Playing at Forepaugh Park, Philadelphia was a natural fit for team in the Players' League. The league was created by the first unionized labor action in professional baseball.

Many stars dissatisfied with their contracts in the National League and American Association banded together to start their own league. Known alternatively as the Philadelphia Athletics and the Philadelphia Quakers, the team was managed by Charlie Buffinton for most of the season.

The Philadelphia team finished fifth among the five Players' League with a record of 68-63. Billy Shindle was the leading hitter with a .

324 average with ten home runs and 90 RBI. The Quakers had three solid pitchers as Ben Sanders and Buffinton each won 19 games, while Phil Knell led the team with a record of 22-11 with an ERA of 3.

83. On September 15th Pitcher Bert Cunningham set a dubious record when he threw five wild pitches in one inning a record that would not be matched for 110 years.

The Players' League would fold after one season, but the Philadelphia Quakers would be invited to join the American Association replacing the expelled Philadelphia Athletics.