Blangraphs

In honor of Joe B. and the Sixers' current playoff run, we at Blangraphs salute every Philly pro we could find who ever wore the big #56.

Philadelphia Soul (Arena Football)

Complete List Unknown.
 
Unfortunately, our Blangraphs network security team warned us that the Soul website might steal credit card information if we tried to look up past jersey numbers. As we have already used up the Blancorp fraud budget for the year trying to buy bulk discounted Michael Martinez autographs, we were unable to proceed at this time.

Our research team was able to determine that DL Willie McGinnis wore #56 for the Soul last year. He had 3 tackles.

Philadelphia Union (MLS)


 No players have worn 56 for the Union. They are the city's pro soccer team and play in Chester. Someday, perhaps, they will honor the Blan when some footballer takes up the mantle of 56.

 Philadelphia Stars (USFL)

George Cooper (pictured tackling Herschel Walker) and Buddy Moor. The Stars were in Philadelphia for just two seasons, but went 31-5 in their 1983 and 1984 regular seasons and won a USFL championship before they left the city. The Stars' move to Baltimore and the entire USFL's demise after 1985 came about for the same reason: the USFL schedule moved from spring to fall, and put the league in direct competition for stadiums and viewers with the much more powerful NFL and MLB.

Philadelphia Stars and Darby Hilldale Club (Negro Leagues)
Jersey Numbers Unknown. Records of Negro League statistics and jersey numbers are not well-documented, and some photos do not include jerseys with numbers. The Hilldale Club played into the 1930s before disbanding amidst the Great Depression, and the Stars played until 1952. Phil Cockrell of Hilldale had two no-hitters in his career, and the Stars won a championship in the '40s.






 Philadelphia Flyers (NHL)

Claude Giroux, Tyrell Goulbourne, and Mike McKenna. No player has worn 56 for a long time on the Flyers. Giroux wore it as his sweater number (as jerseys are apparently called in the NHL) in his first two games with the flyers, then newcomer Goulbourne last year, and McKenna stopped by for a couple of games in 2019 as 56.
 
Philadelphia 76ers (NBA)
None. But 65 was worn by George Ratkovic, who by player comparisons could be said to be the DeMarcus Cousins of 1950.

 Philadelphia Eagles (NFL)

Bill Hewitt, Fred Whittingham, Bill Hobbs, Bill Overmyer, Dean Halverson, Jerry Robinson, Byron Evans, David Brown, Joe Kelly, Darrin Smith, Mike Caldwell, Shawn Barber, Derrick Burgess, Greg Richmond, Akeem Jordan, Phillip Hunt, Bryan Braman, and Chris Long.
Hewitt played for the Eagles, the Steagles, and the Bears - in fact, the Bears even retired #56 in his honor. 

Whittingham and Hobbs played for the Eagles, among other teams, in the '60s and '70s. Bill Overmyer and Halverson made brief appearances with the Eagles. 

Jerry Robinson was a first round pick as a tight end, but ended up playing linebacker on the 1980 Super Bowl team and also made a pro bowl.

Evans, Brown, and Kelly had short stints as defenders for the Eagles, and Darrin Smith's time in Philly was shortened by injury.

Mike Caldwell was an LB for the Eagles in the 1990s and later became a coach for them. He is now an LB coach with the Arizona Cardinals. Shawn Barber had two quick appearances with the Eagles and later worked in coaching as well.

Derrick Burgess, a DE, was a huge part of the Eagles' victory over Michael Vick and the Falcons in the 2004 NFC Championship Game. 

Greg Richmond never really saw the field for the Eagles and is now a college coach.

Akeem Jordan was a UDFA who battled from the practice squad onto the roster and became a starting linebacker for some of the 2000s. Phillip Hunt saw some playing time before he became injured.

Super Bowl Champion Bryan Braman was not wearing #56 (his original number) when the Eagles beat the Patriots in February of 2018, as it was assigned to teammate Chris Long (pictured above). 

Philadelphia Phillies (MLB)
Dave Wehrmeister, Rich Surhoff, Jay Baller, Bob Wells, Calvin Maduro, Brandon Duckworth, Geoff Geary, R.J. Swindle, Joe Blanton, Cesar Jimenez, Nefi Ogando, and Zach Eflin.

Wehrmeister: a pitcher who served in the '80s. Surhoff: 1-0 as a starter in 1985. Baller: Another pitcher who was traded for Von Hayes. Wells also went 1-0. Maduro is now a scout for the Orioles. 

And then the legends start rolling in. 

Duckworth was followed by the loyal Duck Pond fan group from his first start at Veteran's Stadium. Geary shut down NL hitters for a couple of years in the late 2000s. RJ Swindle took batters for a ride with his tricky delivery...

and then came Blanton. WS Champion, home run smasher, and pitching pioneer. Big Joe wore 56 throughout his MLB career, or at least that's our story and we don't feel like looking it up. If it's not entirely true, please don't let us know.

For some reason, Blanton was kind enough not to ask that his number be retired for all time, and it has since been proudly worn by relievers Cesar Jimenez and Nefi Ogando. Now, a new era of tribute has begun with the efforts of Zach Eflin, another starting pitcher who has been working on crushing home runs; he hit one last year.