8 Worst Trades In Philly Sports History

On the eve of the likely Donovan McNabb trade, let’s look back at some of the worst trades in Philadelphia sports history.

To be sure, some epic trades have worked out well for our local pro sports teams. In 1958, the Eagles stole Norm Van Brocklin from the Rams. The Phillies got Steve Carlton for Rick Wise. The Sixers bought Julius Erving’s contract from the Nets.

However, Philadelphia sports fans tend to remember the bad trades more. That’s why the ghost of the Sunny Jurgensen trade in 1964 arose when McNabb’s name was linked to the Redskins this weekend.

But looking back, it would be hard for the Eagles to get the worst end of a deal that these 8 deals.

Flyers Get Eric Lindros from Quebec

On the surface, this doesn’t seem like the worst trade in Philadelphia sports history until you look at the huge price the Flyers’ paid.

In 1992, the Flyers traded the rights to Peter Forsberg for Lindros, who turned out to be a better player than Lindros. Forsberg won two Stanley Cups in Colorado.

In addition, the Flyers gave up Ron Hextall, Chris Simon, Mike Ricci, Kerry Huffman, Steve Duchesne, two first-round draft picks and $15 million.

Sixers trade Wilt Chamberlain to Lakers
 
Wilt wanted more money but was traded just a year after leading the Sixers to the NBA title.

The Sixers got Darrall Imhoff, Archie Clark and Jerry Chambers from Los Angeles. Back in 1962, Chamberlain scored 100 points against Imhoff in an NBA game.

Phillies Dump Ferguson Jenkins On Cubs

In 1965, the Phillies sent Jenkins to the Chicago Cubs, along with Adolfo Phillips and John Herrnstein, for pitchers Larry Jackson and Bob Buhl, two older starting pitchers.

Jenkins went onto a Hall Of Fame career and won 284 games, and won 20 games for 6 straight seasons.

Phillies Send Ryne Sandberg To Cubs

Sandberg was traded along with shortstop Larry Bowa to the Cubs for shortstop Ivan DeJesus in 1982. DeJesus lasted three seasons in Philadelphia. Sandberg was named to the Hall of Fame in 2005.

Sixers Trade Moses, Lose Daugherty

On June 16, 1968, Hall of Famer Moses Malone was sent to the Washington along with Terry Catledge and two first-round draft choices in exchange for Jeff Ruland and Cliff Robinson. On the same day, the Sixers traded the first overall pick in the NBA draft (Brad Daugherty) to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Roy Hinson.

It took the Sixers more than a decade to recover from the trades.

Eagles Send Sonny Jurgensen to Redskins

Fans forget that the Eagles were a competitive NFL team for a few seasons after the 1960 NFL title win.

But they fell on hard times by 1964 and dumped Jurgensen on the Redskins for Norm Snead.

Jurgensen made the Hall of Fame with the Redskins, while Snead started for seven years in Philadelphia, with the team losing in 6 of those 7 seasons.

Eagles Lose Sapp, Get Mamula

In 1995, the Eagles traded with Tampa to move up to get Mike Mamula in the NFL draft, and Tampa used the Eagles former pick to draft Warren Sapp. The Eagles also gave Tampa two second-round picks.

Sapp came back to lead Tampa over the Eagles in the last game at the Vet.

Phillies Send Schilling To Arizona

In 2000, the Phillies traded long-time ace Curt Schilling to Arizona for first baseman Travis Lee and pitchers Vicente Padilla, Omar Daal and Nelson Figueroa.

Schilling went to collect three World Series rings.

Dishonorable mention: the Von Hayes trade; the Scott Rolen trade; Barkley sent to Suns; Phils sell Grover Cleveland Alexander; the As sell Lefty Grove; the Eagles trade up for Antoine Davis; Flyers send Parent to Toronto.