The Phillies were solid most of 2018 but struggled at season’s end. Out with the old, we look at the top individual seasons of players 35 and older.
The Phillies showed much promise, remaining in contention for most of the 2018 season, but ended in disappointment. As the year is coming to a close, it’s out with the old and in with the new looking forward to a more productive 2019. During some downtime, it’s good to reflect on the old and the past, which leads to this article about the top individual seasons for Phillies players ages 35 and over.
First base: Pete Rose (1979, age 38)
Rose was 12-time All-Star with the Cincinnati Reds before arriving in Philadelphia in 1979. He was the prominent name in the league in 1978 after hitting safely in 44-consecutive games. In his first of four consecutive All-Star seasons with the Phillies, Rose hit .331 with a league-leading .418 on-base percentage and .848 OPS. He had 40 doubles, 59 RBI, 20 stolen bases and 95 walks while striking out only 32 times in 732 plate appearances.
While the Phillies failed to reach the playoffs that season after three consecutive NL East titles, Rose was the catalyst for the Phillies 1980 World Series championship team. Rose had another noteworthy season in 1981, hitting .325 with a league-leading 140 hits in the strike-shortened season. He continued to play with the Phillies through the 1983 season, which culminated in another World Series appearance, this time losing to the Baltimore Orioles.
Rose played 95 games with the Expos and 26 for the Reds, hitting a combined .259. He made his final All-Star appearance with the Reds in 1985 and was player-manager in 1986, hitting .219 in 72 games.
Rose retired as the all-time hit leader in Major League Baseball with 4,256. He’s also the all-time leader in games, plate appearances, and at-bats. Rose also ranks second in doubles, sixth in runs scored and 14th in walks.