#30: Harold Carmichael
Wide Receiver, Philadelphia Eagles (1971-1983)
- All time leader in Eagles history in receptions (589), receiving yards (8,978) & receiving touchdowns (79)
- Named to four Pro Bowls (1973, 1978, 1979, 1980)
- Named to NFL 1970s All Decade Team
- Played in Super Bowl XV
The Eagles have never really been known for their wide receivers, but for a time during the 1970s, they had one of the best receivers in the NFL. Harold Carmichael was the tallest receiver to ever play in the NFL, and he used his height to a great advantage during his 13 seasons in Philadelphia.
The receiving numbers that Carmichael put up in his time with the Eagles are still tops in franchise history, and by a large margin. Carmichael has 13 more receiving touchdowns than Tommy McDonald, who is second all time in touchdowns, and 137 more catches for 1,566 more yards than Pete Retzlaff, the runner up in both of those categories. While the Eagles weren't always the best team during Carmichael's tenure, he certainly was always at the top of his game. Carmichael became a starter in his third season and quickly became one of the best receivers in the NFL, leading the league in receptions and receiving yards.
The rest of his Eagles career was just as solid. Carmichael was named to four Pro Bowls and averaged eight touchdown catches a season from 1973 through 1981. As Carmichael's career began to wind down, the Eagles began to turn their luck around, and they reached Super Bowl XV, where they faced off against the Oakland Raiders. While the end result was not what the Eagles wanted it to be, Carmichael had a solid game, catching five passes for 85 yards. Following the Super Bowl defeat, Carmichael would have one last 1,000 yard season the next year before seeing his production slowly decline. He played his last two games with the Dallas Cowboys, catching just one pass for seven yards.
His time in Dallas is hardly remembered, as it should be. Harold Carmichael is the best receiver that the Eagles have ever had, and while there may come a time when his numbers are passed by someone, until they are, his productivity and skill have left Eagles fans longing for someone be that go to wide receiver, just like Carmichael was.
#29: Chuck Klein
Right Field, Philadelphia Phillies (1928-1933, 1936-1939, 1940-1944)
- Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame (1980)
- Won 1932 MVP
- Batted .326 with 243 home runs, 983 RBI, 1,705 hits and 963 runs scored with the Phillies
- 5th in Phillies history in runs scored and home runs, 7th in batting average and hits, 4th in RBI
In the history of the Philadelphia Phillies, most people would skip over almost everything before the 1950 season, and that's smart. There's not much to look at or to like, but you'd miss out on reading about the best Phillies position player before Richie Ashburn, and that's Chuck Klein. When Klein made it to the Phillies in the 1928 season, the Phils had seen power hitters before, but Klein gave them a player that could hit home runs like Babe Ruth could.
In his first full season of 1929, Klein led the National League with 43 home runs, and would have hit more, if Phillies owner William Baker hadn't raised the fence is right field to 60 feet in height. From that point on, Klein was one of the premier hitters in baseball. He lead the National League in runs scored three times, home runs four times, runs batted in twice and stolen bases once. His 38 home run, 137 RBI effort in 1932 earned him an MVP award, and in 1933, he did one better, winning the triple crown by leading the National League in batting average (.368), home runs (28) and runs batted in (120).
Following the 1933 season, Klein was sold to the Chicago Cubs. He would eventually return to the Phillies in 1936, but his numbers were never the same. Following a short stint with the Pirates in 1939, Klein returned for one more run with the Phillies and was used mainly as a bench player for the next four seasons. Some would argue that his power numbers were elevated by playing in the Baker Bowl, which was very friendly to left handed hitters, but he was skilled even without the homefield edge.
When he retired following the 1944 season, Klein's 243 home runs were the most in Phillies team history. That mark stood until Mike Schmidt came around some 35 years later, and he is still fifth in franchise history in home runs and runs scored, and fourth in RBI. Whenever a player can leave a mark on a franchise for as long as Chuck Klein has with the Phillies, it's impressive and should be remembered, home ballpark advantage or not. Chuck Klein had the most home runs and was the best power hitter the Phillies had for almost the first 100 years of their existence. That's all you need to remember about Chuck Klein.
