Top 10 Best Philadelphia Phillies Players of All Time

As one of the oldest franchises in Major League Baseball, the Philadelphia Phillies have seen many talented players during their long history. As the current Phillies team hopes to make another World Series appearance, let’s look at some of the greatest Phillies players of all time.

Who Are the Best Philadelphia Phillies Baseball Players of All Time?

1. Mike Schmidt
2. Steve Carlton
3. Grover Cleveland Alexander
4. Jimmy Rollins
5. Robin Roberts
6. Richie Ashburn
7. Roy Halladay
8. Dick Allen
9. Chase Utley
10. Ryan Howard

1. Mike Schmidt

• Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995
• Three-time NL MVP
• 1980 World Series champion
• 1980 World Series MVP

Mike Schmidt is regarded as one of the best third basemen of all time. During Mike Schmidt’s 18-year career as a third baseman with the Phillies, Schmidt proved to be a formidable player both behind the plate and on the field. He would win ten Gold Gloves for his great defensive value at third base, as he led the league in third base assists for seven seasons. In terms of hitting, Schmidt would win six Silver Sluggers throughout his career. He led the National League in home runs for eight seasons and led in RBIs and offensive WAR for four seasons. Schmidt would participate in 12 All-star games, and by the end of his career, he would accumulate 2234 hits and 1595 RBIs.

Schmidt is especially admired for leading the 1980 Philadelphia Phillies to the franchise’s first World Series win. The Phillies would retire number 20 a year after Schmidt’s retirement, and he would later enjoy the honor of being Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995.

2. Steve Carlton

• Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1994
• Four-time Cy Young Award winner
• 10-time All-Star

Steve Carlton was one of the greatest pitchers of his time. Born in 1994, he began his Major League career with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1965 and would later join the Phillies in 1972. With the Phillies, Carlton would refine his pitching control, elevating him from a great to elite. He won four Cy Young Awards after dominating the National League and is currently tied for the third most Cy Young Awards awarded to a single pitcher.

The Phillies won their first franchise World Series in 1980 with great help from Carlton. Carlton would pitch two games during the series against the Kansas City Royals, earning a 2.4 ERA and 1.533 WHIP over 15 innings pitched. Carlton was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1994, and the Phillies would retire his number.

3. Grover Cleveland Alexander

• Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1938
• Three NL Triple Crowns
• Five NL pitching titles

Grover Cleveland Alexander, or “Pete,” was a pitcher for Philadelphia from 1911 to 1917. Alexander proved himself to be a workhorse over his career by consistently leading the league in games started, completed games, and innings pitched. He proved this in 1917, when he completed both games in a doubleheader, an unbelievable prospect for pitchers today. Overall, Alexander holds 373 career wins with a 2.56 ERA over 5,190 innings pitched.

He could have added to his already impressive stats if World War I did not infringe on the 1918 season. Despite this, he still holds three Triple Crowns and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1938.

4. Jimmy Rollins

• 2007 NL MVP
• Four-time Gold Glove Award
• Silver Slugger Award
• 2008 World Series champion

Jimmy Rollins was an essential player in the Phillies’ 2008 World Series Championship. The Phillies drafted Rollins in 1996, and he would make his first MLB appearance at shortstop in 2000. From there, Rollins would play 16 seasons with the Phillies. Rollins would be praised not only for his offense and defense but also for his consistency and durability. He would win NL MVP in 2007, demonstrating his durability by leading the league with 778 plate appearances and 716 at-bats over all 162 regular season games. He slashed .296/.344/.531, which helped lead the 2007 Phillies to a division title.

Rollins ended his career with 2455 hits, 231 home runs, and 936 RBIs while also slashing 324/.418/.743, earning him a spot on the Hall of Fame Ballot.

5. Robin Roberts

• Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1976
• Four-time MLB wins leader
• Seven-time All-Star

If there was one word to describe Robin Roberts’ career, it would be dominant. Known for his pitch accuracy and fastball, particularly his rising fastball, Robin Roberts pitched for the Phillies from 1948 to 1961. During his career in Philly, Roberts would lead the league in wins from 1952 to 1955 and also consistently ranked among the top 10 pitchers in games started, innings pitched, batters faced, and completed games. His pitching would help lead the 1950 Phillies team to a World Series appearance, where the team came up short against the New York Yankees.

Because of his skill and durability as a pitcher, Robin Roberts was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1976, and his number was retired by the Phillies. If the Cy Young award existed back then, Robin Roberts would have been a prime candidate.

