The Phillies are one of the oldest and most storied franchises in baseball, tracing their origins back to 1883 when they were founded as the Philadelphia Quakers. They were among the first teams in the National League and enjoyed success early on, winning their first NL pennant in 1915 and their first World Series title in 1980.
However, the Phillies also struggled through long stretches of futility and losing seasons throughout their history. They are the losingest franchise in MLB history not just because they've been around for so long, but also because of extended periods of fielding terrible teams.
Some key facts about the Phillies' place in MLB history:
- Founded in 1883 as the Philadelphia Quakers, they are one of the oldest continuous franchises in baseball.
- Joined the National League in 1883 as a founding member. Have remained in the NL for their entire history.
- Adopted the Phillies name in 1890 after being briefly known as the Blue Jays in the late 1880s. The name references the city's history with the colonial-era Philadelphia Phillies amateur baseball club.
- Play at Citizens Bank Park since 2004 after decades at Veterans Stadium. Also spent time at Baker Bowl and Shibe Park in the early 20th century.
- Won their first NL pennant in 1915 and first World Series title in 1980. Have also won the World Series in 2008 and NL pennants in 1950, 1983, 1993, 2009, 2010.
- Have made the postseason 15 times but also endured long playoff droughts, including a stretch of 26 seasons between 1983-2008 without a playoff berth.
- Have had some great players like Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton, Pete Rose, Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, and more.
- Hold the record for most losses (11,241 as of 2022) and lowest all-time winning percentage (.478) of any MLB franchise.
- Had 6 seasons with 100+ losses, most recently in 1961 when they lost 107 games. Their 11 100-loss seasons are the most in MLB history.
- Own a record 17,969 home runs conceded, over 700 more than the second-place St. Louis Cardinals.
While the Phillies have achieved success and failure in equal measure, their sheer longevity coupled with multiple horrible seasons are why they hold the record for most losses ever.
Notable Terrible Seasons Contributing to the Phillies' Losing Record
The Phillies didn't earn the tag of losingest franchise just by sticking around longer than others. They have had quite a few memorably terrible seasons that saw them rack up 100+ losses and set records for futility. Here are some of their worst years:
1961: 107 Losses
The 1961 Phillies had an abysmal season, going just 47-107 for an awful .305 winning percentage that still stands as the worst in franchise history. Their 107 losses that year are also still a record for the franchise. The team finished in last place in the National League, a whopping 46 games behind the pennant-winning Cincinnati Reds. Their lineup featured future AL MVP Dick Allen, but the pitching staff was horrendous, posting a 4.87 team ERA. The Phillies drew just 474,787 fans that year, averaging under 6,000 per home game.
1938: 105 Losses
The 1938 Phillies went 45-105 while finishing in last place in the NL, 44 games out of first. It was their 4th consecutive 100-loss season. The Phillies had some good hitters like Dolph Camilli, Pinky Whitney, and Johnny Moore who each belted over 20 home runs. However, the team’s .299 winning percentage was the worst in modern franchise history. The club drew only 235,310 fans that year.
1969: 99 Losses
In their first season after holding strong through the 1964 collapse, the 1969 Phillies finished last in the newly established NL East with a 63-99 record. It kicked off a dreadful five-year run from 1969-1973 during which the Phillies lost at least 89 games each season. Poor pitching was mostly to blame in '69, with a team ERA of 4.11. Attendance plummeted to just 616,047 fans for the season.
1999: 97 Losses
The late 90s saw the Phillies mired in losing after their 1993 pennant. 1999 was their low point, as the team went just 77-85 while finishing dead last in the NL East. There were some stars like Scott Rolen, Bobby Abreu, and Curt Schilling, but the lineup lacked depth and the pitching struggled aside from Schilling’s solid season. Overall fan interest and attendance were down during this forgettable period in Phillies history.
1973: 89 Losses
In 1973, the Phillies closed out their five-year stretch of terrible baseball with an 80-82 record that saw them finish last in the NL East. It was a sixth consecutive losing season for the ballclub. Steve Carlton won the Cy Young after going 13-20 despite a stellar 1.97 ERA, while Willie Montanez led the offense with 29 HR and 99 RBI. But there wasn’t enough support around them to lift the Phillies out of the basement. 1973 marked the end of the team’s time in decrepit Connie Mack Stadium.
Factors Contributing to the Losing Tradition of the Phillies
The Phillies didn’t simply stumble into having the most losses in MLB history. There are some definite factors that contributed to the franchise developing a culture of losing and making poor decisions over many seasons:
- Tough competition: Sharing a division with historically strong franchises like the New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, and more recently Washington Nationals meant the Phillies often struggled to keep up.
