Where the Phillies Stood on Independence Day

“How often does the team that is leading the pack on July Fourth win the pennant in the National League?” So asked Jack (Peerless) McGrath in the Troy Record on July 2nd, 1949 (and yes, that is how he was credited in the byline). In answering that question, he picked 1915 as the year to start, “since that was the time the Phillies won their only pennant and every team in the league, except the Phillies, have won at least once since that season”.

It was tough being a Phillies fan in those days, but at least their pennantless streak made for a convenient benchmark.

The answer to the question, by the way, was half of the time: in 17 of the 34 seasons from 1915 on, the leader on July 4th…