Phillies: Top Ten Players From 1993 NL Championship Team
Few teams could do what the 1993 Phillies did on and off the field
The Phillies were the among the worst teams in baseball in 1992, winning just 70 games and finishing 26 games behind the Pirates in the NL East. Pick last by most major sports publications for 1993, the Phillies shocked the baseball world by winning the NL Championship.
Who were the top ten players from throwback back squad?
Honorable mention:
Larry Andersen, RP
In his second tour of duty with the Phillies, the 40-year old reliever had a very solid season. Relying mainly on a nasty slider, Andersen pitched to a 2.92 ERA over 64 games. He struck out 67 in 61 2/3 and surrendered only four home runs. Andersen retired following the 1994 season with an ERA of 3.15 in 699 games.
Kevin Stocker, SS
The Phillies weakest position in 1993 became one of their strengths when Kevin Stocker was called up from the minor leagues. In 70 games, Stocker was solid in the field and hit .324 with an OPS of .826. Stocker played for the Phillies through the 1997 season and played with the Rays and Angels before retiring following the 2000 season.
10. David West, RP
In West’s first season with the Phillies, the lefty formed a reliable set up combination with Larry Andersen. West was a workhorse, logging 86 1/3 innings over 76 games. He struck out 87 and allowed only 60 hits.
Although a bit wild, issuing 52 walks, West pitched to a 2.92 ERA. Injury problems took their toll on West, appearing in only 52 games over his last four seasons, retiring with the Red Sox in 1998.
9. Dave Hollins, 3B
Coming off a career-high 27 home runs in 1992, the hard-nosed Hollins made his only All-Star appearance in 1993. He hit .273 with 30 doubles, 18 home runs, 93 RBI and a .814 OPS. Hollins played for the Phillies through half of the 1995 season before bouncing around the American League through 2001. He returned to Philadelphia in 2002 and hit .118 in 17 at-bats before retiring.
8. Pete Incaviglia, LF
A big power-hitting outfielder who had at least 20 home runs in each of his first five Major League seasons, Incaviglia was an important piece of the left field platoon with Milt Thompson. Incaviglia belted 24 home runs in only 368 at-bats and knocked in 89 runs with an OPS of .848.
There was a swift decline in production following the 1993 season and Incaviglia retired in 1998 with 206 career home runs.
7. Terry Mulholland, SP
Mulholland was in his fifth season with the Phillies and made is only All-Star appearance. He won 12 games and posted a 3.25 ERA in 29 starts not as a dominant pitcher, but rather through consistency.
In six seasons with the Phillies, Mulholland posted 68 wins and a 3.81 ERA. Well traveled, Mulholland pitched for 11 teams over a 20-year career, retiring in 2006.
6. Tommy Greene, SP
One of the best pitchers in the National League when healthy, Greene has one of his few injury plagued seasons in 1993, posting his best numbers of his career. He went 16-4 with a 3.42 ERA, allowing only 175 hits in 200 innings. Greene was also potent with the bat, hitting .222 with two home runs and 10 RBI. Greene was hampered with injuries the rest of his career, retiring with the Astros in 1997 with a career record of 38-25 with a 4.14 ERA.
5. John Kruk, 1B
Coming over to the Phillies in a trade with the Padres in 1989, Kruk earned his third consecutive All-Star appearances in 1993. Looking like the prototypical weekend softball player, Kruk quickly became a fan favorite. He hit .316 during the 1993 season with 14 home runs, 85 RBI, 111 walks and an OPS of .905. While playing for the White Sox in a July 1995 game, Kruk got a single and removed himself from the game, retiring on the spot with a .300 average.
4. Mitch Williams, Closer
Known as the “Wild Thing”, Williams was in his third season as closer for the Phillies. While not always pretty, Williams saved 43 games and pitched to a 3.34 ERA. Although many mostly remember him from giving up the World Series deciding home run to Joe Carter, Williams won two and saved two in the NLCS against the Braves. Sadly, Williams was never the same pitcher following the World Series. He retired in 1997 after unsuccessful stints with the Astros, Angels and Royals.
3. Curt Schilling, SP
Although he pitched to a relatively mediocre 4.02 ERA, Schilling was tied for the team lead in wins with 16. He was a workhorse, logging 233 1/3 innings, striking out 186. Schilling was also the MVP of the 1993 NL Championship series.
Schilling has three consecutive All-Star seasons with the Phillies from 1997-1999, striking out 300 more two straight seasons. Schilling is now a member of the Phillies Wall of Fame and has a solid chance of making the Hall of Fame.
2. Darren Daulton, C
The late Daulton was the heart and soul of the 1993 team. Known as “Dutch”, he made his second straight All-Star appearance, hitting .257 with 24 home runs, 105 RBI and 117 walks. It was the second straight season that Daulton surpassed the 100 RBI mark, leading the league in 1992. Daulton played for the Phillies through half of the 1997 season, finishing his career with a World Series Championship with the Marlins.
1. Lenny Dykstra, OF
While Dykstra admitted to steroid use during his career and legal issues post-career, there no denying that he was the catalyst to the 1993 team. Dykstra hit .304 with 44 doubles, 19 home runs, 66 RBI, 37 stolen bases, 143 runs and 129 walks. He finished second in the NL MVP race and dominated in the World Series, hitting .348 with four home runs, eight RBI and seven walks.
Next: Phillies: Power Ranking Players from 2008
Injury prone, Dykstra retired with the Phillies following the 1996 season with 81 home runs and 285 stolen bases.