25 Least Polarizing Philadelphia Phillies of All Time

When you're around for as long as the Philadelphia Phillies' organization has been, a lot of players are going to sign contracts to wear your uniform. Like anything in life, some you will love, but others you will absolutely despise.

If the Phillies are known for anything, however, it is a passionate fan base, and that creates a few interesting results in regards to a love / hate relationship. The city of Philadelphia is a blue collar town, and Phillies' fans love players that work hard, succeed, and leave their all on the field.

As long as you play the game the right way, you're okay by Phillies' fans. On the flip side of that coin, however, approach the game in an opposite matter, and, well, you're going to wind up in the dog house for a long, long time.

For the sake of this list, we'll call those guys "polarizing players."

That means that these players inspire one type of response. They are absolutely loved by the fans or the fans absolutely hate their guts.

The players on this list are ranked by their "polarization factor." More simply, they are ranked by the emotional response they invoke. So, for example, if one player if Player A is "liked" more than Player B, then obviously, Player A will be ranked higher.

However, if Player C is "hated" more passionately than either player is "liked," then he will be ranked the highest.

Now the only question is: Just who are these players?

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But First, a Note

Remember, the players on this list are ranked only by how much they are liked or disliked. Things like their contributions to the Phillies on the field or statistical history will have very little to do with their placement on this list.

With that being said, I thought that this would be a perfect time to introduce a pair of honorable mentions: Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton.

Both Schmidt and Carlton are all-time greats. On the field, these two men are second to none. However, quirky personalities and certain character traits caused them to be disliked in some realms of the fan base. That disqualifies them from this list.

Once again, we're looking for "polarizing players." That means we're only listing players that were entirely loved or entirely hated, with no middle ground.

25. Danny Tartabull

You're not going to find many Danny Tartabull supporters amongst Phillies' fans. After an excellent contract year with the Chicago White Sox in 1996, the outfielder signed as a free agent with the Phillies prior to the 1997 season for $2 million plus incentives.

Needless to say, it wasn't a wise investment for the Phils. Tartabull looked like he was lost in the outfield during Spring Training, and thanks to a foot injury early in the season, appeared in all of three games for the team during the '97 season, collecting a grand total of zero hits.

He was released following the season.

Honorable Mention: Sounds a lot like the story of Freddy Garcia and the Phillies, no? The club acquired Garcia from the White Sox in exchange for a pair of top pitching prospects in Gavin Floyd and Gio Gonzalez, but dealing with arm issues, Garcia would make just 11 starts for the Phils, collecting one win before pursuing free agency after the season.

24. Steve Jeltz

I've never quite understood the love affair between Phillies' fans and Steve Jeltz (and maybe most of it is in jest, to which I would explain how my sarcasm meter isn't working properly.)

After all, the guy really did nothing well at the plate. He hit .214 in his Phillies' career, rarely ever got on-base, and struck out a lot.

Sure, he was slick defender, but does that explain the love Jeltz gets from Phillies fans?

Regardless, you won't find many people that don't like the former Phils' infielder.

23. Tony Taylor

As far as I'm concerned, Tony Taylor is on the same boat as Steve Jeltz, just to a lesser degree. He had a bit more success at the plate than the slick-fielding infielder, but even still, hit just .261 in his Phillies' career and couldn't crack an OPS of .700.

An average defensive infielder, Taylor wasn't flashy, but got the job done. When he originally joined the Phillies in 1960, Taylor had a ton of potential, but never truly lived up to that talent plateau, and that doesn't usually bode well for a player's legacy in Philadelphia.

However, Taylor was a fan-favorite, and to this day, doesn't have many opponents.

22. Bob Boone

At the end of the day, when you're an integral part of any Philadelphia team that is able to hoist a trophy over its collective head at the end of the season, the fans are going to love you for a long time. That's especially true for the 1980 Phillies, and even more true for that club's catcher, Bob Boone.

Boone was a rock behind the plate. An outstanding character, he was never too shabby at baseball either. As the catcher for numerous pennant winning clubs, Boone was responsible for a number of interesting characters on various pitching staffs, and he handled his duties in stride.

