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Phillies Wall of Fame candidate: Jim Fregosi

FLORIDA - MARCH 1992: MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent and Philadelphia Phillies manager Jim Fregosi look on before a Spring Training game in March 1992 in Florida. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
FLORIDA - MARCH 1992: MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent and Philadelphia Phillies manager Jim Fregosi look on before a Spring Training game in March 1992 in Florida. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 09: Former manager Charlie Manuel of the Philadelphia Phillies talks about being inducted into 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 manager Charlie Manuel of the Philadelphia Phillies talks about being inducted into 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) /

Why Fregosi Should Make the Wall of Fame?

Although his overall win-loss record as manager of the Phillies isn’t spectacular, he did lead the team to the 1993 team to 97 wins, which was 27 more than in 1992. In fact, most major publications predicted the Phillies seventh in the NL East for the 1993 season.

Perhaps Fregosi got lucky, that all the stars were aligned and the mostly outcast, misfit, overachieving group caught lightning in a bottle. In fact, that likely is the case, looking back on how things played out.  The 1994 team struggled through the strike-shortened season and much of the 1993 team was gone a couple seasons later.

However, the 1993 accomplishments were arguably enough. Looking back in the history of the franchise, only four teams won the pennant prior to the 1993 team.  The 97 wins was the third highest season win total in franchise history at the time behind only the 101 win 1976 and 1977 teams.

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Currently, the win total ranks fourth in the 136 seasons in Phillies history. The 27 win increase ranks as the third biggest jump in win total from one season to the next in franchise history.

Much of managing is just knowing the strengths and weaknesses of the players on the roster, writing the lineup and letting the players do their thing.  Many managers over complicate things, that wasn’t the case with Fregosi. With the exception of a few platoon players, Fregosi used the same lineup, day-in, day-out with the same pitching rotation and bullpen usage.  The players knew where they stood with Fregosi and although he was the leader, he was also one of the guys.

His handling of the 1993 team alone could be enough for his enshrinement in the Phillies Wall of Fame.

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