Sports in Pennsylvania

Sports in Pennsylvania includes numerous professional sporting teams, events, and venues located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.

Major league professional teams

Pennsylvania is home to eight teams from the five major American professional sports leagues.

Major league professional championships

Philadelphia Eagles (NFL)

3 NFL championships (pre–Super Bowl)
* 1948
* 1949
* 1960

1 Super Bowl title
* 2017 ( LII)

Frankford Yellow Jackets (NFL)

1 NFL championship (pre–Super Bowl)

* 1926

Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL)

6 Super Bowl titles

* 1974 ( IX)
* 1975 ( X)
* 1978 (XIII)
* 1979 ( XIV)
* 2005 ( XL)
* 2008 ( XLIII)

Philadelphia Flyers (NHL)

2 Stanley Cup titles

* 1974
* 1975

Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)

5 Stanley Cup titles

* 1991
* 1992
* 2009
* 2016
* 2017

Philadelphia Athletics (MLB)

5 World Series titles

* 1910
* 1911
* 1913
* 1929
* 1930

Philadelphia Phillies (MLB)

2 World Series titles

* 1980
* 2008

Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB)

5 World Series titles

* 1909
* 1925
* 1960
* 1971
* 1979

Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)

2 NBA Finals titles

* 1947
* 1956

Pittsburgh Pipers (ABA)

1 ABA Finals title

* 1968

Philadelphia Atoms (NASL)

1 Soccer Bowl / NASL Final title

* 1973

Football

Football is the most popular sport in Pennsylvania, especially in the Lehigh Valley, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Central Pennsylvania, and Western Pennsylvania. Western Pennsylvania in particular was home to some of the earliest moments in football history, and the earliest professional clubs played in the Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit. Pudge Heffelfinger was the first known professional football player, while John Brallier was the first openly professional player. The Allegheny Athletic Association fielded the first entirely openly professional team in 1896. In 1902, three Pennsylvania teams founded the National Football League (which has no ties to today's NFL), the first attempt at a national professional football league. Jim Thorpe, a multi-sport athlete who played in the NFL and won Olympic gold medals in the pentathlon and decathlon, attended Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania is named after him.

Today, football is popular on all levels, from high school, college, and professionally. The high school games get regular attention in the local newspapers and games regularly draw over 10,000 fans. Pennsylvania produces several college and professional players every year, and Western Pennsylvania is noted for being the home of numerous quarterbacks, including Dan Marino, Joe Montana, and Johnny Unitas.

Professionally, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL are also hugely popular. Both franchises entered the NFL in 1933, and the two franchises briefly merged during World War II. Both teams have fan bases across the entire state, and in the case of the Steelers, are one of the most popular sports teams in the United States, if not the world. (This is likely due to that team's dominance in the NFL during the 1970s.) While the Eagles are not quite as popular as the Steelers outside Pennsylvania, they still maintain a passionate fan base in the Philadelphia area and across the United States as they are one of the more popular teams in the NFL. Often one of the most rowdy in the NFL, the Eagles fanbase is known for their passion and dedication. In fact, the Eagles' old home field, Veterans Stadium, was the first sports stadium in the United States to have a jail cell as a result of the rowdiness of the fans, but was removed only a couple years later after incidents settled down. Both fanbases though are considered to be among the best traveled fanbases in the NFL. During games in which the teams are on the road, Steelers fans and Eagles fans alike migrate to the opposing team's stadium and always have a strong presence, and in some cases, their numbers have made opposing teams feel as if they are not in their home stadium—a testament to the die-hard fanbases of professional football in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania has also been home to two defunct NFL franchises, both of which played in the 1920s. The Pottsville Maroons played in Pottsville, Pennsylvania; the franchise is notable for its part in the 1925 NFL Championship controversy. Frankford (a neighborhood in Philadelphia) also briefly had its own team in the 1920s, known as the Frankford Yellow Jackets. The team won the 1926 NFL Championship, but disbanded during the Great Depression. A third NFL franchise, the Dallas Texans, was briefly headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania during the 1952 season. Pennsylvania also had teams in four national leagues that competed with the NFL: the 1920s AFL, the 1930s AFL, the World Football League, and the USFL.