21. Rod Barajas

On the opposite end of the catching spectrum is current Pittsburgh Pirates' catcher Rod Barajas, who could not be disliked more by Phillies' fans.

In just 48 games for the Phillies, Barajas managed to turn himself into one of the most disliked players of all-time. His lack of hustle and seeming careless for the game turned the fans against him, and one play against the Florida Marlins was the straw that broke the camel's back.

With Brett Myers on to close the game for the Phillies, the Marlins threatened to tie the game. The short version of the story is that there was a close play at the plate that Barajas completely butchered, allowing the Marlins to tie the game.

Though the Phillies would eventually win the game, Myers was forced to throw a few extra pitches—during which he sustained an injury that would sideline him for several months.

20. Hunter Pence

In about three months of playing on the field as a member of the Phillies, Hunter Pence has imagined to capture the heart of the collective fan base, so much so that I considered moving him way up this list, but ultimately, decided against doing so because of the brevity of his tenure.

With that being said, however, as long as he is wearing a Phillies' uniform, Pence will be slowly climbing up towards the top of this group. In just three months, he has joked around with the Phillie Phanatic, played the type of baseball the fans love, and has even taken his shirt off at a fashion show.

Frankly, he has more likeable achievements than most guys on this list!

19. Jim Eisenreich

Jim Eisenreich left everything he had on the field each and every game, and that is why Phillies fans loved watching him play. However, baseball didn't always come easy for the former outfielder.

Eisenreich suffers from Tourette Syndrome, which forced him to retire twice during his playing career as he received treatment, but he never gave up, and Phillies fans respected him even more for that.

In 1990, he would receive the first Tony Conigliaro Award, which is awarded to a player that has overcome seemingly impossible obstacles in his life.

18. Jimmy Rollins

After spending 12 seasons as the Phillies' shortstop, it would have been strange watching Jimmy Rollins play in a different uniform next season, but luckily, that won't be happening.

Rollins signed a three-year deal to remain with the only MLB club he has ever played for, and the fans are thrilled about that. Sure, Rollins has found ways to annoy the hardcore Phillies' faithful over the years (like jogging up the first baseline, for instance,) but at the end of the day, the love far outweighs the hate for a player who is placing himself amongst the Phillies' legends.

17. Billy Wagner

The fans don't hate Billy Wagner because he left the Phillies as a free agent, but they do strongly dislike him because of the way he went about it.

After a couple of excellent seasons in Philadelphia, Wagner was poised for a nice contract on the free agent market, and he spurned the Phils by signing with the rival New York Mets, and that's not even the worst part.

On his way out, Wagner blasted the city of Philadelphia and it's fan base, accusing them of not supporting their club, which the closer said, "ain't got a chance," to win in the near future. He claimed that the fans had unrealistic expectations, and that's why he left for greener pastures.

Sure enough, after signing with the Mets in 2005, the Phillies would roll off five straight division titles beginning in 2007.

16. Roy Halladay

Roy Halladay is the personification of the work ethic that Phillies fans like to see out of their ball club, and being the best pitcher in baseball certainly doesn't hurt "Doc's" case.

After coming over the American League a couple of seasons ago, Halladay has literally been un-hittable at times, and in just two seasons, has already captured 40 wins for the Phillies and a National League Cy Young Award.

He fits the Phillies' club perfectly, and the fans know that.

Honorable Mention: I've been looking for a spot to work in Cole Hamels as an honorable mention, and it seems appropriate here. With debate about his Phillies' future ruling baseball talk in Philadelphia over the last couple of weeks, it would be appropriate to say that Hamels doesn't have man detractors in Philly.

That wasn't always the case, and while he may deserve a mention now, I didn't think that he merited an actual ranking on this list.

15. Carlos Ruiz

Phillies fans seem to have an unyielding love for Carlos Ruiz. Listening to his ovation every time he is introduced at Citizens Bank Park, you would think the man saved a school bus full of children from a burning building with one hand.

