Philadelphia Phillies
Established: 1883
Other Names:
Philadelphia Quakers (1883-1890, intermittently)
2016 results: 71-91,
4th NL East
2017 Prediction: 5th
World Series Titles: 2
Most Recent: 2008
Last World Series
Appearance: 2009
Last Division Title: 2011
Ballpark: Citizens
Bank Ball Park
Est: 2004
Best Season: 1980
It took the Phillies nearly 100
years of existence to win their first World Series, but they finally did so in
1980. They finished with a record of 91-71, but had a fierce battle with the
Montreal Expos in the final week and a half of the season. With ten games left,
the teams met for a three-game series in Philadelphia, in which the Expos took
two of three to take a half-game lead. The following weekend in Montreal, the
Phillies turned the tables and took the first two of the three games to clinch
the division. After splitting the first two games of the NLCS against Houston
in Philly, the two teams played three thrilling extra inning games in the
Astrodome. Houston won Game 3, 1-0, in 11 innings, while Philadelphia won Game
4, 5-3, in ten innings. Trailing 5-2 in the eighth inning in Game 5, the Phils
scored five runs to take a 7-5 lead but surrendered two in the bottom of the
inning, leaving the teams tied at seven. Philadelphia scored in the top of the
10th to win the game, 8-7, and take the NL Pennant. They defeated
the Royals in six games in the World Series. Offensively, the Phils were led by
Pete Rose, Mike Schmidt, Greg Luzinski and Bob Boone, while the pitching staff
included starters Steve Carlton and Dick Ruthven, and closer Tug McGraw.
Best All-time Player:
Mike Schmidt
It was hard to choose between
Schmidt and Steve Carlton but the third baseman gets the nod over the pitcher
because he played every day and not once every four or five days. In his
18-year big league career, all with the Phillies, Schmidt batted .267, hit 548
home runs, had 1595 RBIs and stole 174 bases. He was a 12-time All-Star, won
nine Gold Gloves, six Silver Sluggers and was the National League MVP in both
1980 and 1981. In the team’s 1980 World Series victory over the Royals, he
batted .381, hit two home runs and had seven RBIs in winning the Series’ MVP
Award. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995.
Best Player on the
Current Roster: Odubel Herrera
Remember when the Phillies had perennial
All-Stars like Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino? And remember
when Ryan Howard was good? Those days are gone, leaving Odubel Herrera the
team’s best player by default. But that’s not to discredit Herrera. At only 25
years old, there’s no ceiling on his potential. In his two seasons, Herrera has
a .291 batting average, 23 homers, 90 RBIs and 41 stolen bases, while earning a
trip to the All-Star Game last season.
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