That Balls Outta Here
FanSided

Phillies: Greatest first round picks in team history

By Kerry Kauffman

Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 8
Next
NEW YORK – CIRCA 1978: Greg Luzinski #19 of the Philadelphia Phillies bats against the New York Mets during an Major League Baseball game circa 1978 at Shea Stadium in the Queens borough of New York City. Luzinski played for the Phillies from 1970-80. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – CIRCA 1978: Greg Luzinski #19 of the Philadelphia Phillies bats against the New York Mets during an Major League Baseball game circa 1978 at Shea Stadium in the Queens borough of New York City. Luzinski played for the Phillies from 1970-80. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

2: Greg Luzinski (11th overall 1968)

Greg Luzinski was selected as a first baseman out of Notre Dame High School in Niles, Illinois and at just 17-years old, Luzinski belted 13 home runs in only 57 games at low Class A Huron.  After hitting 64 home runs combined at Raleigh-Durham and Reading the next two years, Luzinski made his Major League debut on September 8, 1970.

In 1971, Luzinski devoured pitching at Triple-A Eugene, smashing 36 home runs with a .312 batting average. He hit his first three Major League home runs late in the year, hitting .300 in 28 games.  Luzinski displayed some of his raw power as a rookie in 1972, going deep 18 times to go along with 33 doubles and a .281 average.

After a 29-home run season in 1973, Luzinski has hampered by injuries in 1974, limiting him to just seven home runs in 85 games. The next four seasons Luzinski became one of the top hitters in the National League. He finished second in NL MVP voting after hitting .300 with 34 home runs and league-leading 120 RBI in 1975.

Luzisnksi’s best season was his 1977 campaign in which he hit 39 home runs, knocked in 130 runs, had a .309 batting average and once again finished 2nd for NL MVP.  His last of four straight All-Star appearances was the following year when he went deep 35 times with 101 RBI.

The All-Star level production dropped to relative mediocrity over the next two seasons for Luzinski, who combine to hit just 37 home runs and a career-low .228 for the World Series championship team in 1980.

Luzinski was traded to the White Sox and had some success over his last four seasons, particularly a 102-RBI season in 1982 and 35 home runs the following year.  Luzinski retired with 1,795 hits, 307 home runs, and 1,128 RBI.

Home/Phillies All-Time Lists