Every sport evolves with each passing generation -- from the
size and athleticism of players to game strategy.
Baseball’s evolution, however, is both historic and unique
given the pre-integration and dead ball eras. For the former,
full segregation took place from 1887-1947. Full integration,
which was a gradual process, came in 1959. The Deadball
Era was a period in the early 20th century when baseball
was characterized by low scoring and emphasis on pitching.
There was the Steroid Era, which has no definite start time
though it is generally assumed that the era ran from the late
1980s until the late 2000s. This era was defined by shattered
home run records leading to exorbitant salaries.
The Philadelphia Phillies have been a Major League Baseball
franchise since 1883. Despite the franchise’s long history and
rabid fanbase, they are mostly associated with futility but like
most teams, they have had their high points. The franchise
has two World Series titles, beating the Kansas City Royals
(1980) and Tampa Bay Rays (2008). The Phillies have won
seven National League pennants and 11 National League
East division championships.
Today, I formed a Phillies Dream Team that encompasses all
eras. For openers, to make this roster, four years as a Phillie
are required. No exceptions. With the free agency era, I’m not
going to cheapen this roster with 1-3 year rentals.
I’m forming a 12 man pitching staff, five starters and seven
relievers. For the latter, I want at least one lefthander in the
bullpen. For position players, I am taking what I believe is the
best of the best regardless of era. For the bench players, it’s
the best of the rest with versatility being heavily considered.
Merit achievements such as Hall of Fame, All Star
appearances and Gold Gloves are considered but not
guaranteed. General impactfulness on the franchise is also
considered.
Generational reminders
If I believe you were the best at your position in the pre-
integration era, you are on the team. If you played on a World
Series champion, there is no guarantee of landing on this
roster. If you played during a bad season, that does not deter
you from being on this roster. Unlike the Major League
Baseball Hall of Fame, there are no morality clauses. This is
baseball, not the Boys Scouts.
Starting pitchers
Robin Roberts, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Curt Schilling,
Steve Carlton, Cole Hammels
On the way to a Hall of Fame career, Roberts was a seven-time
All-Star, led the Major League in wins four times and strikeouts
twice. Roberts once pitched 28 consecutive complete games.
His 199 wins in the 1950s were second in that decade only to
Warren Spahn. Roberts won 20 or more games six
consecutive seasons including 28 in 1952, becoming the first
picture to accomplish such a feat in a season since Dizzy
Dean in 1935. Alexander, on the way to a Hall of Fame career,
led the National League in wins six times, strikeouts six times,
ERA four times and was a three-time Triple Crown winner.
Alexander won 30 or more games three consecutive years
between 1915-1917. Schilling has been a lightning rod
because of various controversial comments that he has made
after his playing days but a strong case is an order for Hall of
Fame candidacy. Though Shilling has three World Series
rings for different teams, his reputation as a big game picture
began during his time with the Phillies. Schilling especially
stood out in the 1993 postseason, winning NLCS MVP.
Three of Schilling’s seven All-Star appearances came with
the Phillies.
When it comes to dominant left-handed starting pitchers,
Carlton deserves a seat at the table along with Sandy Koufax,
Warren Spahn, Randy Johnson and Clayton Kershaw.
Carlton spent 15 seasons of his Hall of Fame career with
the Phillies with his most dominant coming in 1972 when he
went 27-10 with a 1.97 ERA. Carlton was a 10-time All-Star,
four-time Cy Young Award winner, four-time National League
wins leader and five-time strikeout leader. Carlton was a
member of the 1980 World Series champions. Hamels
established himself as one of the best starting pitchers in
the game in the 2000s and beginning of the 2010s. Hamels
was a centerpiece in the Phillies 2008 World Series
championship team. Hamels was the MVP of the NLCS and
World Series in 2008. Hamels was an All-Star three times in
ten years with the Phillies.
Bullpen
Closer -- Tug McGraw
Jim Konstanty, Brad Lidge, Jonathan Papelbon, Ron Reed,
Ryan Madson, Steve Bedrosian
McGraw recording the final out of the 1980 World Series is a
memory that remains etched in Philadelphia sports fans
memories. After coming over from the Mets, McGraw
provided a stabilizing presence in the bullpen and added a
colorful personality to the team. For his career, McGraw
recorded 180 career saves but that total is deflated because
he also pitched a time when that statistic was not en vogue.
Konstanty pitched seven seasons with the Phillies. He was
an All-Star in 1950 and also that season the first relief
pitcher in Major League history to win the MVP award.
Lidge pitched four seasons for the Phillies and while three
of them were plagued with injuries, his 2008 season single-
handedly puts him on this roster. That season he converted
all 48 of his save opportunities and had a postseason ERA
of 0.96 in helping the Phillies win their first World Series in
28 years. Papelbon does not have a good relationship with
the Phillies organization based on controversial comments,
he belongs on this roster as he is the franchise's all time
leader in saves with 123. Two of his four seasons with the
franchise were All Star campaigns.
After spending three years as an NBA player with the Detroit
Pistons, Reed became a productive relief pitcher for 19
seasons in the Major Leagues, eight with the Phillies. Reed
was a member of the franchise's 1980 World Series title team.
Madson pitched nine seasons for the Phillies and was
especially a key part of their bullpen in the 2008 World Series
season. Bedrosian pitched nearly four seasons with the
Phillies before being traded to the San Francisco Giants
late in his fourth season. Bedrosian’s 1987 season is
enough to get him on this team. That season, he was an
All-Star, National League saves leader and National League
Cy Young Award winner.
