The Phillies and Mural Arts: A Major League Collaboration

Dick Allen Tribute Mural (2024) 

Legendary Phillies All-Star Richard “Dick” Allen is honored by Mural Arts, The City of Philadelphia, and The Phillies through this mural that pays tribute to the celebrated fielder who played with the Philadelphia Phillies from 1963 – 1969 and again in 1975 – 1976. This mural underscores both organizations’ commitment to equity, and highlights the underrepresented stories of Philadelphia’s history and heroes. Allen, who overcame considerable racism throughout his career, will be celebrated through this permanent artwork created by artist Ernel Martinez and located at 2221 South Broad Street. This mural was announced after The Phillies retired Allen’s number 15 on September 3, 2020, and will be dedicated in advance of Allen’s long-awaited induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2025.

The Phillies Mural (2015) 

Lead artist David McShane and Mural Arts Philadelphia worked together to create and install an 8-story high work of art for fans of the Philadelphia Phillies. Initially, the idea came about to celebrate the 2008 World Series win with a mural that highlighted that year’s players and events – but it soon became apparent that the mural should have a much larger scope that encompassed the whole history of the team. After a long period of planning and logistics, Mural Arts and the Philadelphia Phillies embarked on a mural project that kicked off in August 2011 with a grand announcement and unveiling of the mural design. The project then had numerous community activities in 2011 and 2012, where hundreds of fans of all ages got to participate in helping to paint the mural (as a paint-by-number on mural cloth) at events at Citizens Bank Park, at the Spring Training facilities in Clearwater, Florida, and at various other locations in and around Philadelphia. The mural design includes players, stadiums, and events from the Phillies’ history as the oldest continuous one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional sports. It highlights the team’s two World Series victories in 1980 and 2008 and features hall-of-fame players, scenes from playoff runs, perfect games, and the Phillies mascot – the Phanatic. This mural reflects how the Phillies have become embedded into Philadelphia’s culture and spirit. The mural is located along the Schuylkill River at 24th and Walnut Streets.

“For more than 15 years, the Phillies have partnered with Mural Arts Philadelphia to demonstrate our shared mission to honor and pay tribute to legends who are the fabric of sports history,” says Michael Harris, Vice President of Marketing & New Media for the Phillies.  “By joining forces, our collaboration not only amplifies the reach and impact of art but also highlights the City of Philadelphia’s sports icons, specifically those who wore Phillies pinstripes. The greatest of these projects was the tribute to Dick Allen. Both organizations recognized Dick as one of the greatest in Phillies history and a player who paved the way for future players of color. It is only fitting that the Dick Allen mural will be updated with “Hall of Famer.” His long overdue enshrinement in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, announced in December 2024 – just two months after the completion of his mural, makes the tribute on South Broad Street even more historic.”

“When I started creating murals in the city, people likened it to going to a sporting event, because it brought diverse groups of people together,” explains Mural Arts Executive Director Jane Golden. “When Mural Arts started working with the Phillies, it was very exciting as they recognized that public art is more than a mural. It includes community experiences through paint days, events and the dedications that bring hundreds of people together from across the city. The Phillies are aware of baseball’s impact on our lives as a unifier and view art as a similar bond. When I say that the murals are the autobiography of our city, a team like the Phillies helps make that true.”

The Philadelphia Phillies are avid supporters of the growth of arts and culture in the city of Philadelphia. They are annual supporters of Mural Arts through commitments to Mural Arts Month and Wall Ball — both of which are key moments that highlight the power of art and community.  We couldn’t be more grateful for their ongoing support.  We will continue to swing for the fences together!