#70: Curt Simmons
Pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies (1947-1960)
- Played in 1950 World Series as member of Whiz Kids
- 115-110 record, 1,052 strikeouts, 18 shutouts with Phillies
- Three time All Star with Phillies (1952, 1953, 1957)
Though no one reading this blog will remember it, the Phillies were basically the worst team in baseball from 1916 all the way until the end of the 1940s. For those of you that aren't good with math (myself included), that's over 30 years of awfulness. Consider how Phillies fans are acting now after one .500 season, and add in 30 plus years of fifth place or worse records, and you get the idea of how bad this team was for one third of the last century. Luckily, the Phillies did have a few years where they escaped the basement of the National League, and Curt Simmons was a big reason why.
Simmons was signed to a franchise record contract in 1947, and after bouncing back and forth between the minor leagues and the Phillies for three seasons, he came into his own in 1950. Simmons had his best year with the Phillies, going 17-8 in helping the Whiz Kids shock the Brooklyn Dodgers and make it to the World Series. However, Simmons missed the last month of the season and the World Series due to his military service, and the Phils were swept in the World Series by the Yankees. After serving in the military during the 1951 season, Simmons returned and was one of the best pitchers that the Phillies had ever had to that point. From 1952 until the Phillies released him in 1960, Simmons won 86 games for bad Phillies teams and was named to three All Star teams. In 1959, a sore arm cost Simmons the entire season, and he was released after just four starts in 1960, ending his time with the Phillies.
One of the rare bright spots in the very bad looking early history of the Phils, Curt Simmons didn't have the best win-loss record on the planet, but his skills were obvious from the second he put on the Phillies uniform. Without him, the Whiz Kids never happen, and who knows what happens to the Phillies without that 1950 season?
#69. Pelle Lindbergh
Goalie, Philadelphia Flyers (1981-1985)
- 1985 Vezina Trophy winner
- Three time All Star (1983, 1985, 1986)
- 87-49-15 record, 3.30 goals against average, .897 save percentage
- Played in 1985 Stanley Cup Finals
One of the biggest problems that the Flyers have had in their recent history has been goaltending, but believe it or not, the Flyers have actually had a few of the best goalies in NHL history. Bernie Parent and Ron Hextall are two names that you will see later on this list, and Pelle Lindbergh would be even higher on this list had it not been for a tragic car accident right as his star was reaching it's peak.
After having a few up and down seasons with the Flyers, the Swedish import Lindbergh exploded onto the NHL main stage in the 1984-85 season, winning 40 games with a 3.02 goals against average and helping the Flyers make it to the Stanley Cup Finals against the Edmonton Oilers. Though the Flyers did not win the Stanley Cup that season, Lindbergh was rewarded for his outstanding season with the Vezina Trophy, naming him the best goalie in the National Hockey League. Lindbergh became the first European goalie to win the award, and the Flyers looked poised to become a potential dynasty in the latter part of the 1980s.
After a great start to the 1985-86 season that saw Lindbergh win six of his first eight starts, tragedy struck. Lindbergh drove drunk and crashed his car into a wall in front of a Southern New Jersey school on November 10, 1985. Two hours later, he was declared brain dead, and the next day, Lindbergh was dead at the age of 26. In his far too short time with the Flyers, Lindbergh had changed the way the goalie position was played around the NHL and had made the Flyers one of the best teams in all of hockey once again. There's no way to know if Lindbergh would have continued his excellent play and for how long it would have continued, but one thing is certain: he was taken well before he should have been, a cruel reminder about the hazards of drinking and driving.
#68: Tug McGraw
Pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies (1975-1984)
- On the mound for the first World Series win in Phillies history
- 94 saves, 3.10 ERA with Phillies
- Named to 1975 All Star team
Before there was Brad Lidge striking out Eric Hinske in 2008, there was Tug McGraw striking out Willie Wilson back in 1980. After being acquired from the New York Mets after the 1974 season, McGraw became a vital member of the Phillies bullpen for the next decade. While with the Phillies, McGraw helped hold down several late inning leads and helped the Phils become one of the dominant teams in the National League in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
It was the 1980 season that people remember the most, however. McGraw has his best season with the Phillies, saving 20 games and going 5-4 with a 1.46 ERA. McGraw closed out several games down the stretch, including against the Montreal Expos, who made life interesting for the Phillies until the very end of the season. It was in the playoffs that McGraw shined even more. In the NLCS against the Houston Astros, Tug saved two of the three Phillies wins and pitched in all five NLCS games. In the World Series against the Royals, he was even better, pitching in four of the six games and saving two of them, including the deciding Game Six.
