#10: Bernie Parent
Goalie, Philadelphia Flyers (1967-1971, 1973-1979)
- Elected to Hockey Hall of Fame (1984)
- Won two Stanley Cups with the Flyers (1974, 1975)
- Two time Vezina Trophy winner (1974, 1975)
- Two time Conn Smythe Trophy winner (1974, 1975)
- 232-141-104 record, 2.42 goals against average with the Flyers
- Second in Flyers history in wins, franchise leader in shutouts
When you think of great goalies in Flyers history, Ron Hextall will likely make the list for most modern day Flyers fans. Pelle Lindbergh will be the biggest "what if" story, but the top of the list is occupied by one man and one man alone. Bernie Parent is not only one of the best goalies in Philadelphia history, but he's also one of the best goalies in the history of the NHL as well.
Few people knew what Parent was going to turn into when the Flyers selected him in the 1967 Expansion Draft, and though he performed well in Philadelphia for three and a half seasons, he was traded to Toronto during the 1971 seaosn, which is where most goalies have their story in Philadelphia come to an end. Instead, after a season and a half in Toronto and a year with the Philadelphia Blazers in the WHA, Parent was traded back to the Flyers and had two of the best seasons in NHL history.
Over the next two seasons, Parent helped the Flyers win back to back Stanley Cup Finals while establishing himself as the best goalie in the NHL. In 141 starts from the start of the 1973 season, through the end of the 1975 season, Parent won 91 games, recording 24 shutouts and tallying a 1.96 goals against average. For his effort during the regular season, Parent won the NHL's Vezina Trophy as the best goalie in the league in both 1974 and 1975. His showings in the Stanley Cup Playoffs over those two seasons were equally as impressive. Parent won 22 games in two playoff runs, helping the Flyers win the Stanley Cup in both 1974 and 1975. For his efforts, Parent won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoffs MVP in both seasons, becoming the first Flyer to win the award.
After his pinnacle seasons of 1973-74 and 1974-75, injuries began to take their toll on Bernie. He only played in 11 games during the 1975-76 season, and while he had a small return to form, he was never the same goalie that he was during those incredible two seasons again. An eye injury forced him to retire during the 1978-79 season. His jersey number 1 was quickly retired by the Flyers, and he was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984. Wherever you look on the Flyers' all time leaderboard when it comes to goalies, Bernie Parent is either at the top, or right around the top of any list. When he was in net, Flyers fans liked to say "Only the Lord saves more than Bernie Parent." That's really all you need to remember about him.
#9: Brian Dawkins
Safety, Philadelphia Eagles (1996-2008)
- Played in five NFC Championship Games and Super Bowl XXXIX with the Eagles
- Member of NFL 2000s All Decade Team
- Seven time Pro Bowler, four time All Pro with the Eagles
- Recorded 723 tackles, 21 sacks, 34 interceptions and 16 fumble recoveries with the Eagles
- Tied for Eagles franchise record in interceptions
Eagles fans still have their own names for Brian Dawkins. Whether he's known as B-Dawk, Weapon X or simply the heart and soul of the Eagles defense, Brian Dawkins has gone down in Eagles history as one of the best and hardest playing defensive players ever.
As a second round pick all the way back in 1996, Dawkins was not expected to make an early impact with the Eagles, but in his rookie season, he stepped up. Dawkins started 13 games his rookie year, intercepting three passes and picking up a sack, and he soon developed into the defensive force Eagles fans remember him as today. He earned his first Pro Bowl invitation following the 1999 season and he never looked back. While people paid attention to Donovan McNabb and the Philadelphia offense as the Eagles made their way to the top of the NFC East, it was Brian Dawkins leading the way for Jim Johnson's defense that really made the Eagles a feared team once again.
From 2000 until his last season with the Eagles in 2008, Dawkins was always one of the best players on the field, and he was an unquestioned leader in the Eagles locker room. In those nine seasons, Dawkins would make six more Pro Bowls, be named a First Team All Pro four times and help the Eagles reach five NFC Championship Games and Super Bowl XXXIX. If you are a true Eagles fan, not only do you remember what Dawkins said after the Eagles won the 2005 NFC Championship Game, but you can recite it word for word. I can say that in my lifetime, listening to that quick speech and feeling his pride and pure joy during that moment is my proudest moment as an Eagles fan.
