Presented by the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame
I want to wish Jalen Hurts a speedy recovery from his blood clot issue. It’s incredibly scary, and this goes well beyond football. Wishing him all the best as he focuses on his health. Dave Dombrowski and Don Mattingly both spoke with the media yesterday. They said the right things, but now we’ll have to see how those words translate into action. Meanwhile, the Flyers are still searching for that elusive first win.
October 16 has seen a Sixers first, a coaching blunder, and what may be the worst day in Philadelphia sports history.
First Game
On this day in 1963, the Philadelphia 76ers opened their inaugural season with a 117-115 win over the Detroit Pistons. Hal Greer led all scorers with 26 points.
It was the first game in franchise history under the 76ers name. The team had previously played in Syracuse as the Nationals before relocating to Philadelphia for the 1963-64 season.
Worst. Day. Ever.
October 16, 1983, may very well be the worst day in Philadelphia sports history. Known as Black Sunday, it was a disaster across the board.
The Eagles were originally scheduled to host the Cowboys at Veterans Stadium, but because of the World Series, the teams swapped home games. So, instead, the Eagles found themselves in Dallas. They briefly led 7-3 after Ron Jaworski connected with Mike Quick for an 83-yard touchdown, but the lead didn’t last long. The Cowboys ripped off 34 unanswered points and hammered the Eagles 37-7.
Meanwhile, back at the Vet, the Phillies were fighting to keep their season alive, trailing the Orioles three games to one in the World Series. Eddie Murray hit two home runs as Baltimore shut out the Phillies 5-0, clinching the championship on Philadelphia’s home turf.
And the misery didn’t end there. Later that night, the Flyers took on the Rangers at Madison Square Garden, looking to open the season with six straight wins. Instead, they suffered their first loss, falling 5-4.
Even the Sixers got in on the action. Granted, it was only a preseason game, but the defending NBA champions lost to the Celtics 99-86 in a physical, fight-filled contest that featured multiple ejections.
For Philly Sports fans it was the Worst. Day. Ever.
Trivia – Who hit homeruns for the Phillies in the 1983 World Series? (Answer below)
Blame it on the Rain
On this day in 1994, the Eagles and Cowboys met in Dallas for a critical NFC East matchup. Little did anyone know that another moment would soon be added to the lore of this bitter rivalry.
Trailing 24-7, the Eagles got a 32-yard touchdown run from James Joseph. But then head coach Rich Kotite made a decision that left everyone scratching their heads: he went for a two-point conversion.
The attempt failed, leaving the Eagles down 11 instead of 10. They now needed two touchdowns to win the game, and ultimately fell to Dallas, 24-13.
Afterward, Kotite was asked why he went for two. His explanation? The rain had blurred the chart he was using, causing him to read it incorrectly.
Really, Rich? And even if that was the case, why would you admit it?
The decision became a defining moment in Kotite’s tenure and marked the beginning of the end. The Eagles rebounded to win their next three games, but then lost their final seven to finish the season 7-9.
Good Start
On this day in 2023, Kyle Schwarber led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run, setting the tone for another electric night at Citizens Bank Park.
Bryce Harper followed with a homer of his own later in the inning, and Nick Castellanos added another in the second.
On the mound, Zack Wheeler was just as impressive, striking out eight over six innings as the Phillies beat the Diamondbacks 5-3 to take Game 1 of the NLCS
Trivia Answer – Joe Morgan, Gary Matthews, and Garry Maddox hit homers for the Phillies in the 1983 World Series.
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