After closing out the World Series, McGraw played another four seasons for the Phillies, retiring after the 1984 season as one of the most beloved Phillies of all time. He was a closer in a time before real closers had become a thing, and he was the most valuable member of the pitching staff not in the starting rotation. Just as younger fans have Brad Lidge as their final memory of the 2008 World Series, the more experienced Phillies fans will never forget Tug McGraw and what he did not just in 1980, but his entire time with the Phillies.
#67: Bill Bradley
Safety. Philadelphia Eagles (1969-1976)
- Led the NFL in interceptions twice with the Eagles (1971, 1972)
- Named to three Pro Bowls with Eagles (1971-1973)
- 34 career interceptions with the Eagles
A third round draft pick by the Eagles in 1969, Bill Bradley had the misfortune of playing on some of the worst Eagles teams of all time. However, he never let the play of the team have a negative impact on himself, as he posted some of the best interception numbers in the NFL during his eight year career with the Eagles. A ball hawk if there ever was one, Bradley was one of the great safeties that the NFL had in its early post NFL-AFL merger years.
After two seasons off of the radar, Bradley made his impact known, leading the NFL in interceptions with 11 in 1971. Not to be outdone, he led the league again the next season with nine picks. His totals trailed off after that, but Bradley was still able to intercept at least two passes in each season for the rest of his time with the Eagles. By the time he left Philadelphia, Bradley had intercepted 34 passes, which is the franchise record still to this day. Despite the lack of recognition outside of Philadelphia, Bradley remains one of the best safeties the Eagles have ever been lucky enough to have. His induction into the Eagles Hall of Fame in 1993 only further immortalized him in the hearts and minds of true Eagles fans.
#66: Darryl Dawkins
Center, Philadelphia 76ers (1975-1982)
- Played in three NBA Finals with Sixers (1977, 1980, 1982)
- Averaged 11.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game with Sixers
- Shattered backboards and forced changes to NBA rules
Known in his own mind as Chocolate Thunder from the planet Lovetron, Darryl Dawkins was a colorful character that may have only been able to make it in the NBA thanks to the fact he played in Philadelphia. After entering the NBA Draft straight out of high school, Dawkins was taken fifth overall by the Sixers in 1975. Like most high school products that went directly into the NBA, Dawkins needed some time to develop, and he was given the time to do so. In his third season, Dawkins became a solid player off of the bench, averaging 11.7 points and 7.9 rebounds in almost 25 minutes of action a night. His well rounded game at the age of just 20 years old allowed the Sixers to move him into the starting lineup the following season.
In the next three seasons, Dawkins developed into one of the better low post players in the league, averaging 13.9 points and eight rebounds a game for a Sixer team that was still trying to get past the Celtics and Lakers and win that elusive NBA championship. Dawkins was getting himself noticed as well, as he broke two backboards within a three week span during the 1979-1980 season. The NBA took notice and created a new rule that said if a player intentionally broke a backboard, they would be fined and suspended. The rule came into place thanks to Darryl Dawkins, as the NBA had never had anyone actually break one of their backboards before he came into the league.
Even though Dawkins had tremendous potential and was becoming a solid player, he could never break through to the level the Sixers wanted him to. He was traded to the New Jersey Nets following the 1981-82 season for a first round pick, and the Sixers would go on to win the NBA Title that next season. However, Dawkins would always be remembered in Philadelphia as the young man who could play tough down under the basket, rebound, and shatter a backboard every now and then. All in all, it wasn't a bad run for Chocolate Thunder.