6. Richie Ashburn

• Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995
• Six-time All-Star
• Two-time NL batting title

Born in 1927, Richie Ashburn spent 12 seasons of his career as the Phillies’ center fielder. Ashburn is remembered for his excellent hitting, athleticism in the field, and swiftness on the basepath. As for his offensive production, he spent nine seasons among the top 10 hitters in categories such as on-base percentage, batting average, and hits. His plate approach was extremely disciplined, which is represented by his 1,198 walks throughout his career. In addition to offense, Ashburn was also a great defensive player, leading the league in center fielder putouts from 1949 to 1958, not counting 1954. His intuitive base running also greatly assisted the team, and Ashburn would end his career with 234 stolen bases. 

His career stats would lead to his induction into the Hall of Fame in 1995. The Phillies remember Ashburn as one of their greatest players, with the franchise devoting a section of Citizens Bank Park to him, named “Ashburn Alley.”

7. Roy Halladay

• Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019
• Threw a perfect game
• Two-time Cy Young Award winner

Roy Halladay is one of the most beloved pitchers in Philadelphia. Halladay made his major league debut with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1998 and would go on to pitch in the majors for 13 years. Halladay dominated the league from 2002 to 2011, and in 2010, he joined the Phillies. Halladay would win his second Cy Young for his 2010 season, where he led the league in wins and innings pitched while also pitching four shutouts.

Halladay pitched MLB’s 20th perfect game on May 29, 2010, against the Marlins. He added to his legacy when he pitched the second postseason no-hitter in MLB history on October 6, 2010, against the Cincinnati Reds. Halladay was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019, just two years after his untimely passing in 2017. In 2020, the Phillies retired number 34, Halladay’s number, to honor his legacy.

8. Dick Allen

• Seven-time All-Star
• Ten Seasons in top ten league On-Base Plus Slugging
• NL Rookie of the Year

Born Richard Anthony Allen, Dick Allen was a third baseman for the Phillies from 1963 to 1969 and can be considered one of the greatest hitters in Phillies history. He won 1964 Rookie of the Year, leading the league in runs, triples, and total bases while also slashing .318/.382/.557. He would continue to be a great offensive player, and Allen would go on to reach his best slugging percentage and OPS with the Phillies during the 1966 season at .632 and 1.027, respectively. 

Allen had a rough time with Philadelphia fans, and his production and skill on the field often went unrecognized during his time with the team. In 2020, the Phillies honored him by retiring his number.

9. Chase Utley

• Six-time All-Star
• Four Silver Slugger Awards
• 2008 World Series champion

Chase Utley was one of the best second basemen of his time. Drafted by the Phillies in 2000, Utley wouldn’t become a regular major league starter until 2006. Utley, along with Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins, would create a dominant core that performed both in the field and behind the plate, and the three would help lead the team to the 2008 World Series. Utley’s offense was vital to the Phillies’ postseason runs from 2007 to 2009.

He would earn four Silver Sluggers from 2006 to 2009 while also proving to be adept on the field. Each season his defense would average in the 80th percentile, and his intuitive base running earned him a career total of 154 stolen bases. Utley ended his career with an impressive 64.7 WAR and slashed .358/.465/.823 with a 117 OP+, proving that he is a player to look out for in the 2024 Hall of Fame ballot.

10. Ryan Howard

• Three-time All-Star
• 2006 NL MVP
• Home Run Derby champion
• 2008 World Series champion

Ryan Howard was an offensive powerhouse for the Phillies and a key factor in their 2008 World Series Championship. He was drafted in 2001 and sent to play in the Phillies’ minor league system. With a high batting average and numerous home runs, Howard would stun the minors with his offense, leading to the Phillies calling him up to the majors in 2004. 

He would go on to win 2005 Rookie of the Year, and from 2006-2011, he continuously gave Phillies fans MVP-caliber performances. One of his best seasons was in 2006, where he led the league with 58 home runs, 149 RBIs, 383 total bases, and slashed .313/.425/.659. He would end his career with 382 home runs and a slash line of .343/.515/.859, earning him a spot on the Hall of Fame ballot.

Honorable Mentions

• Bobby Abreu
• Larry Bowa
• Jim Bunning
• Johnny Callison
• Ed Delahanty
• Darren Daulton
• Cole Hamels
• Bryce Harper
• John Kruk
• Tug McGraw
• Curt Schilling

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