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Phillies 1980’s All-Decade Team: Hall of Fame Legends Lead the Way

By Kerry Kauffman

CHICAGO - 1987: Mike Schmidt of the Philadelphia Phillies fields during an MLB game versus the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois during the 1987 season. (Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
CHICAGO - 1987: Mike Schmidt of the Philadelphia Phillies fields during an MLB game versus the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois during the 1987 season. (Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – CIRCA 1983: John Denny #40 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during a Major League Baseball game circa 1983 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Denny played for the Phillies from 1982-85. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – CIRCA 1983: John Denny #40 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during a Major League Baseball game circa 1983 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Denny played for the Phillies from 1982-85. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

John Denny

A nine-year Major League veteran when the Phillies traded for Denny in 1982, he made four mediocre starts to finish the season, going 0-2 with a 4.03 ERA. However, he played a major role the following season.

Denny was at his best in 1983, winning a league-high 19 games for the NL Championship team. In 36 starts, Denny completed seven games, threw 242 2/3 innings and allowed only nine home runs. His efforts earned him the NL Cy Young Award.  Denny pitched well in the postseason as well, allowing only five earned runs over 18 innings in three starts.

Limited to 22 starts in 1984, Denny went just 7-7 but had an excellent ERA of 2.45 and allowed only two home runs in 154 2/3 innings.   Denny pitched in 33 games in 1985, compiling a record of 11-14 with an ERA of 3.82.  Although his overall numbers were relatively mediocre, Denny continued to be a workhorse, completing six game with 230 2/3 innings.

On December 12, 1985, Denny was traded to the Cincinnati Reds along with Jeff Gray for Gary Redus and Tom Hume.  In a little over three full seasons with the Phillies, Denny won 37 and lost 29 with an ERA of 2.96. His contributions to the 1983 season are a major factor for Denny making the all-decade team.

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