1994 All Star Game Tribute – Philadelphia

Philadelphia Quakers: A Look Back Fact Sheet

Like the two previous All Star Sites, here is the Philadelphia Fact Sheet.

SEASONS/BROAD HISTORY

- True to their Quaker name and mascot, Philadelphia has been one of the more quiet and under the radar franchises around.  The franchise came together in the late '60's and was owned by the Quaker Society of Pennsylvania as the league's only non-profit organization.  The years that the Quaker Society owned the Quakers were considered the glory years, from the span of 1970-1978.  It was this period of time that the Quakers made the playoffs 5 of their 6 total appearances and won the 1971 World Series.

-  In addition to being a competitive team under the Quaker Society, the Philadelphia Quakers also had the renowned Quaker Field.  The most beautiful baseball stadium in the entire EWB, or for that matter anywhere.  The members of the Quakers (real Quakers not the players), cultivated the infield and outfield to perfection.  There was no finer field anywhere and it was light years ahead of the times and technology of modern field maintenance.  The difference between Philly's field and San Antonio's all dirt IF (until 1976) was staggering.  In addition to the beautiful field, beyond the center field and right field walls were extravagant gardens, flowers, and fountains all maintained on a daily basis.  Beyond left field was a garden of herbs, vegetables, fruits, corn etc.  This was grown in part to feed the players who were kept on a nutritious diet of oats and vegetables.  Once again years ahead of modern nutrition science.

- Unfortunately for Philadelphia, all good things eventually come to an end.  The Quaker Society saw their numbers drop drastically from a confluence of modern day secularism, commerce, technology, and basically the world outgrowing them.  They were no longer able to maintain the club and the stadium and it was sold to the Quaker Oats Company, who felt it was a great opportunity to market their massive food conglomerate.  In 1979 their was a sense of sadness throughout EWB as corporatism once again triumphed over what seemed good and right.

- The Quaker Oats company took a much different approach to running the team.  Payroll was cut, the park amenities slashed and profit became the number one motive.  Philadelphia went into a funk for years, until finally reaching the playoffs last year in 1993.

-  Their 1971 World Series team defeated the Denver Amigos.  Philadelphia won the Colonial Division but had the worst record of the playoff teams, and really was a feel good story.  None of their players was really great, they had a good SP Juan Gallo and Eliot Arrington was their main force on offense.  They were in the upper half of team pitching and team hitting (ranked by R/G) but still not elite.

- After reaching the 1978 playoffs they went into a funk finishing 5th or 4th every year until 1986.  However, their horrible 59-103 1983 allowed them to be in position to draft star, Henry Winman, in 1984.

- The last couple of years it has looked like the Quakers may have a great young team to compete again.  However, injuries and poor player development has shocked the system.

MANAGERS

Billy Martin, 1970-73 - The inaugural Quaker manager couldn't have been a better one than Billy Martin.  Martin recently voted into the Hall of Fame is considered one of the top managers ever, and is well respected by everyone.  Having played and managed in the New York State League, Martin was considered a top managing prospect.  He was drawn to Philly as he wanted an organization that he felt he would have less conflict and tension with ownership and upper management.  What better than to work for Quakers then?  Martin immediately took the team to the playoffs in 1970, rallied them to a World Series in 1971 and then took them to a 2nd consecutive Colonial Pennant and another playoff in 1972.  After a hugely disappointing 1973 season, Martin went on a raging bender and destroyed 33 cornstalks and 10 squash plants in left field.  The Quaker management finally felt that Martin was not a logical choice as he does not quite reflect their values.  Martin was ready to move on as well, he went to Denver after taking a year off.  He rattled off 3 consecutive playoff appearances in Denver.  Martin's history is well known so I won't repeat it.

Ramon Deleon, 1974-1975 - Ramon Deleon was a perfect antidote to the high intensity Martin.  The players felt much more relaxed under their easy going Dominincan manager and he took them to the playoffs in 1974.  Deleon came to Philly after managing the LA Gargoyles and taking them to the playoffs.  Unfortunately in 1975 the Quakers dropped off again and Deleon took the fall.

Vicente Flores, 1976 - Flores was profiled on the Cincinnati Look Back as he was their first coach, taking them to one playoff.  He had a dismal year in Philly in 1976 and was canned immediately after the season.  He went to coach as an assistant and never became a manager again.

Ray James, 1977-1979 - Ray James was brought out of the Northwest League (R) after 2 years experience to head the helm of the Philly team. Many believe that because he was from Zelienople (Pennsylvania) and was rumoured to have a Quaker family background was the reason he was given the job.  James had some success, never guiding the team below a .500 record and making the playoffs in 1978.  Unfortunately when his contract expired the new owners, Quaker Oats Company wanted to go in a new direction.  James got a job in Salt Lake City and the Bluefield.  He is currently deceased.

Chris Guy, 1980-1985 - The corporate Quaker Oats Company wanting to slash payroll, brought in Chris Guy, who prior to taking over the Quakers was a Single A hitting coach with no manager experience at any level.  It showed, the Quakers went on a 5 year slide where they only reached 70+ (74) wins once.  In addition, they suffered their worst season ever, 59-103 in 1983.  Guy was fired in 1985 after attendance dropped so much the the owners had to do something.  Chris Guy got a 2nd chance in NY, for God only knows what reason, but only lasted 2 years.  Since then he's dropped off the face of the earth.

Calvin Allen, 1986-1989 - The somewhat experience minor league manager Calvin Allen took over, and continued to lead Philly to very mediocre records.  Allen had no success before Philly, nor since.  He can be credited a little degree for the organization cultivating the young stars that were soon to come.

Luis Romero, 1990-1992 - Romero was a wily veteran who had been scouting for Philadelphia when he took over the reigns.  Wiley's last managing job was a stint in 1970-71 in the Southern League when he took the 1970 Huntsville team to the Championship.  Romero was unable to do better than 3rd in a tough Colonial Division with Boston and NY.

Armando Ortiz, 1993- Present - Philly, once again, decided to go with veteran experience.  Ortiz won his 1st Championship in 1970 as the manager of the PCL Sacramento Sea Devils.  He won another minor league championship in 1983.  Taking over the 1993 Quakers he showed great promise, taking the Quakers to their first playoffs since 1978!  However, 1994 has been racked with injuries and Philly is struggling.  We'll see, but most have a lot of confidence in Ortiz.

TROPHY ROOM

- The Quakers have 5 Colonial Division Pennants :  1971, 1972, 1974, 1978, 1993

- 2 NL Pennants : 1971 and 1978

- One World Series Trophy : 1971

- The only piece of hardware belongs to Jose Morales who won the 1991 Angel Rosa Award.

HALL OF FAME

-  ******** NO Hall of Famers ever played in Philadelphia.