The team was composed of players from the four chief cricket clubs in Philadelphia–Germantown, Merion, Belmont, and Philadelphia.

When Fitz Fitzgerald's team from England toured North America in 1872, they played a match against Philadelphia over three days beginning on September 21.

[3] The first time that the Gentlemen of Philadelphia played a first-class cricket match was on October 3, 1878 against Australia.

This match took place on the Australians' trip home after playing in England earlier in the year.

[8] This match then became an occasional game played between the best amateur players of Philadelphia and the country's best professionals.

In 1885, a team from England organized by Edward (Ned) Sanders visited Philadelphia, playing two first-class matches.

The first match of the decade for the Philadelphians that is classified as first-class was played against a team of English Residents.

[14] This series was notable as it was the debut of Bart King, who would go on to a successful career bowling for the Philadelphians.

Australia fielded a strong side, but the team was tired after a long tour and trip.

In spite of this fatigue, the Australians chose to face the full strength of the Gentlemen of Philadelphia.

When the Australians came to bat, they had hoped that they were recovered from their journey, but they soon encountered Bart King's developing swing.

Lord Hawke's XI won the first match at Merion with the Philadelphians coming back to win the second at Germantown's Manheim ground.

Though the results may have been less satisfactory than hoped for by the promoters, the tour was arranged mainly for educational purposes and few of those on the American side expected to win many matches.

[17] Previous tours had tended to involve amateur English sides with a low level of competition.

[17] Starting on June 7 at Oxford, the tour lasted for two months and ended in late July at The Oval.

While it initially aroused some curiosity, many English fans lost interest until Bart King and the Philadelphians met the full Sussex team at Brighton on June 17.

In the first innings, King proved his batting worth in a fourth-wicket stand of 107 with John Lester.

[27] The tour was highlighted by Bart King, who took 87 wickets and topped the England bowling averages with the figure of 11.01.

[29] In 1909, the Philadelphians played a two match home series against Ireland, in which they won both games by an innings.

[30] The second decade of the twentieth century was the last for first-class cricket in Philadelphia, with baseball increasing its dominance over American sports.