 Before the 1915 season, the Philadelphia Phillies purchased Bancroft from Portland for $ 5,000 ($ 116,957 in current dollar terms). Portland's manager was quoted as saying he did not expect Bancroft would last with the Phillies. In his rookie season, Bancroft finished second in the National League (NL) to teammate Gavvy Cravath in walks (77), third in runs scored (85), and tied Fred Luderus for sixth in home runs (7). For his ability to hit with power from both sides of the plate, The Pittsburgh Press declared he was developing into "a second Honus Wagner". The Phillies won their first NL pennant in 1915, but lost the 1915 World Series to the Boston Red Sox. Bancroft's offense contributed to the Phillies'victory in Game 1, as he had an infield hit leading to the Phillies' winning run. Though the Phillies batted .182 as a team in the series, Bancroft batted .294.
