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Phillies top five utility men over the last past 40 years

By Kerry Kauffman |
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 06: Greg Dobbs #19 of the Philadelphia Phillies bats against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on June 6, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers defeated the Phillies 3-2 in 12 innings. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 06: Greg Dobbs #19 of the Philadelphia Phillies bats against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on June 6, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers defeated the Phillies 3-2 in 12 innings. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
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CLEARWATER, FL – MARCH 3: Shortstop Tomas Perez #9 of the Philadelphia Phillies attempts to turn a double play on Marcus Thames #33 of the Detroit Tigers during MLB Spring Training action at the Bright House Networks Field on March 3, 2005 in Clearwater, Florida. Detroit Tigers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 9-1. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
CLEARWATER, FL – MARCH 3: Shortstop Tomas Perez #9 of the Philadelphia Phillies attempts to turn a double play on Marcus Thames #33 of the Detroit Tigers during MLB Spring Training action at the Bright House Networks Field on March 3, 2005 in Clearwater, Florida. Detroit Tigers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 9-1. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /

While the starters get most of the attention, utility men are vitally important. Here are the top Phillies utility men over the past 40 years.

The Phillies appear to be in hot pursuit of several high profile free agents this offseason. With Aaron Nola and Rhys Hoskins the only solid building blocks, the addition of stars is crucial for the team to make a push towards contention. However, a solid bench cannot be overlooked and the team must address this as well. Having said that, let’s take a look at the top utility men to wear a Phillies uniform over the past 40 years.

ST PETERSBURG, FL – APRIL 15: General view of the Phillies helmets prior to the Philadelphia Phillies taking on the Tampa Bay Rays on April 15, 2018 at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Florida. All players are wearing #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day.(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
ST PETERSBURG, FL – APRIL 15: General view of the Phillies helmets prior to the Philadelphia Phillies taking on the Tampa Bay Rays on April 15, 2018 at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Florida. All players are wearing #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day.(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

5: Luis Aguayo (1980 – 1988)

Aguayo was a 21-year old during his rookie season with the 1980 World Series championship team. He hit .277 in 47 at-bats with a solid .747 OPS while playing second base and shortstop. Also playing third base during his career, Aguayo had a mediocre .962 fielding percentage but was always a threat at the plate.

Aguayo had a .518 slugging percentage with an .857 OPS in 56 at-bats in 1982.  He had two other seasons with an OPS over .800. His best season was in 1987 when he had 22 extra base hits, including 12 home runs in just 209 at-bats.

Aguayo spent time with the Yankees and Indians following his time in Philadelphia before retiring following the 1989 season.  In 867 at-bats in Philadelphia, Aguayo hit 35 doubles, 33 home run and an OPS of .729.

Next. No. 4: Tomas Perez. dark

ATLANTA – MAY 31: Pitcher Kyle Kendrick #38 of the Philadelphia Phillies wears his Memorial Day baseball cap in the dugout against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field on May 31, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA – MAY 31: Pitcher Kyle Kendrick #38 of the Philadelphia Phillies wears his Memorial Day baseball cap in the dugout against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field on May 31, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

4: Tomas Perez (2000 – 2005)

Perez spent his first four major-league seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays. He didn’t appear in the big leagues in 1999 but started a six-year run with the Phillies in 2000.

A solid overall contributor off the bench, Perez played all infield positions with the exception of catcher and also spent some time in right field.  He held his own defensively, posting a career fielding percentage of .976.  Perez hit a career-high .304 with a .784 OPS in 135 at-bats in 2001.

Perez’s playing time increased over the next two seasons, playing in 92 games in 2002 and a career-high 125 games in 2003. Perez even appeared on the mound once in 2002, recording the final out of a game without allowing a hit. Perez had 279 hits, 65 doubles, and 20 home runs in 504 games as a Phillie.

Following his time in Philadelphia, Perez played for the Rays in 2006 and eight games with the Astros in 2008 before retiring.

PHILADELPHIA – OCTOBER 29: Greg Dobbs #19 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with the World Series Championship trophy after their 4-3 win against the Tampa Bay Rays during the continuation of game five of the 2008 MLB World Series on October 29, 2008 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA – OCTOBER 29: Greg Dobbs #19 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with the World Series Championship trophy after their 4-3 win against the Tampa Bay Rays during the continuation of game five of the 2008 MLB World Series on October 29, 2008 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /

3: Greg Dobbs (2007 – 2010)

Dobbs came over to the Phillies in 2007 after spending his first three seasons with the Mariners.  At 28-years old,  he set a career high in home runs (10) and RBI (55) in his first season as a Phillie.  Dobbs was a jack of all trades, playing first base, second base, third base, left field, right field, designated hitter and pinch hitter.

During the 2008 World Series championship season, Dobbs hit a career-high .301 with an OPS of .824.  His production dropped over the next two seasons in Philadelphia to just a .196 average and .583 OPS in 2010.

With the Marlins in 2011, Dobbs had a career-high 113 hits and 23 doubles. He remained with the Marlins through part of the 2014 season and finished his career hitting .214 in 28 at-bats with the Nationals in 2014.

Dobbs had a solid .972 fielding percentage in his career, despite having to be prepared to play nearly every position on the field. In 455 games with the Phillies, Dobbs hit .261 with 47 doubles, 29 home runs, and 130 RBI.

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 *** /

2: Kevin Jordan (1995 – 2001)

Jordan was drafted by the Dodgers in the 10th round in 1989 and the Yankees in the 20th round in 1990. Advancing as far as Double-A in the Yankees organization, Jordan was acquired by the Phillies in 1994 and spent his entire major-league career as one.

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Jordan hit just .185 in 54 at-bats in 1995 but had four consecutive very solid seasons at the plate while playing above average defense at first base, second base, and third base.

Jordan’s best season was in 1999 when he hit .286 with 17 doubles, 51 RBI and .285 batting average.  Consistency was the key for Jordan, hitting between .266 and .285 every season from 1996 through 1999.

In 560 career games, Jordan hit .258 with  363 hits, 70 doubles, 23 home runs, and 175 RBI.  Jordan completed his first season as part-time radio color analyst for 94 WIP.

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1: Greg Gross (1979 – 1988)

Gross was an established major-league player when the Phillies acquired him in 1979, having spent four seasons with the Astros and two with the Cubs. The ultimate professional, Gross was extremely fundamentally sound in the field and at the plate.

He appeared to never have a bad at-bat and struck out only 87 times in 1547 at-bats with the Phillies.  Mainly a pinch hitter and left fielder, Gross also saw considerable time in center field, right field, and first base. He also made a single appearance in relief during the 1986 season.

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Gross hit over .300 three times with the Phillies, with a career-best .333 in his first season with the team.  He struck out less than ten times in a season five times during his Phillies career.

While only hitting a single home run with the Phillies, Gross was adept at moving the runners with a bunt, hitting the ball the other way and getting a pinch sacrifice fly when needed. He possessed the skills that the majority of Major League players seem to lack in today’s “home run of bust” mentality.

In the field, Gross had a fielding percentage of .994 at first base and .983 in the outfield, both above the league average.

He was so consistent in the field that he never had more than two errors in a season while wearing the red pinstripes.

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Gross retired with 1073 hits, 431 in a Phillies uniform with a .279 average and .374 on-base percentage.  His 143 career pinch-hits rank among the most all-time and his 117 with the Phillies is by far the most in franchise history.

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