50 Greatest Moments in Philadelphia Phillies Franchise History

Looking for some of the greatest moments in the history of baseball? Well, you are in luck. With 128 yeas of existence, the Philadelphia Phillies have been crafting some of the game’s most memorable moments since their inception in 1883.

Though times have not always been good for the Phillies’ franchise, when they have been, they’ve been unforgettable. From Brad Lidge dropping to his knees to celebrate the 2008 World Series win to Tug McGraw going skyward to celebrate his club’s victory, the Phillies have tasted victory along with defeat.

It has been the struggle of this franchise that have made those moments memorable. With more than 10,000 losses, who can say that they’ve endured more hardship? The fans that have stuck with this team through the thick and thin have been rewarded in recent years, and with one of the highest payrolls and greatest ballparks in all of baseball, the days of the “small market” Phillies are long gone.

So as the team hopes to create new memories in the future, let us look to the past to see where this franchise has come from: The 50 greatest moments in franchise history.

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Philadelphia Phillies: All 25 Players Ranked by Providing Bang for Their Buck

Two things are inherently true about the Philadelphia Phillies: The roster is full of talent and that talent is being paid a ton of money.

We live in an era and love a game in which getting a good deal is vastly important, and when the Phillies have nearly $200 million invested into the payroll, one can only wonder whether or not that money is being spent wisely.

Are two, possibly three by the end of this off-season, starting pitchers truly worth $20 million a season? If the Phillies were to ink Cole Hamels to a lucrative contract extension, it would be the first time in history a team housed three pitchers that expensive.

What about Ryan Howard? Was that huge contract extension worth it?

In this slideshow, we will take a look back at the 2011 season, comparing each player’s performance to the money he made, ranking who provided the biggest bang for the Phillies’ buck, and how that will be impacted on the 2012 roster.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Ranking the 25 Greatest Leaders in Franchise History

When an organization has existed for 128 years, it is bound to have a few great leaders pass through its ranks. The Philadelphia Phillies are certainly no different, and be it a lead-by-example kind of guy, a vocal presence, or the perfect blend of leadership qualities, the Phils have had their fair share of candidates.

Every successful team has its leader, or leaders, for that matter. Whether that leader is an on-the-field general, a leader from the dugout, or a presence that simply inspires those that wear the uniform, the Phillies preach the importance of “clubhouse characters” for a reason.

The following slide show will examine the 25 greatest leaders the Phillies have ever had, and their importance to the teams that they’ve inspired.

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2012 MLB Free Agency: 25 Players Philadelphia Phillies Absolutely WON’T Chase

To quote one of the greatest Presidents in the history of the United States of America, “The buck stops here.” Harry S. Truman knew a thing or two about connecting with the American people, telling the situation like it was and putting an end to the outlandish rumors widely circulated during the time period.

While baseball certainly can’t measure up to the scale of importance of the issues that Roosevelt faced, fans spend most of the offseason facing the same sort of speculation. With obvious holes to fix and money to spend, the Philadelphia Phillies have become one of those teams vulnerable to absurd speculation.

The Phillies are looking for an offensive upgrade at third base. That doesn’t mean that they’ll be bringing Albert Pujols to town because he’s spent some time at the hot corner in the past. That rumored contract eclipsing $200 million would have the Phillies shaking in their boots.

This slideshow will look to dispel some of those crazy rumors, listing the top 25 free agents that the Phillies will have minimal interest in bringing to Philadelphia.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Ranking 25 Greatest Offseason Moves in Team History

Philadelphia Phillies‘ fans across the globe can rejoice and be happy during this time of year. Yes, the club missed out on the ultimate goal of winning the World Series in 2011, but if it is any consolation, the days of not winning the World Series and then watching other clubs gobble up all of the winter’s top free agents and making the biggest trades are over.

The Phillies, with general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. at the helm, have become big game hunters. They’re in the business of luring the game’s top players to the City of Brotherly Love and partner, business is booming.