- Inability to sustain success: The Phils couldn’t string together multiple winning seasons even following playoff years, falling back into losing.
- Poor front office decisions: Numerous bad trades, terrible free agent signings, and ill-conceived hiring choices for managers and GMs hamstrung the team.
- Lack of fan support: Attendance and interest declined during losing years, giving the team less revenue to build a winner.
- Old, inadequate ballparks: Shibe Park and Veterans Stadium were not player or fan-friendly places that made baseball enjoyable in Philadelphia for long stretches.
- Economic factors: The 1964 collapse coincided with manufacturing/industrial decline in Philadelphia which may have affected team finances and competitiveness.
- Ineffective farm system: Struggles to produce homegrown, All-Star talent forced greater reliance on trades and free agency to fill holes.
- Unstable ownership and leadership: Frequent changes in ownership and the front office prevented continuity in how the team was run.
- Penny pinching: Ownership (primarily the Carpenters) were known to be frugal and averse to spending on payroll, hampering talent acquisition.
- Colossal draft busts: Numerous high draft picks like Adam Eaton, Joe Charboneau, and Anthony Hewitt failed to pan out and strengthen the team.
- Bad luck: The Phillies seem to have been on the wrong end of fate many times, coming up just short despite some great teams and players.
While a losing tradition isn’t easy to shake, the Phillies have taken steps in recent seasons to modernize the front office, boost analytics, and build a sustainable program for success. The results have been promising so far. With smart leadership, solid core players, and an improved farm system, the franchise seems to be headed in the right direction and should continue improving in the wins column after so many years of losing. But the legacy of defeat built up over 140 seasons in Philadelphia will be hard to erase fully.
Notable Phillies Teams That Hold Dubious Losing Streaks or Records
In addition to single horrible seasons, the Phillies have had some notable teams throughout their history that were part of lengthy stretches of futility or set dubious franchise records:
1942-1945 Teams
These Phillies squads hold the franchise record with 4 straight 100-loss seasons from 1942-1945, losing at least 109 games each year. The war years were not kind to the Phillies.
1919-1948 Teams
An ignominious record – the Phillies had 30 straight losing seasons from 1919-1948, including 5 100+ loss seasons in the 1920s. They were the definition of basement dwellers during this stretch.
1883-1913 Teams
Those early Phillies teams couldn’t get out of the cellar, finishing either last or next to last in the standings for over 30 years before breaking through for their first pennant in 1915.
1990 Team
The talent on the 1990 Phillies produced just a 77-85 record, but they hold the franchise record for most games blown in one season with 33, denying closer Steve Bedrosian many chances to save wins.
1921 Team
This squad lost 109 games, which is the Phillies record for most losses in a season in their first half-century as a franchise.
1961-1968 Teams
The Phillies had a dreadful run in the mid-60s, losing at least 89 games each season from 1961-1968.
1999-2006 Teams
Mediocrity defined the Phils around the early 2000s, as they endured 8 straight non-winning seasons and no playoff berths from 1999-2006.
Can the Phillies Turn the Tide on Their Losing Tradition?
The Phillies losing tradition is firmly entrenched after 139 seasons, but there are signs the team may be turning the page and creating a new culture of winning in Philadelphia.
A strong foundation of players like Bryce Harper, J.T Realmuto, Aaron Nola, Kyle Schwarber, and Zack Wheeler now exists. Top prospects like Bryson Stott, Mick Abel, and Andrew Painter provide hope for the future. The front office is investing in analytics and sports science to modernize their approach. Attendance is up thanks to Citizens Bank Park.
Seasoned manager Rob Thomson has changed the losing atmosphere with an emphasis on fundamentals and doing the little things right. President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski brings a track record of building winners.
After making the World Series in 2009 and 2020, the Phillies know what it takes to win big. Ending their 11-year playoff drought in 2022 was a major step forward. Building on that momentum with Harper, Realmuto, and Wheeler in their primes can keep the Phils trending upward.
While the losing legacy can't be erased fully, the future looks brighter in Philadelphia. Consistent contention built on a foundation of player development, analytics, and financial might could help the Phillies win over the long run and reverse the curse of being MLB's losingest franchise.
Conclusion: The Future is Bright for the Phillies
The Phillies have had a long history of losing, but recent developments suggest that they are on the cusp of turning their fortunes around. With a strong foundation of talented players and top prospects, a modernized approach to the game, and seasoned leadership in both the front office and dugout, the Phillies are well-positioned to become consistent contenders in the years to come.
While the weight of their losing legacy may never fully disappear, the progress the Phillies have made in recent years is cause for optimism among fans. By continuing to build on their successes, the Phillies can reverse their reputation as the MLB's losingest franchise and establish themselves as a team to be reckoned with in the league.
