Recreation Park was a baseball park in Philadelphia.
The ballpark was the first home of the Philadelphia Phillies of the National League during the years 1883-1886, prior to the opening of the arena that became known as Baker Bowl.
The park was bounded by 24th Street, Ridge Avenue, 25th Street and Columbia Avenue (which in 1987 was renamed Cecil B. Moore Avenue after the civil-rights leader). The park was not the only one in the area; fourteen years later, Columbia Park, the first home of the Philadelphia Athletics, opened eight blocks to the west on Columbia Avenue, though this ballpark was on the opposite side of the avenue.
The field was used at least as early as June 16, 1860, when Equity defeated Pennsylvania 65-52 in what author Charles Peverelly, writing about "the national game," called the "first baseball game played in Pennsylvania."
During the Civil War, a cavalry of the Union Army occupied the park. In 1866, with new houses bordering the field, a nine-foot fence was erected and the field was put back in shape for baseball. But it was poorly maintained by 1871 and used less and less.
The Philadelphia Centennials of the National Association leveled and resodded the field, built a 10-foot fence, clubhouse and grandstands in 1875. They called it Centennial Park. The league folded that year, and the park declined.
Alfred J. Reach bought the field in 1882, renaming it "Recreation Park." He cleared the grounds, resodded the field, built a three-section wooden grandstand and fielded the independent team called "Fillies."
The site contains a historical marker, and urban housing makes up most of what now occupies the area.
Preceded by
first ballpark |
Home of the Philadelphia Phillies
1883 – 1886 |
Succeeded by
Baker Bowl |
Philadelphia Phillies
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Formerly the Philadelphia Quakers • Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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The franchise |
History • Seasons • Records • Players • Owners and executives • Managers • Broadcasters • Opening Day starting pitchers • First-round picks • No-hitters • Award winners and league leaders
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Ballparks |
Recreation Park • Baker Bowl • Shibe Park • Veterans Stadium • Citizens Bank Park
Spring Training: Coffee Pot Park • Rickwood Field • McKechnie Field • Wilmington Park • Flamingo Field • Clearwater Athletic Field • Jack Russell Memorial Stadium • Carpenter Complex / Bright House Field
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Culture |
Phillie Phanatic • Curse of Billy Penn • Hot Pants Patrol • Whiz Kids • Baseball Wall of Fame • Sports Hall of Fame • Philadelphia Phillies (NFL) • "High Hopes" • Jim Bunning's perfect game • Franchise awards • "Team to Beat" • Roy Halladay's perfect game • Dan Baker
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Rivalries |
New York Mets • Pittsburgh Pirates • Philadelphia Athletics (City Series)
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Important figures |
Wall of Fame
members
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Grover Cleveland Alexander • Dick Allen • Richie Ashburn • Bob Boone • Larry Bowa • Jim Bunning • Johnny Callison • Steve Carlton • Gavvy Cravath • Darren Daulton • Ed Delahanty • Del Ennis • Dallas Green • Billy Hamilton • Granny Hamner • Willie Jones • Harry Kalas • Chuck Klein • John Kruk • Greg Luzinski • Garry Maddox • Sherry Magee • Gene Mauch • Tug McGraw • Pat Moran • Paul Owens • Robin Roberts • Pete Rose • Juan Samuel • Eddie Sawyer • Mike Schmidt • Chris Short • Curt Simmons • Tony Taylor • Sam Thompson • John Vukovich • Cy Williams
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Franchise
record holders
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John Coleman • Bill Duggleby • Lenny Dykstra • Kid Gleason • Ryan Howard • George McQuillan • José Mesa • Lefty O'Doul • Jimmy Rollins • Curt Schilling • Kent Tekulve • Chase Utley
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Retired numbers |
1 • 14 • 20 • 32 • 36 • 42 • P • P
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Key personnel |
Owner: Bill Giles • President: David Montgomery • General Manager: Rubén Amaro, Jr. • Manager: Charlie Manuel
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World Series
championships (2) |
1980 • 2008
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NL pennants (7) |
1915 • 1950 • 1980 • 1983 • 1993 • 2008 • 2009
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Division
championships (11) |
1976 • 1977 • 1978 • 1980 • 1983 • 1993 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011
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Minor league
affiliates |
AAA: Lehigh Valley IronPigs • AA: Reading Fightin Phils • A: Clearwater Threshers, Lakewood BlueClaws, Williamsport Crosscutters • Rookie: Gulf Coast League Phillies, VSL Phillies, DSL Phillies • Rosters: Minor league rosters
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Broadcasting |
Television
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Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia • WPHL-TV • Comcast Network
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Radio
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WPHT • WDAS • Phillies radio network affiliates
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Broadcasters:
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TV: Tom McCarthy • Chris Wheeler • Gary Matthews
Radio: Scott Franzke • Larry Andersen
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Seasons (131)
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1880s |
1880 • 1881 • 1882 • 1883 • 1884 • 1885 • 1886 • 1887 • 1888 • 1889
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1890s |
1890 • 1891 • 1892 • 1893 • 1894 • 1895 • 1896 • 1897 • 1898 • 1899
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1900s |
1900 • 1901 • 1902 • 1903 • 1904 • 1905 • 1906 • 1907 • 1908 • 1909
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1910s |
1910 • 1911 • 1912 • 1913 • 1914 • 1915 • 1916 • 1917 • 1918 • 1919
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1920s |
1920 • 1921 • 1922 • 1923 • 1924 • 1925 • 1926 • 1927 • 1928 • 1929
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1930s |
1930 • 1931 • 1932 • 1933 • 1934 • 1935 • 1936 • 1937 • 1938 • 1939
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1940s |
1940 • 1941 • 1942 • 1943 • 1944 • 1945 • 1946 • 1947 • 1948 • 1949
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1950s |
1950 • 1951 • 1952 • 1953 • 1954 • 1955 • 1956 • 1957 • 1958 • 1959
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1960s |
1960 • 1961 • 1962 • 1963 • 1964 • 1965 • 1966 • 1967 • 1968 • 1969
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1970s |
1970 • 1971 • 1972 • 1973 • 1974 • 1975 • 1976 • 1977 • 1978 • 1979
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1980s |
1980 • 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989
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1990s |
1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999
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2000s |
2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009
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2010s |
2010 • 2011 • 2012 • 2013
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