The Philadelphia Phillies have played in the same city longer than any other Major League team. They have also sported the same name for longer than anyone else. From 1883 to 1889, the team played as the Quakers, but took on the Phillies moniker—a play on the name of the city—in 1890. Though the team’s name changed briefly to the Blue Jays, from 1943-44, no one really called them by that name, sticking with Phillies.

The Phillies have definitely had their ups and downs over the years. They didn’t take their first pennant until 1915, the team’s first real winning year that ended in a World Series loss to the Red Sox. Even with great pitching from Grover Cleveland Alexander, the team couldn’t pull off another winning season. In fact, the team spent the next three decades finishing near the bottom of the league. Surprisingly, Phillies tickets still sold and fans showed up to watch them play.

In 1950, the team made a stunning about-face and pulled off a great season. The strength of players such as outfielder and leadoff hitter Richie Ashburn and pitcher Robin Roberts got the team to the World Series for the second time, but the perennial champion Yankees team shut down the dream of a title for the Phillies. The team sank right back to its losing ways, finishing no higher than second in the division for the next 15 years.

The Phillies changed in the mid-1970s. Baseball tickets to Veterans Stadium became a hot commodity when all of a sudden the losing Phillies turned into contenders. The team made the playoffs for three consecutive seasons, from 1976 to 1978. Legendary players such as power hitters Pete Rose and three-time MVP Mike Schmidt, and multiple-Cy Young winning pitcher Steve Carlton took the Phillies to their first World Series championship, beating the Royals in 1980. The team made the playoffs again the next year, and made it to another World Series in 1983, only to lose to the Orioles.

Another slump hit the team for the next ten years, many seasons ending with fewer than half the games won. The Phillies managed one more trip to the World Series in 1993, losing to the Blue Jays.

Since 2000, the team has moved into a new ballpark, Citizens Bank Park, and has kept hope alive for the fans buying Phillies tickets by regularly placing second in their division. Fans are still waiting to see if this team, buoyed by new talent, will turn into a winner once again.