As the Philadelphia Phillies mark the 142nd anniversary of their inaugural game, the franchise is set to honor three early-era legends who formed one of the most dominant outfields in Major League Baseball history.
On Thursday, before their 6:45 p.m. game against the Washington Nationals, the Phillies will officially add Ed Delahanty, Billy Hamilton, and Sam Thompson to their Retired Numbers display at Citizens Bank Park.
Though these Hall of Fame outfielders played long before uniform numbers were introduced, each will be commemorated with unique insignias from their era.
Their names and era-specific icons will be added to the brick wall above Ashburn Alley and to individual retired number disks in the left field plaza, placing them alongside Phillies greats such as Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton, and Richie Ashburn.
The ceremony marks a long-awaited tribute to a trio who, in 1894, each batted over .400—a feat unmatched by any other outfield unit in baseball history.
“We have an incredible storied history, and as we celebrate our 142nd birthday, we are proud to immortalize these early legends,” said Phillies Managing Partner and CEO John Middleton. “Delahanty, Hamilton, and Thompson were baseball superstars, and it is only fitting that they be recognized among the Phillies’ greatest.”
Delahanty, a left fielder who played with the Phillies from 1888 to 1901, was the first player in MLB history to hit .400 three times.
He still holds the eighth-highest career batting average in league history. In 1899, he led the majors in batting average (.408), hits (234), and doubles (56).
also spotted: ed delahanty jersey pic.twitter.com/stoO8cNJiF
Known for his power and versatility, Delahanty ranks first in Phillies history with 221 outfield assists and second in career runs scored.
Hamilton, a six-year Phillie from 1890 to 1895 and nicknamed “Sliding Billy,” was a base-stealing machine.
His 198 runs scored in 1894 remain the most ever in a single MLB season, and his career average of 1.06 runs per game remains the highest in history.
On August 31st, 1894, "Sliding" Billy Hamilton stole 7 bases in a single game against Washington, still an MLB record. He would finish the season with 100 stolen bases, and is 3rd all time in MLB history in career stolen bases. He was inducted into the @baseballhall in 1961. pic.twitter.com/1ExKh338M2
Hamilton leads the Phillies franchise with 508 career stolen bases and is third all-time in MLB history behind Rickey Henderson and Lou Brock.
Thompson, a right fielder from 1889 to 1898, was one of the most consistent run producers in baseball history. He still holds the major league record for most RBIs per game in a season (1.42 in 1894) and the most RBIs in a month (61 in August 1895).
His career RBI-per-game rate of 0.923 is the highest in MLB history. Thompson also holds the Phillies’ single-season record for triples with 27.
Received a Big Sam Thompson bobblehead in the mail today. Hard to beat, if you ask me.#Phillies #Bobblehead pic.twitter.com/vidQWJs5DD
Together, from 1892 to 1895, Delahanty, Hamilton, and Thompson posted a combined batting average that exceeded the league average by nearly 100 points—a gap unmatched in the sport’s long history.
This historic recognition comes on the heels of a broader movement to acknowledge early baseball greats who lacked modern-day accolades like jersey numbers.
The Phillies' approach mirrors how they previously honored early stars like Chuck Klein and Grover Cleveland Alexander, both also without official uniform numbers.
The Phillies, who began play in 1883, are the longest-standing professional sports franchise in the U.S. to play in one city under one name.
The organization has retired the numbers of other all-time greats, including Mike Schmidt (20), Steve Carlton (32), Robin Roberts (36), and Roy Halladay (34), along with Jackie Robinson’s universally retired No. 42.
This latest move adds historical depth to the Phillies’ long tradition and ensures that Delahanty, Hamilton, and Thompson receive permanent recognition for their transformative impact on the game and the franchise.
