That Balls Outta Here
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Phillies: Top individual seasons in team history by age

By Kerry Kauffman

Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK – CIRCA 1982: Mike Schmidt #20 of the Philadelphia Phillies swings and watches the flight of his ball against the New York Mets during an Major League Baseball game circa 1982 at Shea Stadium in the Queens borough of New York City. Schmidt played for the Phillies from 1972-89. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – CIRCA 1982: Mike Schmidt #20 of the Philadelphia Phillies swings and watches the flight of his ball against the New York Mets during an Major League Baseball game circa 1982 at Shea Stadium in the Queens borough of New York City. Schmidt played for the Phillies from 1972-89. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Age 30: Mike Schmidt (1980)

The greatest player in franchise history and top third-baseman in MLB history, there is no way that Michael Jack Schmidt would not make this list. The question would only be,  for what age? After all, a legitimate case could be made for nearly every season from 1974 through 1987, but his remarkable 1980 season was a relatively easy choice.

Coming off a 45 home run season in 1979, Schmidt led the league in home runs in 1980 with 48, RBI with 121, slugging percentage and OPS. His 48th home run of the season was a memorable blast deep into the leftfield seats in the top of the 10th inning against the Expos to clinch the NL East for the Phillies.  Although he struggled in the NLCS against the Astros, Schmidt hit .381 with two home runs and seven RBI in the World Series, earning MVP honors.

Schmidt’s list of accomplishments is nearly endless. He led the league in home runs eight times, slugging percentage five times, and RBI four times. He had 14 seasons with at least 30 home runs, and nine seasons with at least 100 RBI. Schmidt’s 10 Gold Gloves at third base are second all-time. In addition, Schmidt was NL MVP three times and was a 12-time All-Star. He finished with 548 home runs and 1595 RBI.

Age 31: Jayson Werth (2010)

After relatively minimal success with the Angels and Dodgers from 2002 through 2005, Werth was out of baseball in 2006 due to his second wrist surgery. The Phillies signed Werth to a one-year contract on December 19, 2006 and his career took off from there.

Hitting .298 with eight home runs in a platoon role in 2007, Werth was a key component to the 2008 World Series Champions, hitting .273 with 24 home runs and 20 stolen bases.  Werth’s best overall season came the following season, an All-Star at last with 36 home runs and 99 RBI.

Werth makes this list at age 31 in 2010 when he finished eighth in the NL MVP vote. He led the league in doubles with 46 to go along with 106 runs scored, 27 home runs, 85 RBI, and .296 batting average.

A free agent following the season, Werth signed with the Nationals and played out the final seven seasons of his career in the nation’s capital. His best season in Washington was in 2013 when he hit .318 with 25 home runs and 82 RBI.  Werth retired with 300 doubles, 229 home runs, and 799 RBI.

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