All Eagles fans know how the story with Dawkins and the Eagles ended on the field, so I'm not going to bring it up here. Instead, I would rather remember all the times on the field that Dawkins seemed to inspire the defense into making another huge play. Whether it was the game against the Texans when he scored a touchdown, intercepted a pass, forced a fumble and recorded a sack to become the first player in NFL history to ever do that all in one game, or the interception against Brett Favre during the 4th and 26 game that allowed the Eagles to kick the game winning field goal, or the sack-fumble of Ben Roethlisberger in Week 3 of the 2008 season, a seemingly meaningless win that ended up being one of the biggest reasons the Eagles would even make the playoffs that season. I could go on for days, and I'm sure you all have your own memories of Brian Dawkins. He was a force on the defensive side of the ball and the unquestioned leader of the Eagles for over a decade. It's been four seasons since Dawkins last played in Philadelphia, and the Eagles are still looking for a leader like him. If only finding someone like him was as easy as finding a spot for him on this list.
#8: Allen Iverson
Point Guard, Philadelphia 76ers (1996-2006, 2009-2010)
- 2001 NBA MVP
- 1997 NBA Rookie of the Year
- Sixers all time leader in minutes played, three pointers made, total points and free throws made. Second in team history in assists, third in steals
- Named to seven NBA All Star teams and three All NBA First Teams with the Sixers
- Averaged 27.6 points, 6.1 assists and 2.3 steals a game with the Sixers
After Charles Barkley was traded to the Phoenix Suns, the Philadelphia 76ers went through a dark age that rivaled any in franchise history. Following a 1995-96 season that saw them win the NBA Draft Lottery and earn the right to pick first. Much like the 1984 draft that saw Charles Barkley land in Philadelphia, the 1996 draft is seen as one of the deepest in NBA history. With the first pick of that draft, the Sixers took a six foot guard out of Georgetown by the name of Allen Iverson, and the rest is history.
Iverson wasted little time making an impact in the NBA, averaging 23.5 points and 7.5 assists on his way to earning the NBA Rookie of the Year award. The Sixers and Iverson each improved over the next few seasons, with Philadelphia getting back into the NBA spotlight, but the best for both was yet to come.
Following a 1999-2000 season that saw the Sixers reach the second round of the NBA playoffs, more was expected out of Iverson and Philadelphia, but there were questions about a seemingly wide open Eastern Conference. Iverson responded to those questions by leading the Sixers to a 10-0 start to the season. Iverson never looked back during the regular season, finishing with an NBA leading 31.1 points per game. The Sixers finished the season with 56 wins and home court advantage through the Eastern Conference playoffs. Iverson's showing and ability to carry the Sixers to the top seed in the Eastern Conference helped him earn the NBA MVP award for the season, making him the first Sixer since Julius Erving to earn the award.
Iverson and the Sixers finished three wins short of the NBA championship, and while they never reached the same team level of success again, Iverson remained at the top of point guards in the NBA. Over the rest of his first run in Philadelphia, Iverson led the NBA in scoring two more times and averaged over 30 points a game three times. Despite his shoot first, pass later mentality, Iverson was also a solid passer, averaging 6.1 assists a game over his time with the Sixers. However, the good times wouldn't last, and Iverson would be traded to the Denver Nuggets in 2006, ending his first tenure in Philadelphia.
Though Iverson would make a short comeback with the Sixers during the 2009-10 season, he was not the same player that he was during his first run. He lasted just 25 games before getting released, but his last season in Philadelphia did little to damage his reputation as one of the best players in 76ers history. Players that are willing to run through a brick wall for their team and their teammates are few and far between, but Iverson was always willing and able to do anything that was needed to help his team win. It wasn't always the prettiest thing in the world, but it was very effective and his leadership on the court helped the Sixers reach a level in the NBA that they hadn't seen since the middle of the 1980s. Allen Iverson was always polarizing, never boring and sometimes controversial, but he was always good. and almost always great.