#28: Wilbert Montgomery
Running Back, Philadelphia Eagles (1977-1984)
- Eagles all time leader in rushing yards (6,538) and 100+ yard rushing games (26)
- Eagles single season rushing leader (1,512)
- Played in two Pro Bowls (1978, 1979)
- Played in Super Bowl XV
As a sixth round pick, not much was expected from Wilbert Montgomery, but Montgomery didn't let that slow him down. After a rookie season that saw him used primarily as a kick returner, Montgomery won the starting job going into the 1978 season and never looked back. Over the next seven years, Montgomery would become the Eagles all time leader in rushing yards and help the team reach height that they had not seen in two decades.
In that 1978 season, Montgomery quickly rose to the top shelf of NFL running backs. He finished fifth in the league in rushing and earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl. The next year, he was even better, breaking the 1,500 yard barrier and leading the NFL with over 2,000 all purpose yards. In 1980, injuries slowed Montgomery, holding him to under 1,000 yards, but the Eagles beat the Dallas Cowboys to earn a spot in Super Bowl XV, and it was Montgomery's touchdown run just minutes into the contest that let Eagles fans know they were going to the Super Bowl.
Wilbert played well in Super Bowl XV, catching six passes for 91 yards while rushing for 44 yards, but the Eagles didn't have an answer for Oakland's quick attack. The Super Bowl hangover didn't affect Montgomery, as he ran for over 1,400 yards the next season. Following the 1981 season, injuries again took their toll, and Montgomery never cracked the 1,000 yard mark again. He would finish his Eagles career after the 1984 season, playing one year in Detroit before retiring.
Though he is the Eagles all time rushing leader, Wilbert was also a threat to catch passes out of the backfield. In eight years in Philadelphia, he caught 266 passes for 2,447 yards and 12 touchdowns. His numbers might not put him in the same category as a Barry Sanders or Emmitt Smith, but Wilbert Montgomery was one of the best running backs in football for a brief time at the end of the 1970s. His touchdown run against the Cowboys in the NFC Championship will live forever, and he will always be a favorite son among Eagles faithful.
#27: John LeClair
Left Wing, Philadelphia Flyers (1995-2004)
- 333 goals scored, 310 assists, 643 points scored with the Flyers
- 5th in Flyers history in goals scored, 7th in points scored
- Played in four Eastern Conference Finals and 1997 Stanley Cup Finals
- 1st American born player to score 50 or more goals in three straight seasons
The last time the NHL played a lockout shortened season, the Flyers made a trade with the Montreal Canadiens for Eric Desjardins, who we already covered on this list, and a winger from Vermont named John LeClair. While Desjardins became one of the best defensive players that the Flyers have ever had, LeClair would become one of the most prominent offensive players in his time with Philadelphia, scoring goals at a rate that Flyers fans hadn't seen since Tim Kerr was wearing orange and black.
After the trade with Montreal, LeClair was put on the Philadelphia first line with Eric Lindros and Mikael Renberg, and the rest was sweet, sweet history. The Legion of Doom line, as they would become known, dominated the Eastern Conference and helped the Flyers reach two Eastern Conference Finals and the 1997 Stanley Cup Finals in their two and a half seasons together. LeClair benefited almost instantly, scoring 25 goals with 24 assists in the 1994-95 season before exploding for 50 or more goals in each of the next three seasons.
LeClair's goal scoring ability was second to none on the Flyers for many years. Following his three 50 goal seasons, LeClair put up back to back 40 goal campaigns. Injuries during the 2000-01 season kept LeClair from reaching the 20 goal level for the first time in his Flyers career, but he would bounce back, reaching 20 plus goals in two of his final three seasons with the Flyers. Following the loss to Tampa in the 2004 Eastern Conference Finals, LeClair saw his time with the Flyers end, but it ended with him as one of the best offensive players the Flyers have ever had.
It wasn't just during the regular season, either. LeClair also scored 35 goals during the playoffs and added 39 assists as well. His best years were when he was paired up with Eric Lindros, but LeClair could create scoring chances on his own, and was one of the best at what he did when he was with the Flyers. There are very few players that I would root for, no matter what team they were on, but John LeClair is one of them. He was as solid as a player as I've seen, and I wish the Flyers had more guys that could play like him.