In the last few off-seasons alone, the Phillies have brought two aces to the city (one by waiving his no-trade clause and the other, by negotiating a contract in secrecy,) inked a closer to the most lucrative reliever’s contract of all-time, and convinced a Gold Glove second baseman to move to the hot-corner, and that is just to name a few.

This wasn’t always the case.

For a franchise with more than 10,000 losses, the Phillies have certainly endured their darkest hours. They weren’t always able to pull off the big trade or sign the big name free agent. So as we play witness to their better days in the present, let’s look back to the past to see how far they’ve come, and where today’s deals rank among the greatest off-season moves of all-time.

Finally, just a reminder before we begin. Any move made during the off-season (trade, signings, etc.) is fair game for this list!

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Philadelphia Phillies: Top 25 Players They Should Be Eyeing This Offseason

Jonathan Papelbon and Jim Thome are both under new contracts with the Philadelphia Phillies, but with Black Friday right around the corner, this club’s shopping list is far from finished.

After an embarrassing exit from the National League Division Series at the hands of the eventual World Champion St. Louis Cardinals, the Phillies’ off-season shopping list went from a few players (after all, the 2011 squad certainly had the talent to win a World Series) to guys that would not only require major commitments, but fill major holes on the roster.

Of those obvious needs are a starting shortstop, a closer, a more productive bench, and perhaps players for a few other areas that could use some depth, for instance, the bullpen.

Signing Papelbon takes care of that need for a closer and Thome goes a long way in upgrading the bench, but the bullpen and the bench could both use some work. The Phillies don’t have a shortstop and the bench is riddled with mediocrity. There are championship caliber pieces in place for the Phillies, but there are also big holes.

That, however, is what the off-season is for. The free agent market is littered with valuable free agents and what you can not find on that market, can certainly be had on the trade market for a price. This slide show will run down some players that the Phillies should be targeting this winter, ranking them in overall value to the club.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Ranking the Top 50 Hitters in Franchise History

From majestic home runs to seeing-eye singles, baseball’s unique offensive attack has played a huge role in shaping the game into America’s Pastime, and the Philadelphia Phillies have helped lead the offensive onslaught.

From authors of those majestic home runs, like Mike Schmidt and Ryan Howard, to the little guys like Richie Ashburn running his hardest to leg out a single, the Phillies have been at the forefront of the league’s offense since their inception in 1883, and though there have been some lulls along the way, some of baseball’s all-time greats have donned the Philadelphia uniform.

They’ve set astonishing single season records and slugged their way into career history. The Phillies have relied on slug-fests and close scoring affairs, capturing two World Series titles, and with 128 years of history already in the books, it is time to separate the good from the great.

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Reunited: Philadelphia Phillies Bring Jim Thome Back into Fold

Reunited and it feels so good.

The Philadelphia Phillies‘ official website has confirmed that the team has signed first baseman Jim Thome to a one-year contract, roughly in the $1.25 million dollar range.

The deal was first reported by Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, and Jim Sailisbury of CSNPhilly followed with more contract details shortly thereafter.

Thome first signed with the Phillies prior to the 2003 season and is widely credited with helping to turn the organization around from an annual pretender to a perennial contender.

He posted a slash line of .260 / .386 / .543 with the Phillies, hitting 96 home runs and collecting 260 RBI. Though productive, the emergence of slugging first baseman Ryan Howard made Thome expendable, and the Phillies dealt him to the Chicago White Sox prior to the 2006 season in exchange for outfielder Aaron Rowand.

For some, a reunion between the Phillies and Thome was inevitable. With Ross Gload and his fraying hip hitting the free agent market, the Phils were in desperate need of a legitimate threat off the bench against right-handed pitching.

By signing Thome, the Phillies not only filled that requirement (.822 OPS vs. right handed pitchers) but also signed a legitimate threat versus left handed pitching (.878 OPS vs. lefties.)

That said, the Phillies may still be in the market for a left-handed pinch hitter. With first baseman Ryan Howard slated to miss the beginning of the 2012 regular season recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, Thome provides an option for manager Charlie Manuel at first base.

