Team Capsules Archives - Franchise Phenoms

All-Time Orioles Team

We’re back with the All-Time Orioles Team.

Franchise Overview

One of the original American League franchises, Baltimore is actually the team’s third city. After a one season stint as the Milwaukee Brewers, and 52 years as the St. Louis Browns, the Baltimore Orioles joined the American League in 1954.

The Orioles .474 winning percentage ranks just 24th in history. Their 14 playoff appearances are tied for 13th all-time.

The Orioles have made playoff appearances in just 11.76% of their total seasons, a mark that is tied for 21st in history.

Their three World Series championships are tied for 10th most in history with five other teams.

The franchise’s golden age came while under the leadership of legendary manager Earl Weaver. After taking over midway through the 1968 season, Weaver led the Orioles to 1480 victories, an incredible .583 winning percentage, six playoff appearances, five American League pennants, and two world championships (1970 and 1983).

Recent years have been tougher. The Orioles have not made the World Series since their 1983 title. They have had just 11 winning seasons, and five playoff appearances in the last 36 seasons. In a particularly ugly stretch, Baltimore had 14 straight losing seasons from 1998-2011.

Hitters

Starting Lineup	Name	Position	B/T	bWAR/650	OPS+	Years Played
1.	Ken Singleton	RF (LF)	S/R	3.2	135	1975-84
2.	Ken Williams	LF (CF)	L/R	5.8	144	1918-27
3.	George Sisler	DH (1B)	L/L	4.8	131	1915-27
4.	Eddie Murray	1B	S/R	4.6	139	1977-88, 96
5.	Chris Hoiles	C	R/R	4.7	119	1989-98
6.	Cal Ripken Jr.	SS (3B)	R/R	4.9	112	1981-2001
7.	Brooks Robinson	3B	R/R	4.4	104	1955-77
8.	Bobby Wallace	2B (SS/3B)	R/R	5.2	103	1899-1916
9.	Paul Blair	CF	R/R	4.3	99	1964-76

Bench
OF	Boog Powell	1B/LF	L/R	3.4	135	1961-74
OF	Brady Anderson	CF/LF/RF	L/L	3.1	110	1988-2001
IN	Mark Belanger	SS	R/R	4.2	68	1965-81
IN	Harlond Clift	3B	R/R	3.9	118	1934-43
C	Rick Dempsey	C	R/R	3.4	89	1976-86, 92

The best teams in Orioles history were excellent all-around teams built around balanced offense, and pitching staffs supported by quality defenders. The Orioles all-time hitters rank just 23rd overall in OPS+.

Of course, position players do more than just swing the bat. The all-time Orioles roster is loaded with elite defensive players as well.

Legendary Left Side

Shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. is the best player in Orioles history. In 21 seasons with Baltimore, “The Iron Man” crafted a legacy that has endured long after he played his last game. There will never be another player quite like Cal Ripken Jr.

Ripken is best known for setting a seemingly unbreakable record of 2632 consecutive games played. In the process of setting that record, he unseated another all-time great in Lou Gehrig, and established a reputation as a beloved fan favorite.

Ripken was a 19-time All Star. He won eight Silver Sluggers and two Gold Gloves. In 1983, he won his first American League MVP while leading the league in runs, hits, and doubles. Ripken propelled the Orioles to a World Series title that year. He won his second MVP in 1991 while leading the league in total bases. He led the A.L. in bWAR in 1983, 1984, and 1991.

Ripken ranks top-10 all-time in assists (3rd), at-bats (4th), Defensive bWAR (4th), games at shortstop (5th), and games played (8th).

Joining Ripken on the left side of the Orioles infield is third baseman Brooks Robinson. Like Ripken, Robinson spent his entire career with the Orioles. In 23 seasons, Robinson made a case as the best defensive third baseman in history.

Robinson was an 18-time All Star, and won 16 Gold Gloves at the hot corner. He was a key player on six Orioles playoff teams, including four A.L. pennant winners, and two world champions (1966 and 1970). He was the A.L. MVP in 1964. Robinson was also the top A.L. position player by bWAR in 1962 and 1964.

Robinson’s 16 Gold Gloves are the most of any non-pitcher in history. He is the all-time leader in games, putouts, assists, and double plays at third base. He also leads third basemen in a variety of advanced defensive metrics. Robinson ranks third all-time in defensive bWAR.

The Rest of the Infield

Hall of Famer Eddie Murray mans first base on the all-time Orioles team. One of the best switch-hitters in history, Murray spent 13 seasons mashing in Baltimore. He was a seven-time All Star with the Orioles. Murray also won three Gold Gloves and two Silver Sluggers. Murray finished sixth, or better, in the MVP voting every season from 1980-1985. Like Ripken, he was one of the stars of the 1983 champions.

Hall of Fame first baseman George Sisler serves as the D.H. Sisler spent 12 seasons as one of the best hitters in the A.L. with the St. Louis Browns. Sisler won batting titles in 1920 (.407) and 1922 (.420). He is one of only three hitters to have multiple .400 seasons since 1900. He also had league-leading seasons in stolen bases (3x), hits (2x), doubles (2x), and runs. Sisler was the A.L. MVP in 1922.

Hall of Famer Bobby Wallace slots in at second base despite playing the bulk of his career at shortstop. Wallace starred for 15 seasons with the St. Louis Browns. He led the league in assists twice with the Browns. His 48.5 bWAR is fifth among position players in franchise history.

Catcher Chris Hoiles played his entire 10-year career with the Orioles. A solid all-around catcher, Hoiles was the primary backstop on Baltimore’s back-to-back playoff teams in 1996-1997. He received MVP votes in 1993.

The Outfield

Left fielder Ken Williams spent 10 seasons with the Browns. In 1922 he paced the A.L. in homers (39), RBI (155), and total bases (367). He received MVP votes in 1923-1924. Williams is the franchise’s all-time leader in OPS (.961) and slugging (.558).

Center fielder Paul Blair was an excellent all-around player over 13 seasons in Baltimore. Blair was a two-time All Star and won eight Gold Gloves. He received MVP votes four times. Like Robinson, Blair was part of the glue that held together six playoff teams, four pennant winners, and two world champions (1966 and 1970). He led the A.L. with 12 triples in 1967.

Ken Singleton plays right field and hits leadoff on the all-time Orioles team. Singleton was an offensive force for most of his 10 seasons in Baltimore. He was a three-time All Star and received MVP votes six times including a pair of top-three finishes. Singleton helped lead the Orioles to the World Series twice, including a key role as the DH on the 1983 champions.

Bench

Boog Powell spent 14 seasons in Baltimore. Powell was an integral player on six Orioles playoff teams including the 1966 and 1970 world champions. Powell won the MVP in 1970 and received votes for the award four other times with the Orioles. The hulking left-handed slugger made four straight All Star teams from 1968-1971. He led the league in slugging (.606) in 1964.

Brady Anderson spent 14 seasons roaming the Baltimore outfield. Anderson was a key cog in Baltimore’s back-to-back playoff appearances in 1996-1997. 1996 was his career year as he set highs in hits (172), homers (50), and RBI (110). Anderson was a three-time All Star who received MVP votes twice. A gritty player whose hard-nosed play endeared himself to Orioles fans, Anderson led the league in HBP three times in his career. He is Baltimore’s all-time leader in HBP (148) and Power-Speed # (248.7).

Shortstop Mark Belanger spent 17 seasons dazzling Orioles fans with his spectacular glove work. “The Blade” was an eight-time Gold Glover. He led the A.L. in defensive bWAR six straight seasons from 1973-1978. Belanger was the primary shortstop on six Orioles playoff teams including the 1970 world champions. He was a 1976 A.L. All Star. Belanger ranks second all-time in defensive bWAR trailing Ozzie Smith.

Third baseman Harlond Clift played 10 seasons for the St. Louis Browns. A solid defender, Clift led A.L. third basemen in assists twice and putouts three times. Clift led the A.L. with 111 walks in 1939. He made his only All Star team in 1937. No hitter in franchise history had more plate appearances (6354) with a higher OBP (.394). His 145 runs in 1936 is the highest mark in team history.

Rick Dempsey spent 12 seasons behind the plate for the Orioles. Dempsey was the primary backstop on two pennant winners including the 1983 world champions. Dempsey had a sterling defensive reputation. Modern metrics agree– more than half of his career value came from his work behind the plate.

