#60: Troy Vincent
Cornerback, Philadelphia Eagles (1996-2003)
- Five time Pro Bowler with the Eagles (1999-2003)
- 28 interceptions with the Eagles
- Played in three NFC Championship Games
With all of the turmoil that the Eagles have seen in their secondary, it's almost hard to believe that for the greater part of a decade and half, they boasted one of the best pairs of cornerbacks in the NFL. Before Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown, there were Bobby Taylor and the man that comes in at number 60 on this list, Troy Vincent. While Taylor was a solid corner, it was Vincent that was the pride of the Philadelphia secondary. After being signed by the Eagles following four years with the Dolphins, Vincent quickly became one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL.
In his eight seasons with the Eagles, Vincent had 28 of his 47 career interceptions, was named to five Pro Bowls and was a three time member of the All Pro team. Andy Reid and Jim Johnson's defensive schemes fit Vincent like a glove, and he thrived following the Ray Rhodes era, helping the team to three straight NFC Championships. Even though Troy never did take the step to the Super Bowl with the Eagles, he is still remembered as one of the best corners in franchise history, and he was placed into the Eagles Hall of Fame during this 2012 season.
They don't make many corners like Troy Vincent, and his ability to cover and intercept the ball is something that this current Eagles team is sorely lacking. To go from Troy Vincent to Lito Sheppard to the drop off in talent that they have now is amazing, and a sad state of affairs for this current Eagles team.
#59: Simon Gagné
Left Wing, Philadelphia Flyers (1999-2010)
- 259 goals, 265 assists, 524 total points with the Flyers
- Seven seasons of 20 or more goals
- Played in four Eastern Conference Finals & 2010 Stanley Cup Finals with the Flyers
- Scored the series winning goal in Game 7 vs. Boston in the 2010 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals
One of my all time favorite Flyers, Simon Gagné helped fill the void after the Eric Lindros departure and made sure that the Flyers never missed a beat during the 2000s. Just a year after being drafted in the first round of the NHL Draft, Gagné was playing for the Flyers and making an impact, scoring 20 goals in his rookie season. The 1999-2000 season would be the first of seven 20 or more goal seasons with the Flyers, including two 40 goal seasons later in his career.
Gagné was one of the most steady players during his time with the Flyers, as his almost even goal to assist ratio can attest for. Despite being one of the best goal scorers on the Flyers for a decade, Gagné was almost always overshadowed by another bigger ticket player, and that seemed to be how he liked it. He didn't need all the glamour and the glory, he just came to work every single day and did his job to help the Flyers win. In doing so, he scored two of the most famous goals in recent Flyers history, winning Game 6 of the 2004 Eastern Conference Finals against Tampa Bay, and then scoring the series winning goal in Game 7 six years later against the Boston Bruins to help the Flyers come back from an 0-3 series hole.
There are only a handful of athletes that I would root for to win a championship after they leave Philadelphia, but when the Los Angeles Kings won the Stanley Cup at the end of the most recent NHL season, I was happy for one reason. Simon Gagné, who had come so close so many time with the Flyers, had finally earned his spot on the Stanley Cup as an NHL champion. I know plenty of other Flyers fans that shared those feelings, and they were well earned by a man who never gave anything other than his best while wearing the orange and black.
#58: Eric Desjardins
Defenceman, Philadelphia Flyers (1995-2006)
- Second in Flyers history for points by a defenceman
- Played in four Eastern Conference Finals & 1997 Stanley Cup Finals with the Flyers
- 93 goals, 303 assists, 396 points with the Flyers
There are few players that have ever been a part of the Philadelphia Flyer defence that have meant more than Eric Desjardins. When he was brought in from Montreal in the same trade that brought John LeClair to Philadelphia, Desjardins was expected to be a solid piece to an improving defence, but very few people thought that he would become a mainstay with the team for the next 11 seasons like he did. In his time with the Flyers, Desjardins would help set the mold for the next generation of defencemen in Philadelphia while also returning the franchise to the top of the NHL.
Though he was already known as a solid puck handler, Desjardins improved his reputation with Philadelphia, twice recording over 40 assists on his way to the number two spot in Flyers history for points by a defenceman. His skills behind the blue line helped the Flyers recover from their worst stretch as a franchise, and the team reached the Eastern Conference Finals four times in his 11 seasons. The Flyers did reach the Stanley Cup Finals with Desjardins in 1997, but the less said about that, the better.
Eric's leadership was also evident when he was named team captain following Eric Lindros being stripped of the title. Though Desjardins only wore the C for a single season, it was still reflecting of his skills and leadership both on and off the ice. Since his retirement following the 2005-06 season, the Flyers have had many defencemen take to the ice for them, but none have had the same impact that Eric Desjardins had. He was a rare talent that was given a chance to shine in Philadelphia.