#7: Reggie White
Defensive End/Tackle, Philadelphia Eagles (1985-1992)
#7: Reggie White
Defensive End/Tackle, Philadelphia Eagles (1985-1992)
- Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame (2006)
- Recorded double digit sacks in every season with the Eagles
- 1987 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
- Eagles franchise leader in sacks (124)
- Seven time Pro Bowler, six time All Pro with the Eagles
- Recorded 21 sacks in 12 games in 1987 season
When you bring up the greatest pass rushers in Philadelphia Eagles history, the list should start and end with Reggie White. White's speed and strength made him not just one of the best defensive linemen in Eagles history, but in the history of the NFL as well. The Eagles just happened to be lucky enough to have him during the prime years of his career.
After the USFL folded, the Eagles selected White in the first round of the 1985 NFL Supplemental Draft and quickly became one of the best players on defense for the Eagles. White fit Biddy Ryan's physical style of play perfectly after Ryan became head coach of the Eagles in 1986. The 1986 season saw White named to his first Pro Bowl and earn his first All Pro honors, but the 1987 season was when White reached a level that no NFL player had ever been to before.
The 1987 season was an odd one for NFL standards. A midseason lockout cost teams four games with their regular players, and while teams resorted to using replacement players as the lockout dragged on, Reggie White was busy making NFL history. In the 12 games that White played in during the 1987 season, he recorded an astounding 21 quarterback sacks, for an average of 1.75 sacks per game. Had White played the whole season, he was on pace for 28 sacks, which would have easily set an NFL record that no player has come close to since. Forget talking about Michael Strahan and his "sack" on Brett Favre to set the current record, there wouldn't have been anyone in the discussion with Reggie White had the lockout not happened in 1987. White earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors for his showing that season, and followed it up with another 18 sacks in the 1988 season.
The only problem in Philadelphia during White's prime years was that Buddy Ryan, for all of his skills coaching defense, could not put an offensive line together to save his life. The Eagles went 7-8 in 1987, but were able to make the playoffs each of the next three years with Reggie leading the way on defense. However, three straight first round playoff exits cost Ryan his job as coach, and White would have to wait until the 1992 season to finally get his first playoff win in the NFL. In White's last win with the Eagles, he helped lead a comeback against the New Orleans Saints that was capped with a sack of Bobby Hebert by White for a safety. The next week, the Eagles would lose to Dallas, and White would become the first big name NFL free agent to switch teams, thanks to a low ball offer by then Eagles owner Norman Braman.
White would play the next six seasons with the Green Bay Packers, finally winning a Super Bowl in 1997 against the New England Patriots. Following an amazing 1998 season in which he recorded 16 sacks and earned a second NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, White retired. He was lured back by the Carolina Panthers for one final season before retiring for good after the 2000 season. In 2006, White was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. I was in Canton for the induction ceremony, and the only thing that would have made it better was if Reggie himself was still around to be there. After years of terrorizing quarterbacks in the NFL, Reggie White passed away suddenly in 2004, leaving behind a legacy that very few defensive players can lay claim to.
My personal favorite Reggie White memory comes from that 1992 season. It came on Monday Night Football against the Dallas Cowboys. The Eagles won the game 31-7, and Reggie White had a sack of Troy Aikman that I will never forget. As White gained ground on Aikman, he lost one of his shoes on the Veterans Stadium turf. Not only did it not slow him down, but he seemed to run even faster without the shoe, catching Aikman from behind and setting an early tone in a game that I still smile about when I think of it.
#6: Steve Carlton
Starting Pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies (1972-1986)
- Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame (1994)
- Member of 1980 World Series champions
- Four time Cy Young Award winner with the Phillies (1972, 1977, 1980, 1982)
- Phillies all-time leader in wins, games started and strikeouts, second in innings pitched and shutouts, third in complete games
- 241-161 record, 3.09 ERA, 3,031 strikeouts, 39 shutouts with the Phillies
Much like the discussion about greatest pass rusher in Eagles history begins and ends with Reggie White, any talk about the greatest pitcher in Phillies history should have just one name involved. In his 15 years with the Phillies, Steve Carlton rewrote the record books and helped the Phillies reach a place that they had never been before.
