Best Record: 97-65 (1976 & 1988)
Worst Record: 22-103 (1933)
Playoff Appearances: 3
Championships: 1 (1958)
When the NBL was born in 1895, there were two teams in Philadelphia, one of whom was the Philadelphia Yellow Jackets. Neither one of Philadelphia's teams was very good, but the Yellow Jackets were clearly the weaker of the two teams. They never finished with a winning record until 1950, at which time they were in their third home. They were the first team in the NBL to relocate, as owner Thomas Erickson moved them to Indianapolis, Indiana in the 1926-27 offseason. The Yellow Jackets were given a new name: the Indianapolis Blues. The team continued to lose in Indianapolis, and attendance and money kept going down as well. After Thomas Erickson died, his son Bryan took over the team and almost immediately began searching for a new home. Erickson moved the team after the 1941 season, taking them to Memphis, Tennessee. They played as the Memphis Blues for four years until Erickson renamed them the Memphis Panthers for the 1946 season. In 1950, the Panthers finally finished with a winning record after 55 consecutive losing seasons.
When the Captains and Seals of the NBC moved to California, the ABC wanted to put teams out west as well. The original intention was to place two expansion teams in California, but Erickson approached the league about moving again. He was approved to move the Panthers to Oakland for the 1956 season, and they began their time out west along with their counterpart the expansion San Diego Sharks (the other expansion team ended up being placed in Toronto). Bryan Erickson died during the 1968 season, and his son Tom took over the team and is still the owner of the franchise today. Two years after arriving in Oakland, the Panthers made the playoffs for the first time in their history, moving on to the World Series and defeating the Roadrunners for their first--and to date only--championship. They have only made the playoffs two other times in their history: 1981 and this past year in 1989, losing in the first round both times. They are currently trying to get a new stadium, and there are rumors that Tom Erickson is looking to move the team again, just as his father and grandfather have done before him.
Outlook for 1990:
They've had three winning seasons in a row and look to be a strong contender going into 1990.
Current Manager:
Frank McKinney has been the Panthers' manager since 1986. McKinney previously managed the Seattle Sea Monsters in 1973 through 1976. In his playing career, McKinney was a pitcher in the minor leagues for three years, from 1946 through 1948. His son, Bryan McKinney, has been pitching since 1973, mostly in the minors but occasionally getting a call-up to the big leagues. He last appeared in the Majors with the Philadelphia Hornets in 1988 and is still in their minor league system.
Hall of Famers:
None