25 Greatest Players to Begin Their Careers with the Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies know first hand the importance of developing Major League talent within the organization.

A quick look at the Phillies' roster in 2008, the year the club won its second World Series title, shows that building talent from within is imperative to winning a championship. Would they have been able to capture the National League pennant and the World Series without the contributions of Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Pat Burrell, Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, and so on and so forth? The simple answer is no.

Major League teams have realized this. After all, it is a pretty simple observation. That's why we've seen the rapid, gigantic growth of the scouting and player development part of the game that was nearly non-existent in the not-too-distant past.

The Phillies have done their job of kick starting some legendary careers—that much is for certain. Once again, knowing the value of building from within has helped the Phils in the past, and will continue to do so in the future. They've had their share of busts, but they've also produced a few Hall of Famers.

Qualifying for this list is simple—a player had to play his first game in the MLB as a member of the Phillies. However, in order to keep this list relevant to the Phils, players will be ranked in order of their effectiveness to the Phillies' organization.

So that's it. This list demonstrates the value of building an organization from the ground up. Here are 25 of the greatest players to begin their careers with the Phillies

25. Cole Hamels

Who would have though that when the Phillies drafted Cole Hamels in the first round of the amateur draft back in 2002 that we would be discussing him as possibly one of the greatest pitchers this organization has ever seen in 2011?

We've watched him grow up in the MLB, from young starter loaded with potential playing for a team with postseason aspirations to legitimate ace with a World Series ring to his credit. Though he's the third ace on the current roster, there are plenty of teams that would love to have Hamels, who just happens to be the owner of two personal, postseason trophies—National League Championship Series MVP and World Series MVP—as well as a career 1.141 WHIP.

24. Larry Bowa

When the Phillies signed Larry Bowa as an amateur free agent in 1965, there was some question about whether or not he'd ever be able to play at the MLB level. Sure, he was talented. They wouldn't have taken a chance on him if he wasn't. More obviously, however, he was a scrawny guy, billed at 5-foot-10, 115 lbs, and had an average bat, at best.

Why wouldn't he eventually become the club's starting shortstop for 12 straight seasons?

Bowa surpassed a lot of low expectations over the course of his career. He was a slick defender and a pesky player in general, named to five All-Star teams for his hard work. Though his career had some highs and lows, he will always be remembered for his work as the shortstop for the Phils' first championship team.

23. Darren Daulton

The Phillies waited until the 25th round of the 1980 amateur draft to select Darren Daulton out of high school, but it wasn't long before he was calling games from behind the plate for the Phillies and representing the club as one of the greatest leaders the franchise has ever had.

One of the driving forces behind the spirited 1993 club that challenged the Toronto Blue Jays for the World Series, Daulton would eventually be rewarded with a ring in 1997, though, it was as a member of the Florida Marlins.

When all was said and done, Daulton was a three-time All-Star, a World Series champion, and a Philly fan-favorite.

22. Granny Hamner

One of the most underrated players in the history of the Phillies' franchise, Granny Hamner was everything you hope to get out of an amateur free agent. He signed with the club in 1944 and was in the MLB the same year, though, he wasn't rewarded with a starting job until the 1948 season.

When he won that starting job, however, he didn't let it go until it was taken away from him. Hamner spent 16 seasons in total with the Phillies, appearing in three All-Star games and finishing sixth in the league's MVP voting in 1950 as a member of the fabled "Whiz Kids."

21. Mike Lieberthal

Lady Luck wasn't a big fan of Mike Lieberthal. After being drafted by the Phillies in the 1990 amateur draft, Lieberthal took over as the starting catcher in 1994—a year after the Phils were bounced from the World Series by the Blue Jays—and was gone by 2007, before the Phillies won all the marbles.

With that being said though, Lieberthal was somewhat of a bright spot for the Phillies on a bunch of bad teams. He was a two-time All-Star, a fan-favorite, a Gold Glove winner, and a good offensive catcher. He recorded double digits in home runs seven times, including 31 in 1999.

20. Bob Boone

Long before Mike Lieberthal was the favored backstop for the Phillies, Bob Boone was the go-to guy. Drafted in the 1969 amateur draft, it wasn't long before Boone was on his way to Philadelphia. He joined the club in 1972, and a season later, he was the team's starting catcher—a position he would hold for nine seasons.

As the Phils' starting catcher, he built himself a reputation as one of the game's best defenders, and he was no slouch with the bat either. A four-time All-Star, Boone won a total of seven Gold Gloves in his career, but the most important hardware belongs on his finger—a 1980 World Championship ring.

19. Willie Jones

Despite being an underrated and often unmentioned part of the Phillies' organization, few players have had longer tenures with the club than Willie Jones. Signed as an amateur free agent in 1947, he would go on to spend 13 seasons with the Phillies, including the 1950 campaign as the Whiz Kids' starting third baseman.

"Puddin' Head" was named to the All-Star team in 1950 and made a return trip the following season, receiving votes for the MVP award twice in his career. Though his numbers were never all that flashy, he did hit 180 home runs with the Phils and drove in 753 runs.