Carlton was already a fairly established pitcher when he was traded to the Phillies after the 1971 season. Carlton had won 20 games the year before in St. Louis, but was traded to Philadelphia for Rick Wise following contract disputes by both pitchers on their old teams. The 1972 Phillies were one of the worst teams in baseball history, winning just 59 games, but Steve Carlton was one of the best pitchers in baseball, winning the Cy Young Award for his 27-10 record that year. For those of you that haven't done the math, Carlton won 46 percent of the games that the Phillies won that year, which is still a major league record, and one that likely will never be broken. He led all of baseball in wins, complete games, ERA and strikeouts that year and gave Phillies fans hope that the best was still to come for the team.
After a few down seasons for Carlton and the Phillies, Steve turned things around in the 1976 season, which fell in line with the Phillies earning their first playoff appearance in 26 years. Carlton led the National League in wins in the 1977 season and earned his second Cy Young, and he picked up his third Cy Young Award in 1980, winning another 24 games. His pitching in the NLCS against Houston and the World Series against the Kansas City Royals helped the Phillies win their first World Series, and Carlton picked up the series clinching win with seven strong innings in Game Six.
Following the World Series win, Carlton would win his then record fourth Cy Young Award in 1982 as he once again led the National League in wins. He and Nolan Ryan would engage in a battle for the all-time strikeout crown through the 1984 season, and while Ryan would eventually end up on top, Carlton reached the top of the strikeout mountain several times throughout 1983 and 1984. Following the 1984 season, Carlton was finally slowed down by injuries and age, and he would win just five more games with the Phillies before being released midway through the 1986 season. After stints in San Francisco, Chicago, Cleveland and Minnesota, Carlton would retire after the 1988 season.
When Carlton was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994, it was a well deserved and totally expected honor for one of the best pitchers of the last 50 years. The Phillies had been struggling for years before Carlton arrived, and their poor showing more than likely would have continued for quite some time without Carlton on the mound. His amazing 27 win season in 1972 is mainly forgotten by fans now, but stands as a beacon to how good of a pitcher he really was. People now are always looking for the next hot pitcher, but during the 1970s and 1980s, there were few pitchers that were as hot as Steve Carlton.
#5: Bobby Clarke
Centre, Philadelphia Flyers (1969-1984)
- Elected to Hockey Hall of Fame (1987)
- Member of 1974 & 1975 Stanley Cup champions
- Three time Hart Trophy winner (1972-73, 1974-75, 1975-76)
- Flyers all-time leader in games played (1,144), assists (852), points (1,210) and plus/minus, fourth in goals scored (358)
- Two time NHL assists leader (1974-75, 1975-76)
If you are a Flyers fan, and you're reading this list right now, a smile just came across your face. If you are not a Flyers fan, and you're looking at Bobby Clarke's name and you know anything about hockey, then you're probably upset just seeing him on here. That's how Bobby Clarke was when he played, and that's just one of the reasons why the five foot ten inch centre from Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada became the greatest player to ever put on a pair of skates for the Philadelphia Flyers.
Though Clarke was a great talent in Canada, an diabetes diagnosis caused most teams to stay away from him, and he slipped down into the second round of the 1969 NHL Draft. Clarke wasted little time in showing that his diabetes would not slow him down in the NHL. He played in all 76 games his rookie season, tallying 46 points and earning the first of eight trips to the NHL All Star Game. The 1970-71 season was even better, as Clarke recorded his first 20+ goal season, scoring 27 times and picking up 36 assists. The Flyers knew that they had something special, and Clarke would blossom into something even better just two years later.
After a poor 1971-72 season in which the Flyers missed the playoffs, Clarke was named Flyers' captain, becoming the youngest captain in NHL history at the time. He embraced his new role as captain, becoming the first Flyer to score over 100 points. Clarke would finish the year with 104 points on 37 goals and 67 assists, and he led the Flyers to their first ever Stanley Cup Playoff series win against the Minnesota North Stars. Though the Flyers would lose in the next round to the Montreal Canadiens, Clarke won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL's Most Valuable Player, and the seeds had been sown for the Flyers to become one of the top teams in the NHL.
