Philadelphia became the first Major League Baseball franchise to reach 10,000 losses yesterday, after a lopsided defeat by St. Louis; the 127-year-old club is now 8,810-10,000, a record that reflects one championship season and many more of total futility. This year's resilient Phillies had stalled at 9,999 for three games spanning the All-Star break.
Philadelphia holds the record with 16 consecutive losing seasons (set during the 1930s and 40s), and went 17-81 during their first season in 1883. Center fielder Aaron Rowand, speaking for the current clubhouse, denied culpability: "The guys in here weren't responsible for 10,000 losses, so what does it really matter to us?" (More MLB stories.)