#57: Chris Short
Pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies (1959-1972)
- Fourth in Phillies history in wins (132)
- Four 15+ win seasons (1964, 1965, 1966, 1968)
- 132-127 record, 3.38 ERA, 1,585 strikeouts with the Phillies
One of manager Gene Mauch's work horses during the infamous 1964 season, Chris Short was much more than just that one season. From 1964 through 1968, Short was actually seen as one of the best pitchers in the National League, and this was during the era of Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale and Bob Gibson, so you know that he was pitching very well during that time. Short is mainly remembered for being a part of the 1964 Phillies, who managed to lose a six and a half game lead with 12 games to play, but his 17-9 record that season was just the start of a stretch where he won 83 games with 17 shutouts in five seasons.
Paired with Jim Bunning, Short helped give the Phillies a solid 1-2 punch on the pitcher's mound, despite the shortcomings from the rest of the team. A perfect example of that came during the 1965 season, when Short pitched 15 scoreless innings with 18 strikeouts against the New York Mets. Unfortunately, the Phillies couldn't manage a run, either, and the game ended in a 0-0 tie after 18 innings. That's the kind of luck that Chris Short had with the Phillies, but it didn't stop him from becoming one of the best pitchers in franchise history. Following the 1972 season, Short signed a one year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers before retiring.
In 1992, Short was selected for the Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame, a deserved honor for a pitcher who is still fourth in franchise history for wins and shutouts.
#56: Clyde Simmons
Defensive End, Philadelphia Eagles (1986-1993)
- Second in Eagles history in quarterback sacks (76)
- Two time Pro Bowler (1991, 1992)
- Led the NFL in quarterback sacks in 1991 (19)
One of the most important pieces of Buddy Ryan's defense, Clyde Simmons played at the same time as Reggie White, but was every bit his equal on the defensive line. A skilled artist at rushing the quarterback, Simmons is second in franchise history to Reggie White in sacks with 76, and he recorded double digit sack seasons with the Eagles three times in eight seasons, including an NFL leading 19 in 1991.
There have been few players in Eagles history that have been as skilled as getting to a ball carrier as Clyde Simmons, and hit fit perfectly into the defensive schemes that Buddy Ryan drew up as head coach of the Eagles, but his skills weren't just used in Philadelphia. After leaving the Eagles following the 1993 season, Simmons followed Buddy Ryan to Arizona before moving on to Jacksonville, Cincinnati and Chicago. He finished his career with 121.5 sacks, good for 11th all time in NFL history. That's not too bad for someone that was picked in the now non-existent ninth round of the NFL Draft back in 1986.
#55: Mark Recchi
Right Wing, Philadelphia Flyers (1992-1995, 1999-2004)
- Flyers record holder for points in a single season (123, 1992)
- Four time All Star (1993, 1994, 1999, 2000)
- 232 goals, 395 assists, 627 points with the Flyers
A three time Stanley Cup winner that seemed to find a championship everywhere but Philadelphia, Mark Recchi was still able to become one of the best wingers in Flyers history. In his first full season with the Flyers, Recchi joined Eric Lindros and Fedyk on the "Crazy Eights" line and set a Flyers record with 123 total points. That record still stands to this day, and only helped set the tone for what kind of player Recchi would be in his two terms with the Flyers.
As good of a player as he was on the ice, Recchi may have helped the Flyers more off the ice. His trade to Montreal in 1995 brought the Flyers not just Eric Desjardins, but John LeClair as well, and helped move the Flyers from the basement of the Eastern Conference back to the top of the standings in just one season. Recchi did rejoin the Flyers for a longer run starting in 1999, and he picked up right where he left off, leading the NHL with 63 assists.
His smooth puck handling skills were close to second to none, and his ability to both score and create scoring chances were one of a kind. The Flyers were fortunate to have a player of his caliber, and while they did make two trips to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2000 and 2004, they couldn't get to that final stop with Recchi on the roster. If they could have, perhaps Mark could have retired with a fourth Stanley Cup and helped bring the title back to Philadelphia, where a player of his caliber should have been able to win one.
#54: Doug Collins
Guard/Forward, Philadelphia 76ers (1973-1981)
- Four time NBA All Star (1976-1979)
- Averaged 17.9 points, 3.3 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game
- Played in 1977 NBA Finals
- Current head coach of the Sixers
Sure, he gets some bonus points for being the best head coach the Sixers have had since Larry Brown was in town, but younger fans might not even know how talented of a player Doug Collins even was. A member of the 1972 Olympic team, Collins was selected first overall by the Sixers in the 1973 NBA Draft. Though he battled injuries throughout his career, Collins was a solid player that was named to four All Star teams and was a great swing guard during the later part of the 1970s.
After playing in just 25 games during his rookie season, Collins got more playing time his second season and began to emerge as a key member of the Sixers. Playing on a team that featured Julius Erving, George McGinnis and World B Free, Collins established himself as a star and helped the Sixers reach the 1977 NBA Finals. Though Philadelphia came up short against the Portland Trail Blazers in six games, Collins played better than his season averages, scoring 22.4 points and bringing down 4.2 rebounds per game.
