Philadelphia Phillies' resurgence under Don Mattingly revives city's baseball legacy

In the 2026 MLB season, the Philadelphia Phillies replaced manager Rob Thomson with former player Don Mattingly after a disappointing April. Mattingly, hired by his son—Phillies general manager—sparked a notable turnaround, lifting the team to the second‑best record in the National League.

The managerial shift has reignited discussion of Philadelphia’s broader baseball heritage. For half a century the city fielded two major‑league clubs: the Phillies in the National League and the Athletics in the American League. The Athletics, once a dominant franchise under Connie Mack, left Philadelphia after the 1954 season, ending the city’s dual‑team identity. A recent series between the Phillies and the relocated Athletics reminded fans of that lost era and underscored the enduring connection between the two franchises.