Throwback Thursday - Philadelphia Flyers Victory Parade 1975

No, this is not Bombay India, this is center city Philly May 1975 victory parade for the Philadelphia Flyers hockey team

For many years I was a Philadelphia sports fan.  Specifically the Philadelphia Phillies, the Philadelphia baseball team.  As a young man I would listen or watch almost every game I could watch.  I was accustomed to Philly always coming out on the losing end.  Especially painful was the 1964 loss of the National League pennant.  I think they had something like fourteen games to go and they only had to win one game and they would clinch the pennant.  Of course they lost every game.  I basically gave up on Philly sports at that date, convinced that Philly would always be a loser.

The Philadelphia Flyers hockey team - 1975 Stanley Cup winners!

Then came along the 1975 Philadelphia Flyers, a hockey team.  Now I will admit I never saw a hockey game in my life and I still haven't.  But when the Philadelphia Flyers, also known as the "Broad Street Bullies" won the 1975 Stanley Cup final, I was there in center city Philly to savor the moment. 


The photos I have posted in this blog are ones I took from the bank where I worked on Broad Street.  

Folks, let me tell you, over two million people jammed center city Philly that spring day in 1975.  It was the largest championship parade in the history of Philadelphia sports.  To us who lived and suffered years of "loser" in Philly, finally winning meant that we were just as good as any frigging city in the country.  

The honor guard rounding city hall

And then came 1980 when my beloved Philadelphia Phillies finally won the World Series, the first in their history.  Oh yes, we had a celebration then and I was living in center city Philly then.  That was some celebration but folks, nothing like that first win, the Philadelphia Flyers in 1975. 

That victory was sweet.

Me in Philadelphia celebrating the Philadelphia Phillies World Series win - 1980

Throwback Thursday - May 28 1975

The Philadelphia Mounted Police lead the Flyers' Victory Parade - Frank Rizzo in charge

Today's "Throwback Thursday" (which I'm late posting put it's not midnight yet) is the Philadelphia Flyers' Victory Parade through center city Philadelphia May 28, 1975.  

Our heroes - the Philadelphia Flyers hockey team

I remember that day just like it was last year.  The Philadelphia Flyers (Philadelphia's hockey team) won the Stanley Cup from the Boston Bruins.  Their win was a big deal not only because they won because this was the FIRST big win of any sports franchise for Philadelphia ever.  Prior to this date the only time Philadelphia won anything was when the Philadelphia Phillies (baseball) won the National League pennant in 1950.  That win was soured because the Phillies went on to lose the World Series in four straight games to the powerful New York Yankees.  So this win by the Philadelphia Flyers got Philadelphia's reputation back as a first class city and not just a way stop between New York City and Washington D.C.

Check out the fans on the bus bringing up the rear

I took these pictures from the third floor of Girard Bank where I worked during those long ago days.  I was so lucky to have a job in the city.  I was also in center city when the Philadelphia Phillies won the National League pennant over the Montreal Expos then the World Series from the Houston Astros.  How how sweet it was.  I have photos of that fabulous center city celebration too.  But for today's Throwback Thursday, Philly celebrating their first big time win, sweet.  

A typical spring lunch crowd in center city Philly (when the Flyers win!)