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The 24 best players in Philadelphia Phillies history
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The 24 best players in Philadelphia Phillies history

In baseball, the best stat to determine a player's worth is WAR — wins above replacement — an analytical metric that was not available until relatively recently. The formula for WAR differs for position players and pitchers, and I'll lay it out in layman's terms. WAR uses every aspect of the game — batting, baserunning and fielding — factors in position and ballpark and determines how many wins better than a league-average player an individual player might be. Using WAR to help us rank them, let's look at the top 24 players in the history of the Philadelphia Phillies franchise.

 
1 of 24

Mike Schmidt 1972-1989 (106.8 WAR)

Mike Schmidt 1972-1989 (106.8 WAR)
Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Allsport/Getty Images

The best player in the storied history of the Philadelphia Phillies franchise is undoubtedly third baseman Mike Schmidt, who wowed fans in the City of Brotherly Love for nearly two decades. Schmidt spent the entirety of his 18-year career in Philadelphia, slashing .267/.380/.527 with 548 homers, 1,595 RBI and 408 doubles. He won back-to-back NL MVP awards in 1980 and 1981, and later won his third MVP in '86. Schmidt represented the Phillies in 12 All-Star Games, won 10 Gold Glove awards, six Silver Sluggers, and was the MVP of the 1980 World Series. He is the Phillies all-time leader in nearly every significant offensive category and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995. Philadelphia retired his number 20 in May 1990. 

 
2 of 24

Robin Roberts 1948-1961 (72.0 WAR)

Robin Roberts 1948-1961 (72.0 WAR)
Photo by Hy Peskin/Getty Images

During the early part of the 1950s, there simply was not a more consistent starting pitcher in the National League than Philadelphia's Robin Roberts. The righty led the league in wins in four straight seasons from '52-'55, led the league in innings in five straight years from '51-'55, and started more games than anybody else six straight times from '50-'55. Roberts earned 234 of his 286 career victories in a Phillies' uniform, and is the franchise's all-time leader in innings, complete games and shutouts, and represented the club in seven All-Star Games. His number 36 was retired by the Phillies in 1962, and he was inducted into Cooperstown in 1976. 

 
3 of 24

Steve Carlton 1972-1986 (69.4 WAR)

Steve Carlton 1972-1986 (69.4 WAR)
Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images

Southpaw Steve Carlton had already established himself as an upper-echelon starting pitcher in St. Louis, but when he got to Philadelphia in '72 he quickly became one of the best hurlers this sport has ever seen. In 15 years in the City of Brotherly Love, Carlton won 241 games with a 3.09 ERA in 3,697.1 innings. He won an incredible four Cy Young awards for Philadelphia, won the Triple Crown in 1972, led the league in innings five times, and paced the NL in strikeouts five times as well. Carlton represented the Phillies in seven All-Star Games and had his number 32 retired by the organization in 1989. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1994. 

 
4 of 24

Chase Utley 2003-2015 (62.0 WAR)

Chase Utley 2003-2015 (62.0 WAR)
Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Perhaps the most popular Phillies player in recent memory is second baseman Chase Utley, Philadelphia's first-round pick from the 2000 draft who developed into one of the franchise's most productive hitters. Utley starred in the City of Brotherly Love for 13 seasons, bringing a hard-nosed attitude to both sides of the ball. During his Phillies career he slashed .282/.366/.481 with 233 homers, 916 RBI and 346 doubles. He was voted into six All-Star Games, won four Silver Slugger awards, and was a linchpin in Philadelphia's 2008 World Series championship. 

 
5 of 24

Grover Cleveland Alexander 1911-1917, 1930 (61.2 WAR)

Grover Cleveland Alexander 1911-1917, 1930 (61.2 WAR)
Photo by: Glasshouse Vintage/Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Right-hander Grover Cleveland Alexander spent only eight of his twenty major-league seasons in Philadelphia, but in the early part of the 1910s you would be hard-pressed to find a better starter in the National League. In a seven-year span from '11-'17, Alexander led the league in wins five times and earned three ERA titles, while leading the NL in strikeouts five different times. The Elba, Nebraska native finished his Phillies career with 190 victories and a dominant 2.18 ERA, and was easily inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1938. 