The following season saw Clarke drop under the 100 point mark, but the Flyers reached a greater level of success as a team. The Flyers won 50 games, Clarke still led the way in points, and the Flyers would defeat the Boston Bruins in six games to win their first Stanley Cup. It was the first Cup won by an expansion team, and most people at the time pointed to Clarke's overtime goal in Game Two of the series against Boston as the turning point of the entire series. The 1974-75 season was even better for Clarke and the Flyers. Philadelphia would win their second straight Stanley Cup, and Clarke would set an NHL record for assists by a centre with 89 on his way to a second Hart Trophy.
Clarke would earn a third Hart Trophy the following season as he set a Flyers team record for points that would last until the 1992-93 season. His 89 assists would tie the record that he had set the previous season, and the Flyers would make it to a third consecutive Stanley Cup Finals. However, injuries to key players like Bernie Parent and Rick MacLeish would stop the Clarke and the Flyers from winning their third straight Stanley Cup. Even without their Cup in a row, the Flyers had become the most feared and hated team in the NHL, and Clarke was at the center of all of it.
Over the next few seasons, the Flyers would remain a force in the NHL, but they would not reach the same level of success that they had during the mid-1970s. The same was true of Clarke. While he was still one of the best players in the NHL, and the unquestioned leader of the Flyers, his production began to drop. He would never reach the 100 point mark again, but was still a consistent scoring threat throughout his career. After spending a few seasons as a player/assistant coach, Clarke would return to the ice full time for the 1982-83 season. He would have a season that reminded fans of his true talent level, as he scored 85 points in 80 games and helped the Flyers reach the playoffs for the 11th consecutive season. After one last year in 1983-84, Clarke would retire and immediately assume the role of general manager for the Flyers, though the less said about that, the better.
Much like Allen Iverson in basketball, Bobby Clarke is one of the more polarizing figures in NHL history. A skilled player that made everyone around him better, Clarke was loved by Philadelphia fans, but vilified around the league for being the leader of the Broad Street Bullies. The few times that he did have the backing of the entire NHL fanbase, he did not disappoint, as shown by his efforts against the Soviets in the Summit Series and the Russian tour of North America. Clarke was considered undersized and concerns were always present about his diabetes, but he overcame the odds to become the best player that the Flyers have ever had. I don't think anyone can dispute that.
#4: Wilt Chamberlain
Center, Philadelphia Warriors/76ers (1959-1962, 1965-1968)
- Elected for Basketball Hall of Fame (1979)
- Member of 1967 NBA Champions
- NBA all-time leader in rebounds
- Four time NBA MVP (1960, 1966, 1967, 1968)
- Averaged 42.3 points and 26.6 rebounds per game with the Warriors, 27.6 points and 23.9 rebounds per game with the 76ers
- Fifth in Sixers history in rebounds, second in Warriors history in rebounds
Yes, I'm playing the Philadelphia Warriors card when I said that I would only consider teams that are still in the city, but it's Wilt Chamberlain, so I don't think anyone is going to argue with me. When you look back at the older days of the NBA, there are players that made their impact on the game, and then there are those who changed the game forever. While you can argue that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Russell had better careers, neither of those players changed the game. Wilt Chamberlain did.
Thanks to the old NBA territorial rules, the Philadelphia Warriors were able to lay claim to the Philadelphia native, and Chamberlain came into the NBA ready to take over. He did just that, leading the NBA in minutes played, rebounds and points per game in each of his first three seasons with the Warriors. His rookie season saw him win both the Rookie of the Year and the NBA MVP awards, but his best season in his first stint in Philadelphia was yet to come. Chamberlain's 1961-62 season is still one of the best in NBA history, as Wilt averaged 50.4 points and 25.7 rebounds per game. Yes, basketball was a different game then, but for someone to average 50 points a game is still crazy to even think about. When you add in the fact that Chamberlain also scored 100 points in a single game that season, you can see how dominant he really was.
Somehow, Chamberlain did not win the MVP for his 1961-62 campaign, and the Warriors moved from Philadelphia across the country to San Francisco after the season. After two and a half seasons in San Francisco, Chamberlain was traded back to Philadelphia, this time to become a member of the 76ers, who were attempting to get past the Boston Celtics and win their first NBA championship. In his first half season with the Sixers, Chamberlain showed that he was still one of the most feared players in the NBA, averaging 30.1 points and 22.3 rebounds as the Sixers adjusted to life with Wilt Chamberlain on the team. It wasn't always an easy adjustment, but there were better times ahead for both the Sixers and Chamberlain.