Philadelphia was also home to an Arena Football League team, the Philadelphia Soul who played in the league from 2004 to 2019. Pittsburgh was also the home to one of the founding Arena Football League franchises, the Pittsburgh Gladiators. After four seasons in Pittsburgh, the team moved to Tampa, Florida, in 1991 and became the Tampa Bay Storm. Pittsburgh got another AFL team in 2011, the Pittsburgh Power, which folded in 2014. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers played in the AFL's minor league af2 until that league disbanded in 2009.

In addition to NFL and arena football teams, Pennsylvania is also home to minor professional teams from numerous other leagues. Men's teams include the Chambersburg Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Colts. There are also several women's football teams, including the Keystone Assault, Pittsburgh Passion, and Philadelphia Firebirds.

Baseball

Baseball is one of the more popular sports in Pennsylvania. The state has both major league and minor league baseball teams. The two major league baseball teams in Pennsylvania are the Philadelphia Phillies and the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Phillies and the Pirates are two of the eight National League franchises that originated in the nineteenth century. As such, the Phillies and the Pirates have had a rivalry for over one hundred years. The rivalry was particularly strong during the 1970s and 1980s, when the two teams frequently competed to win the National League East. The rivalry has cooled off since the Pirates moved to the NL Central in 1994, but the two teams continue to play each other every year. Although the Pirates have won more World Series (five in total), the Phillies won the World Series more recently (in 2008). Both teams have had stretches of success and futility. Pennsylvania is the only state with two teams that are in the same league (National League) but in separate divisions (Pittsburgh in the NL Central and Philadelphia in the NL East).

Philadelphia and Pittsburgh were also the home of numerous defunct and relocated major league franchises, including the American League's Philadelphia Athletics, which moved to Kansas City, Missouri, in the 1950s. The franchise now plays in Oakland, California, as the Oakland Athletics. Pittsburgh briefly hosted a second major league team in the 20th century: the Pittsburgh Rebels played in the Federal League during the fledgling league's two seasons of existence. Altoona also had a short-lived team in the 19th century Union Association. Prior to the integration of Major League Baseball that occurred after World War II, both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh had negro league baseball teams.

Pennsylvania is the original home of Little League Baseball. In 1939, Carl Stotz founded Little League Baseball in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The Little League World Series is held every year in South Williamsport.

Minor league baseball

As of 2021, Pennsylvania has nine minor league baseball teams. Six of these teams are Farm team#Baseball, affiliates of Major League Baseball, major league teams, while the remaining teams are Independent baseball league, independent. Pennsylvania has also been home to minor leagues and minor league teams that are now defunct, such as the Pennsylvania State Association and the Allentown Peanuts. Pennsylvania is also home to two teams in the new MLB Draft League, the State College Spikes and the Williamsport Crosscutters

Basketball

Unlike the other Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada, major professional sports leagues, the National Basketball Association only has one team in Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia 76ers, which relocated from Syracuse, New York, in 1963, have won List of NBA champions#Results by team, three NBA championships and, as of 2018, the franchise has won the fifth most championship games in NBA history (tied with the Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat). Philadelphia also hosted another NBA team from 1946 to 1962, the Philadelphia Warriors, but the franchise moved to San Francisco and later became what is now known as the Golden State Warriors.

Pittsburgh briefly had a team in the Basketball Association of America known as the Pittsburgh Ironmen, and an American Basketball Association franchise called the Pittsburgh Condors, but no NBA franchise has ever called Pittsburgh home.

In addition to the 76ers, Pennsylvania also has a few other professional basketball teams. The Erie BayHawks (2019–), Erie BayHawks are an NBA G League team affiliated with the NBA's New Orleans Pelicans. This team will play in Erie until moving to its intended permanent home of Birmingham, Alabama, in 2022. The Steel City Yellow Jackets play in the American Basketball Association (2000–present), ABA. The Harrisburg Horizon are a member of the Eastern Basketball Alliance, while the Harrisburg Lady Horizon are a member of the Women's Eastern Basketball Alliance.

Pennsylvania has never had a team in the Women's National Basketball Association, the top women's basketball league in the United States.

The Philadelphia area has produced NBA players such as Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, and Paul Arizin, while Pete Maravich was from Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, Aliquippa.

Ice hockey

Due in large part to Pennsylvania's cold winter climate and the state's geographic location in the Northeastern United States, Northeast, hockey is fairly popular throughout Pennsylvania. In all, seven professional hockey teams call Pennsylvania home, including two NHL teams.

