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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WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 25: Philadelphia Phillies cap and glove in the dug out during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. The Phillies won 8-2. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 25: Philadelphia Phillies cap and glove in the dug out during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. The Phillies won 8-2. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

. . Bake McBride. 21. team. 6.

While widely recognized as a Cardinal, Bake “Shake ‘n Bake” McBride was an important cog in the Phillies 1980 World Championship run.

St. Louis selected McBride in the 37th round of the 1970 MLB Draft out of Westminster College, and saw him in the major leagues just three years later. After playing 40 games for the Cardinals in 1973, he returned as an everyday outfielder in 1974.

In his first full season McBride hit .309 with 173 hits in 150 games for St. Louis, winning the Rookie of the Year and finishing 21st in the MVP vote. Ironically, he beat out future teammate Greg Gross for the Rookie of the Year, receiving eight more first place votes despite some of his numbers being inferior to Gross in Houston.

In June 1977 McBride and Steve Waterbury would be traded to the Phillies for Rick Bosetti, Dane Iorg, and Tom Underwood. Philadelphia already had Greg Luzinski and Gary Maddox in the outfield, and the powerhouse trio would help lead Philadelphia to a 101 win season under Danny Ozark.

Following the trade that season McBride hit .339 with 11 home runs and 20 doubles.

Philadelphia nearly traded McBride prior to the 1980 season, but owner Ruly Carpenter nixed the deal with Texas.

McBride turned around with one of the best seasons of his career, hitting .309 with a career-best 33 doubles, and finished 10th in the MVP vote. Teammate Mike Schmidt was the unanimous winner, with Steve Carlton finishing fifth while winning his third of four Cy Youngs.

After a poor showing against Houston in the NLCS hitting .238, McBride turned in on against Kansas City hitting .304 in the World Series.

Philadelphia would trade McBride, whose career would be strained by eye and knee injuries. He played his final game in 1983, and finished his career as a .299 hitter.

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