Which Phillies had the greatest one-hit wonder seasons as a Phillie?
Although the 2019 Phillies season ended with a disappointing 81-81 record, new faces contributed significantly.
J.T. Realmuto set career-highs in doubles (36), home runs (25) and RBI (83), while Bryce Harper led the Phillies in home runs (35), RBI (114) and stolen bases (15).
Harper and hopefully Realmuto will both be in Philadelphia for the long haul. Some players make their mark in Philadelphia for a single season and move on.
In chronological order, here are some of those that were in Philadelphia only a brief moment but had a significant impact.
Gene Freese – Third base (1959)
Gene Freese was entering his fifth Major League season as a 25-yard old in 1959. The third baseman hit only 30 home runs during his first four seasons with the Pirates and Cardinals. During his lone season in Philadelphia Freese hit 23 home runs with 70 RBI. His .500 slugging percentage and .843 OPS were tops of his career.
Freese moved on to the White Sox in 1960 and had hit career-best 26 home runs and 87 RBI for the Reds in 1961. Surprisingly, Freese was never again a starter, bouncing around the Major Leagues for five more seasons, retiring in 1966 with 115 home runs and 432 RBI.
Dick Stuart – First base (1965)
Stuart was a big power-hitting first baseman who surpassed 20 home runs six times and 30 home runs three times. In fact, he smashed 42 home runs and led the American League in RBI with 118 in 1963 with the Red Sox.
Stuart arrived in Philadelphia after five years with the Pirates and two in Boston. Little known at the time, his time in Philadelphia was his last as a starting player. The 32-year old hit 28 home runs and knocked in 95 runs for the Phillies.
Stuart’s production dropped to just seven home runs combined with the Mets and Dodgers in 1966. He was out of the Major Leagues in 1967 and 1968 and appeared in 22 games for the Angels in 1969 before retiring.