August 31st, 2022
Larry Shenk
Eighty years ago, the Phillies shortened their name to Phils. The season was the 60th in franchise history and came on the heels of nine consecutive losing seasons of which the final four saw the team suffer over 100 defeats.
But wait!
Familiar faces in a “PHILS” team photo include John Kruk, Terry Mulholland, Dave Hollins, Lenny Dykstra, John Vukovich and Mel Roberts. They weren’t even born in 1942. What gives?
This “PHILS” uniform resurfaced for one game -- May 3, 1992. The occasion was a “Turn Back The Clock” promotion by the San Francisco Giants in Candlestick Park.
Trying to recreate a Phillies-Giants game from 1942, the Giants wore “NY” initials on their blue caps while the Phillies wore gray “PHILS” uniforms. The Phils won, 12-3, with second baseman Mariano Duncan scoring five runs, with five hits in five at-bats.
As you can see in the team photo “PHILS” was spelled out in block letters across the front of the team’s gray road uniforms. The home uniform contained a black block P.
The uniform was first worn April 17 against the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field. It was last worn Sept. 25 at the Polo Grounds in the second game of a doubleheader against the New York Giants. It was the season’s 32nd and last doubleheader.
The name change didn’t have a positive effect, as the 1942 club finished 42-109. Shibe Park attendance totaled 230,183.
Why Phils? Found the following explanation.
That product was a “Phillies” cigar manufactured by the Bayuk Cigar Company.
Hans Lobert was in his rookie season as the manager. The Wilmington, Del., native was a third baseman with five teams over 14 seasons (1903, 1905-17), including the Phillies (1911-14). He also coached for the organization, 1923-41, and he was the interim manager for the final two games of the 1938 season.
According to additional sources, Hans had his hands in the name change. He thought that “Phils” sounded better. Plus, Phillies had become synonymous with losing baseball and he wanted to change the culture.
Financially strapped owner Gerry Nugent saw the National League take over operation of the franchise in September. The league sold the club to William Cox the following March. The name Phillies returned.
Lobert and the name Phils had one thing in common. Each lasted one season.
Since then, “Phils” is often used as a secondary name.
One more nugget. The 1992 Phils scored 12 runs in that May 3 game. The most runs the 1942 Phils scored in a game was nine -- the final game in that uniform, and also their 42nd and final win (9-1) of the season.