Perhaps the strongest current in-state professional sports rivalry is between the Battle of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins, both of which play in the Metropolitan Division of the NHL. With the exception of a seven-year period in the 1970s, the two teams have been divisional rivals since they joined the NHL in the 1967 NHL Expansion, 1967 expansion. The rivalry is generally considered to be one of the fiercest in the NHL. The two franchises have been among the most successful teams since they joined the league, as the Flyers have the most List of Stanley Cup champions#Stanley Cup Finals era (Since 1915), Stanley Cup Finals appearances among the non-Original Six teams, while the Penguins are tied for the List of Stanley Cup champions#Stanley Cup Finals era (Since 1915), third most Stanley Cup wins among non-Original Six teams.

The Hershey Bears are renowned for being the oldest existing American Hockey League, AHL franchise, and the oldest existing hockey franchise outside of the NHL's Original Six. The Lehigh Valley Phantoms, also of the AHL, are the primary development team of the Philadelphia Flyers and play their home games at PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Allentown.

Pennsylvania is notable for being one of the few states with a team in the Canadian Hockey League, and the state was also home to the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League, one of the first professional hockey leagues. In addition to the two current NHL teams that 1967 NHL expansion, joined the league in the 1960s, Pennsylvania also had an NHL franchise in the 1920s: a hockey team named the Pittsburgh Pirates (NHL), Pirates played in the NHL for five seasons before moving to Philadelphia and becoming the Philadelphia Quakers (NHL), Philadelphia Quakers. The franchise disbanded after its only season in Philadelphia. Philadelphia also briefly had a World Hockey Association, WHA franchise.

A number of notable current and former professional hockey players are Pennsylvania natives: Mike Richter, one of the most successful American-born goaltenders in National Hockey League, NHL history; Pete Babando; Bob Beers (ice hockey), Bob Beers; Jay Caufield; Ryan Malone; Gerry O'Flaherty; George Parros; Jesse Spring; and R.J. Umberger. Legendary amateur hockey player Hobey Baker, namesake of U.S. college hockey's Hobey Baker Award, Hobey Baker Memorial Award, was also born in Pennsylvania.

Minor league & major junior hockey

Soccer

Pennsylvania has three active professional outdoor soccer teams. Since 2010, Chester, Pennsylvania has been home to the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer, the top league in the United States soccer league system, US Soccer Pyramid. Additionally, Pennsylvania has two teams in the United States soccer league system, second-tier USL Championship (previously the United Soccer League), Philadelphia Union II and Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. Both are the official reserve sides for MLS teams, respectively the Union and Columbus Crew SC. The state had a third team in the USL Championship, the Harrisburg-based Penn FC, but that team suspended professional operations for the 2019 season and ultimately folded. Pennsylvania also has several indoor soccer and amateur teams, including the Harrisburg Heat (MASL), Harrisburgh Heat of the Major Arena Soccer League, Reading United A.C. and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds U23 of USL League Two (formerly the Premier Development League), and numerous teams in the National Premier Soccer League. Pennsylvania also women's teams, including the Lancaster Inferno (WPSL), Lancaster Inferno of the Women's Premier Soccer League. As of 2020, Pennsylvania does not have a team in the top-level women's league, the National Women's Soccer League.

Pennsylvania has a long history with soccer. The first professional American soccer league, the American League of Professional Football, included a team named the "Philadelphia Phillies" (all of the teams were affiliated with National League baseball teams). The original Bethlehem Steel F.C. (1907–30), Bethlehem Steel won championships in the National Association Football League and the American Soccer League (1921–33), American Soccer League. Despite disbanding in the 1930s, the club still shares the record (with Maccabi Los Angeles) for most U.S. Open Cup wins, with U.S. Open Cup#Champions by number of titles, five. The North American Soccer League (1968–84), North American Soccer League, which was perhaps the most prominent American soccer league until the formation of Major League Soccer, had two teams in Pennsylvania: the Philadelphia Atoms and the Philadelphia Fury (1978–80), Philadelphia Fury.

Pennsylvania-based clubs have captured the U.S. Open Cup a total of 14 times, the U.S. Open Cup#Champions by state, third-most among states, and Pennsylvania teams have won the National Amateur Cup several times. Pennsylvania has also been home to numerous soccer players, including Walter Bahr, the captain of the United States men's national soccer team, U.S. national team at the 1950 FIFA World Cup.