 
6 of 24

Ed Delahanty 1888-1889, 1891-1901 (60.8 WAR)

Ed Delahanty 1888-1889, 1891-1901 (60.8 WAR)
Photo Reproduction by Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images

When Ed Delahanty first suited up for this organization, the team was known as the Philadelphia Quakers. Bouncing between first base, second base and left field, Delahanty was quietly one of the more productive players of his era. In 1,557 games with Philadelphia, he slashed .348/.415/.508 with 687 extra-base hits, 1,288 RBI and 412 stolen bases. He won the batting title in 1899 when he hit an incredible .410 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Old Timers Committee in 1945.

 
7 of 24

Richie Ashburn 1948-1959 (58.1 WAR)

Richie Ashburn 1948-1959 (58.1 WAR)
Photo by The Stanley Weston Archive/Getty Images

Center fielder Richie Ashburn played all but three of his 15 big-league seasons with the Phillies and is easily one of the premier players this organization has ever employed. In just shy of 1,800 games in Philly, the Tiden, Nebraska native slashed .311/.394/.388 with 2,217 hits. Ashburn did not hit for much power, but consistently got on base and set the table for the RBI guys behind him. He led the National League in stolen bases once, hits three times and won two batting titles during his Philadelphia career. Ashburn represented the Phillies in four All-Star Games and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1995 by the Veteran's Committee. Philadelphia retired his number 1 in 1979. 

 
8 of 24

Sherry Magee 1904-1914 (48.2 WAR)

Sherry Magee 1904-1914 (48.2 WAR)
Photo by: Circa Images/GHI/Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Right-handed swinging Sherry Magee patrolled the outfield in Philadelphia for over a decade at the beginning of the previous century and was one of the most prolific run producers of his era. Magee led the league in RBI three times while with the Phillies and slashed an impressive .299/.371/.447 while with the club. He won the batting title in 1910, led the NL in both hits and doubles in 1914, and would go on to win a World Series ring with the Reds in 1919. 

 
9 of 24

Jimmy Rollins 2000-2014 (47.6 WAR)

Jimmy Rollins 2000-2014 (47.6 WAR)
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Switch-hitting shortstop Jimmy Rollins was the Phillies' second-round pick in the 1996 draft, and the Oakland, California native would go on to become one of the most recognizable figures in the franchise's history. Rollins debuted late in the 2000 season before taking over position number six in Philadelphia in '01, and from that point on gave the Phillies one of the premier two-way players in the National League. In 2,090 games in Philly Rollins slashed .267/.327/.424 with 216 homers, 887 RBI, 479 doubles, 111 triples, and 453 stolen bases. He's the franchise's all-time hits leader with 2,306, represented the Phillies in three All-Star Games, earned four Gold Glove awards, and won a Silver Slugger. Most impressively, Rollins was named the National League MVP in 2007 and was a driving force behind the team's World Series win in '08. 

 
10 of 24

Bobby Abreu 1998-2006 (47.2 WAR)

Bobby Abreu 1998-2006 (47.2 WAR)
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

In November 1997, the Phillies traded shortstop Kevin Stocker to the Tampa Bay Rays for outfielder Bobby Abreu in a transaction that would become one of the best deals in team history. Arriving in Philly as a raw talent, the left-handed swinging Abreu almost instantly developed into one of the best pure hitters in the National League. In nine years with Philadelphia, he slashed .303/.416/.513 with 195 homers, 814 RBI and 348 doubles, while qualifying for a pair of All-Star games and also winning both a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger. Abreu also made the Phillies proud at the 2005 Home Run derby, putting on an absolute show and winning the competition. 

 
11 of 24

Cole Hamels 2006-2015 (43.0 WAR)

Cole Hamels 2006-2015 (43.0 WAR)
Jeff Swinger via Imagn Content Services, LLC

San Diego, California native Cole Hamels was the Phillies' first-round pick in the 2002 draft, and just a few years later the southern California kid had become a folk hero on the country's opposite coast. Hamels got his feet wet in the big leagues in 2006 before becoming a full-time member of the Phillies' starting staff the following season, a year in which he won 15 games and made the All-Star Game. In 2008 Hamels pitched to a NL-best 1.08 WHIP and was phenomenal in the postseason, delivering a 1.80 ERA in five playoff starts en route to being named MVP of both the NLCS and the World Series. Hamels would make three additional All-Star Games while with Philadelphia, before being traded to Texas in a high-profile deadline trade in July 2015.  