Pitchers

Starting Rotation	Name	B/T	ERA+	Years Played
1.	Jim Palmer	R/R	126	1965-84
2.	Mike Mussina	R/R	130	1991-2000
3.	Urban Shocker	R/R	127	1918-24
4.	Dave McNally	R/L	108	1962-74
5.	Jack Powell	R/R	109	1902-03, 05-12

Bullpen
LR	Mike Flanagan	L/L	100	1975-87, 91-92
RP	Sammy Stewart	R/R	114	1978-85
RP	Eddie Watt	R/R	123	1966-73
RP	Dick Hall	R/R	125	1961-66, 69-71
SU	Zack Britton	L/L	130	2011-18
CL	Gregg Olson	R/R	176	1988-93

Baltimore’s all-time starting rotation is carried by a strong trio of aces. Overall, the starters rank 17th in average ERA+ at 120.

Starting Rotation

Baltimore’s all-time rotation is led by Hall of Famer Jim Palmer. Palmer spent his entire 19-year career with the Orioles. He is one of 10 pitchers in history to win three, or more, Cy Youngs. In addition to his three wins, he boasted five other top-five finishes. He is 10th all-time with 3.57 Cy Young shares.

Palmer was one of the greatest pitchers of his generation. A six-time All Star, he also won four Gold Gloves. Palmer compiled eight 20-win seasons in his career. He also led the A.L. multiple times in innings (4x), wins (3x), and ERA (2x).

Palmer is Baltimore’s all-time leader in pitching bWAR (67.5), wins (268), games (558), innings (3948), strikeouts (2212), complete games (211), and shutouts (53). He was part of eight Baltimore playoff teams, six A.L. pennant winners, and three world champions (1966, 1970, 1983).

Fellow Hall of Famer Mike Mussina represents perhaps the greatest regret of the all-time Orioles roster. Baltimore’s 1st round pick out of Stanford in 1990, Mussina debuted in 1991. He spent the first 10 years of his career with the Orioles. The team made two playoff appearances (1996-1997) during his tenure.

Mussina was a five-time All Star with the Orioles. He finished sixth, or better, in the Cy Young voting seven times while in Baltimore. He also won four Gold Gloves. Mussina paced the A.L. once each in wins, innings, and BB/9 with Baltimore.

Following the 2000 season, Mussina signed as a free agent with the division rival New York Yankees where he spent the final eight seasons of his storied career. Baltimore has not developed a pitcher of his caliber since.

Right-hander Urban Shocker pitched seven excellent seasons for the Browns. A noted spit-baller, Shocker had four straight 20-win seasons from 1920-1923. Shocker had excellent control, leading the league in K/BB ratio and BB/9 in 1922-1923. He received MVP votes in both seasons. He also led the league once each in wins, strikeouts, FIP, and saves with the Browns.

Southpaw Dave McNally pitched 13 seasons for the Orioles. McNally utilized one of the best breaking balls of his era to support Palmer in some of the best Orioles rotations of all-time. He contributed to six playoff teams, four pennant winners, and two world champions (1966 and 1970). A three-time All Star, McNally finished fourth, or better, in the Cy Young voting three times. He also received MVP votes four times. McNally had four straight 20-win seasons from 1968-1971. He led the A.L. in wins and WHIP once each.

Right-hander Jack Powell pitched 10 years for the Browns including two 20-win seasons. His 32.0 bWAR is fourth all-time among the franchise’s pitchers.

Bullpen

The bullpen’s average ERA+ is 128, ranking 21st among all-time teams.

Southpaw Mike Flanagan pitched 15 years in Baltimore, most often as a starter, though he did make 122 relief appearances. Flanagan won the 1979 Cy Young, leading the league with 23 wins and 5 shutouts. He was an All Star in 1978. He was also a key piece of the 1983 world championship starting rotation. Following his retirement, Flanagan served the Orioles as a broadcaster, pitching coach, and executive vice president of baseball operations.

Sammy Stewart pitched eight years for the Orioles. A versatile arm, Stewart started just 25 games, but pitched at least 93 innings seven times. He led the A.L. in ERA (2.32) in 1981. He was second in appearances during the 1983 championship season.

Eddie Watt pitched eight seasons in Baltimore. He was the team’s most effective reliever for most of his tenure. Watt was part of five playoff teams, four pennant winners, and two world champions (1966 and 1970).