#65: Johnny Callison
Right Field, Philadelphia Phillies (1960-1969)
- Sixth in Phillies history in triples (84)
- Four time All Star with the Phillies (1962 twice, 1964, 1965)
- 1964 All Star Game MVP
- .271 batting average, 185 home runs, 666 RBI, 1,438 hits with the Phillies
One of the faces of the Phillies through the 1960s, Johnny Callison was a great player on several bad teams, save for one major exception. After being traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Phillies at the age of 21, Callison developed into a solid gap hitter, blossoming in the 1962 season as he hit .300 with 23 home runs and 83 RBI. Two years later, Callison played in each and every game during the regular season and hit .274 with 31 home runs and 104 RBI. He also won the All Star Game for the National League with a walk-off home run that earned him MVP honors, but the 1964 season became more known for the Phillies losing the National League East title in an epic collapse more than anything else.
Despite the collapse of the 1964 Phillies, Callison was still one of the better hitters in the National League. From 1962 through the 1965 season, Callison hit at least 23 home runs and drove in at least 78 runs each year. Even when his power numbers dropped in 1966, he led the National League in doubles with 40. Callison always seemed like more of a gap hitter than a power hitter, as he led the National League in triples twice and is still sixth all time in Phillies history with 84 triples. He was also a solid defensive player with a strong arm and a quick release. In 1962, he led the National League with 24 outfield assists and was known for his ability to create double plays from the outfield.
As a good player on mostly bad teams, Callison's prime was missed by almost everyone but Phillies fans. By the end of the 1960s, Callison's time in Philadelphia had come to an end, and he was traded to the Chicago Cubs before the 1970 season. Even though he was gone, he left plenty of memories. His four All Star appearances in three seasons (baseball played two All Star Games for a few years in the 1960s. Don't ask.) were highlighted by an MVP showing in 1964, and his overall play helped the Phillies play spoiler in a few late season pennant races. Like many of the early Phillies, Callison would never get to experience the success of the two Golden Eras of the Phillies, but he was part of the foundation of a great franchise.
#64: George McGinnis
Foward/Center, Philadelphia 76ers (1975-1978)
- Two time All Star with Sixers (1976, 1977)
- Averaged 21.6 points, 11.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists with Sixers
- Named to All NBA First Team (1976)
Despite his short time in Philadelphia with the Sixers, George McGinnis was one of the best basketball players the city had ever seen. McGinnis was more well known as a member of the Indiana Pacers of the ABA before the NBA-ABA merge, and joined the Sixers as a free agent before the 1975-76 season. Paired with fellow ABA alumni in Caldwell Jones and Julius Erving, McGinnis fit in quickly with the Sixers, averaging 23 points and 12.6 rebounds in his first NBA season.
In his next two years with Philadelphia, McGinnis evolved quickly into an excellent NBA player. McGinnis averaged 20.9 points and 11 rebounds over the next two seasons and helped Philadelphia reach the 1977 NBA Finals, where the Sixers faced the Portland Trail Blazers. Unfortunately, the Sixers lost in six games, and McGinnis' time in Philadelphia was short. Just a year later, the Sixers traded the All Star to Denver for a handful of players and a first round pick. McGinnis never did reach his ABA levels of production in the NBA, but few ABA players did. In fact, McGinnis' best years in the NBA were his three with the Sixers, and they included a trip to the NBA Finals.
George McGinnis was only with the Sixers for three seasons, but he averaged a double-double and was one of the reasons that the Sixers continued to improve from the worst team in NBA history to an NBA Finals team five years later. If he had played longer in Philadelphia, he would have ended up much, much higher on this list.
#63: Rick Tocchet
Right Wing, Philadelphia Flyers (1984-1992, 2000-2002)
- 232 goals, 276 assists, 508 points with the Flyers
- Named to three All Star teams with the Flyers (1989-1991)
- Played in two Stanley Cup Finals with the Flyers (1985, 1987)
Proving that you can in fact go home again, Rick Tocchet started and ended his career with the Flyers after stops with several different teams in between. Even though his stops elsewhere included Stanley Cup Finals appearances and championships, Tocchet is still best known for his time with the Flyers. Originally more of a fighter than a scorer, Tocchet learned the offensive side of hockey, and quickly became a goal scoring threat for the Flyers, reaching two Stanley Cup Finals with Philadelphia.
