Identity is something that everyone searches for within themselves at pivotal moments throughout their lifetime. Having an identity or being known for something is not just limited to mankind, however, and many sports teams have created mantras to describe who they are. An identity can be relatable or just downright fun to watch.
The Phillies, who have struggled with this in the past, need to find their new identity if they’d like to compete in the future.
Around the League
Around the league today, many teams have developed new identities to shape who they are.
The Tampa Bay Rays are notorious in baseball for always making the right trade. The Rays always seem to move off of a player right before they begin to decline. There is a connotation with the Rays that if you make a trade with the organization, you most likely lose out on the deal.
The New York Yankees for decades have been the villain of baseball. The Bronx Bombers are notorious for signing the best players away from small-market teams. George Steinbrenner is one of the most colorful characters in the history of the game of baseball. The Yankees have 27 World Series titles, need I say anymore?
The Big Red Machine captivated baseball and the Cincinnati Reds in the 1970s. Baseball fans grow up learning about Murder’s Row and the 1927 Yankees. Even the Mets have the “Miracle Mets” from their 1969 World Series championship team.
Other Sports Participate Too
Outside of baseball, other sports have infamous nicknames for some of their top franchises. The Pittsburgh Steelers and the “Steel Curtain”, the Flyers and the “Broad Street Bullies,” and the 1992 Olympics Men’s Basketball squad with the “Dream Team”.
Our Own Identity
The Phillies have had some fun identities in the past as well. The “Whiz Kids” of 1950, the “Comeback Kids” of 1980, and the “Misfits” in 1993. These names help fans recall specific time periods and remember how much fun it was to root for these squads. Just because a squad doesn’t end up winning it all, their legacies will last forever.
The 2022 Phillies have a chance to shape their own path this season. This year’s club needs to help spark some belief back into the city and give the fans something to root for.
The lack of success for the last decade has placed a sour taste in Philadelphia sports fans’ mouths. Even when the Phillies seemed to turn a corner last season, many people refused to buy back in. The Phils need to break out of this slump that has cast a shadow of doubt over the franchise the last 11 seasons. By creating a new identity for themselves and the city, the Phillies can finally buy back into our club.
Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire
