Pete Rose
Rose was a 38-year old veteran when he signed with the Phillies in 1979. Although the Phillies didn’t get over the top in Rose’s first season in Philadelphia, Rose proved to have plenty left in the tank, hitting .331 with a league-high .418 on-base percentage. The next year, the Rose led the Phillies to their first World Series Championship in franchise history.
During the championship season, Rose made his 14th All-Star appearance and hit .282 with 42 doubles, leading the league. Thriving in the big moment, Rose hit .400 in the NLCS against the Astros.
In 1981, Rose led the strike-shortened season with 140 hits and hit .325, surpassing the .300 mark for the 15th time during his career. Rose’s batting average dropped in 1982, but still hit a respectable .271 playing in all 162 games with only 32 strikeouts in 720 plate appearances.
Rose showed a noticeable decline in his last season in Philadelphia, hitting just .245 with only 17 extra-base hits in 493 at-bats. Despite the poor season, the Phillies won the NL East and took down the Dodgers to advance to the World Series.
Rose finished his tenure in Philadelphia with a .291 batting average, 139 doubles, 18 triples and an on-base percentage of .365.