Presented by the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame
The Eagles are 2-0, the Flyers have started their preseason, and the Phillies are entering the final six games before the postseason.
It’s a fun time to be a Philly sports fan.
September 22 has seen new owners, the beatdown of a rival, and an impressive home run streak.
Collins Does it Again
On this day in 1912, the A’s swept a doubleheader against the St. Louis Browns, 8-2 and 4-1.
In Game 1, Eddie Collins went 4-for-5 and stole six bases.
It was the second time in two weeks that Collins had stolen six bases in a game, and he remains the only player to accomplish the feat twice in his career.
The St. Louis Browns? They were originally the Milwaukee Brewers before moving to St. Louis. Eventually, the franchise would move again, settling in its current home in Baltimore as the Orioles.
New Owners, Same Results
On this day in 1949, the defending champion Eagles opened the season with a 7-0 win over the New York Bulldogs.
It was the first game for rookie Chuck Bednarik and the first game under a new ownership group.
The “Happy Hundred” was a group of 100 people who each paid $3,000 for a share of ownership in the Eagles.
One of those 100 would eventually become the sole owner of the team after the group was bought out by Jerry Wolman.
That man?
Leonard Tose, who bought the team from Wolman in 1969.
Beatdown
On this day in 2002, the Eagles and Cowboys squared off in the Eagles’ home opener at the Vet.
Donovan McNabb was brilliant, throwing for 287 yards and three touchdowns. Antonio Freeman caught one of them and finished with more than 100 yards, while Todd Pinkston hauled in the other two.
The Eagles rolled the Cowboys 44-13 and improved to 2-1 on the season.
Trivia – Who led the 2002 Eagles in catches and yards receiving? (Answer below)
Another Game, Another Homer
On this day in 2008, the Phillies continued their push toward the postseason, beating the Braves 6-2.
Pat Burrell hit a three-run homer, giving the Phillies at least one home run in 18 straight games—a team record.
It’s no coincidence that the home-run streak coincided with the Phillies’ September surge to catch the Mets and win their second straight N.L. East title.
Turning Point?
On this day in 2024, the Eagles’ offense was putrid through three quarters, and they trailed the Saints 3-0.
Then Saquon broke through with a 65-yard touchdown run.
Later, Dallas Goedert ripped off a 61-yard catch to set up Saquon’s second touchdown, giving the Eagles the lead.
Reed Blankenship sealed the game with an interception, and the Eagles escaped with a 15-12 win.
This game, coupled with the Week 4 loss to the Buccaneers, forced the Eagles to do some soul-searching.
They came out of the bye and won 16 of their final 17 games, including a win in Super Bowl LIX.
Trivia Answer – Todd Pinkston led the Eagles with 60 receptions for 798 yards.
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