Top single-season performances by lefties in Phillies history

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Which Phillies left-handed hitters had the best single-season performances in franchise history?

With the start of the Major League Baseball season up in the air due to the lockout, there is time to reflect on the past.

Numerous all-time Philadelphia Phillies lists have been produced, so let’s go in a bit of a different direction with this one. As a lefty, I am partial to the left-handed hitters, so let’s run down the top single-season offensive performance by southpaws in Phillies history.

I must note that this “history” only includes players that I have seen play, which dates back to the late 1970s. In addition, no player can appear on the list more than once. Ironically, every player on this list has played during the 21st century.

5. Chase Utley, 2008 Phillies

Entering his 4th season as the Phillies starting second baseman, Chase Utley established himself as the best hitting second baseman in the Major Leagues. He hit .332 in 2007 with 48 doubles, 22 home runs, and 103 RBI.

Although Utley’s batting average dropped to .292 the following year, he hit a career-high 33 home runs, 104 RBI, and 41 doubles, while scoring 113 runs.

Any of Utley’s seasons from 2006 to 2009 could have made this list, but let’s pick the one from the World “bleeping” Championship team for the greatest second baseman in franchise history.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN -JUNE 12: Jim Thome #25 of the Philadelphia Phillies prepares to bat against the Minnesota Twins on June 12, 2012 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins win 11-7. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) /

4. Jim Thome, 2003 Phillies

Jim Thome came to Philadelphia via free agency after establishing himself as one of the top power-hitters in the game over the previous decade.

In fact, he entered Philadelphia coming off a 52-home run season.

Thome did not disappoint and quickly won over the Phillies’ faithful. In 2003, he led the league with 47 home runs and knocked in 131 runs with 111 runs scored and 111 walks. Thome would go on to hit 42 home runs the next year, but only seven in an injury-plagued 2005 season, opening the door for a young Ryan Howard to take over the position.

3. Bobby Abreu, 2004 Phillies

Bobby Abreu is one of the most underrated players to have ever put on a Phillies uniform.

It could be because he looked as though he wasn’t trying, but it only seemed that way because he was so naturally gifted. A complete five-tool player, any of Abreu’s seasons from 1999 through 2004 could have made this list. In 2004, Abreu hit .301 with 30 home runs, 105 RBI, 118 runs scored, 127 walks, and 40 stolen bases. How good was Abreu offensively? He hit .303 with a .416 on-base-percentage and .928 OPS in 1353 games in the red pinstripes.

Jul 6, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Bryce Harper (3) hits a home run in the seventh inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Bryce Harper, 2021 Phillies

Bryce Harper signed a 13-year mega-deal with the Phillies in 2019, so expectations were high.

After a slow start that first season, he gave the Phillies’ fans what they expected. He hit 35 home runs, knocked in 114 runs, and provided the highlight of the year with the “Oh my God” walk-off grand slam to defeat the Cubs.

But it was the 2021 season that earns him the number-two spot on the list. Harper overcame a 97-mph fastball off his face, along with other nagging injuries to put together an MVP season.

Harper put up numbers over the last two months of the season that would have made Babe Ruth proud. When all was said in done, Harper hit 35 home runs (for the second time in three years), scored 101 runs, and walked 100 times. He led the league in doubles with a .615 on-base percentage, 1.044 OPS, and a career-high 42 doubles.

1. Ryan Howard, 2006 Phillies

After getting a chance to play when Jim Thome went down with an injury in 2005, Ryan Howard took full advantage of the opportunity.

He hit .288 with 22 home runs in 88 games, good enough to win NL Rookie of the Year. In his first full season in 2006, Howard couldn’t be contained by NL pitching. He crushed the franchise single-season home run mark of 48 set by Mike Schmidt in 1980.

Howard was on a pace to surpass 60 home runs, finishing the season with 58 to go along with 149 RBI, both leading the league. In addition, he hit .313 with an OPS of 1.084. Howard’s efforts earned him NL MVP honors.

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