18. Curt Simmons

Curt Simmons was about as big a "phenom" as you could have in 1947. While Simmons was still in high school, the Phillies traveled to the Lehigh Valley region as part of a promotional event, where the MLB club squared off against the region's high school All-Stars. Naturally, it was Simmons who started the game for the high school club.

He pitched well enough to win the game, though the high school kids couldn't quite pull it off. Needless to say, the Phillies' brass was impressed, and Simmons was signed as an amateur free agent that same year.

To complete the whirlwind year, he made his Major League debut that season—the first of a 13 year career with the Phillies. He was named to three All-Star teams, was one of the Whiz Kids' top starters, and won 115 games as a Phillie.

17. Greg Luzinski

Nowadays, Greg Luzinski is synonymous with delicious barbecue here in Philadelphia. 

Once upon a time, however, "The Bull" was synonymous with power. Drafted in 1968, it wasn't long before Luzinski was roaming (adventurously) left field as a member of the Phillies. Known for majestic home runs and hitting the ball so hard he hurt its feelings, Luzinski recorded 223 home runs in 11 seasons with the Phils. 

He was a four-time All-Star and twice finished second in the MVP voting. He will always be first in barbecue in my book.

16. Pat Burrell

So Pat Burrell wasn't as good as the Phillies would have liked him to be when they took him with the first overall selection of the 1998 amateur draft.

He may not have been the superstar that was supposed to come along and turn the franchise into an instant contender, but he was a very good (offensive) player as a member of the Phillies, where he spent the first nine years of his career.

Defense was a bit of an adventure for Burrell, but they didn't call him "Pat the Bat" for his work in left field. His work at the plate was much more respectable, where he hit 253 doubles and 251 home runs for the Phillies.

Burrell's career with the Phillies ended in the best way possible—with a trip down Broad Street and a World Series ring on his finger in 2008.

15. Chris Short

The Phillies signed Chris Short as an amateur free agent in 1957, and the lefty would go on to spend all but one year of his career (his final season with the Milwaukee Brewers) as a member of the Phils. That career spanned 14 seasons and saw Short adapt to many roles, including his tenure as the second member of one of baseball's best one-two punches of all-time with Jim Bunning.

Twice an All-Star, Short won 132 games as a reliever, was used as a reliever, and did it all to the tune of a 3.38 ERA. Not often do you get that kind of production out of such a versatile player, but Short was a great option for any role.

14. Chase Utley

"Chase Utley, you are the man!" - Harry Kalas.

When a legendary broadcaster like Kalas calls you "the man," you must be doing something right. Utley has done a lot of things right since being drafted by the Phillies in the 2000 amateur draft. In just nine seasons as the club's second baseman, he owns a World Series ring, has appeared in five All-Star games, and captured four Silver Sluggers.

With 188 home runs to his name, he has already proven to be one of the greatest hitters in the history of the franchise, and as long as his knees are up to the challenge, should continue to grow his Philadelphia sports legend over the next several years.

13. Del Ennis

Long before Mike Schmidt came along and made his home run total obsolete, Del Ennis hit 259 home runs to become the temporary all-time leader in home runs for the Phillies' franchise.

The Phillies signed the powerful outfielder as an amateur free agent in 1943, and he would go on to spend 11 seasons with the club. Though he was only named to the All-Star team three times, Ennis received votes for the MVP Award in eight different seasons, including a fourth place finish as a member of the Whiz Kids.

12. Roy Thomas

Roy Thomas is the embodiment of a "scrappy center fielder." He had a small frame and nearly no power, so he made his money by playing a gritty style of baseball, making contact, drawing walks, and stealing bases, and he was really good at it.

The Phillies signed Thomas prior to the 1899 season and he would go on to spend 12 seasons with the club. Thomas was an on-base machine, leading the league in on-base percentage twice and in walks seven times.

11. Sherry Magee

The Phillies signed Sherry Magee as an amateur free agent in 1904, and the left fielder / first baseman would spend the first 11 seasons of his MLB career as a member of those Fightin' Phils. A good hitter in all aspects of the game, he was a durable, productive player over the course of his career, and, with no exaggeration involved, could literally do it all.

Magee proved that during an incredible 1910 season, when he led the league in runs, RBI, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, OPS+, and total bases.

10. Dick Allen

So much potential, yet such a confusing approach to the game.

The Phillies signed Dick Allen as an amateur free agent in 1960 because he had the potential to be one of the greatest hitters of all-time, and though he may have accomplished that, he was also one of the most misunderstood players in the history of the game.

Allen spent nine seasons as a member of the Phillies, hitting 204 home runs and the same amount of doubles. A seven-time All-Star, he won the Rookie of the Year Award as a member of the Phillies, and as a member of the Chicago White Sox, was named the league's MVP.

9. Jimmy Rollins

Simply put, Jimmy Rollins is the greatest shortstop the Phillies' franchise has ever had, and it really isn't close. Drafted in 1996, Rollins has spent the first 12 seasons of his MLB career as the shortstop for the Phillies, and if all parties involved have their way this off-season, that relationship will continue into the future.