Questions exist about his actual ability to play the field, something he has not done regularly since leaving the Phillies.

Eventually, Howard will return to the Phillies’ lineup as the everyday first baseman, and Thome will take over the role as the team’s primary pinch hitter.

Though some wonder whether or not he’ll be able to stay sharp enough in that role, Thome certainly believes he can. After all, his first choice was to return to the Phillies during last year’s waiver period, but he was instead claimed by the Cleveland Indians.

Regardless of whether or not he can succeed, the Phillies’ offseason opening salvo has been fired. Jim Thome is once again a member of the Phillies.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Jimmy Rollins and the 10 Greatest Shortstops in Philadelphia Phillies History

With the free agency period officially underway, baseball fans everywhere are celebrating the beginning of another exciting off-season with a Christmas-like jubilation, and as free agents became eligible to sign with other teams at the stroke of midnight in the wee hours of Thursday morning, with most fans tucked into their beds and fast asleep, not a creature was stirring—except for Jimmy Rollins, who is about to get paid.

The longtime Philadelphia Phillies‘ shortstop if officially a free agent, and though the club would love to have him back, as Cliff Lee proved last season—anything is possible. With few talented shortstops available, Rollins is sure to make a splash in the free agent pool, and though most believe he will eventually return to the club that drafted him nearly two decades ago, no one is certain.

So many fans have only known Rollins as the Phillies’ shortstop, and to be quite honest, watching anyone aside from him playing the position moving forward is going to be different. Whether it was the youngster with dreads that made his debut wearing number 29 or the veteran with the shaved head that has made a name for himself wearing number 11, it wouldn’t be normal to see the man who helped guide this franchise to success wear another team’s colors in 2012.

Rollins is more than just a familiar face at shortstop, however. He’s also one of the organization’s all-time great.

Now that his future with the Phillies is uncertain, what better time to reflect on the career of the Phillies’ longtime shortstop than now? Though many shortstops have come through the organization, it is hard to believe that any have had a larger impact on the franchise than Rollins. So with that in mind, let’s take a look at the 10 best shortstops in Phillies history.

Maybe, by the end of this list, we will have a better understanding of what Rollins means to the Phillies, and the history of shortstops that have come before him. Is he the greatest of all time?

Time to find out.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Ranking Each Player’s Importance to 2012 World Series

The 2011 season was a complete and utter failure for the Philadelphia Phillies, and there will be no two ways about it. Sure, you could point to obvious (and trivial) facts like, for instance, the team had the best record in all of baseball, home field advantage throughout the duration of their postseason, and one of the greatest pitching rotations ever assembled, but in the end, they failed.

The Phillies were build to do one thing, and one thing only: Win the World Series.

Over the last few seasons, they’ve traded about a dozen top prospects. They’ve increased the payroll year by year, adding millions of dollars and acquiring prime-time athletes to push the team over the top, but in the long run, they’ve been no better than they were in 2008.

There is an argument to be made that the Phils’ season wasn’t a complete failure, but it’s just that—an argument. It’s time to face the facts. Roy Halladay approved a trade to come to the Phillies because he wants to win a World Series. Ditto for Roy Oswalt. Cliff Lee came back to Philly as a free agent for the same reason.

If you’re an honest believer that guys like Chase Utley, Cole Hamels, Ryan Howard and Ryan Madson have grown complacent with one ring, it’s time to think again. No player that comes to Philadelphia gets away with being complacent, and the Phils’ roster houses some of the most competitive guys in all of baseball. 

So it’s time to stop making excuses, Philly. The 2011 season was a failure.

But the greatest part about baseball, and however dried up and shriveled the old cliche might be, there is always next season. Just days away from free agency’s opening salvo, the Phillies already have their eye on the ultimate prize in 2012.

In this slideshow, we’ll attempt to take an educated guess at the Phillies’ Opening Day roster for the 2012 season, and rank each player’s value to the club if it wants to capture its third World Series title. We’ll take a few creative leaps—predicting a few free agent signings, perhaps—but all in all, this slide show offers a realistic prediction at the 2012 squad.

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