Phillies: 1883 Edition Trivia Quiz

Answer: Recreation Park

Recreation Park would serve as home of the Phillies for the 1883 through 1886 seasons. The park stood between 24th and 25th Streets. The location had been used for baseball games as early as 1860. Sometime after 1888, the park was torn down and replaced with residential housing. In addition the University of Pennsylvania football team played games there from 1882 to 1884.

Answer: Worcester and Troy

The Worcester Worcesters (AKA the Brown Stockings) (1880-1882) and the Troy Trojans (1879-1882) were the two teams. In a sense, Worcester and Troy (two of the smallest cities in the league) were replaced with more populous locations. In addition, the losing records of both teams made it an easy decision.

While Worcester is seen as the predecessor to Philadelphia, no Brown Stockings players appeared on the Phillies' roster.

Answer: True

Their first game, a preseason one, took place on April 2, 1883 at Recreation Park. The Phillies defeated an amateur team, the Manayunk Ashlands, by a score of 11-0. It was a good start in a disappointing season for the Phillies. The Phillies would end the season with losing records against all of the other seven teams in the National League.

Answer: Sir Farrar

Bob Ferguson was the second baseman along with being the first manager. He had accumulated a 4-13 record before being fired. He was succeeded by third baseman Blondie Purcell who finished out the season with a 13-68 record. Though Sid Farrar was NOT a manager, he was the starting first baseman for the team. The team would not win a regular season game at home until June 6.

Answer: Providence Grays

The Phillies took a quick lead with two runs in the first inning and added an additional run in the seventh. The problem was the Grays got FOUR runs in the eighth inning. That day was described as better fielding than hitting for both sides.

Answer: No

The Phillies did not get their first home win of the season until their ninth game. Their first four victories were all on the road. It was not until June 6 that they defeated the Detroit Wolverines 20-4. The 20 runs represented the most runs the Phillies would score in a run all season.

Answer: June

The Phillies played 23 games in June, nearly one-quarter of the entire season. By comparison, May and July had 20 games each and August had 19 games. September completed the list with 17 games.

Answer: Yes

Late in the season (September 22), the Phillies played to a 6-6 tie against the Detroit Wolverines. This was compared to three games the team won or the 17 games they lost in September. At 3-13, the Phillies had one of their better records against the Wolverines.

Answer: 4

In addition to the Phillies, the National League included the Boston Beaneaters (Atlanta Braves), Chicago White Stockings (Cubs), and New York Gothams (San Francisco Giants). The other teams in the National League all folded by the end of the 19th century: Providence Grays, Cleveland Blues, Buffalo Bisons, and Detroit Wolverines.

Answer: Eighth

The Phillies ended the season at the bottom of the eight team league. At 17-81 (.173), the Phillies were 23 games behind the Detroit Wolverines and 46 games behind the Boston Beaneaters. The Phillies had a losing record against every other National League team and were winless against the pennant winners in Boston.