Minor league soccer

College teams

There are fourteen National Collegiate Athletic Association, NCAA NCAA Division I, Division I schools spread across Pennsylvania. In addition to the Division I schools listed below, there are also several other List of college athletic programs in Pennsylvania, college athletic programs in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania is home to several prominent College rivalry, collegiate rivalries. The Penn State–Pittsburgh football rivalry began in the 19th century, and was once considered one of the most important rivalries north of the Mason–Dixon line. Although the two schools have not played as frequently since Penn State and Pittsburgh joined football conferences in the 1990s, the rivalry between the two schools continues to divide the state. The Philadelphia Big 5 play a basketball round robin every year to determine the top basketball school in the Philadelphia area. Pittsburgh is also home to a heated basketball rivalry, as Duquesne and Pittsburgh play each other every year in the City Game. The Lehigh Valley is home to a heated college football rivalry so deeply ingrained into both schools' traditions that the annual game is simply known as "The Rivalry (Lafayette–Lehigh), The Rivalry."

Since the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, NCAA tournament began in 1939, Pennsylvania has produced List of NCAA Men's Division I Basketball champions, four Division I basketball champions: La Salle Explorers men's basketball, La Salle won the championship in 1953–54 La Salle Explorers men's basketball team, 1954, while Villanova Wildcats men's basketball, Villanova won the championship in 1984–85 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team, 1985, 2015–16 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team, 2016, and 2017–18 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team, 2018. In football, four different Pennsylvania schools claim College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS#National championship claims, Division I FBS championships. Pittsburgh Panthers football, Pittsburgh claims nine national titles, Penn Quakers football, Penn claims seven titles, Penn State Nittany Lions football, Penn State claims two titles, and Lafayette Leopards football, Lafayette claims one title. Since the division's formation in 1978, Villanova Wildcats football, Villanova's 2009 Villanova Wildcats football team, 2009 championship is the lone NCAA Division I Football Championship, FCS championship won by a Pennsylvania school. Lehigh Mountain Hawks football, Lehigh also has one appearance in the championship game.

List of championships

Championships won by Pennsylvania teams in National Collegiate Athletic Association, NCAA NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, Division I FBS football, NCAA Division I Men's Basketball, and the Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada, five major leagues (MLB, NHL, NFL, NBA, NASL/MLS):

*1895 college football season, 1895 Penn Quakers
*1896 college football season, 1896 Lafayette Leopards
*1897 college football season, 1897 Penn Quakers
*1904 college football season, 1904 Penn Quakers
*1908 college football season, 1908 Penn Quakers
*1918 college football season, 1918 Pittsburgh Panthers
*1909 World Series, 1909 Pittsburgh Pirates
*1910 World Series, 1910 Philadelphia Athletics
*1910 college football season, 1910 Pittsburgh Panthers
*1911 World Series, 1911 Philadelphia Athletics
*1911 college football season, 1911 Penn State Nittany Lions
*1912 college football season, 1912 Penn State Nittany Lions
*1913 World Series, 1913 Philadelphia Athletics
*1916 college football season, 1916 Pittsburgh Panthers
*1925 World Series, 1925 Pittsburgh Pirates
*1926 NFL season, 1926 Frankford Yellow Jackets
*1929 World Series, 1929 Philadelphia Athletics
*1930 World Series, 1930 Philadelphia Athletics
*1937 college football season, 1937 Pittsburgh Panthers
*1947 BAA Finals, 1946-47 Philadelphia Warriors
*1948 NFL Championship Game, 1948 Philadelphia Eagles
*1949 NFL Championship Game, 1949 Philadelphia Eagles
*1953–54 La Salle Explorers men's basketball team, 1953–54 La Salle Explorers
*1956 NBA Finals, 1955-56 Philadelphia Warriors
*1960 World Series, 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates
*1960 NFL Championship Game, 1960 Philadelphia Eagles
*1967 NBA Finals, 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers
*1971 World Series, 1971 Pittsburgh Pirates
*1973 NASL Final, 1973 Philadelphia Atoms
*Super Bowl IX, 1974–1975 Pittsburgh Steelers
*Super Bowl X, 1975–1976 Pittsburgh Steelers
*1976 NCAA Division I football season, 1976 Pittsburgh Panthers
*Super Bowl XIII, 1978–1979 Pittsburgh Steelers
*1974 Stanley Cup Finals, 1973-74 Philadelphia Flyers
*1975 Stanley Cup Finals, 1974-75 Philadelphia Flyers
*1979 World Series, 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates
*Super Bowl IX, 1979–1980 Pittsburgh Steelers
*1980 World Series, 1980 Philadelphia Phillies
*1982 NCAA Division I-A football season, 1982 Penn State Nittany Lions
*1983 NBA Finals, 1982-83 Philadelphia 76ers
*1984–85 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team, 1984–85 Villanova Wildcats
*1986 NCAA Division I-A football season, 1986 Penn State Nittany Lions
*1991 Stanley Cup Finals, 1990–91 Pittsburgh Penguins
*1992 Stanley Cup Finals, 1991–92 Pittsburgh Penguins
*Super Bowl XIV, 2005-06 Pittsburgh Steelers
*2008 World Series, 2008 Philadelphia Phillies
*Super Bowl XL, 2008-09 Pittsburgh Steelers
*2009 Stanley Cup Finals, 2008–09 Pittsburgh Penguins
*2016 Stanley Cup Finals, 2015–16 Pittsburgh Penguins
*2015–16 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team, 2015–16 Villanova Wildcats
*2017 Stanley Cup Finals, 2016–17 Pittsburgh Penguins
*Super Bowl LII, 2017 Philadelphia Eagles
*2017–18 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team, 2017–18 Villanova Wildcats