 
12 of 24

Johnny Callison 1960-1969 (39.4 WAR)

Johnny Callison 1960-1969 (39.4 WAR)
Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images

Philadelphia acquired right fielder Johnny Callison from the White Sox ahead of the 1960 season, and the left-handed hitter rewarded his new team's faith in him by providing them with a dangerous middle-of-the-order bat for a decade. In 1,432 games with the Phillies, Callison slashed .271/.338/.457 with 185 homers and 666 RBI. He led the league in doubles once, triples twice, and qualified to represent Philadelphia in four All-Star Games. In both '64 and '65 he blasted over 30 home runs and drove in 100 or more runs. 

 
13 of 24

Chuck Klein 1928-1933, 1936-1944 (37.1 WAR)

Chuck Klein 1928-1933, 1936-1944 (37.1 WAR)
Photo by The Stanley Weston Archive/Getty Images

Left-handed swinging outfielder Chuck Klein enjoyed two successful stints in Philadelphia, and by the time his playing days had ended he'd authored one of the more productive careers in Phillies' history. In 1,405 games with the organization Klein slashed .326/.382/.553 with 243 homers, 983 RBI, 336 doubles and 64 triples. He was the 1932 NL MVP, won the Triple Crown in 1933, represented the Phillies in a pair of All-Star Games and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1980. 

 
14 of 24

Roy Thomas 1899-1908, 1910-1911 (36.9 WAR)

Roy Thomas 1899-1908, 1910-1911 (36.9 WAR)
Photo by Chicago Sun-Times/Chicago Daily

Center fielder Roy Thomas grew up in Norristown, Pennsylvania, not far from Philadelphia, and the local boy went on to become a valuable member of his hometown team. In a dozen seasons with the Phillies, Thomas slashed .295/.421/.334 with 128 extra-base hits, 264 RBI and 228 stolen bases. He was especially prolific at getting on base, and led the league in OBP twice and walks seven times. 

 
15 of 24

Billy Hamilton 1890-1895 (36.4 WAR)

Billy Hamilton 1890-1895 (36.4 WAR)
Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images

Outfielder Billy Hamilton was not in Philadelphia for very long in the grand scheme of things, but during his half-dozen seasons in the City of Brotherly Love, he earned a reputation as one of the most dangerous baserunners in the game. Hamilton led the major leagues in stolen bases in four of his six seasons in Philly, swiping 100 bases or more in three of those years. Additionally, he won two batting titles and led the league in OBP three times, making him an absolute menace to opposing teams. Hamilton had very little power, but he would often single, steal second, steal third, and come home on an out, and was one of the first players to effectively master the small-ball mentality. The Veteran's Committee voted him into the Hall of Fame in 1961. 

 
16 of 24

Curt Schilling 1992-2000 (36.3 WAR)

Curt Schilling 1992-2000 (36.3 WAR)
RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports

Righty Curt Schilling began his career as a relief pitcher in Baltimore and Houston, and it wasn't until after he was traded to the Phillies in 1992 that he started to become the dominant starter we now remember him as. Schilling starred for Philadelphia for nine years, winning 101 games with a strong 3.35 ERA. He was a three-time all-star in Philly, led the league in strikeouts in back-to-back seasons in '97 and '98, and paced the majors in innings with 268.2 in that 1998 campaign. Schilling would of course go on to win three World Series championships later in his career, but let's not forget that Philadelphia is where he first began to blossom into a star. 

 
17 of 24

Dıck Allen 1963-1969, 19751976 (35.4 WAR)

Dıck Allen 1963-1969, 19751976 (35.4 WAR)
Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images

Right-handed swinging Dıck Allen debuted for the Phillies as a 21-year-old late in the 1963 campaign, but his official rookie season didn't come until 1964 — and what a memorable one it was. Playing in all 162 of Philadelphia's contests, Allen hit .318 with 29 homers and 91 RBI, while adding 38 doubles and a major league-leading 13 triples. He easily won NL Rookie of the Year and his career was off and running. The Wampum, Pennsylvania native would go on to play in seven All-Star Games with a Phillies hat on his head, lead the league in home runs twice, and win an MVP award after leaving Philadelphia, but he is most remembered for his consistent excellence in the birthplace of America. The Phillies retired his number 15 in September 2020. 

 
18 of 24

Del Ennis 1946-1956 (32.5 WAR)

Del Ennis 1946-1956 (32.5 WAR)
Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images

Left fielder Del Ennis was born in Philadelphia and grew up in neighboring Huntingdon Valley, and it had to be quite a thrill for him to break into the major leagues with his hometown team. The right-handed slugger would end up playing 11 seasons for the Phillies, slashing .286/.344/.479 with 259 home runs, 1,124 RBI, and 310 doubles. He represented Philadelphia in three All-Star Games, crushed 25 or more homers seven times, led the National League in RBI once, and finished fourth in NL MVP voting in 1950. 

