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The new-look Phillies looked every bit the part last night against the Nationals. Luis Arraez and Caleb Kilian both made strong first impressions in their Phillies debuts, but the real story was Jesús Luzardo. The left-hander dominated over eight shutout innings as the Phillies cruised to a 5-0 win. Can they keep the momentum going tonight with Andrew Painter back on the mound?
August 5 is a mixed bag in Philly sports history, featuring the first-ever radio broadcast, an offensive explosion, and a few memorable Eagles preseason firsts.
Game Changer
On this day in 1921, the Phillies lost to the Pirates 8-5 at Forbes Field. But for once, the final score wasn’t the biggest story.
That afternoon marked a turning point in sports history. Under the right conditions, baseball fans across the country could tune in and listen to the game live on the radio. It was the first live radio broadcast of a Major League Baseball game.
Pittsburgh station KDKA stationed announcer Harold Arlin in a box seat equipped with a makeshift microphone to call the action. For the first time, fans could hear the crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd, and the excitement of a ballgame without being at the stadium.
While all Major League games were still played during the day, radio suddenly made it possible for millions of fans to follow the action in real time instead of waiting for the next morning’s newspaper. It was a revolutionary change in the way Americans consumed the game.
The broadcast also came at the perfect time. During the 1920s, advances in technology gave many Americans more leisure time, and radio quickly became a centerpiece of family entertainment. Baseball, already growing in popularity, was perfectly positioned to benefit. The combination of a booming economy, widespread radio ownership, and easier access to the game helped fuel Major League Baseball’s rise into America’s national pastime.
Hit Parade
On this day in 1975, the Phillies wasted no time putting the Cubs away at Wrigley Field.
Dave Cash opened the game with a single, and Larry Bowa followed with one of his own. Garry Maddox then launched a three-run homer to put the Phillies on the board. Greg Luzinski and Tommy Hutton followed with back-to-back doubles before Mike Schmidt connected for a two-run homer, chasing Cubs starter Bill Bonham before he could record an out.
Reliever Ken Crosby didn’t fare any better. Johnny Oates greeted him with a single, giving the Phillies hits from each of their first eight batters, tying a Major League record. By the time the dust settled and the inning finally came to an end, the Phillies had sent 15 men to the plate and built a stunning 10-0 lead.
Schmidt added his second home run of the game later in the afternoon, and the Phillies cruised to a 13-5 victory. The Cubs never had a chance.
The NFL goes to Mexico City
On this day in 1978, the Eagles and Saints met in Mexico City for a preseason game that made NFL history. It was the first NFL game ever played in Mexico and just the second international game in league history, with more than 30,000 fans filling Olympic Stadium.
While the game was historic, the conditions were anything but ideal. The stadium sat across the street from a bullfighting ring, leaving players to deal with an unpleasant odor throughout the afternoon. The goalposts were installed unevenly, the locker rooms were far too small for NFL teams, and neither club had properly prepared for Mexico City’s high altitude. Quarterback Ron Jaworski later recalled that many players were exhausted before the game even began.
The sloppy conditions carried over onto the field, where the Saints defeated the Eagles 14-7. But the final score quickly became a footnote.
The game was another important step in the NFL’s international expansion. Commissioner Pete Rozelle believed professional football could grow beyond the United States, a vision that accelerated under Paul Tagliabue and has continued under Roger Goodell. This season, the Eagles will make their seventh international appearance when they face the Jaguars in London, a reminder of how far the league’s global reach has come since those early preseason experiments.
Trivia – The Eagles have played six international games to date in preseason and regular season. Which cities have they played in? (answer below)
The Big 3 Sets a Record
On this day in 2014, the Phillies hosted the Astros at Citizens Bank Park. Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Jimmy Rollins started together for the 887th time, breaking the MLB record for the most starts by a first baseman, second baseman, and shortstop trio. The previous record was held by the Dodgers’ Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, and Bill Russell. By the time it was was all said and done, the Phillies trio extended the record to 910 starts together before the core was broken up. As for the game itself, it was Ryan Howard who delivered the game-winning RBI in the bottom of the 15th inning.
Trivia Answer – The Eagles have played in Mexico City, London, Tokyo, and Sao Paulo
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