Dick Hall began his career as an outfielder for three seasons with the Pirates before earning a new lease on life as a pitcher. He spent nine seasons with the Orioles. The 6’6″ Hall was a great athlete with excellent control. Hall is Baltimore’s all-time leader in WHIP (1.01), K/BB (3.96), and BB/9 (1.47). He was a key reliever on the 1970 champions.

Zack Britton spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Orioles. A top prospect as a starter, Britton shifted to the bullpen full time in his fourth season. The left-hander used his turbo sinker to become one of the most dominant relievers in baseball for a resurgent Orioles team in the mid 2010s. He made the All Star for the first time in 2015 before turning in an all-time great reliever season the following year. In 2016, Britton was again an All Star. In 67 innings he had a 0.54 ERA and led the A.L. with 47 saves. He finished 3rd in the Cy Young and 11th in the MVP voting.

Gregg Olson used a devastating curve ball to compile a franchise best 160 saves in six seasons with the Orioles. In 1989, Olson won the Rookie of the Year Award while also finishing 6th in the Cy Young and 12th in the MVP race. He was an All Star in 1990.

All-Time Pirates Team

After a break for some Hall of Fame chatter, we’re back to our series on All-Time Teams with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Franchise Overview

The Pittsburgh Pirates originated in 1882 as the Pittsburgh Alleghenys of the American Association. In 1887, the Alleghenys joined the National League. They changed their name to the Pirates in 1891. Only the Braves, and Cubs have played more big league seasons than the Pirates.

The Pirates .504 franchise winning percentage is 10th best in history. They also rank 10th in history with 17 playoff appearances.

Given their comparatively long history, however, the picture isn’t quite so pretty. The Pirates rank just 20th in playoff appearance percentage. They have reached the postseason in just 12.41% of their total seasons.

Only six teams have won more World Series championships than Pittsburgh’s five (1909, 1925, 1960, 1971, 1979).

The Pirates were once the class of the National League, making six playoff appearances in the 1970s.

Recent years have been tougher. The Pirates have made the playoffs just six times since their last World Series in 1979. They have only four winning seasons since their last NLCS appearance in 1992. From 1993-2012, the Pirates had 20 straight losing seasons, and were generally regarded as one of the worst teams in the game.

Hitters

Starting Lineup	Name	Position	B/T	bWAR/650	OPS+	Years Played
1.	Arky Vaughan	3B (SS)	L/R	6.9	141	1932-41
2.	Honus Wagner	SS (RF/3B/1B)	R/R	7.9	154	1900-17
3.	Willie Stargell	1B (LF)	L/L	4.2	147	1962-82
4.	Ralph Kiner	LF	R/R	6.2	157	1973-83
5.	Roberto Clemente	CF (RF)	R/R	6.1	130	1955-72
6.	Paul Waner	RF	L/L	4.8	136	1926-40
7.	Jason Kendall	C	R/R	3.9	108	1996-2004
8.	Bill Mazeroski	2B	R/R	2.9	84	1956-72
9.	Pitcher	P

Bench
OF	Fred Clarke	LF	L/R	5.0	136	1900-15
OF	Max Carey	CF/LF/RF	S/R	3.7	111	1910-26
OF	Andrew McCutchen	CF/RF	R/R	4.5	136	2009-17
IN	Pie Traynor	3B	R/R	2.9	107	1920-37
IN	Bob Elliott	3B/RF	R/R	3.4	119	1939-46
C	Manny Sanguillen	C	R/R	3.7	105	1967-76, 78-80

The Pirates have a long tradition of excellent offensive players. Their hitters have the eighth best average OPS+ among all-time teams.

The five best players in Pittsburgh history by bWAR are all position players, including two of the game’s inner-circle icons.

Swashbuckling Superstars

Shortstop Honus Wagner is arguably the best shortstop in baseball history. Wagner played 18 seasons in Pittsburgh during which time he established his legacy as one of the best all around players of all-time.

Wagner won eight batting titles. He paced the National League in a variety of categories at different points in his career including doubles (7x), slugging (6x), OBP (4x), RBI (4x), stolen bases (4x), triples (3x), hits (2x), and runs (2x).

Wagner’s 130.8 bWAR is 10th in history. He is also in the all-time top-10 in triples (3rd), putouts at shortstop (4th), hits (8th), doubles (9th), and stolen bases (10th). He was also a driving force behind the Pirates 1909 World Series championship.

