In the spotlight
The Flag That Gave Penn One More Kick—and Left Harvard Protesting
A disputed flag gave Penn another kick against Harvard—and one of the Ivy League’s most enduring finishes.
The Philadelphia Edition
A city of unforgettable games.
From the grandstands to the neighborhood courts, Philadelphia has always played with heart. We explore the people, places and moments that made its sporting history.
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The latest from the Chronicle
Ice hockey
Ron Hextall’s First Goal Began With a Shot He Didn’t Take
The first time Ron Hextall had a chance to shoot at Boston’s empty net, he cleared the puck instead.
Ice hockey
Before the Cups, Bernie Parent’s Philadelphia Home Was the Civic Center
The most revealing stop on Bernie Parent’s path to a Stanley Cup was not far from the Spectrum. It was across Philadelphia, at the Civic Center, where a second professional hockey team played before modest crowds on a rink Parent came to dislike.
Football
Temple’s Unbeaten Season Helped Give the First Sugar Bowl Its Start
Before the Sugar Bowl could become a New Year’s Day fixture, it needed something more immediate: two teams people would want to see play.
Baseball
Eight Runs Down at Shibe Park: The A’s Rally That Changed the Series
The most famous hit of the Philadelphia Athletics’ 1929 World Series did not put them ahead.
Great Games
Football
The Flag That Gave Penn One More Kick—and Left Harvard Protesting
A disputed flag gave Penn another kick against Harvard—and one of the Ivy League’s most enduring finishes.
Ice hockey
Ron Hextall’s First Goal Began With a Shot He Didn’t Take
The first time Ron Hextall had a chance to shoot at Boston’s empty net, he cleared the puck instead.
Ice hockey
The Flyers Beat the Red Army by Holding Their Ground
Against the Soviet Red Army, Philadelphia’s 1976 Flyers held their shape as well as their nerve.
Forgotten Stories
Rowing
A Place on the Row, a Race of Their Own
How Philadelphia women built a rowing club, claimed a place on Boathouse Row, and made room to race.
Baseball
Baker Bowl’s Famous “Hump” May Have Been in the Street, Not the Outfield
Baker Bowl’s rail connection was real. The familiar outfield-hump explanation is harder to prove.
Basketball
Before the Big 5 Was a Tradition, It Was a Plan for the Palestra
The Big 5 began with schedules, renovations and a modest crowd—not an instant tradition.
From the Archives
Soccer
The Philadelphia Atoms Built a Team That Could Survive Losing Its Top Scorers
The expansion Atoms lost their top scorers before the title game. Their roster had enough depth to win anyway.
Ice hockey
Before the Cups, Bernie Parent’s Philadelphia Home Was the Civic Center
The most revealing stop on Bernie Parent’s path to a Stanley Cup was not far from the Spectrum. It was across Philadelphia, at the Civic Center, where a second professional hockey team played before modest crowds on a rink Parent came to dislike.
Football
Temple’s Unbeaten Season Helped Give the First Sugar Bowl Its Start
Before the Sugar Bowl could become a New Year’s Day fixture, it needed something more immediate: two teams people would want to see play.