Lacrosse

Lacrosse in Pennsylvania has a long history. Lehigh University, Lehigh, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, and University of Pennsylvania, Penn were early members of the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association, and lacrosse is now played at Lacrosse in Pennsylvania#College, many Pennsylvania colleges. Pennsylvania has had professional lacrosse teams such as the Philadelphia Wings (1987–2014), Philadelphia Wings and the Pittsburgh Bulls, and the Wings have now returned to action, beginning in 2018.

Olympians

* Giddeon Massie of Quakertown, Pennsylvania, Quakertown, member, 2004 Bicycling team
* John Woodruff of Connellsville, Pennsylvania, Connellsville, gold medal, 1936, in 800-meters event
* Kit Klein, Catherine "Kit" Klein of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, gold and bronze, 1932 Olympics, 1936 Olympics, speed skater, World Record – 1000 meters (1935), World Record – 3000 meters (1936), 1936 World Champion
* Roger Kingdom of Monroeville, gold medal in both 1984 and 1988 Olympics, 110m hurdles
* Kurt Angle, 1996 freestyle wrestling gold medalist
* Kim Gallagher, American track & field Olympic Games, Olympian in the 800 meters in 1984 and 1988. She also holds National High School Records and Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, PIAA state records and was a Penn Relays champion
* Lauryn Williams 2004 Olympic Games, 2004, silver medal winner, women's 100m track, native of Rochester, Pennsylvania
* Marty Nothstein of Trexlertown, Pennsylvania, Trexlertown, gold medal, 2000, Cycling
* Angie Loy of Elliottsburg, Pennsylvania, Elliottsburg, eighth place, 2008, Field Hockey
* Michael Shine of Youngsville, Pennsylvania, silver medal, 400m hurdles at the 1976 Summer Olympics

Bicycle racing

Pennsylvania hosts the Pro Cycling Tour "Triple Crown of Cycling" bicycle races each June, with the Lancaster Classic, Tom Bamford Lancaster Classic, the Reading Classic, and the Philadelphia International Championship. The PCT is sanctioned by USA Cycling, the national governing body for cycling in the United States. Pennsylvania also hosts the Univest Grand Prix professional bicycle race each year in September, sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale, the worldwide governing body for cycling. The road race starts and finishes in Souderton, while the criterium is located in Doylestown. The Valley Preferred Cycling Center annually hosts a USA Cycling Elite Nationals qualifying event.

Floyd Landis, of Farmersville, Pennsylvania, Farmersville was stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title due to prohibited doping.