Rollins has been to the All-Star Game three times, is a three-time Gold Glove winner, a Silver Slugger winner, and most importantly, a former MVP. While his best offensive days may very well be behind him, he is still one of the best defensive shortstops in all of baseball, and an asset to any team.

8. Honorable Mention: Ryne Sandberg

Oh, what could have been.

The Phillies drafted Ryne Sandberg in the 1978 amateur draft, and he logged a whopping six at-bats as a member of the Phils. Luckily enough for the Chicago Cubs, the Phillies were stupid enough to trade him as a throw in with Larry Bowa in a deal that sent Ivan De Jesus to Philadelphia.

De Jesus did a whole lot of nothing.

All Sandberg did was win an MVP Award, make 10 trips to the All-Star Game, win nine Gold Gloves, and finish off his trophy case with seven Silver Slugger Awards.

7. Richie Ashburn

The Phillies signed Richie Ashburn as an amateur free agent in 1945 and it wasn't long before he was a legend in the city of Philadelphia.

On the field, he was a five-time All-Star. One of the best contact hitters in the history of the game, He consistently led the league in statistics like plate appearances, at-bats, and on-base percentage, giving him a reputation as a little bit of a pain in the you know what to opposing pitchers.

Off the field, he and Harry Kalas formed one of the greatest broadcasting duos in the history of baseball, and both will be loved forever in this city.

6. Honorable Mention: Fergie Jenkins

Oh, what could have been.

The Phillies signed Fergie Jenkins as an amateur free agent in 1962, and he would appear in a grand total of eight games for the Phils before they decided to trade him for two guys who would not play nearly as large a part in the history of the game than he did.

Jenkins won a Cy Young Award with the Chicago Cubs and finished second twice, as well as finishing third in yet another season. He won 284 games and posted an ERA of 3.34. Needless to say, I think they'd like a re-do.

5. Robin Roberts

Signed as an amateur free agent in 1948, it wasn't long before Robin Roberts was playing a huge role in the history of the Phillies. He quickly asserted his dominance against MLB hitters, and by 1950, he was leading the Whiz Kids to the World Series.

Roberts reeled off one of the most dominant stretches in the history of pitching, winning at least 20 games in six straight seasons and nearly capturing a seventh consecutive season of 20-wins with 19 in 1956. He was the definition of a workhorse, leading the league in several defining categories such as innings pitched, complete games, and games started.

4. Chuck Klein

Chuck Klein probably could have gone to the plate with all four of those bats and still get them around fast enough to drive a pitch over the wall for a home run.

The Phillies acquired his contract in a trade with a different league, but Klein still played his first game as a member of the Phils. A two-time All-Star, he won an MVP Award in 1932 and recorded two more second places finishes in the years before and after.

He had one of the greatest seasons of all-time in 1933, leading the league hits, doubles, home runs, RBI, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, OPS+, and total bases.

3. Ed Delahanty

When the Phillies (then the Quakers) signed Ed Delahanty to a Major League contract, I'm not sure they knew just what kind of player they were getting. In fact, things weren't looking up for Delahanty at the beginning of his career.

That didn't last long though.

Delahanty spent a total of 13 seasons as a member of the Phillies, throwing up ridiculous numbers year in and year out. He led the league in nearly every offensive statistic you can imagine, and posted an OPS better than 1.000 six times.

2. Pete Alexander

Pete Alexander made his Major League debut as a member of the Phillies, and in total, spent eight seasons as a member of the Phils. How he was able to compile the sheer amount of numbers that he did in just eight seasons with the Phils, well, I'm still trying to figure that out.

Alexander won 190 games and posted an ERA of 2.18 in those eight seasons, and over that span of time was easily the most dominant pitcher in the game. He led the league in wins, ERA, complete games, games started, shutouts, innings pitched, strikeouts, batters faced, ERA+, WHIP, and several other statistics.

1. Mike Schmidt

Of course, Mike Schmidt tops yet another list of all-time greats for the Phillies.

The Phillies drafted the greatest third baseman of all-time in 1971 and he would never wear another uniform, spending 18 seasons in the City of Brotherly Love. He won three MVP Awards, made more trips to the All-Star Game then I have fingers, and hit 500 home runs.

In case that wasn't a solid enough case as is, he was also one of the greatest defensive third baseman of all-time, winning 10 Gold Gloves.

Sound Off!

So what are your thoughts? Now that you've seen my list of the 25 greatest Phillies to start their careers with the club, what's running through your mind?

As a side note, I do want to mention that I did something a bit different with this slide show. As always, when I'm doing a list like this, I take numbers acquired with the Phillies into consideration first and foremost. For that reason, you're probably wondering, "What in the world are Ryne Sandberg and Fergie Jenkins doing on this list?"

I thought it would be a bit more interesting to take a hypothetical look at the top 10 of this list, so I threw those two guys in there. For those interested, if they were not included, my picks at the back end would have been Ryan Howard and Scott Rolen, respectively.

Thanks for reading and make sure to leave a comment! Who deserves to be on this list?