Lenny Dykstra and Pat Burrell each had big seasons with the Phillies
4 – Lenny Dykstra (1993)
Dykstra entered the Major Leagues in 2015 and hit .254 with 15 stolen bases in just over half a season. He became a key part of the 1986 Mets’ World Series-winning team, hitting .295 with 31 stolen bases.
His best season in New York came the following year, hitting .285 with 37 doubles and 27 stolen bases. After another 30 stolen base season in 1988, Dykstra headed to the Phillies along with Tom Edens and Roger McDowell in exchange for Juan Samuel.
Dykstra showed little in 90 games with the Phillies in 1989, but was an All-Star the following season, leading the league in hits and on-base percentage. Due to a car crash in 1991, Dykstra missed two months from his extensive injuries, which limited his time in both 1991 and 1992 to 148 games.
The following season, Dykstra came to camp in the best shape of his career, bulked up, leading to steroid use speculations, which he later admitted to using to lengthen his career. Nevertheless, he put together the best season of his career. Dykstra set career-highs in home runs, runs, hits, RBI, walks, and stolen bases, earning second-place votes for NL MVP.
Dykstra lasted three more injury-plagued seasons in Philadelphia, making All-Star appearances in 1994 and 1995. He retired with 1298 hits, 81 home runs, and 285 stolen bases.
5 – Pat Burrell (2002)
Burrell was selected by the Phillies first overall in the 1998 draft out of the University of Miami. After 57 home runs during his first two Minor League seasons and four home runs in 40 games at AAA in 2000, Burrell made his Major League debut with the Phillies on May 24, 2000. Burrell had a fine rookie campaign, hitting .260 with 27 doubles and 18 home runs, in 111 games. Burrell’s efforts were good enough for fourth place voting for NL Rookie of the Year.
In 2001, Burrell flirted with the 30-home run plateau, blasting 27 in 539 at-bats. He added 29 doubles, 89 RBI, and 70 walks. The following season proved to be the best of Burrell’s 12-year career. In 157 games, Burrell hit .282 with 96 runs, 39 doubles, 37 home runs, 116 RBI and 89 walks.
Burrell continued to be a power bat in the Phillies lineup, hitting 30 or more home runs three more times, including 33 for the 2008 World Series championship team. He hit a key double late in Game 5 of the World Series, which ended up being his final at-bat for the Phillies.
After spending time in Tampa Bay and San Francisco over the next three seasons, Burrell retired with 1393 hits, 292 home runs, and 976 RBI.