Philadelphia Phillies Dream Team

 

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. 

New York Mets Dream Team

 

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 New York Mets came into Major League Baseball in 1962 as

one of baseball’s first expansion teams, replacing the Brooklyn

Dodgers and New York Giants, who departed for the West Coast.

In their first season, the Mets went 40-102, which was the worst

record since Major League Baseball adopted the 162-game

schedule. In 1969, the Mets defeated the Baltimore Orioles in

what is considered one of the biggest upsets in World Series

history. That team became known as the “Miracle Mets.” The

Mets won the World Series again in 1986, defeating the Boston

Red Sox 4-3. The Mets won the pennant also in 1973, 2000

and 2015. 

Today, I formed a Mets Dream Team in a 26-man roster format.

For openers, to make this roster, four years as a Met 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 you played on a playoff team, 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. Off the field baggage is not

a deterrent to landing on this team, nor is any Steroid Era

affiliation. This is baseball, not the Boys Scouts. 

Starting pitchers

Tom Seaver, Dwight Gooden, Jacob deGrom, Ron Darling, Jerry

Koosman

Seaver spent 12 seasons of his Hall of Fame career with the Mets

becoming the only pitcher along with Walter Johnson to record

at least 300 wins, 3,000 strikeouts and have an earned run

average of under 3.00. Seaver also played for three of the other

teams but all three of his Cy Young Awards and 10 of his 12 All-

Star appearances came in a Mets uniform. Seaver helped

deliver the Mets 1969 World Series title. Substance abuse issues

prevented Gooden from having the Hall of Fame career that he

appeared to be on track when he first burst onto the scene. In

Gooden’s first three seasons, he compiled a 58-19 record with

a 2.28 ERA and 744 strikeouts. He was a four-time All-Star and

National League Rookie of the Year in 1984. Gooden won the

Cy Young Award in 1985 and helped the franchise to its 1986

World Series title. Gooden remained a force until 1993 before

his career faltered. Since deGrom is still active, his legacy is

still in progress. deGrom is a three-time All-Star and two-time

National League strikeout leader. He also led the Major

Leagues in ERA in 2018 and was National League Rookie of

the Year in 2014. deGrom is the 11th player in Major League

history to win consecutive Cy Youngs in Mets history.

Darling was a solid complementary cog in the Mets rotation.

His 99 career wins ranks him fourth in franchise history and is

also in the Top 10 in innings pitched, strikeouts, shutouts and

complete games. In the 1986 World Series, Darling pitched

17 2/3 Innings, allowing just three runs. The left-handed

throwing Koosman was the perfect complementary piece

behind Seaver. Koosman is second in Mets history behind

Seaver in shutouts, complete games and innings pitched.

Koosman was a two-time All-Star and member of the 1969

World Series championship team. 

Bullpen

Closer -- John Franco

Jesse Orosco, Tug McGraw, Armando Benetiz, Jeurys

Familia, Roger McDowell, Randy Myers

Franco's 276 saves are by far the most in franchise history.

Franco's 424 career saves ranked him fifth in Major League

history and though he established himself as an All-Star with

the Cincinnati Reds, Franco spent the majority of his career

with the Mets pitching effectively into his 40s. Franco led the

National League in saves three times and remains very

popular among Mets fans. The lasting image of Orosco is

recording the final out of the 1986 World Series and then

firing his glove into the air and falling to his knees. At his peak,

the left-handed throwing Orosco  was nearly unhittable

against left-handed hitters. Orosco was a two-time All-Star in

seven seasons with the Mets. Before saves were a

significant statistic, McGraw was one of the game's most

premier relievers. McGraw was a two-time All-Star and helped

deliver the Mets 1969 World Series title. McGraw was famous

for creating the rallying cry among the Mets specifically in their

two pennant winning seasons in his time of 1969 and 1973

uttering the phrase “Ya Gotta Believe!” Benitez has a

conflicting legacy with the Mets, whom he spent four seasons.

His 160 career saves rank him second in franchise history

behind Franco. Benitez's postseason ERA was under 2.00

but he also had the handful of blown saves in the postseason. 

Familia has pitched 10 seasons with the Mets and his career is

still in progress. Familia was an All-Star in 2016 and led the

National League in saves in 2015 with 51, becoming the first

Mets closer other than Franco to lead the National League in

saves. McDowell formed a solid closer tandem with Orosco

and later Randy Myers. McDowell recorded 84 saves in his

five seasons with the Mets. Myers, meanwhile, recorded 56

saves in a Mets’ uniform. 

Infield

Catcher -- Mike Piazza, First base -- Keith Hernandez,

Second base -- Edgardo Alfonso, Third base -- David

Wright, Shortstop -- Jose Reyes. 

Piazza is widely regarded as the best offensive catcher in

baseball history. Piazza belted 396 of his 427 career home

runs while playing catcher, which is a record not likely to be

broken for a long time. Six of Piazza's 12 All-Star appearances

came as a Met on the way to a Hall of Fame career. Hernandez

might be the best defensive first baseman in Major League

history as evidenced by his 11 consecutive Gold Gloves.

