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That Balls Outta Here

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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MILWAUKEE, WI – APRIL 24: A Philadelphia Phillies baseball hat sits in the dugout during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on April 24, 2016 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
MILWAUKEE, WI – APRIL 24: A Philadelphia Phillies baseball hat sits in the dugout during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on April 24, 2016 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

6. . . . Greg Gross. 23. team

Greg Gross wore number 23 during the Phillies 1980 World Championship season following a trade the season prior with Chicago.

The utility-man was drafted by Houston in the fourth round of the 1970 MLB Draft out of Redland High School, just south of Harrisburg. In 1974 he finished second in the National League Rookie of the Year vote behind future teammate Bake McBride despite having more hits than him.

In 1982 he led baseball with 19 pinch-hits and walked twice as many times as he struck out.

After three years with Houston as a consistent hitter Gross found himself in Chicago after a trade for Julio Gonzalez in 1976.

He’d be traded once again in 1979 with Dave Rader and Manny Trillo to the Phillies for Henry Mack, Derek Botelho, Barry Foote, Jerry Martin and Ted Sizemore.

To say the Phillies won that trade would be an understatement. Trillo would have a fantastic career in Philadelphia, and Gross would be an important bat and spend the next decade with the Phillies.

Gross hit .333 in his first year with Philadelphia, and became a key platoon option for Dallas Green.

During the 1980 NLCS Gross came up clutch off the bench going 3-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. He faltered during the World Series going 0-2 and grounded into a double play.

In 1982 he led baseball with 19 pinch-hits and walked twice as many times as he struck out.

Over Gross’s 10 seasons with the Phillies he hit .279 and walked 239 times while striking out just 87 times. He spent 12 seasons as a coach in the Phillies organization, most recently as their hitting coach from 2010-2012.

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