Motorsports

The Mario Andretti dynasty of race drivers hails from Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, Long Pond is home to two NASCAR race weekends a year, the Axalta "We Paint Winners" 400 in early June and the Pennsylvania 400 in late July or early August, and an IndyCar race weekend, the ABC Supply 500 in August. Pennsylvania has also seen success in the sport of drag racing in the form of five time NHRA Top Fuel champion Joe Amato (dragster driver), Joe Amato

Dirt track racing

Dirt ovals include Dunn Hill 2 Speedway in Monroeton, Pennsylvania, Monroeton, Allegheny Mountain Raceway in Kane, Pennsylvania, Kane, Bedford Speedway in Bedford, Pennsylvania, Bedford, Big Diamond Raceway in Minersville, Pennsylvania, Minersville, Blanket Hill Speedway in Kittanning, Pennsylvania, Kittanning, Borger's Speedway in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, Saylorsburg, Bradford Speedway in Bradford, Pennsylvania, Bradford, Challenger Raceway in Indiana, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Clinton County Raceway in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, Lock Haven, Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway in Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania, Schaefferstown, Dog Hollow Speedway in Strongstown, Pennsylvania, Strongstown, Eriez Speedway in Erie, Pennsylvania, Erie, Farmington VFD Speedway in Farmington, Pennsylvania, Farmington, Gamblers Raceway Park in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, Clearfield, Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, Pennsylvania, Bechtelsville, Greenwood Valley Action Track in Millville, Pennsylvania, Millville, Hamlin Speedway in Hamlin, Pennsylvania, Hamlin, Hesston Speedway in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, Huntingdon, Hill Valley Speedway in Orbisonia, Pennsylvania, Orbisonia, Hummingbird Speedway in Falls Creek, Pennsylvania, Falls Creek, Lake Moc-A-Tek Speedway in Lakeville, Pennsylvania, Lakeville, Latrobe Speedway in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, Latrobe, Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pennsylvania, Sarver, Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, Pennsylvania, Abbottstown, Linda's Speedway in Jonestown, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, Jonestown (Lebanon County), Marion Center Speedway in Marion Center, Pennsylvania, Marion Center, Mckean County Raceway in East Smethport, Pennsylvania, East Smethport, Mercer Raceway Park in Mercer, Pennsylvania, Mercer, Path Valley Speedway Park in Spring Run, Pennsylvania, Spring Run, Penn Can Speedway in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, Susquehanna, Pittsburgh's Pa Motor Speedway in Imperial, Pennsylvania, Imperial, Port Royal Speedway in Port Royal, Pennsylvania, Port Royal, Redline Raceway in Troy, Pennsylvania, Troy, Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex in Markleysburg, Pennsylvania, Markleysburg, Selinsgrove Speedway in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, Selinsgrove, Shippensburg Speedway in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, Shippensburg, Silver Spring Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, Mechanicsburg [Operated 1953–2005], Snydersville Raceway in Snydersville, Pennsylvania, Snydersville, Susquehanna Speedway in Newberrytown, Pennsylvania, Newberrytown, The Fairgrounds At Kutztown in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, Kutztown, Thunder Valley Raceway in Central City, Pennsylvania, Central City, Trail-Way Speedway in Hanover, Pennsylvania, Hanover, Tri-City Speedway in Franklin, Pennsylvania, Franklin, Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicburg, Pennsylvania, Mechanicburg, and Windber Speedway in Windber, Pennsylvania, Windber.

Other motorsport venues

Asphalt ovals in Pennsylvania include Jennerstown Speedway in Jennerstown, Pennsylvania, Jennerstown, Lake Erie Speedway in North East, Pennsylvania, North East, Mahoning Valley Speedway in Lehighton, Pennsylvania, Lehighton, Motordome Speedway in Smithton, Pennsylvania, Smithton, Mountain Speedway in St. Johns, Nazareth Speedway in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, Nazareth (closed), and Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, Long Pond, CNB Bank Raceway Park Formerly known as Central PA Speedway Clearfield, Pennsylvania

Drag Strips include Beaver Springs Dragway in Beaver Springs, Pennsylvania, Beaver Springs, Lucky Drag City in Wattsburg, Pennsylvania, Wattsburg, Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pennsylvania, Mohnton, Numidia Raceway in Numidia, Pennsylvania, Numidia, Pittsburgh Raceway Park in New Alexandria, Pennsylvania, New Alexandria, and South Mountain Dragway in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania, Boiling Springs.

