PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 21: Dallas Greene shakes hands with manager Charlie Manuel of the Philadelphia Phillies before taking on the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Five of the NLCS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Citizens Bank Park on October 21, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)
Embed from Getty Images The Phillies have endured more poor seasons than good in their 134-year history, but there have been some seasons of glory. Here’s a look back at the men leading those teams, ranking the top five managers in club history.
Neither Wright or Mauch won a championship or even a division title, but deserve mention as the managers with second and third most wins in franchise history. Harry Wright managed in the team’s infancy stage, having some success. From 1885 through 1888, the Phillies finished above .500 each season, with a .623 winning percentage in 1886 and second place finish in 1887. Wright had a career record of 636-566.
Mauch’s first two season’s as Phillies manager left much to be desired, as the team finished a combined 106-202. He got the team back to respectability, finishing above .500 from 1962 through 1967. Unfortunately, he was also manager of the 1964 team that surrendered a 6 1/2 game lead with 12 to play, finishing in second with 92 wins. Mauch had a career record of 645-689.
Eddie Sawyer became manager in 1948 at the age of 37. He led a young team featuring Robin Roberts, Richie Ashburn, Del Ennis, Granny Hamner as well as veterans Jim Konstanty and Dick Sisler to a .526 winning percentage in 1949.
The following season, the team known as the “Whiz Kids” won 91 games to earn their first National League championship since 1915. Unfortunately, the team got swept in the World Series by the mighty New York Yankees.
Philadelphia won 87 games in the last season in Sawyer’s first tenure. After Sawyer returned in 1958 during a down period in team history, the team won only 94 of 225 games. Sawyer managed just one game in 1960 before being replaced by Gene Mauch.
At first glance of Fregosi’s 431-463 record as Phillies manager, one may question his place on this list. The team finished third in 1991, sixth in 1992, fourth in 1994, third in 1995 and fifth in 1996. Fregosi makes this list for how he handled the 1993 team.
After many prognosticators saw a last place finish for the Phillies in 1993, Fregosi handled a bunch of throwback players such as Darren Daulton, Lenny Dykstra, John Kruk, Pete Incaviglia and Mitch Williams to 97 wins and the National League Championship.
One may argue that he overworked the bullpen, particularly set up men Larry Andersen, David West and closer Williams, leading to a World Series defeat to the Blue Jays.
Despite the disappointing end to the 1993 campaign, Fregosi deserves mention on this list.
Danny Ozark took over the Phillies in 1973 following a 57-win season by the club. After a 14 game improvement in 1974, the Phillies improved quickly with the progression of young stars Mike Schmidt, Greg Luzinski, Larry Bowa and veteran pitcher Steve Carlton.
The Phillies improved to second place in 1975 before running off three consecutive National League East titles. Despite back-to-back 101 win seasons in 1976 and 1977, the Phillies fell short of the World Series, losing to the Reds and Dodgers.
After a lackluster performance on August 30 in 1979 that pushed the team two games below .500, Ozark was replaced by Dallas Green.
Ozark finished his Phillies managerial career with a record of 594-510.
PHILADELPHIA – OCTOBER 21: Dallas Greene shakes hands with manager Charlie Manuel of the Philadelphia Phillies before taking on the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Five of the NLCS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Citizens Bank Park on October 21, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) /
2. Dallas Green (1979 – 1981)
Dallas Green lead the Phillies to eight-games over .500 during the final month of the 1979 season, propelling them toward the greatness that was to come in 1980.
Despite a managerial style and personality that clashed with stars such as Larry Bowa, Greg Luzinski, and Bob Boone, the Phillies responded with a 91-win season and National League East title. After failure in the playoffs under Ozark, Philadelphia advanced to the World Series for the first time since 1950, coming from down two games to one to overtake the Astros. Taking the Royals down in six games, the Phillies won their first World Series championship. It only took them 97 years.
The Phillies were on their way to another great season in 1981 when the strike interrupted their momentum. After a 55-game labor dispute, the Phillies were mediocre the second half and fell to the Expos in the National League East playoffs.
Green was hired by the Cubs as executive vice president and general manager following the 1981 season. Green ended his tenure with Philadelphia with a record of 169-130, but his World Series ring carries great weight in franchise history.
PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 31: Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel holds the World Series Trophy at a victory rally at Citizens Bank Park October 31, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays to win their first World Series in 28 years. (Photo by Jeff Fusco/Getty Images) /
1 . Charlie Manuel (2005 – 2013)
After spending parts of six seasons as a player in the Major Leagues with limited success, Manuel was a prolific power hitter in the Japanese league with 189 home runs and .303 average in six seasons.
Following a run as hitting coach and then manager of the Cleveland Indians, Manuel became Phillies manager in 2004, replacing Larry Bowa.
NEW YORK – OCTOBER 28: (L-R) Ryan Howard /
Manuel led the Phillies to consecutive second place finishes in 2005 and 2006 before entering the best era of baseball in team history. With the likes of Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels, among others, Philadelphia ran off five-consecutive division titles.
The Phillies won their second World Series title in franchise history in 2008 and nearly repeated, losing to the Yankees in six games.
Manuel compiled a franchise-best 780 wins, five division championships, three NLCS appearances, two World Series appearances and one World Series title.
