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 – OCTOBER 19: Lenny Dykstra #4 of the Philadelphia Phillies bats during Game three of the 1993 World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Veterans Stadium on October 19, 1993 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Blue Jays defeated the Phillies 10-3. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA – OCTOBER 19: Lenny Dykstra #4 of the Philadelphia Phillies bats during Game three of the 1993 World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Veterans Stadium on October 19, 1993 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Blue Jays defeated the Phillies 10-3. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) /

4. team. 6. . . . Lenny Dykstra

Lenny Dykstra’s relationship with baseball is one of the murkier ones in the sport. A legend on the field, Dykstra has been legendary off the field for some unflattering instances. His latest involving an Uber driver only grew the tale of Dykstra following bankruptcy and prison time for fraud.

On the field, he was an All-Star outfielder with MVP credentials who was a catalyst for the 1993 Phillies. Hitting .305 for the National League pennant club, Dykstra led baseball in hits, runs, and walks while adding 44 doubles and 19 home runs, and finished second in the MVP race to Barry Bonds.

His solo home run in the 10th inning of game five of the NLCS sent Philadelphia back to the World Series for the first time in 10 years.

His bat was just as valuable in the World Series against Toronto when he hit four home runs in six games with a .348 batting average.

Retiring after eight seasons with the Phillies, Dykstra is the franchise’s all-time walks leader with 129 and third in position player WAR for a single season behind Mike Schmidt and Chase Utley.

The former Met solidified his playing legacy in Philadelphia with a career .289 batting average and 829 hits in 734 games wearing Phillies red, white, and blue.

There’s very little competition for who is the greatest Phillie to wear number four with Scott Kingery, Andres Blanco, John McDonald, and Pete Orr being the most recent wearers of the number.

Hopefully Kingery can become the next great number four in Phillies history, but for now, it’ll be Dykstra leading the way despite his issues.

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