Road Courses include Beaverun Motorsports Complex in Wampum, Pennsylvania, Wampum, and Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh. Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, Long Pond also has a road course that hosts SCCA and other events.

Horse racing

Pennsylvania has a long history of horse racing, as the sport was one of the few that was not banned in 17th century Pennsylvania. William Penn, the founder of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, reportedly raced his horses down the streets of Philadelphia. Stephen Foster wrote the song "Camptown Races" about horse racing in Pennsylvania. Philadelphia-area businessman Samuel D. Riddle owned prominent horses Man o' War and War Admiral.

Penn National Race Course in Grantville, Pennsylvania, Grantville, Parx Casino and Racing, Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, Bensalem, and Presque Isle Downs near Erie offer thoroughbred racing. Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, The Meadows in Pittsburgh, Mohegan Pennsylvania in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Wilkes-Barre, and Harrah's Philadelphia in Chester, Pennsylvania, Chester offer harness racing in Pennsylvania.

Smarty Jones, the 2004 Kentucky Derby winner, was owned by Roy Chapman and wife Patricia. Smarty Jones was bred at Chapman's Someday Farm (Patricia explains the name: "Some day we were going to do this and some day we were going to do that. And my husband said, 'I think we ought to call it Someday Farm,' so we did.") near Philadelphia, and had Philadelphia Park (now Parx Racing) as his home course.

Barbaro (horse), Barbaro, the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner, came from Mr. and Mrs. Roy Jackson's Lael Stables in West Grove, Pennsylvania, West Grove. After suffering injuries in the Preakness Stakes on May 20, 2006, Barbaro was treated for laminitis. He developed further complications, and he was animal euthanasia, euthanized on January 29, 2007.

Golf

PGA tournaments in Pennsylvania include the 84 Lumber Classic, played at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, Pennsylvania, Farmington, and the Northeast Pennsylvania Classic, played at Glenmaura National Golf Club in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Scranton. There is also the PGT (Pittsburgh Golfers Tour) which is people from all over the east coast joining a club where the owner schedules tournaments all over the state.

Arnold Palmer, winner of seven Men's major golf championships, major golf championships and 62 PGA Tour events, was from Latrobe, Pennsylvania, Latrobe. Jim Furyk, winner of the 2003 U.S. Open and 2010 Tour Championship, grew up near Manheim Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Lancaster.

Wrestling

Pennsylvania is an area of the United States that is prominent in the sport of wrestling. Many of the United States top Collegiate wrestling, collegiate wrestlers are produced from Pennsylvania, with Pennsylvania's own Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic serving as a national level high school All-Star event, featuring the top PA wrestlers in a dual team match against the top wrestlers from other states in the country. During the 2010s, the Penn State Nittany Lions wrestling, Penn State Nittany Lions wrestling team won eight national championships, from 2011–2014 and 2016–2019. Many Pennsylvania wrestlers have also represented the United States on the international circuit, by being on Team USA World and Olympic Games, Olympic teams. Notable Pennsylvania wrestlers include Kurt Angle, Coleman Scott, Nate Carr, Cary Kolat, Wade Schalles, Jake Herbert, Bobby Weaver, Stanley Dziedzic, Carlton Haselrig, Ed Ruth, Jason Nolf, Zain Retherford, Jordan Oliver (amateur wrestler), Jordan Oliver, and Spencer Lee.

Poker

Texas Hold 'em Poker

Texas Hold' em Poker was found in 2009 not to be gambling under the Pennsylvania Crimes Code by Judge Thomas A. James Jr. in the case of Commonwealth of Pennsylvania vs Walter Watkins.

The case involved a $1/$2 table stakes Texas Hold 'em Poker game with a dealer making tips. The organizers were charged with 20 counts of violating Section 5513 sections (a)(2), (a)(3), and (a)(4), related to "unlawful gambling", and had materials related to the games confiscated by police as "gambling devices". Section 5513 of the Pennsylvania Code makes it a misdemeanor of the first degree for a person to invite or allows other people to gather in a place of his control for the purpose of "unlawful gambling". In his decision, Judge Thomas A. James Jr. stated, "[T]here are three elements of gambling: consideration, chance and reward." The judge found through a four pronged test that skill predominates over chance, and that Texas Hold' em is a game of skill, therefore not gambling.

Specifically, the decision states:

The court finds that Texas Hold 'em poker is a game where skill predominates over chance. Thus, it is not "unlawful gambling' under the Pennsylvania Crimes Code.