Seriously though, the Phillies' backstop has become much more than just a fan-favorite in recent seasons. "Chooch" plays with a certain passion that the fans can relate to, and being one of the best defensive backstops in the game has helped him become one of the most underrated players in the game, and let us be honest: Philly loves an underdog.

14. Greg Luzinski

Greg Luzinski was a scary looking guy at the plate, and as long as he was wearing your club's uniform, which he did with the Phillies for 11 seasons, that was a good thing. At six-foot-one and 220lbs, Luzinski was a force to be reckoned with, thanks in no small part to his beast-like power which garnered him the nickname, "The Bull."

Luzinski anchored the middle of the Phillies' order for years with his monstrous power, and fans sure loved those mammoth home runs.

Of course, Luzinski has stayed in touch with the Phillies' organization. Along with several other endeavors, he also lends his name to a popular eatery—Bull's BBQ.

13. Pete Rose

To steal a quote from the famous Sugar House Casino in the Philadelphia area, "Philly loves a winner."

That's pretty much the same exact reason that Phillies fans love Pete Rose. After failing to capture the National League pennant in three consecutive seasons, the front office questioned the Phils' ability to win the big game in the late 1970s.

So, following the 1978 season, the club temporarily made Rose the highest paid free agent of all-time, hoping that his winning ways with the Cincinnati Reds would rub off on the Phillies, who were perennial contenders in need of a big win.

Though the prospect of winning the pennant was looking more grim than ever after the club failed to even make the postseason in 1979, a year later, Rose led the Phillies to their first World Series title.

12. Adam Eaton

It takes a special kind of poor performance for fans to boo a player as he receives a World Series ring.

With that "Philly loves a winner" catchphrase fresh in your memory, it shouldn't be hard to surmise why the fans are not to fond of former starting pitcher Adam Eaton. Billed as one of the worst free agent contracts in Phillies' history at the time, Eaton certainly didn't do much to change that.

Eaton won just 14 games and posted an ERA over six as a Phillie, and with numbers like that, you're not going to get much love from the Phillies' faithful.

11. Cliff Lee

Not to knock the fantastic season that Cliff Lee had in 2011, but I found his single postseason start truly telling about how the fans feel about him. In that start against the St. Louis Cardinals, Lee blew a four run lead and was saddled with a loss, and yet, the fans gave him a standing ovation.

Normally, when you lose a playoff game in Philadelphia, you don't hear much applause, but Lee did. Then again, Lee is not a normal pitcher. He's the man that turned down the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers to come "home" to the Phillies, and the fans will certainly never forget that.

10. Johnny Callison

Johnny Callison was the poster boy for the Phillies' organization throughout the 1960s.

Acquired from the Chicago White Sox for third baseman Gene Freese, Callison was the talented, good-looking type of player that front offices like to market their franchise around, and Callison's easy going nature made him one of the most respected players in the game.

Spending a decade in Philadelphia, he was very well liked. He also had a great deal of success with the team, especially during the 1964 season, when he finished second in the NL's MVP voting.

9. Darren Daulton

You could make a case for most of the 1993 Phillies on a list like this, but for argument's sake, we'll condense those selections to the heart and soul of that club, Darren Daulton.

The team's clubhouse leader, Daulton was something akin to a role model for that club, both in voice and by his actions on the field. A solid catcher, Daulton had one of the best seasons of his career in '93, helping to propel the Phillies to the World Series.

Nowadays, Phillies fans can still get a dose of one of the franchise's most beloved players during the Phils' post-game shows on Comcast SportsNet.

8. Scott Rolen

Phillies fans aren't concerned with the fact that Scott Rolen asked to be traded. If he'd have gone quietly, he wouldn't even be on this list. However, when players walk all over the Phillies on the way out, it leaves a long lasting impression on the fans, and not a good one.

So after several losing seasons and no end in sight, Rolen finally demanded a trade and received one when the Phillies decided to deal him to the St. Louis Cardinals.

On his way out, Rolen called St. Louis "baseball heaven," and that didn't sit well with Phillies fans, and probably never will.

