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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1. team. 6. . . . Richie Ashburn

Largely overlooked by bigger names (Willie Mays, Duke Snider, Mickey Mantle) of his era, Ashburn was an all-star right out of the gate in his rookie season of 1948, hitting .333 with 32 stolen bases. He was the catalyst of 1950 “Whiz Kids”, hitting .303 and leading the league in triples with 14.

A five-time All-Star with the Phillies, Ashburn hit over .300 eight times and the league in batting average in 1955 and 1958. He also led the league in walks three times and on-base percentage three times as a Phillie.

Ashburn accumulated 2,217 hits and a .311 average in 12 seasons with the Phillies.  Defensively, Ashburn covered a lot of ground and had 10 or more assists in 11 of his 12 seasons with the Phillies.

Following his days with the Phillies, Ashburn played two seasons with the Cubs and was an All-Star in his final season in 1962 with the expansion New York Mets.

Ashburn followed his playing days teaming up with the legendary Harry Kalas to form one of the top announcing duos in all of baseball. Known by many as “Whitey,” Ashburn was denied the top honor in baseball until the Veteran’s Committee elected him in the baseball Hall of Fame in 1995 alongside of Mike Schmidt.

Ashburn passed away on September 9, 1997, at the age of 70 following a broadcast of a Phillies game versus the Mets.

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