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In Honor of 2/22/22, Here are the Best #2’s and #22’s in Philadelphia Sports History

Kyle Pagan

By Kyle Pagan

Published:

via Eagles/twitter

If you didn’t know, today is the February 22nd, 2022, or 2/22/22. It’s a palindrome. It’s on a Tuesday. People are flocking to Las Vegas to get married because of it. Happy Twosday to you and yours, now let’s get into the best players from the major franchises to rock the #2 and #22.

 

Philadelphia Eagles

#2 David Akers

David Akers is the Eagles’ career leader in points scored. Game winners in the playoffs and game winners on a torn hamstring. This is the greatest #2 in Eagles history and if you want to fight me on that just watch him tear apart Dallas Cowboys fans at the draft:

#22 Asante Samuel

This was easily the hardest pick in the entire blog. People love Duce Staley. But outside of the ‘Pickle Juice Game,’ Duce averaged 49 yards a game and accounted for 22 TDs in seven seasons. Asante Samuel had more picks (23) in four seasons to go along with three Pro Bowls and an All-Pro 2nd Team. The only reason Asante Samuel isn’t more beloved in this city is because your dad hated that he couldn’t tackle.

 

Philadelphia Sixers

#2 Moses Malone

The only guy to wear #2 in Sixers history. A Hall of Famer and the guy who coined “Fo, Fo, Fo” on the way to a title. If Asante Samuel was the hardest pick, this was the easiest. Easily the coolest Sports Illustrated cover and poster of the 80s too:

#22 Andrew Toney

Anytime you get a nickname from the sportswriters that cover the other team, that’s respect. Not to mention “The Boston Strangler” is one of the best nicknames in Philadelphia sports history. This guy killed the Celtics in the 80s:

Charles Barkley says he’s the best player he ever played with. If it wasn’t for chronic foot injuries that cut his career short he’d arguably be a Hall of Famer.

 

Philadelphia Phillies

#2 Granny Hamner

Who?

Yea Granny Hamner. If you don’t know who Granny Hamner is we can’t talk seam bro. Granny Hamner, former Whiz Kid, 3x All Star, 16 years on the Phillies, 1,500 hits, Phillies Wall of Famer. They don’t just give out Wall of Fames to every Tom, Dick and Harry that passes through the organization!

Plus there isn’t a ton of Phillies who’ve had success rocking the #2 in red pinstripes. Jean Segura, Rico Brogna, and Ben Revere never served in WWII. Granville Wilbur Hamner has.

#22 Andrew McCutchen

#22 hasn’t been to kind to the Phillies either. 51 players have worn it and the most recent, Andrew McCutchen, might be the best to ever put it on. A guy who played 260 games over three seasons due to injury in the later stages of his career is the best #22 in team history. Mike Schmidt wore the number for a season back in 1972 but that doesn’t count. For as bad as the play was in the #22 jersey, it’s worn by guys with the coolest names in Phillies history: Casper Wells (2013), Turkey Tyson (1944), Schoolboy Rowe (1943), Chile Gomez (1935), Snipe Hansen (1932).

 

Philadelphia Flyers

#2 Mark Howe

Any guy who says he would’ve liked to slash his coach a couple times in his Hall of Fame speech is alright in my book:

YouTube video

Another #2 that hangs in the rafters of the Wells Fargo Center. Mark Howe was a 3x All-Star and racked up almost 500 points in 10 seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers.

#22 Rick Tocchet

YouTube video

How many guys do you know can plead guilty to a nationwide gambling ring involving hockey players and still get a job in the NHL? That earns you the honor of being the best #22 in Flyers history.

Kyle Pagan
Kyle Pagan

Kyle writes blog posts and does Man on the Street-style videos all around Philadelphia. He graduated from Temple University (a basketball school) in 2015. contact: k.pagan@sportradar.com

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