Infield
Catcher -- Darren Daulton, First base -- Ryan Howard,
Second base -- Chase Utley, Third base -- Mike Schmidt,
Shortstop -- Jimmy Rollins
Early in his career, Daulton's primary value was defense
but he also evolved into a productive offensive catcher.
Daulton is one of four catchers in baseball history to lead
his league in RBIs joining Roy Campanella, Gary Carter
and Johnny Bench. Daulton was a three-time All-Star and
National League RBI leader in 1992. Howard was a feast-
or-famine hitter. He hit 382 career home runs including a
franchise-record 58 and 2006 but he also holds the Major
League record for Golden Sombreros, which are the most
games with four strikeouts. Howard was a huge centerpiece
in the Phillies 2008 World Series team; he was a three-time
All-Star, National League Rookie of the Year in 2005 and
NLCS MVP in 2009. He led the Major Leagues in RBIs
three times and home runs twice. He was MVP in 2006.
Utley and Rollins were one of the best middle infield
tandems of their generation. Utley is not yet in the Hall of
Fame but a very strong case could be made that he should
be there. Utley was a six-time All-Star and four-time Silver
Slugger Award along with being a key figure on the Phillies
2008 World Series team.
Rollins was a first-rate defensive shortstop as evidenced by
winning for Gold Gloves. He also became an outstanding
lead off hitter and is the franchise's all time leader in base
hits. Rollins was a three-time All-Star, National League MVP
in 2007 and National League stolen base winner in 2001.
Rollins was also a vital member of the Phillies 2008 World
Series team. Schmidt deserves a seat at the table when
discussing the best third baseman in Major League history.
On the way to a Hall of Fame career, Schmidt became a
member of the 500 homerun club. He was a 12-time All-Star
and three-time National League MVP. He led the National
League in homeruns eight times and RBIs four times. He
was also a 10 time Gold Glove Award winner, six-time Silver
Slugger Award winner and member of the Phillies 1980
World Series team. Schmidt was a three-time National
League MVP.
Outfield
Leftfield -- Sherry Magee, Centerfield -- Richie Ashburn,
Rightfield -- Bobby Abreu
Magee is often forgotten about because of the era in which
he played, 1904-1914 with the Phillies. Though he fell short
of a Hall of Fame induction, the veterans’ committee put him
on the ballot in 2008. Magee led the National League in
RBIs four times and was a batting champion in 1910. Magee
also stole 441 bases, including 23 of home plate. Magee
was also one of the best defensive outfielders of his
generation. On the way to a Hall of Fame career, nobody
accumulated more hits of the 1950s than Ashburn. He was
a six-time All-Star, two-time National League batting
champion and led the National League in stolen bases in
1948. Abreu was a Phillie for nine seasons, two of which
were All Star campaigns. He was also a Silver Slugger
Award winner in 2004 and Gold Glove Award winner in
2005. Abreu is one of only seven players to record at
least 900 extra-base hits and at least 400 stolen bases.
Bench
Bob Boone, John Kruk, Pete Rose, Dick Allen, Greg
Luzinski, Larry Bowa
Boone is one of the most underrated catchers in Major
League history, playing 12 of his 19 seasons in a Phillies
uniform. Boone won seven Gold Gloves with the only
catchers to win more being Ivan Rodriguez, Johnny
Bench and Yadier Molina. Boone played in an era when
he was frequently overshadowed by Bench, who many
consider is the best catcher ever. Boone was a member
of the Phillies’ 1980 World Series championship. Kruk
was the epitome of the Joe Sixpack appeal. He once
authored a book titled, “I Ain’t an Athlete, I’m a baseball
player.” After being traded from the San Diego Padres,
Kruk blossomed into an All-Star performer. He made
three consecutive All-Star appearances from 1991-1993
and was a member of the Phillies 1993 pennant winning
team. You would be hard-pressed to find a more
compelling story in franchise history than Bowa. He made
the Major Leagues as an undrafted player and last 16
seasons, 12 is a member of the Phillies. Bowa did not
make the Hall of Fame but is one of the most iconic
sports figures in Philadelphia history. He was a five-time
All-Star, two-time Gold Glove Award winner and member
of the Phillies 1980 World Series team.
Allen is one of the best players in Major League history
that is not in the Hall of Fame. Allen was the National
League Rookie of the Year in 1964 with three of his
seven All-Star appearances coming as a member of the
Phillies. Luzinski was an All-Star in four of his 11 seasons
as a member of the Phillies. He was the National League
RBI leader in 1975 and a member of the Phillies 1980
World Series championship team. He was also the MVP
runner-up in 1975. Rose is best known as a Cincinnati
Red but four of his five Seasons and Philadelphia were
All Star campaigns. Rose also helped the 1980 team
deliver a World Series.
Manager
Charlie Manuel
Manuel is one of only two managers to lead the Phillies to
a World Series with Dallas Green being the other. Manuel
gets the nod based on winning percentage and also
leading the franchise the five consecutive National
League East Division championships including back-to-
back pennant-winning seasons in 2008 and 2009, the
former of which translated to a world series title.
Team
2008
This choice might be considered recency bias to some
people but it's hard to ignore the fact that this team broke
a 28 year drought between World Series Championships.
With Utley, Howard, Pat Burrell, this team could put up
big offensive numbers and led the league in several
categories. The pitching staff was led by Cole Hamels
and had a deep bullpen. In the postseason, the Phillies
defeated the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS, the Los
Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS and the Tampa Bay
Rays in the World Series.
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