That Balls Outta Here
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Phillies Best Individual Seasons By Uniform Number (41 – 50)

By Kerry Kauffman

PHILADELPHIA, PA - CIRCA 1978: Pitcher Tug McGraw #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during an Major League Baseball game circa 1978 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. McGraw played for the Phillies from 1975-84. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - CIRCA 1978: Pitcher Tug McGraw #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during an Major League Baseball game circa 1978 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. McGraw played for the Phillies from 1975-84. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 27: Jamie Moyer of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates clinching the National League EasT title after a baseball game against the Washington Nationals on September 27, 2010 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. The Phillies won 8-0. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

49 – Tommy Greene (1993), Jose Mesa (2001)

After nine games with the Braves in 1989 and part of 1990, Tommy Greene was traded to the Phillies on August 9, 1990. Greene appeared in 10 games for the rest of the season, going 2-3 with a 4.15 ERA.  He made headlines in 1991 after hurling no-hitter against the Expos on May 23, 1991, striking out 10.  Greene finished the year 13-7 with an ERA of 3.38.

Injuries plagued Greene in 1992, limiting him to 13 games and a 5.32 ERA. He bounced back in 1993 to have the best season of his career for the NL Championship team. Greene posted a 16-4 record with 167 strikeouts and a 3.42 ERA in 200 innings.  Unfortunately, more injuries prematurely ended Greene’s career at the age of 30 with a record of 38-25.

Jose Mesa had a few seasons as a dominant closer for the Indians from 1995 through 1997.  In his first season with the Phillies in 2001, Mesa regained that form, saving 42 in 71 appearances with an ERA of 2.34.  He actually saved more in 2002, raising his total to 45, in 74 games with an ERA a shade under 3 at 2.97.

Clearly struggling in 2003 which ended up with a 6.52 ERA despite 24 saves, Mesa was out of Philadelphia. He went on to save 70 over the next two seasons with the Pirates, then pitched a season in Colorado and part of a season in Detroit before returning to the Phillies. Mesa went 1-2 with a 5.54 ERA in 40 games with the Phillies before retiring.

50 – Jamie Moyer (2008)

Jamie Moyer started his career as a 23-year old with the Cubs in 1986., but struggled to a 32-54 record over his first five Major League seasons with the Cubs, Rangers, and Cardinals. Moyer appeared to be finished at the age of 29 after being released by the Tigers. That was, until the Orioles stepped into the picture in 1993.

Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies /

Philadelphia Phillies

Having new life in Baltimore, Moyer was a 12-game winner with an ERA of 3.43. After a short stint in Boston, Moyer enjoyed the best years of his career with the Mariners, winning 20 games twice and an All-Star in 2003 at 40 years of age.

The Phillies acquired Moyer for Andy Baldwin and Andrew Barb on August 19, 2006. He won five the rest of the season but despite 14 wins in 2007, showed his age and got hit around to a 5.01 ERA.

Again, Moyer bounced back and had a stellar season in 2008 at the age of 45, playing a key part in the Phillies winning the World Series. He won 16 games with a solid ERA of 3.71, pitching 196 1/3 innings.

Moyer won 22 games with the Phillies over the next two seasons before injury appeared to end his career in 2011. Not to be denied, Moyer had one last hurrah with the Rockies in 2012, earning a victory at the age of 49, becoming the oldest to do so. Moyer retired with 269 wins and 2441 strikeouts.

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