Phillies all-time best starting lineup based on WAR
By Matt Grazel
Center field: Richie Ashburn (52.3 fWAR)
Twelve of Richie Ashburn's 15 seasons in the majors were as a member of the Phillies. In 1,794 games with Philadelphia, the center fielder hit .311 with a .782 OPS. Besides the '50s "Whiz Kids" team that lost in the World Series to the New York Yankees, he was not a part of many successful teams in Philadelphia.
A star at the plate and in the field for the @Phillies, Richie Ashburn was one of the most durable and dependable outfielders in MLB history.
— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall) March 19, 2024
The Hall of Famer was born #OTD in 1927. pic.twitter.com/bNgipFSh8t
Ashburn was a six-time All-Star during his MLB career, four of which were with the Phillies. He led the NL in stolen bases in his 1948 rookie season with 32 and was a two-time NL batting champion in 1955 and 1958.
In 1955, he hit a career-high .338 with an .897 OPS in 140 games. Ashburn had a career-high 32 doubles as well. In 1958, he finished a .350 batting average and an .881 OPS in 152 contests.
One of the Tilden, Nebraska native’s finest seasons with Philadelphia came in 1951. Ashburn finished with 221 hits, the most he totaled in any of his 15 years in the majors. In 1953 and 1958, he finished with 205 and 215 hits, respectively.
He was excellent at getting on base considering the amount of hits he finished with during his Phillies career. Ashburn had his number retired and became a member of the Phillies Wall of Fame in 1979. In 1995, the Hall of Fame’s Veterans Committee elected him to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Next: An outfielder who was successful as a Phillie despite the criticism he faced during his time with the club