Phils anniversary moments to look forward to in 2024

Some of the greatest moments in Philadelphia baseball history have anniversaries in this 2024 baseball season. Included is the end of a storied American League franchise, the pain of losing a pennant, opening two ballparks and a Hall of Fame induction in Cooperstown.

• Phillies Alumni

March 19, 1944

The Phillies are snowed out of their first day of Spring Training at Wilmington (Del.) Park. Because of travel restrictions during World War II, teams were required to hold Spring Training in areas north of the Potomac and Ohio Rivers and east of the Mississippi River in 1943-44-45. The Phillies were in Hershey, Pa., in 1943.

April 18, 1944

The Phillies open the season with a 4-1 win over the Brooklyn Dodgers before a 11,910 crowd at Shibe Park with a Blue Jays emblem on their uniform. In 1944 and 1945 the club used the nickname "Blue Jays". It was chosen from a February 1944 contest in which the Phillies received 5,064 letters and 634 suggestions.

Sep. 19, 1954

The Philadelphia Athletics, a charter member of the newly formed American League in 1901, play their final game at Connie Mack Stadium, a 4-2 loss to the New York Yankees before a Sunday afternoon crowd of 1,715. Oddly, Jim Konstanty, the NL MVP on the 1950 National League champion Phillies, saves the game, retiring all six batters he faces. The A’s close out their final season in Philadelphia with an 8-6 win at Yankee Stadium, Sept. 26. The franchise was sold and moved to Kansas City on Nov. 5.

July 7, 1964

A two-out, three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning by right fielder Johnny Callison gives the NL a dramatic 7-4 victory in the All-Star Game at Shea Stadium. Callison's blast to the right-field seats comes off the Boston Red Sox fire-balling righty Dick Radatz. Callison becomes the first Phillie to win the ASG MVP Award.

June 21, 1964, 1^st game

Jim Bunning (7-2) pitches the first perfect game in Phillies history when he blanks the Mets, 6-0, on Father's Day in New York. Gus Triandos catches the perfect game and becomes the first catcher ever to be behind the plate for no-hitters in each league. 18-year-old rookie righty Rick Wise wins his first Mmajor League game in the second game, 8-2.

Sept. 21, 1964

Leading the league by 6 ½ games with 12 games left in the Phillies season, Chico Ruiz steals home for a 1-0 Cincinnati win at Connie Mack Stadium. The one-run loss triggers a stunning 10-game losing streak. A trip to the World Series for the first time since 1950 vanishes. The agony hasn’t vanished.

July 31, 1994

Steve Carlton, the winningest pitcher in Phillies history, is inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Lefty drew 95.6% of the 436 votes from the Baseball Writers Association of America. The most recent previous Phillies icon to be elected by the BBWAA was Robin Roberts in 1976.

March 4, 2004

The Phillies defeat the New York Yankees, 5-1, in the first game played at Bright House Network Field before 8,205 -- a Clearwater record. Center fielder Marlon Byrd gets the first hit and Jimmy Rollins hits the first home run.

March 21, 2004

Veterans Stadium imploded in 62 seconds. Groundbreaking took place on October 2, 1967. 66 million fans attended Phillies games.

April 12, 2004

Citizens Bank Park’s first regular season game: Reds 4, Phillies 1. Bobby Abreu hits the first home run in the first inning. The Phillies are the first franchise to open two ballparks in one season. (Bright House Network Field, Clearwater, in March).

Sept. 1, 2014

Lefties Cole Hamels (6 innings) and Jake Diekman (1), and righties Ken Giles (1) and Jonathan Papelbon (1) throw the first combined no-hitter in franchise history in a 7-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. Carlos Ruiz catches his third no-hitter, a Phillies record.

Sept. 8, 2014

Rollins triples in his final Phillies plate appearance, during the fourth inning against the Pirates at Citizens Bank Park. His first hit was also a triple (third inning, 9/17/2000 vs. Marlins) at Veterans Stadium.