#26: Jimmy Rollins
Shortstop, Philadelphia Phillies (2000-Present)
- Won 2007 National League MVP
- Member of 2008 World Series champions
- Batting .270 with 193 home runs, 793 RBI, 2,024 hits, 1,182 runs scored and 403 stolen bases
- 3rd in Phillies history in runs scored, 2nd in total bases (3,234), 4th in hits and 3rd in stolen bases
"We are the team to beat in the National League East." With that quote, Jimmy Rollins not only put himself in the spotlight, but helped guide the Phillies somewhere that they hadn't been since 1993: first place in the National League East. The unquestioned leader of the current generation of Phillies, Rollins is currently the longest-tenured Phillie, and is one of the best players the Phils have ever had.
Ever since his first full season back in 2001, Jimmy has had hype following him. In his rookie year, Rollins stole a league leading 46 bases and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting to a guy named Albert Pujols. Rollins continued to improve over the next few seasons, stealing over 20 bases a year and picking up close to 200 hits a season. Then came the 2007 season, and the statement that put Rollins into the next level of Philadelphia lore.
From the second Rollins said the Phillies were the team to beat, the focus and burden of the Phillies winning the National League East were right on him. Rollins didn't disappoint, hitting .296 with 30 home runs and 94 RBI, as well as 41 stolen bases, giving him the first 30-30 season by a Phillies player since Bobby Abreu. His play on the field, as well as the Phillies coming back and winning the National League East from the New York Mets, earned Rollins the MVP award for the 2007 season. Though his numbers have dipped since then, Rollins remains a solid shortstop, and is an asset in the field.
When you look at his overall performance, there's nothing that Jimmy Rollins hasn't done with the Phillies. He's fourth in hits, third in runs scored and is going to break into the top ten in team history in both RBI and home runs during the 2013 season. He is third in Phillies history in stolen bases, but considering the two players in front of him haven't played a game in over a century, I think it's ok to call him the modern day leader. There are two eras in Phillies history that you could call the "Golden Age." The first was the late 1970s through 1983, and the other started in 2007. Hopefully, it will continue into 2013, and if it does, it will have Jimmy Rollins leading the way.
#25: Ron Hextall
Goalie, Philadelphia Flyers (1986-1992, 1994-1999)
- Won 1987 Vezina Trophy
- First goalie to score a goal during an NHL game
- 240-172 record, 2.97 GAA with the Flyers
- Flyers leader in wins
You would think that the Flyers have had issues at goalie forever, but they've actually had some very solid players between the pipes in Philadelphia. After the untimely death of Pelle Lindbergh the year before, the Flyers were in need of a goalie, and called up a young player by the name of Ron Hextall. While Hextall was seen by many as a head case who would never be able to last in the NHL, the Flyers saw talent and made him the starting goalie coming into the 1986-87 season. All Hextall did to repay them was lead the team to the Stanley Cup Finals and win the Vezina Trophy as the best goalie in the NHL that season.
During the 1987 Stanley Cup Finals, Wayne Gretzky, the greatest hockey player of all time, called Hextall the best goalie he had faced in his career. Against the high powered Edmonton Oilers, Hextall helped the Flyers make it to a seventh and deciding game. Though Edmonton won the game and the Stanley Cup, Hextall was named the Conn Smythe winner, making him the second Flyer to ever win the award as a member of the Stanley Cup losing team. Over the next two seasons, Hextall would win over 30 games per year, helping the Flyers make the playoffs in each of those seasons.
Following a trio of injury plagued, sub-par seasons, the Flyers traded Hextall to the Quebec Nordiques as part of the Eric Lindros trade. Two years, and two trades later, Hextall found himself back in Philadelphia with his head on straight. In his first year back with the Flyers, Hextall once again helped guide the team to the playoffs as the Flyers reached the Eastern Conference Finals, sweeping the defending Stanley Cup champion New York Rangers out of the playoffs along the way. The following year, Hextall once again won 30 games, and his 2.17 goals against average was the best in the NHL. Another 30 win season followed in the 1996-97 season, and the Flyers reached the Stanley Cup Finals against the Detroit Red Wings.