Following a Game Seven loss to the Boston Celtics in the 1965 Eastern Division Finals, Chamberlain won his second MVP award for the 1965-66 season, and the Sixers made it back to the Eastern Division Finals against the Boston Celtics. Despite Chamberlain's effort, the Sixers still could not figure out Boston, and they were defeated in five games. After back to back years of disappointments, the Sixers brought in a new head coach in Alex Hannum, and his stricter coaching style allowed the rest of the team to reap the benefits of playing with Chamberlain. Wilt's 24.1 points per game were a career low, but he still led the NBA with 24.2 rebounds per game and he added 7.8 assists per game on his way to a third NBA MVP award. The Sixers finished the year with a 68-13 record, defeated the Celtics in five games to reach the NBA Finals and knocked off the San Francisco Warriors in six games to win their first NBA Title.
Chamberlain would add a third straight MVP award the following season. His ability to set up his teammates came to a head during the 1967-68 season as he led the NBA in assists with 702 to go along with his NBA leading 1952 rebounds. The Sixers once again reached the Eastern Division Finals against the Boston Celtics, and held a commanding three games to one lead, but Boston stormed back, becoming the first team in NBA history to come back from a 3-1 series hole, and Chamberlain's time in Philadelphia came to a close. Following the season, coach Alex Hannum jumped to the ABA, and Chamberlain requested, and was granted a trade to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Sixers took almost a decade to recover from the trade, and Chamberlain would play another five years with the Lakers, retiring from the NBA after the 1972-73 season.
Through his two trips in Philadelphia, Chamberlain was one of the most dominant players that the NBA has ever seen. Had blocks been an official stat when Chamberlain was playing, he likely would be the all-time NBA leader in those as well as rebounds. Even though he only won a single title with the Sixers and Warriors, he made both teams relevant and gave the Celtics and Bill Russell a perfect foil for several years. It seems that every decade or so, a new Philadelphia 76er seems to step into the spotlight to take control of the team. Chamberlain was the first man to do so, and he was not the last.
#3: Julius Erving
Guard/Forward, Philadelphia 76ers (1976-1987)
- Member of 1983 NBA Champions
- 1981 NBA MVP
- Elected to Basketball Hall of Fame (1993)
- Averaged 22 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks per game
- Fourth in Sixers history in points, third in steals, seventh in rebounds, fourth in assists, all-time leader in blocks
- Named to five All NBA First Teams (1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983)
By the middle part of the 1970s, the glory days of Wilt Chamberlain were long gone in Philadelphia. The Sixers had bottomed out with a nine win season in 1972-73, and while they had turned the franchise around since then, they were looking for the missing piece that would push the team back to the top of the NBA
Enter Julius Erving. Already known as one of the best players in the upstart ABA, the Sixers had purchased Erving's rights from the New York Nets in order for the Nets to be able to enter the NBA. Erving made the cost worth it in his first season in Philadelphia, leading the Sixers to their first NBA Finals in ten years with his 21.6 points and 8.5 rebounds. The Sixers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals, but the Portland Trail Blazers battled back, winning the next four games and leaving the Sixers waiting for another chance at a title. Despite the loss, Erving embraced his role as one of the leaders on the Sixers, guiding the team to the playoffs in every season he played in Philadelphia.
Following the NBA Finals loss, Erving continued to play well, reaching his peak with an NBA MVP award for the 1980-81 season. His 26.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game paced the Sixers, but they were unable to get past new foe Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. The rivalry with the Celtics brought back memories of Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell, as Erving led the Sixers against Bird and the Celtics. Erving led the Sixers past the Celtics in the 1982 Eastern Conference Finals, but the Sixers were stopped again by the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. After three trips to the NBA Finals in six years and no title in hand, the Sixers added Moses Malone before the 1982-83 season, and Erving took full advantage of their new big man.
With Malone now in Philadelphia to back him up, Erving was finally able to get his NBA Title. The Sixers had one of the best 1-2 punches in the NBA, and with Moses Malone winning the NBA MVP award, Erving was able to lead the team without being the main point of interest. Dr. J averaged 18.4 points and 7.6 rebounds as Philadelphia went 12-1 through the playoffs in capturing their second ever NBA Title. Over the remainder of Erving's career, the Sixers would still make the playoffs, but they would never reach the NBA Finals again. Following the 1986-87 season, Erving would retire from the game as the best player that the Sixers have ever had.
