Philadelphia Phillies by hoyalawya76

The Phillies have called five ballparks home during their time in Philadelphia. Their current home is, of course, Citizens Bank Park. Their first home (from 1883-1886) was long-forgotten Recreation Park. Name EACH of the other three.

After a mere 32 years of existence, the Phillies finally won the eight-team National League in 1915, before dropping the World Series to the juggernaut Boston Red Sox in 5 games. What pitcher starred for the 1915 Phillies, winning the pitching Triple Crown that season and undoubtedly happy to finally be on a winning team?

The Phillies went through a particularly dreadful stretch from 1918-1948, finishing in last place 16 times and only once finishing as high as 4th. In his autobiography, a maverick would-be owner described how he had a grand plan to bring the Phillies to glory by purchasing them in 1943 and stocking the club with talent from the Negro Leagues. He claimed that his plan was wrecked, however, by Commissioner Landis and NL President Ford Frick. Even though subsequent scholarship has debunked this tale, it only adds to the legend of what Hall of Fame owner and renowned promoter?

Joining Ken Brett, Mike Maddux, Jeremy Giambi, Mark Leiter, and Frank Torre in Phillies lore is one of nine children born to Guiseppe and Rosalia in Martinez, CA. Though his two younger brothers outshone him on the diamond, this member of the 1945-46 Phillies did make two All-Star teams during his own ten-year career. Name him. (First AND last name required)

Perhaps in an effort to change the team's fortunes, ownership attempted to change the club's name in 1944. Though the new moniker never really took flight, the team logo and jerseys also incorporated the new name, raising outcry not only from Phillies fans, but from students at Johns Hopkins University, which complained about the association of their mascot with such a losing franchise. What name did the Phillies attempt to use, only to give it up by 1946?

Things finally started to turn around for the Phillies in 1948 when a 21-year-old rookie pitcher from Springfield, IL joined the club, going 7-9, 3.18 in 20 starts. He was joined by a fleet-footed CF from Tilden, Nebraska, who made the All-Star team in his rookie year, batting .333 with a .410 OBP and 32 steals. The two men would remain teammates for 12 seasons and would eventually join one another in Cooperstown. Name BOTH Phillies greats.

Proving that you can't keep a good team down, the Phillies won their second NL pennant in 1950 in dramatic fashion, beating second-place Brooklyn 4-1 in 10 innings on the last day of the season to avoid a one-game playoff. What left fielder and son of a Hall-of-Fame first baseman hit the three run homer in the top of the 10th to stake the Phillies claim to the 1950 pennant? (First and last name required)

The ill-fated 1964 Phillies famously blew a 6.5-game lead with 12 games to play, but still hold a place in Philadelphia lore. They were led by their Rookie of the Year third baseman, who would play in seven All-Star games and win an AL MVP award, despite courting controversy everywhere he went. Who is this outspoken star who remains frustratingly just outside the gates of Cooperstown?

The 1970s were a banner decade for the Phils in many areas -- particularly fielding. Besides Mike Schmidt, the Phillies saw five different players win Gold Gloves during that decade, one player each at P, C, 2B, SS, and OF. Name FOUR of those five players.

Every Philles fan has seen Tug McGraw strike out Willie Wilson to end the 1980 World Series countless times. Although the Tugger earned that famous save, he could not close down the fifth and final game of the NLCS against Houston, surrendering two runs in the bottom of the 8th to tie the game at 7. What Phillies starter came on to pitch the 9th and 10th innings and claim the win that vaulted the Phillies into the World Series?

Cy Young Award voters went through this weird phase in the 1970s and 80s where they were really, really into relief pitchers. Hey, I'm not here to judge -- your smith has made some questionable decisions in his past, too. One Phillies pitcher was the recipient of that closer love in 1987, riding a 40-save season to a Cy Young Award over an admittedly mediocre crew of starting pitchers. Name that reliever.

The 1993 Phillies rose from worst to first rise thanks to a couple of key acquisitions and an apparent commitment to fitness by several holdovers, perhaps supplemented by the use of, as Lenny Dykstra said in Spring Training "some really good vitamins, dude". Part of that success also belongs to Jim Fregosi, who juggled platoons at 2B, LF, and RF to maximize the talents of his band of cast-offs. Name TWO of those three pairs of platoon partners. (Four names total)

Your smith spent the better part of his three years in law school typing 1500-word treatises on the Phillies.com message board, arguing with trolls who did not appreciate the greatness of Bobby Abreu. Even though too many fans did not appreciate his talents, virtually all could agree that the Phillies stole him from Tampa Bay when the Phillies traded WHAT SHORTSTOP to the Devil Rays for Abreu after the Rays selected him 6th in the 1997 expansion draft?

After 14 years of frustration, the 2007 Phillies finally returned to the playoffs, winning the NL East on the final day of the season despite trailing the Mets by 7 games with 17 to play. The Phillies starter that day was a Philly-area native who cut school to watch the 1980 World Series parade and pitched collegiately at Philadelphia's own St. Joseph's University. Who is this Hawk and ancient (former) Mariner who won 269 games during a 25-year big league career?

Arguably the two most exciting moments of the Phillies World Series runs in 2008-2009 came in Game 4 of the NLCS in each year. Matt Stairs's homer in the 8th inning 2008 and Jimmy Rollins's walkoff double in 2009 both occurred against what Dodgers pitcher?

And lastly, although 2008 feels like just yesterday to your smith, he is reminded that time marches on and that only eight members of the World F'ing Champion 2008 Phillies were active in MLB this year. Name any FIVE of them.