Tra Thomas was the last first round pick that Ray Rhodes made as head coach of the Eagles. As it turned out, it was his best choice. Thomas started from his rookie season until the day he left the Eagles and missed just one start over that ten season span. The year after he was drafted, Andy Reid was brought on as head coach and Donovan McNabb was drafted in the first round.
Charged with protecting the young quarterback, Thomas emerged as one of the best tackles in football. With Thomas helping block for him, McNabb became a great quarterback, and running backs Duce Staley and Brian Westbrook were able to thrive in Andy Reid's west coast offense. Compare McNabb's development to other young quarterbacks like David Carr, Tim Couch and so many others. Without a solid offensive line, it doesn't work. Tra Thomas, over the ten years he blocked for Donovan McNabb, Jeff Garcia, Koy Detmer and the rest, made sure that his quarterback was going to stay on his feet.
That will wrap things up for this edition of the Top 100 Philadelphia Athletes. Up next are numbers 80-71. We've got all four teams covered once again, and three guys named Bob or Bobby. It should be a good one.
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