The less said about the 1997 Stanley Cup Finals, the better, however. Head coach Terry Murray flip-flopped between Hextall and Garth Snow, and neither was able to find a groove in a Detroit sweep. The next season saw Hextall's playing time drop, despite 21 wins and a 2.17 goals against average. The 1998-99 season was Hextall's last, and he retired at the end of the year. Hextall was an oddity, even among goalies, but his aggressive style and take no prisoners attitude fit in perfectly with the Flyers and their fans. He was the first goalie in NHL history to score a goal, and his 240 wins are the most in Flyers history. While the Flyers have had their share of crazy goalies since Hextall, none have had the same success. Hopefully, they can find that mix of talent and crazy again.
#24: Maurice Cheeks
Point Guard, Philadelphia 76ers (1978-1989)
- 76ers all time leader in steals and assists
- Member of 1983 NBA champions
- Four time member of NBA All-Defensive First Team (1983-1986)
- Averaged 12.2 points, 7.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game with the Sixers
Very few players in Philadelphia 76ers history have had the defensive impact that Maurice Cheeks had on the game. As the Sixers all time leader in steals and assists, Cheeks was the perfect glue player to hold all of the championship pieces of the 1980s 76er teams together.
From the moment he arrived in Philadelphia, Cheeks established himself as a defensive force, averaging over two steals a game to go along with his 5.3 assists and 8.4 points per game. Over the span of his Sixers career, Cheeks only seemed to get better, and his play on both ends of the court helped the Sixers reach three NBA Finals in four seasons, with the team winning the 1983 NBA Finals in a sweep against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Even though Cheeks played well in the regular season, he seemed to save his best for the playoffs. During the 1983 playoffs, Cheeks averaged 16.3 points, seven assists and two steals per game on the way to the NBA title. For his Sixers career, Cheeks averaged 15 points, seven assists and 2.3 steals during the postseason. Like many others on this list, Cheeks seemed to play his best when the lights were shining the brightest.
Following the 1988-89 season, Cheeks was traded by the Sixers to the San Antonio Spurs. He would play for four teams over the next four seasons before retiring as the NBA's all time leader in steals. While he is ranked fifth in NBA history in steals now, he still leads the Sixers in both steals and assists, proving his defensive worth on both ends of the court and showing how valuable he was to the Sixers finally getting over the hump and winning the 1983 NBA Finals.
Fo' Fo' Fo'? Not without Mo.
#23: Ryan Howard
First Base, Philadelphia Phillies (2004-Present)
- 2005 National League Rookie of the Year
- 2006 National League MVP
- Member of 2008 World Series champions
- Batting .271 with 300 home runs and 920 RBI
- 2nd in Phillies history in home runs, 6th in RBI
For all of the great members of recent Phillie teams that have made this list, there is none better than Ryan Howard. For all of the grief he gets for his strikeouts and the way two of the last three years have ended, fans have to realize that without Howard in the middle of the lineup, none of what the Phillies have done since 2007 even happens. His rise to the top of the National League matches the Phillies and their rise. It's not a coincidence.
After a cup of coffee in the 2004 season, Howard came up to play for an injured Jim Thome in 2005 and never looked back. Though he only played in 88 games, Howard hit .288 with 22 home runs and 63 RBI, which was enough for him to earn the Rookie of the Year award. In 2006, Howard reached the next level, batting .313 with a franchise record 58 home runs and 149 RBI. The eye popping numbers earned him MVP honors and quickly shot him up the list of best players in baseball. The 58 home runs also started a run of four straight seasons with 45 or more home runs.
From his 2006 MVP season through 2009, Howard led the National League in RBI three times, home runs twice, won the 2009 NLCS MVP and was part of the 2008 World Series championship. That's not a bad four year run, and it is one of the best in Philadelphia sports history. It also matches the best run that the Phillies have had since the late 70s and early 80s almost year for year. Though his power numbers have gone down the last few seasons, Howard still remains the big bat in the middle of the Phillies lineup.
For whatever reason, Howard seems to get the majority of the flack from Philadelphia fans about his play. I don't know if it's because of the strikeouts, or the contract that he would have been stupid to not sign, but it's not deserved. Howard might not catch Mike Schmidt in terms of home runs and RBI with the Phillies, but by the time everything is said and done, he's likely going to be second in both categories. That's not a bad place to be.