 
19 of 24

Aaron Nola 2015-present (31.7 WAR)

Aaron Nola 2015-present (31.7 WAR)
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Right-handed starting pitcher Aaron Nola is the only player on this list who is still currently playing for the Phillies, and he just so happens to be one of the club's most important current players. Philadelphia picked Nola seventh overall in the 2014 draft coming out of LSU, and he was in the big leagues just 13 months later. To date in his career, the 30-year-old has taken the mound 235 times for the Phillies and pitched to a 3.72 ERA with a 1.13 WHIP in 1,422 innings. He was an all-star in 2018, led the league in complete games in 2020, and today continues to form a dynamic 1-2 rotation combination for Philadelphia with fellow righty Zack Wheeler. 

 
20 of 24

Charlie Ferguson 1884-1887 (31.7 WAR)

Charlie Ferguson 1884-1887 (31.7 WAR)
Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images

Back when the Phillies were still known as the Philadelphia Quakers, their best player was probably Charlie Ferguson, who was most known for his exploits on the pitcher's mound, but also regularly played second base and the outfield. On the mound, Ferguson pitched in 183 games for the Quakers over four years, earning 99 victories and putting up a stellar 2.67 ERA in 1,514.2 innings. He eclipsed the 400-inning plateau twice, and nearly did it three times in a row when he tossed 395.1 frames in 1886. With a bat in his hands, Ferguson was not a star, but he wasn't a pushover either, slashing a lifetime .288/.364/.372 with 157 career RBI. Tragically, he passed away at the age of 25 when he contracted typhoid fever ahead of the 1888 season. 

 
21 of 24

Gavvy Cravath 1912-1920 (31.0 WAR)

Gavvy Cravath 1912-1920 (31.0 WAR)
Photo by The Stanley Weston Archive/Getty Images

Outfielder Gavvy Cravath played the final nine seasons of his big-league career in Philadelphia with the Phillies, and for the entirety of that time he was one of the most feared right-handed hitters in the National League. Cravath led the league in home runs in six of his nine seasons with Philly and drove in 100 or more runs three different times. He finished his Phillies tenure with a strong .291/.381/.489 slash line and is remembered as one of the team's earliest stars. 

 
22 of 24

Jim Bunning 1964-1967, 1970-1971 (30.8 WAR)

Jim Bunning 1964-1967, 1970-1971 (30.8 WAR)
Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images

The vast majority of Jim Bunning's Hall of Fame resume was not authored in Philadelphia, but that's not to say he was not a dominant force during his brief time in the City of Brotherly Love. In six years with the Phillies, Bunning started 208 games and earned 89 victories while pitching to a fantastic 2.93 ERA. He led the majors with 302.1 innings in 1967 and represented the Phillies in two All-Star Games. Despite the relatively short stint in Philadelphia, the organization retired his number 14 in an April 2001 ceremony. 

 
23 of 24

Sam Thompson 1889-1898 (30.8 WAR)

Sam Thompson 1889-1898 (30.8 WAR)
Photo by Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images

Right fielder Sam Thompson came to Philadelphia in 1889 in the last season the organization was still known as the Quakers, and promptly led the major leagues with 20 homers that season. During his 10-year career in Philly, Thompson was one of the most productive hitters in baseball, slashing .334/.389/.509 with 477 extra-base hits and 965 RBI. He drove in 100 runs or more for Philadelphia seven times and led the majors in the category in both 1894 and 1895. The Veteran's Committee ushered Thompson into Cooperstown in 1974. 

 
24 of 24

Cy Williams 1918-1930 (30.5 WAR)

Cy Williams 1918-1930 (30.5 WAR)
Photo by George Rinhart/Corbis via Getty Images

Center fielder Cy Williams played the first six seasons of his career in Chicago with the Cubs before heading east to join the Phillies in 1918, and he would end up playing his final 13 seasons in the City of Brotherly Love. During his time in Philly, the left-handed swinger slashed .306/.380/.500 with 217 homers, 795 RBI, 237 doubles and 49 triples. Williams led the National League in home runs three times while with the Phillies and paced the league in both SLG% and OPS in 1926. 

Justin Mears is a freelance sports writer from Long Beach Island, NJ. Enjoys being frustrated by the Mets and Cowboys, reading Linwood Barclay novels, and being yelled at by his toddler son. Follow him on twitter @justinwmears

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