Hernandez, however, was no slouch offensively either as he

had a .300 batting average for seven consecutive seasons.

Hernandez was a vital cog in the 1986 World Series title team.

Alfonso played a mixture of second base and third base and

also a little bit of shortstop but he belongs somewhere in the

starting lineup and since second base is a position where the

Mets have had very little greatness, Alfonso qualifies here.

Alfonso hit 120 home runs in his eight seasons and compiled

a .292 batting average. He was an All-Star in 2000. 

Injuries ended up curtailing what Wright could have achieved

as he appeared to be on a Hall of Fame track for much of his

career. Wright, however, accomplished way too much not to be

the starter on this team. Wright is the franchise leader in hits,

RBIs, runs scored and doubles. Wright was a seven-time All-

Star, two-time Gold Glove Award winner and two-time Silver

Slugger Award winner. Before Reyes arrived, the Mets had a

good-but-not-great history at shortstop. Reyes played a

combined 12 seasons with the Mets. His 408 stolen bases and

113 triples are the most in franchise history. All four of Reyes'

All-Star appearances came in a Mets uniform. He led the

National League in stolen bases on three occasions and was

the National League batting champion in 2011. 

Outfield

Leftfield -- Cleon Jones, Centerfield -- Carlos Beltran,

Rightfield -- Darryl Strawberry

Jones was a pivotal reason for the Mets 1969 World Series

championship. That season was his lone All-Star campaign

in his 11 years with the Mets. He batted .340 that season and

.281 for his career in New York. Beltran spent seven seasons

with the Mets with five of his nine All-Star campaigns coming

in a New York uniform. Beltran is one of the best postseason

performers in Major League history earning him nicknames

such as “The New Mr. October” and “Mr. October Jr.” Beltran

hit more home runs, doubles and compiled more RBIs than

any other Mets center fielder in franchise history. Legal

troubles and substance abuse problems prevented Strawberry

from having the career that many believed he was capable.

Strawberry, however, had a prosperous career with the Mets

hitting 252 home runs, the most in franchise history. Strawberry

had a distinctive long, looping uppercut swing that translated

into eight All-Star appearances and the National League

Rookie of the Year award winner in 1983. Strawberry was a

vital component in the Mets 1986 World Series team.

Bench

Gary Carter, Ed Kranepool, Howard Johnson, Bud Harrelson,

Kevin McReynolds, Michael Conforto

Carter played just five seasons with the Mets but they were

highly impactful. Carter was known as “The Kid” because of

his youthful exuberance.Though the Mets’ 1986 World Series

championship team had many great players, Carter was the

heartbeat of that team. He was an All-Star in four of his five

seasons in New York. Kranepool is the longest tenured Met

in franchise history at 17 years. Though he never hit more

than 15 home runs and hit over .300, Kranepool was a solid

performer for a long time. He was a member of the 1969

World Series team and an All-Star in 1965. The switch-hitting

Johnson had four 30/30 seasons, fourth most in Major

League history. Johnson, who was known as “HoJo,” was a

member of the 1986 World Series team and was an All-Star

on two occasions. The 1991 season was his best season

as he was the National League home run and RBI leader. 

Harrelson played a total of 1,422 games, fourth most in

franchise history. He was a member of the 1969 World Series

team and though he never lit up the scoreboard statistically,

he was a steady performer and two-time All-Star. McReynolds

came to the Mets in an eight-player trade before the 1987

season. Though he never attained any All-Star accolades,

McReynolds was a steady and productive hitter in his five

seasons in New York. Conforto's legacy is still in progress

since he recently completed his sixth season with the

franchise. Conforto was an All-Star in 2017. 

Manager

Gil Hodges

Hodges took over a perennially hapless team in 1968 and in

just two years transformed the franchise from a 100 loss

team to a 100 win team. In his debut in 1968, the Mets won

73 games, which was the best at the time in franchise history.

Hodges was a proponent in using platoon systems in order

to maximize production. Hodges managed the Mets for a

total of four seasons. Hodges died in 1972 and might be in

the Hall of Fame had he managed longer with his untimely

death shortening his life and career. 

Team

1986

This is a pretty easy choice because the Mets won 108 games

during the regular season, running roughshod to a National

League East title and went on to win the World Series. The

Mets had an outstanding pitching staff with four starters

winning at least 15 games. The top three Mets pitchers all had

ERAs under 3.00. The catalysts of the lineup were Carter,

Strawberry, Hernandez along with second baseman Wally

Backman coupled with the centerfield platoon of Mookie

Wilson and Len Dykstra. The Mets defeated the Houston

Astros 4-2 in the NLCS which was considered one of the

best postseason series in Major League history. In the World

Series, the Mets defeated the Boston Red Sox 4-3, thus

continuing the “Curse of the Bambino,” which would be

broken in 2004.