After adjusting to the NHL, Tocchet became a solid overall player, scoring 40 goals twice with the Flyers and recording a then career high 59 assists in the 1989-90 season. Once he established himself as a scoring threat, Tocchet was moved around the NHL before coming back to Philadelphia for a last hurrah with the Flyers. In two and a half seasons with the Flyers, Tocchet had some moments where he reminded fans of who he used to be, and he helped the Flyers reach the Eastern Conference Finals during the 1999-2000 season, but his time had passed for the most part. Following the 2001-02 season, he retired as a member of the Flyers.
Rick Tocchet was the type of player that you wanted to have on your hockey team. He could score, pass the puck and get physical if you wanted him to. That type of style suited him well with the Flyers, and his abilities made him a fan favorite. I'm sure that there are some people out there that would rank Tocchet higher than this, but I'm happy with his overall position. He was never the best, but he was a great player.
#62: Jim Ringo
Center, Philadelphia Eagles (1964-1967)
- Three time Pro Bowler with the Eagles (1964, 1965, 1967)
- NFL Hall of Fame inductee (1981)
- Named to NFL 1960s All Decade Team
As a player, Jim Ringo had already made himself into one of the best centers in the NFL before he even ended up in Philadelphia. Ringo was a member of the Green Bay Packers during the Vince Lombardi years, and while he was only there for two NFL Championships, Ringo was the best center in the NFL during the early 1960s, which made it that much more surprising when he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles for a first round pick in 1964.
Even though he was reaching the end of his career, Ringo didn't let the change in scenery change the way he played the game. In his four year career with the Eagles, Ringo only played on one team that finished with a winning record, yet he was named to three Pro Bowls and played well enough to be named to the 1960s All Decade Team. His blocking was also helpful in allowing running back Timmy Brown to lead the NFL in yards per carry in 1965, Otto's second season with the Eagles.
Otto retired following the 1967 season, and was elected to the NFL Hall of Fame in 1981. Even though he only spent the last four years of his career with the Eagles, Otto is one of, if not the best center the team has ever had, and his impact helped the Eagles actually finish above .500 for the first time in four seasons in 1966. What Eagles fans would have done to see him play in Philadelphia his entire career, I don't even want to know.
#61: Del Ennis
Left Field, Philadelphia Phillies (1946-1956)
- Third in Phillies history in RBI (1,124)
- Named to three All Star teams (1946, 1951, 1955)
- .286 average, 259 home runs, 1,124 RBI, 1,812 hits with the Phillies
Another more forgotten player from the earlier days of the Phillies, Del Ennis' name can still be found throughout the Phillies record book. In fact, Ennis is tied for ninth in team history in runs scored, fifth in hits, fourth in total bases, seventh in doubles hit, third in home runs and third in runs batted in. So, why is Ennis ranked so low on this list if he's one of the best Phillies to ever step to the plate?
Quite simply, he played on bad teams that didn't get him well known. Had the Phillies played as well as they did from 2007-2011 in the 1950s, Ennis would get a lot more recognition than he does now. Instead, the Phillies were horrible, save for the Whiz Kids year of 1950, and hardly anyone knows that Ennis drove in more runs than anyone other than Stan Musial from 1949 until 1957. Even without all the recognition, Ennis was an excellent player, hitting over .300 for the Phillies three times and leading the National League in runs batted in during the 1950 season.
Del Ennis played almost his entire career with the Phillies, and while he was one of the better players during the 1950s, his name recognition suffered because of it. His skill at the plate was obvious, and he was matched by very few when it came to production, but the teams he played on were usually led by his batting and nothing else. Had he been provided with more help, he would have been higher on this list. Instead, he's below more recent players, because they have won more. It's how things go sometimes.
That will wrap up another long overdue addition of the Top 100 Philadelphia Athletes of All Time. We hit the halfway point next time, and the list features another member of the Whiz Kids, a current head coach who happened to play here, and the oldest stats of anyone that made this list. Enjoy
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