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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SAN FRANCISCO – AUGUST 9: Right fielder Bobby Abreu #53 of the Philadelphia Phillies watches the MLB game against the San Francisco Giants at Pac Bell Park on August 9, 2003 in San Francisco, California. The Phillies won 8-6. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO – AUGUST 9: Right fielder Bobby Abreu #53 of the Philadelphia Phillies watches the MLB game against the San Francisco Giants at Pac Bell Park on August 9, 2003 in San Francisco, California. The Phillies won 8-6. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) /

. . Bobby Abreu. 53. team. 6.

The face of the Phillies through the early 2000’s was none other than Bobby Abreu. Originally signed out of Venezuela by the Houston Astros, Abreu made his major league debut in 1996. Little did people know that he’d be a perennial .300 hitter with 30 home run power with an 18 year career.

In his first three seasons Abreu hit .321 with 520 hits, 27 triples, 62 home runs, 72 stolen bases, and hit no worse than .312 in any of those seasons.

After two years with Houston, Abreu was selected sixth-overall by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the expansion draft. Later that same day Abreu was traded to Philadelphia for Kevin Stocker.

In his first three seasons Abreu hit .321 with 520 hits, 27 triples, 62 home runs, 72 stolen bases, and hit no worse than .312 in any of those seasons.

He led baseball with 11 triples in 1999, but finished 23rd in the MVP voting that season.

Those seasons under Terry Francona were mediocre at best, and the clubhouse got a kick in the rear when Larry Bowa entered as manager in 2001. The team won 21 more games that following season with Abreu leading the team with 31 home runs, 110 RBI, and a .289 batting average.

That wasn’t enough to get them over the hump after a below-.500 second half, and the team finished two games behind Atlanta for the division title despite being 10 over .500 for the season.

Abreu made back-to-back All-Star appearances in 2004-5, and won the Home Run Derby in 2005, hitting 24 home runs in the first round and 41 overall, both records at the time.

At the trade deadline in 2006 Abreu was traded with Cory Lidle to the New York Yankees for C.J. Henry, Jesus Sanchez, Carlos Monasterios and Matt Smith. Abreu would go on to play three seasons with the Yankees before going to the Angels, Mets, and Dodgers.

Abreu attempted a comeback with the Phillies in spring training of 2014, but he didn’t break camp with the team.

Despite playing in one of the worst era’s in franchise history, Abreu retired as one of the greatest hitters in franchise history. His career numbers with the franchise are among the top-10 in WAR, OBP, slugging, OPS, doubles, walks, stolen base, and intentional walks. His OPS is only bested by Hall of Famer Chuck Klein.

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