That Balls Outta Here
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Phillies Franchise History: Greatest Player to Wear Each Number

By George Stockburger

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 09: Former Philadelphia Phillies greats, Jim Bunning, Steve Carlton and Mike Schmidt were among many on hand to honor former manager Charlie Manuel who was to be inducted to the Phillies Wall of Fame during a ceremony before the start of a game against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on August 9, 2014 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 09: Former Philadelphia Phillies greats, Jim Bunning, Steve Carlton and Mike Schmidt were among many on hand to honor former manager Charlie Manuel who was to be inducted to the Phillies Wall of Fame during a ceremony before the start of a game against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on August 9, 2014 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO – MAY 6: Billy Wagner #13 of the Philadelphia Phillies finishes off the Chicago Cubs in the bottom of the ninth inning on May 6, 2005 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Phillies defeated the Cubs 3-2. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO – MAY 6: Billy Wagner #13 of the Philadelphia Phillies finishes off the Chicago Cubs in the bottom of the ninth inning on May 6, 2005 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Phillies defeated the Cubs 3-2. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

. . Billy Wagner. 13. team. 6.

One of the greatest closers of all-time had a brief stint with the Phillies during a 16-year career that could end in Cooperstown. Wagner has 422 career saves, the sixth-most all-time and more than Hall of Famers Rollie Fingers and Dennis Eckersley.

Wagner barely stuck on the baseball writer’s ballot, and received 11.1% of votes on his third turn through.

After nine seasons in Houston Wagner was traded to Philadelphia for Ezequiel Astacio, Taylor Buchholz, and Brandon Duckworth in November 2003. Wagner was coming off a fantastic season in Houston where he saved 44 games and led the league with 67 games finished.

Wagner missed most of May and all of August with injuries in his first season with Philadelphia, limiting him to just 45 appearances. He bounced back the following season with an All-Star campaign and a 1.51 ERA. For the second time in three years he led baseball in games finished while saving 38 games.

Wagner’s stay was shortlived after issues in the clubhouse, including Pat Burrell calling him “a rat.” He would go onto play for the Mets for four seasons and was part of New York’s collapse late in 2007 when they lost 12 of their last 17 games.

There’s a slight argument for Freddy Galvis to be classified as the greatest Phillie to wear number 13, but I’m going with the All-Star closer.

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