Phillies: Most impactful trade made with every team

Cincinnati Reds: Tony Gonzalez

"On June 15, 1960, the Philadelphia Phillies traded Fred Hopke, Harry Anderson and Wally Post to the Cincinnati Reds for Tony Gonzalez and Lee Walls."

There have been 62 trades between the Phillies and Reds in their respective histories, but few stand out more than the Tony Gonzalez trade from the summer of 1960.

The 1960 Phillies were one of the worst teams in franchise history, winning just 59 games under first year manager Gene Mauch. Richie Ashburn was gone, Robin Roberts was on the back side of his career, and a young second baseman named Tony Taylor was just acquired from the Cubs.

On June 14 the Phillies won an extra-inning game in Los Angeles but were still 13 games below .500 and dead last in the National League early in the season. They needed to find the next generation of talent.

The next day they traded first base prospect Fred Hopke (who’d never reach the big leagues), outfielder Harry Anderson, and power-hitter Wally Post to the Reds. In return, the Phillies got outfielder Lee Walls, an All-Star two years before, and a young Cuban infielder named Tony Gonzalez.

Walls played just one full season in Philadelphia providing minimal help at the plate. The big star in this deal was Gonzalez, a 23-year-old outfielder who would grow into one of the greatest Phillies of all-time.

For nine years all Gonzalez did was hit, racking up 1,110 of them in Phillies pinstripes. In 1967 get hit .339 with nine triples and twice he received MVP consideration.

If you go through the Phillies top-50 hitters for each record, Gonzalez is on the list, if not in the top-25. His 27.5 oWAR is better than Ryan Howard, Tony Taylor, Juan Samuel, and many other great Phillies.

Honorable Mention

August 5, 1975. The Philadelphia Phillies traded Dave Schneck to the Cincinnati Reds for John Vukovich.