Philadelphia Phillies: Ranking the 10 Best Rotations in Team History

As the Phillies wrap up their incredible and record-setting season, it's time to take a look back at one of the most hyped pitching rotations in recent memory. After nearly 162 games, it's clear that they've lived up to all realistic expectations, especially free-agent acquisition Cliff Lee.

But where do they rank among the other all-time Phillie greats? 

Here are the top 10 rotations in franchise history.

10. 1967

• Jim Bunning
  
  
  • Record: 17-15
  
  
  • ERA: 2.29
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 253
  
  
  • IP: 302.1
  
  
• Larry Jackson
  
  
  • Record: 13-15
  
  
  • ERA: 3.10
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 139
  
  
  • IP: 261.2
  
  
• Chris Short
  
  
  • Record: 9-11
  
  
  • ERA: 2.39
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 142
  
  
  • IP: 199.1
  
  
• Rick Wise
  
  
  • Record: 11-11
  
  
  • ERA: 3.28
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 111
  
  
  • IP: 181.1
  
  
• Dick Elisworth
  
  
  • Record: 6-7
  
  
  • ERA: 4.38
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 45
  
  
  • IP: 125.1

Just three years after one of the biggest collapses in baseball history, Jim Bunning carried the Phils through one of the best pitching performances of his career in 1967. The Phils barely cracked the .500 mark, but the pitching was strong enough to make the top 10.

9. 2008

• Cole Hamels
  
  
  • Record: 14-10
  
  
  • ERA: 3.09
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 196
  
  
  • IP: 277.1
  
  
• Brett Myers
  
  
  • Record: 10-13
  
  
  • ERA: 4.55
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 123
  
  
  • IP: 190.0
  
  
• Jamie Moyer
  
  
  • Record: 16-7
  
  
  • ERA: 3.71
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 123
  
  
  • IP: 196.1
  
  
• Joe Blanton
  
  
  • Record: 4-0
  
  
  • ERA: 4.20
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 49
  
  
  • IP: 70.2
  
  
• Kyle Kendrick
  
  
  • Record: 11-9
  
  
  • ERA: 5.49
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 68
  
  
  • IP: 155.2

Many might be surprised to see a rotation that was a part of just the second championship in Phillies history ranked so low on the list. But, especially statistically, they fail to rank with the best of the franchise.

Cole Hamels was an unproven ace. Brett Myers was a solid No. 2—nothing more and nothing less. Jamie Moyer was the wise, old veteran. Blanton was as good as any fourth starter in the game. Kyle Kendrick was about as mediocre as any fifth starter in the game.

The group wasn't loaded with Cy Youngs. But they dominated in the postseason to help one of the most powerful offenses in the game. That alone makes them worthy of a spot in the top 10. 

8. 1980

• Steve Carlton
  
  
  
  • Record: 24-9
  
  
  • ERA: 2.34
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 286
  
  
  • IP: 304.0
  
  
  
• Dick Ruthven
  
  
  • Record: 17-10
  
  
  • ERA: 3.55
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 86
  
  
  • IP: 223.1
  
  
• Bob Walk
  
  
  • Record: 11-7
  
  
  • ERA: 4.57
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 94
  
  
  • IP: 151.2
  
  
• Randy Lerch
  
  
  • Record: 4-14
  
  
  • ERA: 5.16
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 57
  
  
  • IP: 150.0
  
  
• Larry Christenson
  
  
  • Record: 5-1
  
  
  • ERA: 4.03
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 49
  
  
  • IP: 73.2

The 1980 World Champion Phillies rotation finished in the Top Three in the league in ERA and led their team to a World Series.

But is that enough to rank high up on the list?

Statistically, no.

Other than Carlton and Ruthven, the rotation remained particularly weak. Christenson was able to return from an injury, but did not have a good postseason. Like the 2008 Phillies, however, the very fact that they were able to contribute to a title gives them a spot on the list. 

7. 1950

• Robin Roberts
  
  
  
  • Record: 20-11
  
  
  • ERA: 3.02
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 146
  
  
  • IP: 304.1
  
  
• Curt Simmons
  
  
  • Record: 21-17
  
  
  • ERA: 3.40
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 146
  
  
  • IP: 214.2
  
  
• Bob Miller
  
  
  • Record: 11-6
  
  
  • ERA: 3.57
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 44
  
  
  • IP: 174.0
  
  
• Russ Meyer
  
  
  • Record: 9-11
  
  
  • ERA: 5.30
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 74
  
  
  • IP: 159.2

Bubba Church

Record: 8-6

ERA: 2.73

Strikeouts: 50

IP: 142.0

The "Whiz Kids" may have lost in the World Series to the New York Yankees, but the starting rotation, led by Hall of Famer Robin Roberts, remains among the best in franchise history.

Only Church, who didn't play for the entire season, managed to have an ERA under 3.00. But the group gets brownie points for contributing to a pennant victory, leaving them at No. 7 on the list.

6. 2010

• Roy Halladay
  
  
  • Record: 21-10
  
  
  • ERA: 2.44
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 219
  
  
  • IP: 250.2
  
  
• Cole Hamels
  
  
  • Record: 12-11
  
  
  • ERA: 3.06
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 211
  
  
  • IP: 208.2
  
  
• Roy Oswalt
  
  
  
  • Record: 7-1
  
  
  • ERA: 1.74
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 73
  
  
  • IP: 82.2
  
  
• Joe Blanton
  
  
  • Record: 9-6
  
  
  • ERA: 4.82
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 134
  
  
  • IP: 175.2
  
  
• Jamie Moyer
  
  
  • Record: 9-9
  
  
  • ERA: 4.84
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 63
  
  
  • IP: 111.2
  
  

The Phils established themselves as one of the best rotations in the game when they acquired Astros ace Roy Oswalt in a late-July trade for youngster J.A. Happ.

