Philadelphia Phillies: Five Greatest Starts in Franchise History

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PHILADELPHIA – MAY 01: Roy Halladay #34 of the Philadelphia Phillies delivers a pitch against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on May 1, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

The Phillies have played more than 20,000 games with hundreds of starting pitchers. Which five starts stand above the rest in their history?

The Philadelphia Phillies have had their fair share of great starting pitchers. From Robin Roberts to the greatest left handed pitcher ever Steve Carlton to the short but dominant tenure of Roy Halladay.

Today however we will be looking at just the five greatest single regular season starts in team history. This excludes the true greatest start, Roy Halladay’s postseason no hitter. This all only post dead ball era (after 1919).

No. 5: Art Mahaffey vs Chicago Cubs (4/23/1961)

Final line: 9 IP 17 K 0 R 4 H 1 BB

Mahaffey is not one of the greatest Phillies ever. He finished his career with a losing record and in seven career season only had a sub three ERA once. Yet for one day he was as dominant as it gets. In one of his nine career shutouts Mahaffey struck out a Phillies all time record seventeen batters.

CHICAGO, IL – JULY 25: Cole Hamels #35 of the Philadelphia Phillies gets a ice water bath after his no hitter on July 25, 2015 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. Hamels pitched a no hitter and the Phillies won 5-0. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images) /

No. 4: Cole Hamels vs Chicago Cubs (7/25/2015)

Final line: 9 IP 13 K 0 R 0 H 2 BB

Cole Hamels takes the phrase “go out with a bang” very seriously. Hamels is undoubtedly a Phillies icon, the ace of the 2008 championship team and his final career start, Holywood was Hollywood. Hamels had previously been a part of a four man no hitter against the Braves, but in this start Hamels would dominate the future champion Cubs all by himself.

No. 3: Steve Carlton vs San Francisco Giants (4/25/1972)

Final line: 9 IP 14 K 0 R 1 H 1 BB

Steve Carlton is not only the greatest Phillies pitcher ever, but one of the greatest pitchers ever period. But 1972 was a year unlike any other. Here is a list of his career bests set in that year: 27 wins, 1.97 ERA, 30 complete games, 8 shutouts, 346.1 innings, 310 strikeouts, I don’t think I have to go on. Those are unfathomable numbers. But in a year so great this was by far his most dominating start.

No. 2: Jim Bunning vs New York Mets (6/21/1964)

Final line: 9 IP 10 K 0 R 0 H 0 BB

The first perfect game in franchise history. Another Phils pitcher to take a reference very seriously, this one is “never get a second chance to make a first impression.) In Bunning’s first year as a Phillie he posted a career low ERA and a career high in strikeouts. But on June 21st 1964 Bunning became the seventh man ever to accomplish pure perfection.

MIAMI GARDENS, FL – SEPTEMBER 04: Roy Halladay #34 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during a game against the Florida Marlins at Sun Life Stadium on September 4, 2011 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Roy Halladay vs Miami Marlins (5/29/10)

More from That Balls Outta Here

Final line: 9 IP 11 K 0 R 0 H 0 BB

Similar to Bunning, Doc started off his Philly tenure pretty well. It is impressive when you can say a perfect game was your second-best start of the year. In Halladay’s best year, which included two no hitters an All Star selection and a Cy Young Award, he threw the second perfect game in Phillies history.

We knew Halladay had the ability to provide dominant starts when he was acquired after the 2009 season. However, I don’t think anyone expected him to come to Philadelphia and throw a perfect game in May, followed by just the second postseason no-hitter ever later that year.

Next: Can the Phillies compete in free agency next year?

These were the best starts in the history of the Phillies. Hopefully, even better ones are in the near future.

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