April 6: The Philadelphia City Series

The Main Event

• April 6, 1903 – The Phillies defeated the Athletics 2–0 in 10 innings in the first game of the inaugural spring City Series, with Rube Waddell taking the loss for the A’s.
• April 6, 1910 – The Phillies lost an exhibition game to the Athletics at Shibe Park, 6–1, highlighted by Frank Baker hitting a home run that cleared the right field wall and landed on 20th Street.
• April 6, 1928 – In a City Series exhibition game, Ty Cobb made an unassisted outfield double play by catching a deep fly ball and doubling off Bernie Friberg, securing a 6–5 Athletics win over the Phillies.

The Philadelphia City Series was an annual set of exhibition games played between the National League Phillies and the American League Athletics. Long before interleague play became a regular part of Major League Baseball, this was one of the few chances for fans to see teams from different leagues face off in meaningful, competitive settings. While the games did not count in the standings, they were treated with a level of intensity that often resembled regular season play. For Philadelphia fans, it was a point of pride. The series offered bragging rights within the city and a direct comparison between the two franchises.

The games were typically played either at the end of spring training or after the regular season. In some years, they stretched into a best-of-seven format. In others, they were shorter, depending on scheduling and travel demands. Regardless of format, the matchups drew strong crowds and local attention, especially during the early 20th century when both teams were highly competitive.

The City Series dates back to the late 19th century, but it became more formalized in the early 1900s as both franchises settled into their respective leagues. At the time, baseball was still growing into its identity as a national sport, and local rivalries played a huge role in maintaining fan interest. Philadelphia, with two established major league clubs, was an ideal setting for a showcase.

Ownership and management from both sides recognized the financial and promotional benefits. These games generated additional revenue and kept baseball in the public eye beyond the regular season. They also allowed players to compete against unfamiliar opponents, which added a layer of intrigue for both teams. The Athletics, led by Connie Mack, were often one of the dominant teams in baseball during the early 1900s, while the Phillies were trying to establish consistency. That contrast helped fuel the competitive edge of the series.

Standout Moments and Legacy

There were plenty of memorable moments across the decades. One early highlight came in 1903 when the Phillies won a 10-inning game to open the series, with Rube Waddell taking the loss for the Athletics. It set the tone for how seriously both sides would take these exhibitions. Another famous play occurred in 1928 when Ty Cobb, near the end of his legendary career, turned an unassisted double play from the outfield by catching a deep fly ball and doubling off a runner. It was the kind of instinctive, heads-up play that fans talked about long after the game ended.

The series also reflected the shifting balance of power in Philadelphia baseball. The Athletics, especially during their championship years in the early 20th century, often had the upper hand. Later on, as the Phillies rose in prominence, the competition evened out. By the time the Athletics left for Kansas City in 1955, the City Series had already begun to lose some of its significance, but its impact was lasting.

In many ways, the City Series was a preview of what interleague play would eventually become. It gave fans something they did not often get to see and created moments that blended exhibition with real competitive fire. Even now, it stands as a unique chapter in Philadelphia baseball history, one that captured the spirit of the game at a time when local rivalries meant everything.

Philadelphia Baseball Events for April 6

• April 6, 1974 – On Opening Day, Mike Schmidt hit a two-run walk-off home run off Tug McGraw of the Mets in the ninth inning to give the Phillies a 5–4 win, the first walk-off home run on Opening Day in franchise history.
• April 6, 1975 – The Phillies released pitcher Eddie Watt after he had appeared in 47 games for the club during the 1974 season and posted a 3.99 ERA.
• April 6, 1978 – The Phillies released infielder Terry Harmon, who had spent his entire career (1967-1977) with the Phillies.
• April 6, 1985 – The Phillies traded Bill Campbell and Iván DeJesús to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for pitcher Dave Rucker.
• April 6, 1990 – The Phillies signed free agent pitcher Dickie Noles, who had previously been part of the club’s 1980 World Series championship team. He pitched just 0.1 innings for the Phillies in 1990 and allowed a run.
• April 6, 1995 – The Phillies signed free agent third baseman Charlie Hayes, who had previously played for the team from 1989-1991.
• April 6, 2001 – The Phillies retired the numbers of Jim Bunning (No. 14) and honored Grover Cleveland Alexander and Chuck Klein, whose numbers were not retired because in Alexander’s day, players did not wear numbers and Klein wore six different numbers while playing in Philly.
• April 6, 2006 – Jimmy Rollins had his team-record 38-game hitting streak snapped as Cardinals pitchers Jason Marquis and Josh Hancock held him hitless in a 4–2 Phillies loss.

Philadelphia Baseball Birthdays for April 6

• Dee Moore (born 1914) – A catcher who appeared in parts of two seasons (1943, 1946) with the Phillies, appearing in 48 career games as a Phillie and batting .222.
• Wayne Graham (born 1937) – An infielder in the Phillies organization who played briefly for the Phillies in 1963 and hit just .182 in 10 games. Graham later became a highly successful college coach at Rice University.
• Tommy Greene (born 1967) – A right-handed pitcher who played five-plus seasons for the Phillies. Best known for throwing a no-hitter on May 23, 1991 against the Montreal Expos.