7. Chase Utley

Few men have ever meant more to this franchise than Chase Utley.

After too many years of losing teams, Utley was among the players drafted to bring the Phillies' franchise out of that rut and return to winning ways, and he has done just that. Few players, if any, play the game harder than Utley, and the fans would have it no other way.

Throughout the first half of his career, Utley looked like he was en route to becoming one of the best second basemen of all-time, until injury questions arose and put the length of his career in jeopardy. In that regard, 2012 will be a huge season for the Phils' second baseman, who regardless, will go down as one of the greatest Phillies of all-time.

6. John Kruk

It's really hard not to like John Kruk.

During his playing days, he was the easy-going joker that helped to keep the clubhouse loose, coining a number of popular quotes, but letting his bat do the talking on the field. Don't let appearances deceive you. Despite the beer belly and mullet, Kruk could flat out hit.

Even now that he is retired from the field and in the broadcast booth, it's hard not to like Kruk for always telling it like it is.

An all-time fan-favorite, you won't find many people that don't like the "Krukker."

5. Robin Roberts

Robin Roberts was one of the greatest pitchers to ever play the game and an integral part of the history of the Phillies.

As the club rebounded from several years of losing seasons heading into 1950, it was Roberts who led the Phillies rotation by example. He put together one of the most dominant stretches of pitching in baseball history, and when he decided to retire, only Pete Alexander had a better Phillies' career.

Even after his retirement, Roberts remained close with the organization, developing close, personal relationships with a number of Phillies players. The organization would retire his number, and when he passed away, the club honored him with a memorial patch worn on their jerseys.

4. JD Drew

When the Phillies made JD Drew the second overall selection of the 1997 Draft, the organization had high hopes for him. He was supposed to be the prospect with a seemingly limitless ceiling that helped turn the organization around. However, there was just one problem with that.

Following the advice of agent Scott Boras, Drew refused to sign for a reasonable price, and no agreement was reached.

The St. Louis Cardinals drafted with the fifth overall pick a year later and the Phillies never forgot about it. He became the most hated man in the history of the organization, as he was pelted with batteries standing in the outfield and booed relentlessly.

Truthfully, I've never met a Phillies fan that even tolerated Drew.

3. Tug McGraw

Ya gotta believe!

When the Phillies acquired Tug McGraw from the New York Mets, they were looking for a closer, but actually received one of the greatest players to ever play for the organization. A free-spirited guy and intense competitor, McGraw took over as the Phillies' closer and had a lot of success in the role.

That's the first way to find favor with the fans.

However, the love for McGraw runs much deeper than that. He bled passion, something that the fans have always done for their club, and was on the mound to record the final out of the 1980 World Series, which he would later describe as his moment to stick it to the Mets.

That's something the Phillies and their fans like doing as well.

2. Richie Ashburn

The next couple of slides don't need much of an explanation.

Richie Ashburn was easily one of the most well liked Phillies of all-time, in all aspects of the game. On the field, he was a hitting machine that played the game hard. Often times, he'd get on base with a single and run like hell until he scored, and that's what fans loved about him.

In the broadcast booth, he was one half of one of the greatest duos to ever call a baseball game. After spending most of his career in Philadelphia, few people could relate to the fans the same way that Ashburn could, and his knowledge of the game was second to none.

When he passed away, it was a truly painful loss for not only the Phillies' organization, but for the city of Philadelphia as a whole.

1. Harry Kalas

To be quite honest, I don't care that Harry Kalas wasn't a player.

Not many Phillies fans do.

Few men, if any, meant more to this organization than Kalas, who was the heart and soul of the Phillies for nearly four decades. Each night or each afternoon, Phillies fans would look forward to tuning into the game and listening to Harry make the call.

From Mike Schmidt's 500th home run to the final out of the 2008 World Series, Kalas was one of the few members of the organization who had the ability to reach out and touch an audience emotionally, and when he passed away, he left behind a void that no man will ever be able to fill.

Quite honestly, he is the most polarizing figure in Phillies' history, and it isn't really close.