#22: Hal Greer
Guard/Forward, Philadelphia 76ers (1963-1973)
- Elected to Basketball Hall of Fame (1982)
- Member of 1967 NBA champions
- Averaged 20.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists with the 76ers
- 4th in 76ers history in total points scored (15,177)
Much like Maurice Cheeks was the glue that helped keep the Sixers together during their championship run in the 1980s, Hal Greer helped keep the Sixers playing as a team through one of the best team seasons in NBA history. Before the 1966-67 season, the Boston Celtics had won eight straight NBA titles. By the time the season was over, their streak was finished, and the Sixers were sitting at the top of the NBA mountain for the first time.
After moving to Philadelphia with the Syracuse Nationals, Greer continued his solid guard play, and things only got better when the Sixers acquired Wilt Chamberlain from the San Francisco Warriors midway through the 1964-65 season. With Chamberlain by his side, Greer and the Sixers became instant title contenders, though it would take them another season to reach that goal. Following a five game defeat to Boston in the Eastern Conference Finals in 1966, the Sixers came out for the 1966-67 season and took no prisoners.
The Sixers won 68 games during the regular season, and Greer finished second to Chamberlain in points per game, averaging 22.1 a game to go along with 5.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists. However, once the playoffs started, it was Greer, not Chamberlain, who led the Sixers in points per game as he averaged 27.7 points in the 15 playoff games that Philadelphia played in on their way to the NBA championship. Following the championship season, Greer's production dropped, but only slightly, as he averaged 18.7 points per game for the rest of his career.
Greer retired following the disaster that was the nine win 1972-73 season. Nine years later, he was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame and was later named to the NBA's 50 Greatest Players list in 1996. When he retired, Greer was the all time leader in points scored by a 76ers player, and if you include his time with the Syracuse Nationals, he is still the all time leader in points scored for the franchise. Considering some of the great players that have put on a Sixers uniform, that is an impressive feat.
#21: Grover Cleveland Alexander
Pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies (1911-1917, 1930)
- 3rd in Phillies history in wins & ERA, 5th in strikeouts, team leader in shutouts
- 190-91, 2.18 ERA, 61 shutouts, 1,409 strikeouts with the Phillies
- Led the National League in wins five times with the Phillies
- Member of 1915 National League champions
- Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame (1938)
There was no award for the best pitcher in each league 100 years ago, but if there was, it's a safe bet that Grover Cleveland Alexander would have won a handful of them with the Phillies. From his 1911 rookie season until he was sold to the Cubs seven years later, Alexander won an astounding 190 games, broke the 30 win mark three times and helped the Phillies win their first National League pennant.
When he was sold to the Phillies for $750 back in 1910, Alexander was already a solid pitcher, but he would only get better. His 28 wins in 1911 are a modern rookie record that still stands to this day. In 1915, Alexander had his finest season, winning 31 games and spinning an ERA of, wait for it, 1.22. Thanks to his efforts on the mound, the Phillies won the 1915 National League pennant, and Alexander won Game 1 of the World Series, giving the Phillies their only playoff win for over 50 years.
Alexander's 1916 and 1917 seasons were excellent as well, with Old Pete winning over 30 games in both years, but the Phillies were unable to recreate the success of their 1915 season. Following the 1917 season, owner William Baker, the same man that raised fences so Chuck Klein would stop hitting home runs and costing him money, sold Alexander to the Chicago Cubs. Over the next 30 years, the Phillies would have just a single winning season and wouldn't win another playoff game until 1977.
Alexander did have a few advantages going for him in that he played in the dead ball era and before the integration of baseball, but even with those factors in play, he was the best pitcher the Phillies had for their first 50 years. His winning percentage with the Phillies was the best that the team had seen until Roy Halladay became the team leader almost 100 years later. His 61 shutouts are a team record that will likely never be broken, and the same holds true with his three 30 win seasons. The Phillies have had a lot of pitchers, but very few have been the quality that Grover Cleveland Alexander was.
We've gone through 80 of the top 100 Philadelphia athletes of all time, and they're only going to get better from here. As we get closer to the top 10, we'll have old school, a few new school and a man who never wanted to be a role model. I hope you keep reading.
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