Ranking the Top 5 greatest Phillies managers in franchise history

No. 4: Danny Ozark

Danny Ozark is one of the most successful managers in Phillies history not to win a World Series with the team. His first season as manager was in 1973, during which the organization wasn't a playoff contender. Some of the players, such as Greg Luzinski, Mike Schmidt, and Larry Bowa, were all in the process of becoming more experienced in the majors.

Following their sixth-place finish in the NL East during Ozark's first year as manager, Philadelphia showed progress by finishing third and second in the division in 1974 and 1975, respectively. The Phillies won the NL East in three consecutive seasons from 1976 through 1978.

He earned the Manager of the Year Award in 1976 following the first year of 100 or more wins in the team's history. This season also snapped the team's playoff drought of 26 years.

However, Ozark's Phillies lost to the Cincinnati Reds in the 1976 National League Championship Series and the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1977 and 1978 NLCS. Injuries contributed to an underwhelming 1979 season for Philly that resulted in Ozark being replaced by Dallas Green on Aug. 31.

The native of Buffalo helped turn the Phillies into a contender and is currently third among managers with 594 wins over five-plus seasons as the manager. Ozark's regular season record was 594-510 at the managerial helm of the organization, and he went 2-9 in three playoff appearances with the club.

No. 3: Dallas Green

Dallas Green took over for Ozark and capitalized on the talented roster beginning in 1980, his first full season as Phillies manager. Philadelphia won its fourth division title in five years, defeated the Houston Astros in five games to win its first NLCS in franchise history, and appeared in the World Series for the first time since 1950.

Green, known for his argumentative and controversial nature with umpires and his own players, led the Phillies to its first World Series championship in franchise history. Philadelphia defeated the Kansas City Royals in six games.

The emotional manager didn't have a long tenure in his position with the Phillies. Following the 1981 season, in which Philadelphia lost the National League Division Series to the Montreal Expos in five games, Green was hired by the Chicago Cubs as executive vice president and general manager.

Green finished with a 169-130 regular season record as Phillies manager and went 9-7 during his playoff in two appearances.