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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CLEARWATER, FL – MARCH 6: Dave Cash throws out a ceremonial first pitch before the Philadelphia Phillies play against the Washington Nationals March 6, 2013 at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
CLEARWATER, FL – MARCH 6: Dave Cash throws out a ceremonial first pitch before the Philadelphia Phillies play against the Washington Nationals March 6, 2013 at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images) /

. Dave Cash. 30. team. 6. .

Dave Cash spent only 3 of his 12 seasons in Philadelphia, but they were in the prime of his career where he put up some incredible numbers.

Drafted in the fifth round by Pittsburgh, Cash made his major league debut in 1969 and played five seasons in the Steel City hitting .285 in 420 games. He became the Pirates everyday second baseman, but a crop of young players eventually pushed him out.

In 1976

he struck out only 13 times,

a remarkable feat considering players today will do that in a week.

Pittsburgh traded Cash to Philadelphia for Ken Brett, a 24-year-old pitcher who would pitch for 10 teams over 12 seasons, on October 18, 1973. Philadelphia had finished 20 games under .500

Cash arrived to a team that hit just .249 the year before and provided a spark as one of the team’s most consistent hitters.

In his three years with Philadelphia, Cash led baseball in at-bats with 687, 699, and 666. During his tenure, he was a top-16 MVP candidate and an All-Star every year, and he got on base at a ridiculous pace. In 1975 he led baseball with 213 hits, and two years later he did the same with 12 triples.

In 1976 he struck out only 13 times, a remarkable feat considering players today will do that in a week.

Cash left the team in free agency after the 1976 season, and was unfortunately not a part of the team’s success in 1980, his final year in the league.

The outfielder holds the franchise live-ball era record for at-bats per strikeout at 25.7, and his aforementioned single-season records are among the top-five in team history.

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