If you were lucky enough to see Dr. J play or watch some of his highlight films, you know what kind of player he was. His dunks are still shown on TV, and the very mention of his name brings up memories of when the Sixers were constantly one of the best teams in the NBA. In the time right before Jordan in the NBA, there were three names you needed to know about. The first two were Magic and Bird. The third was Dr. J. That's how good he was, and that's the most impressive part of his career. His spot in Sixers' history is nice, but to be mentioned in the same breath as the other best players of the 1980s is something very few players can claim.
#2: Chuck Bednarik
Center/Linebacker, Philadelphia Eagles (1949-1962)
- Member of 1949 & 1960 NFL Champions
- Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame (1967)
- Last man to play on the offensive and defensive side of the ball full time
- Named to eight Pro Bowls, ten All Pro teams
- Member of NFL 1950's All Decade Team
- Recorded 20 interceptions, 21 fumble recoveries, 12 punts and six punt/kick returns
- Fourth in Eagles history in games played
Even the youngest Eagles fans know who Chuck Bednarik is. If you don't, look at the above picture. Now you know who Chuck Bednarik is. We've all seen that picture before, and it's probably the most famous picture in Philadelphia Eagles history. When you think of toughness in football, the first name that should come to mind is Chuck Bednarik.
When the Eagles took him with the first overall pick of the 1949 NFL Draft, they knew that Chuck Bednarik was one of the toughest players in college football. Despite playing at a small school in Penn, Bednarik was a three time All-American and finished third his senior season in voting for the Heisman Trophy. Bednarik missed two games in his rookie season, then proceeded to miss one game over the next 13 seasons. The Eagles finished 11-1 in 1949 and won their second straight NFL title. The following year, Bednarik became a star, starting all 12 games on both offense and defense and earning his first All Pro honors.
From the 1950 season through 1954, Bednarik was one of the best centers and linebackers in the NFL. He was named to every All Pro team in those five years and even intercepted six passes in the 1953 season. Also in 1953, Bednarik was used as a punter, kicking 12 punts for the Eagles, averaging 40 yards a punt. His skills on both sides of the ball were unmatched, as was his toughness on the field. After missing two games in the 1949 season, Bednarik missed just one game over the rest of his career, and that came in the 1957 season.
Though Bednarik was constantly hailed as one of the best players in the NFL, the Eagles were unable to match his performance on the field. By the time the 1960 season came around, "Concrete Charlie" was starting to show signs of age, but the Eagles couldn't let him go without another shot at an NFL title. Chuck still had two of the all-time greatest moments in Eagles history in him, and they both happened during the 1960 season. First, during a regular season game against the New York Giants, Bednarik delivered a crushing hit to then-NFL golden boy Frank Gifford. The hit became immortalized in the above picture and knocked Gifford out of football for 18 months. Despite the Eagles and Giants playing against each other for years before that, the hit stands out as the first major moment in the rivalry between the two teams.
With the Eagles finishing the 1960 season with a 10-2 record, they earned a spot in the NFL Championship for the first time in 11 seasons. Bednarik started on offense and defense once again, and it was another defensive play that still stands out as one of the best in Philadelphia Eagles history. Down 17-13, the Green Bay Packers had the ball and momentum. They had driven into Eagles territory and a touchdown looked like a certainty. Halfback Jim Taylor caught a pass from Bart Starr and was stopped by Bednarik at the eight yard line. Bednarik, who was the only Eagle left between Taylor and the end zone, sat on top of Taylor as the final seconds ticked off the clock, giving the Eagles the NFL crown and handing Vince Lombardi his only playoff loss as a head coach.
Chuck played two more years with the Eagles before retiring after the 1962 season. Five years later, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, establishing his place as one of the best football players of all time. There have been more players that have come and gone through Philadelphia than I ever want to count, but I can tell you this much. None of them have been as tough as Chuck Bednarik, and it's not even close. His toughness and ability to play both offense and defense are qualities that can not be taught, and are things that you rarely see in NFL players today.