Oswalt had one of the best second-half finishes of any pitcher in the game, and with the re-emergence of Cole Hamels and the Cy Young Award winning season from Roy Halladay, the team's only downfall was its inconsistencies at the plate. 

5. 1976

• Steve Carlton
  
  
  
  • Record: 20-7
  
  
  • ERA: 3.13
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 195
  
  
  • IP: 252.2
  
  
• Jim Kaat
  
  
  • Record: 12-14
  
  
  • ERA: 3.48
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 83
  
  
  • IP: 227.2
  
  
• Jim Lonborg
  
  
  • Record: 18-10
  
  
  • ERA: 3.08
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 118
  
  
  • IP: 222.0
  
  
• Larry Christenson
  
  
  • Record: 13-8
  
  
  • ERA: 3.68
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 54
  
  
  • IP: 168.2
  
  
• Tom Underwood
  
  
  • Record: 10-5
  
  
  • ERA: 3.53
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 94
  
  
  • IP: 155.2
  
  

This Phillies team racked up the most wins in franchise history, a record that—as of today—still stands (next week may be a different story). Like in 1980, Carlton led the team in victories with his 20 wins and 3.13 ERA. 

4. 1888

• Charlie Buffinton
  
  
  • Record: 28-17
  
  
  • ERA: 1.91
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 199
  
  
  • IP: 400.1
  
  
• Dan Casey
  
  
  • Record: 14-18
  
  
  • ERA: 3.15
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 108
  
  
  • IP: 285.2
  
  
• Ben Sanders
  
  
  • Record: 19-10
  
  
  • ERA: 1.90
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 121
  
  
  • IP: 275.1
  
  
• Kid Gleason
  
  
  • Record: 7-16
  
  
  • ERA: 2.84
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 121
  
  
  • IP: 199.2
  
  

Comparing rotations that vary by over 100 years is quite a difficult task. ERA values in the 1800s tell a far different story than those of today. But these numbers are just incredible. Even Gleason's numbers are impressive. His record may have been a lackluster 7-16, but with it, he managed to sport an impressive 2.84 ERA. 

3. 1908

• George McQuillan
  
  
  • Record: 23-17
  
  
  • ERA: 1.53
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 114
  
  
  • IP: 359.2
  
  
• Tully Sparks
  
  
  • Record: 16-15
  
  
  • ERA: 2.60
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 85
  
  
  • IP: 263.1
  
  
• Frank Corridon
  
  
  • Record: 14-10
  
  
  • ERA: 2.51
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 50
  
  
  • IP: 208.1
  
  
• Lew Richie
  
  
  • Record: 7-10
  
  
  • ERA: 1.83
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 49
  
  
  • IP: 157.2
  
  
• Bill Foxen
  
  
  • Record: 7-7
  
  
  • ERA: 1.95
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 52
  
  
  • IP: 147.1
  
  

Another oldie, but goodie, the 1908 Phillies had among the best rotations in the National League. The highest ERA on the team was 2.60, held by Sparks. Again, it's hard to determine the validity of comparisons with numbers this old, but these stats are far too good to ignore.

2. 1915

• Pete Alexander
  
  
  • Record: 31-10
  
  
  • ERA: 1.22
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 241
  
  
  • IP: 376.1
  
  
• Erskine Mayer
  
  
  • Record: 21-15
  
  
  • ERA: 2.36
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 114
  
  
  • IP: 274.2
  
  
• Al Demaree
  
  
  • Record: 14-11
  
  
  • ERA: 3.05
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 69
  
  
  • IP: 176.2
  
  
• Eppa Rixey
  
  
  • Record: 11-12
  
  
  • ERA: 2.39
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 88
  
  
  • IP: 176.2
  
  
• George Chalmers
  
  
  
  • Record: 8-9
  
  
  • ERA: 2.48
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 88
  
  
  • IP: 170.1
  
  

The franchise's first pennant came in 1915, when Pete Alexander and the rest of the rotation led the team to a World Series appearance against the Boston Red Sox. They, of course, lost that series, but it was a turning point in the franchise that had seen nothing but failure in its 32 years of existence prior to that point.

1. 2011

• Roy Halladay
  
  
  • Record: 18-6
  
  
  • ERA: 2.41
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 217
  
  
  • IP: 227.2
  
  
• Cliff Lee
  
  
  • Record: 16-8
  
  
  • ERA: 2.38
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 232
  
  
  • IP: 226.2
  
  
• Cole Hamels
  
  
  • Record: 14-9
  
  
  • ERA: 2.80
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 186
  
  
  • IP: 206.0
  
  
• Roy Oswalt
  
  
  • Record: 8-9
  
  
  • ERA: 3.66
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 85
  
  
  • IP: 125.1
  
  
• Vance Worley
  
  
  • Record: 11-2
  
  
  • ERA: 2.85
  
  
  • Strikeouts: 108
  
  
  • IP: 123.0
  
  

With the addition of Cliff Lee, the rotation was immediately dubbed as "the best rotation ever." Although it hasn't quite lived up to its initial hype, the rotation remains the unquestionable best in the game, and clearly the best in all of Phillies history.

And as if Halladay, Hamels, Oswalt and Lee weren't enough to cement that position, Vance Worley is having a stellar rookie season that is sure to give him a spot in the rotation for years to come.