That Balls Outta Here
FanSided

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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PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 07: Former Philadelphia Phillies player Greg “the Bull” Luzinski acknowledges the fans before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals during Game Five of the National League Divisional Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 7, 2011, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 07: Former Philadelphia Phillies player Greg “the Bull” Luzinski acknowledges the fans before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals during Game Five of the National League Divisional Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 7, 2011, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

. Greg Luzinski. 19. team. 6. .

The Phillies don’t win a World Series in 1980 without the booming bat of Greg Luzinski.

Drafted 11th overall in 1968, Luzinski joined the Phillies in 1970 and became an everyday player two years later. In 1973 he received MVP votes for the first of many times in his career, though finished 29th after hitting 29 home runs with a .285 batting average.

Luzinski would go on an incredible four-year stretch where he received All-Star honors each year and received top-10 MVP votes. Twice he finished second in the National League MVP race, both times to members of the Big Red Machine.

The highlight of Luzinski’s All-Star stretch came in 1977 when he hit a home run off Jim Palmer.

During that four year stretch, Luzinski hit .295 with 129 home runs, 130 doubles, and drove in 446 runs. He led the league in RBI with 120 in 1975, and built a foundation for the World Series roster.

The 1980 season was Luzinski’s final year in Philadelphia, but he made it count with a ring at the end. The Bull only hit a career-worst .228, but he came up in the playoffs with a home run against Houston and an RBI double later in the series.

Luzinski’s contract would be purchased by the Chicago White Sox after the World Series, ending his career in Philadelphia. The outfielder would play four seasons in Chicago with mild success before retiring after the 1984 season.

Philadelphia inducted Luzinski onto the Wall of Fame in 1998, and he’s remained a staple with the organization through his BBQ restaurant in left field, regularly on hand to meet the fans.

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