Phillies: Five trade that won the 1993 NL Championship

This fall will be 25 years since the 1993 Phillies surprised much of the baseball world.

Predicted to finish last by numerous notable baseball publications, the Phillies rallied around a group of throwback players to win the NL pennant.  There were some significant transactions that contributed significantly to this accomplishment. Here’s a list of the top trades that propelled the 1993 team.

We start with two precursor trades that ultimately led to the club’s success in 1993 as honorable mentions.

Terry Mulholland – starting pitcher (1993 stats: 12 – 9, 3.25 ERA)

Mulholland was in his fourth full season with the Phillies in 1993 after a trade with the San Francisco Giants.

Although rarely spectacular (notwithstanding his no-hitter in 1990 against the Giants), Mulholland was consistently solid, posting ERA’s in the 3’s every season.  He earned an All-Star appearance in 1993 and although did not fair well in his only start in the NLCS, was a rock in the rotation and formed a solid 1-2 lefty punch with Danny Jackson.

Mulholland won 62 games for the Phillies over six seasons with an ERA of 3.81.

Tommy Greene – starting pitcher (1993 stats: 16 – 4, 3.42 ERA)

One of the best pitchers in the NL when healthy, Tommy Greene only had two seasons without injury problems. Fortunately for the Phillies, 1993 was one of them. Greene came over in a multiple player trade from the Braves on August 9, 1990.  He threw a no-hitter in 1991 en route to a 13-win season with an ERA of 3.38.  Greene got hit around in the post season against the Braves, but without his phenomenal 16 wins, .800 winning percentage regular season, the team likely doesn’t see the playoffs. Unfortunately for Greene, he would pitch in only 119 Major League games due to injuries. He retired following the 1997 season with 38 wins and an ERA of 4.14.