Injuries brought Collins' career to an untimely end after the 1981 season, but he found his niche in coaching, where he eventually found his way back to Philadelphia. As the head coach of the Sixers, he guided the team to their first playoff series win in eight seasons against the Chicago Bulls this past season. While being a coach or manager has little bearings on this list, it is always nice to see a former Philadelphia star return back to the city that he called home during his time on the court.
#53: Ed Delahanty
Left Field-Philadelphia Phillies (1888-1889, 1891-1901)
- Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame (1945)
- Phillies career leader in doubles (442) and triples (158)
- .348 batting average, 2,214 hits, 87 home runs, 1,288 RBI, 1,368 runs scored & 411 stolen bases with the Phillies
Now this is taking it back to the old school. Ed Delahanty was one of the best baseball players of what was known as the "Dead Ball Era," and the Phillies were lucky enough to have him playing for them for many of those years. In 13 seasons with the Phillies, Delahanty set franchise records for doubles and triples that still stand, even 100 years later. He is also still second in team history in RBI, stolen bases and runs scored and is third in hits.
For all of those accolades, Delahanty has a few things going against him. He played before the game of baseball was integrated, and he played in an era where ballparks were designed for doubles and triples, with very little emphasis on anything else. He likely took advantage of the design of several ballparks for his doubles and triples, and while his numbers would still more than likely be excellent today, you have to think that a number of his slap hits that were scored extra base hits back then would be outs today. Even so, his offensive marks are still near the top of almost every record sheet in Phillies history, and that's quite impressive.
Delahanty's departure from the Phillies impacted the game of baseball, not just in Philadelphia, but nationally. Delahanty was one of the first players to jump from the established National League to the upstart American League, bringing legitimacy to the new "Junior Circuit." Two years after making the jump, the first World Series between the National and American Leagues was played. The Phillies wouldn't win their first World Series for almost 80 years, but it was Delahanty's decision to jump leagues that helped put the wheels in motion for a series that still takes place to this day.
Oh, and he died by either being drunk and falling off a railroad track into, or jumping off of that said railroad track into Niagara Falls. I just had to mention that.
#52: Al Wistert
Offensive Tackle, Philadelphia Eagles (1943-1951)
- Eight time All Pro (1944-1951)
- Two time NFL Champion (1948, 1949)
- Member of NFL's 1940s All Decade Team
- Inducted into the Eagles Honor Roll (2009)
How Al Wistert hasn't been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame is beyond me and many other people at this point. Wistert was nicknamed "Ox" and for good reason; he was one of, if not the best offensive tackle during the 1940s in the NFL. Wistert was drafted by the Eagles in the 1943 NFL Draft and played his entire career with the Eagles.
As the 1940s went on, Wistert began to accumulate more and more awards for his excellent play. He was named to the All Pro team every year, save for his rookie season, and was the first Eagles player to be named to the Pro Bowl in 1950. He was also named Eagles captain in 1946 and held the honor until the end of the 1950 season. During his time as captain, the Eagles won back to back NFL Championships and became the only team in NFL history to win back to back titles with a shutout in each game. Following the 1951 season, Wistert retired from the NFL at the young age of 31.
Despite being one of the best offensive tackles in the NFL for almost a decade, Wistert has yet to hear his name get called to Canton and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Eagles finally righted a long time wrong by naming him to the Eagles Hall of Fame in 2009, but the biggest injustice is the fact that Wistert isn't remembered as one of the best football players ever, when he clearly is one.
#51: Jim Bunning
Pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies (1964-1967, 1970-1971)
- Pitched a perfect game against the New York Mets (1964)
- Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame (1996)
- 89-73 record, 2.93 ERA, 1,197 strikeouts with the Phillies
Though he was known more for his time with the Detroit Tigers, Jim Bunning was still able to make his mark as one of the best pitchers that the Phillies have ever had as well. The other half of Gene Mauch's pitching duo during the end of the 1964 season, Bunning was every bit as talented as the top pitchers in the National League. In 1964, his first season with the Phillies, Bunning won 19 games and struck out 219 batters, which became the start of three straight seasons with 19 wins and 200 or more strikeouts. To top things off, Bunning also pitched a perfect game, the first in Phillies history, on Father's Day against the New York Mets.
In his first four seasons with the Phillies, Bunning put up numbers that very few pitchers have been able to match in such a short time. In 1968, his streak of seasons with 19 wins was snapped as he only won 17 games, but led the league in strikeouts with 253. Keep in mind, this was in 1968, the "Year of the Pitcher," and the Phillies had someone that led the National League in strikeouts. Think about that for a second.
Bunning left the Phillies after the 1968 season, only to return two years later. After being reunited with his fellow 1964 ace Chris Short, Bunning helped to open Veterans Stadium before retiring following the 1971 season. The Veterans Committee of the Baseball Hall of Fame selected Bunning for enshrinement in 1996, and the Phillies retired his number 14 during the 2001 season.
That does it for this edition of the Top 100 Philadelphia Athletes of All Time. In the next part of the countdown, we'll go through one of the most underrated Philadelphia stars of all time, as well as one of the most outspoken. Keep reading on to see who else makes the list.
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