Section 5512(d), which provides definitions, states:

As used in this section the term "unlawful" means not specifically authorized by law.

Section 5513 states: (emphasis added)

§ 5513. Gambling devices, gambling, etc.

(a) Offense defined.--A person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree if he:

(1) intentionally or knowingly makes, assembles, sets up, maintains, sells, lends, leases, gives away, or offers for sale, loan, lease or gift, any punch board, drawing card, slot machine or any device to be used for gambling purposes, except playing cards;
(2) allows persons to collect and assemble for the purpose of unlawful gambling at any place under his control;
(3) solicits or invites any person to visit any unlawful gambling place for the purpose of gambling; or
(4) being the owner, tenant, lessee or occupant of any premises, knowingly permits or suffers the same, or any part thereof, to be used for the purpose of unlawful gambling.

Other Poker games

In the 1949 case of Commonwealth of Pennsylvania V. Silverman, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that the "Sporadic or casual act of playing cards or betting is not an indictable offense in Pennsylvania."

In 2004, Lackawanna County District Attorney Andy Jarbola was quoted as saying, "it's legal to gather with friends to play poker but it's not legal when the 'house' or an outside party profits from the game."

In 2005, York County, Pennsylvania, York County District Attorney Stan Rebert was asked about illegal poker games in the York area by the ''York Daily Record''. He replied that he had not heard of any and that it's not something that he would worry about. "Casual gambling ... that is not illegal", he said, "It's kind of a fine line."

Previous legal challenges and legislative initiatives have taken place, but until recently, none have changed the status of poker in Pennsylvania.

HB2121
would authorize table games, including poker, in Pennsylvania's recently authorized casinos.

HB947
would authorize poker tournaments to be held by the holders of licenses for small games of chance.
* In Lewistown, three members of the Brooklyn Hose Fire Co. were charged with unlawful gambling for the poker tournaments held there.
* In Greensburg, a defense attorney who had $10,000 and equipment confiscated from his office from poker tournaments is suing for their return. The attorney has not been charged and insists that poker tournaments are legal games of skill.

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has published a
FAQ page
on the legalities of Texas Hold'em Poker for licensed establishments.

Other sports

Joe Sweeney holds the national Pennsylvania championship for table tennis. After each victory, he celebrates by staring directly into the eyes of his opponent and let's out a classic "surfer dude laugh."

The Delaware Valley was a center of cricket in the United States, with players such as Bart King competing for early 20th century teams such as the Philadelphia Cricket Club.

Pennsylvania has been home to many accomplished boxing, boxers, including Tommy Loughran, Joe Frazier, and Bernard Hopkins.

Pennsylvania has also been home to prominent tennis players, such as Donald Johnson and Bill Tilden. The U.S. Pro Indoor was held from 1969 to 1998, and the Advanta Championships of Philadelphia from 1971 to 2005. The Philadelphia Freedoms play in World TeamTennis. Another team, the Pittsburgh Triangles, played in the league in the 1970s.

Pennsylvania has a strong track and field tradition. Events include the Penn Relays and the Pittsburgh Great Race.

Famous swimmers from Pennsylvania include Johnny Weissmuller and Brendan Hansen.

The Professional Inline Hockey Association was founded in Middletown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, Middletown, Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Typhoon and Harrisburg Lunatics both play in the league. The American Inline Hockey League was founded in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, Bensalem after the league split off from the Professional Inline Hockey Association. The Delco Demons and the Pittsburgh Bandits play in the AIHL.

The Bucks County Sharks, the Philadelphia Fight and the Pittsburgh Sledgehammers are members of the USA Rugby League, the top rugby league competition in the United States.

The Pennsylvania Rebellion plays in the National Pro Fastpitch league, the only professional women's softball league in the United States.

Allentown, Pennsylvania, Allentown is home to The Holy Name Cadets of Drum Corps International.

The Pittsburgh Thunderbirds and the Philadelphia Phoenix (AUDL), Philadelphia Phoenix compete in the American Ultimate Disc League.

See also

* Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame
* Sports in South Central Pennsylvania
* Sports in Philadelphia
* Sports in Pittsburgh
* List of professional sports teams in Pennsylvania

References

External links

{{authority control

Sports in Pennsylvania