#1: Mike Schmidt
Third Base, Philadelphia Phillies (1972-1989)
- Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame (1995)
- Three time National League MVP ( 1980, 1981, 1986)
- Member of 1980 World Series champions
- Ten time Gold Glove winner
- Twelve time All Star
- Only Phillies player with more than 500 home runs
- Led National League in home runs eight times
- Phillies all-time leader in games played, at bats, home runs, runs scored, hits, total bases, walks and runs batted in
- Batted .267 with 2,234 hits, 548 home runs, 1,595 RBI, 1,506 runs scored and 1,507 walks
Was there really doubt in anyone's mind who the number 1 choice on this list was going to be? The rest of these men were great athletes, no doubt about it, but there was always one or two things that kept them from being number 1. In my mind, and the minds of a lot of other people out there, when you think of Philadelphia athletes, the first person that comes to mind is Mike Schmidt.
Just like Steve Carlton, Schmidt made his Phillies debut in the disaster that was the 1972 season. Schmidt was a late season call-up from Triple A and hit his first home run. The Phillies traded Don Money in the offseason, giving the third base spot to Schmidt. He wouldn't give it up for almost two decades. After a 1973 season that saw him strike out 136 times and hit .196, Schmidt broke out in 1974. His 36 home runs led the National League, and his 116 RBI were second to Johnny Bench in the National League. The Phillies finished just one game under the .500 mark, and as Schmidt continued to improve, so did the Phils.
Schmidt led the National League in home runs in both 1975 and 1976, with 1976 being arguably his best season to date. The Phillies reached the playoffs for the first time in 26 years, Schmidt led the National League in home runs for the third season in a row, finished third in the National League MVP vote and won his first career Gold Glove Award. The Phillies were taking steps to reach the top of the National League, and Schmidt was the driving force behind a terrific offense.
In 1980, the Phillies finally broke through and reached the World Series, and Schmidt had a career year at the plate. His 48 home runs remained a Phillies single season record for 26 years, and his 121 RBI led the National League. The Phillies won the World Series, and Schmidt brought home the regular season and World Series MVP awards to cap the best single season ever by a Phillies position player. In 1981, Schmidt would have likely surpassed all the marks he set in 1980, but a mid-season strike cut short the season. In 102 games, Schmidt led the National League in home runs, RBI, runs scored and walks and earned his second straight MVP award, staking his claim as the best player in baseball.
Schmidt hit another 40 home runs in 1983 as the Phillies reached another World Series, but this time, the Baltimore Orioles would beat the Phillies in five games, marking the last time Mike Schmidt would reach the playoffs. However, Schmidt still had enough in the tank to win a third National League MVP award with a 37 home run, 119 RBI showing in 1986. The following season, Schmidt would hit his 500th home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates, making him the first and so far only player to reach the 500 home run mark with the Philadelphia Phillies. Injuries would finally begin to take their toll, and on May 29, 1989, Mike Schmidt would announce his retirement from baseball, effective immediately.
You can make the argument that there is a better third baseman in baseball history than Mike Schmidt, but you would be wrong. Schmidt didn't have the best batting average, but he could hit for power like no other pure third baseman has been able to do. His 548 home runs are the most ever hit by a player that never switched teams in his career, and his ten Gold Glove Awards show how talented he was with his glove as well. There have been two times that the Phillies were one of the best teams in baseball. There was this current era, from 2007 through today (if you want to count today) and there was the era of Steve Carlton, Tug McGraw and Mike Schmidt. If you could have a choice of any third baseman you could have to build a team around, almost everyone is going to take Mike Schmidt. That is an amazing honor, and is just one of the reasons why Schmidt is topping my list of Top Philadelphia Athletes.
So, there you have it. It's taken me much, much longer than I wanted it to, but we have finally finished the Top 100 Philadelphia Athletes countdown. I'm sure not all of you agree totally on how my list shook out, so what would you change? Who is your number one?
Now that the lists are done, it's on to other things on this blog. Philadelphia sports will still be a focal point, but I will be diverging into other areas as well. I hope you'll stick around and read what I have to write. Thank you for reading what I've done so far, and I hope to keep you around for a while to come.
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