Roberto Clemente starts in center field despite playing most of his career in right. Clemente played his entire 18-year career in Pittsburgh. He was a National League All Star in 12 different seasons, and won 12 Gold Gloves. He was one of the best players on two World Series teams more than a decade apart in 1960 and 1971.

Clemente won the 1966 NL MVP, and finished in the top-10 seven other times. He won four batting titles in addition to leading the league in hits twice, and triples once.

Clemente played more games in right field than any other player in history. He ranks second all time in assists and putouts at the position.

His tragic death on New Years Eve, 1972 cut short the career of one of the most spectacular players of his generation. It also established a lasting legacy of community service that lives on in the Roberto Clemente Award.

The Rest of the Infield

Hall of Famer Arky Vaughan would have a case to be the starting shortstop on virtually every other franchise’s all-time team. Here he defers to the best in history, and slides over to third base. In 10 seasons with the Pirates, Vaughan was an eight-time All Star who had two third place MVP finishes. He led the league in OBP, walks, runs, and triples three times each. In 1935, he paced the NL in every triple-slash category with a .385/.491/.607 line, good for 190 OPS+.

Hall of Famer Willie Stargell starts at first base. Pops played his entire 21-year career with the Pirates. One of the most feared sluggers of his generation, Stargell was a seven-time All Star. He paced the NL in homers and OPS+ twice during his career. He also led the league in slugging, doubles, and RBI once each. Stargell was the 1979 NL MVP and had six other top-10 finishes. He was regarded as one of the best players on Pittsburgh’s World Series winners in 1971 and 1979.

Second baseman Bill Mazeroski rounds out Pittsburgh’s Hall of Fame infield. Maz played his entire 17-year career for the Pirates. He made the All Star team in seven different seasons. One of the finest defensive second basemen in history, Maz won eight Gold Gloves. He ranks 5th in career assists at second base, and 7th in putouts. Like Clemente, he contributed to both the 1960 and 1971 championships.

Jason Kendall starts behind the plate. Kendall spent nine seasons in Pittsburgh, and was a three-time All Star for the Pirates. A gritty player who endeared himself to fans, he had 31 HBP in back-to-back seasons, leading the league in 1998.

The Rest of the Outfield

Hall of Famer Paul Waner starts in right field. He ranks third in Pirates history with 68.3 bWAR in 15 seasons. Waner was a four-time All Star who won three batting titles. He led the league twice each in runs, hits, doubles, and triples. He was the 1927 National League MVP and had four other top-10 finishes.

Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner gets the nod in left. Kiner’s entire career lasted just 10 years, eight of which were in Pittsburgh. Despite his relatively brief tenure, Kiner was truly dominate with the Pirates. He led the league in homers every season from 1946-1952. During that same stretch, he also led the league in OPS+, walks, and slugging three times each, and OBP, runs, and RBI once each. He was an All Star in six straight seasons, and had five straight top-10 MVP finishes.

Bench

Hall of Fame outfielder Fred Clarke narrowly missed the starting lineup. In 15 seasons with the Pirates, Clarke led the league in OPS+ twice as well as doubles, triples, walks, and slugging once each. Clarke was one of the best hitters on the 1909 championship team. As the club’s manager from 1900-1915, Clarke amassed 1,422 wins, a .595 winning percentage, four NL pennants, and the 1909 World Series, making him the most successful manager in franchise history as well.

Hall of Fame outfielder Max Carey played 17 seasons in Pittsburgh. He is 9th in history with 738 stolen bases. 688 of them came as a member of the Pirates, making him the franchise’s all-time leader. He received MVP votes three times, and was one of the best players on the 1925 World Series winner.

Andrew McCutchen rounds out the Pirates star-studded outfield corps. Cutch played nine seasons in Pittsburgh, and fueled three straight playoff teams from 2012-2015. He made five straight All Star teams while winning four Silver Sluggers and a Gold Glove, from 2011-2015. McCutchen finished in the top-five of the MVP voting every year from 2012-2015, winning the award in 2013. He led the league in OPS+, OBP, and hits once each during his career.

Hall of Fame third baseman Pie Traynor had six top-10 MVP finishes in 17 seasons with the Pirates. Traynor was an All Star in 1933-34. His 19 triples led the league in 1923. Like Carey, Traynor was a driving force behind the 1925 championship. Like Clarke, he also served as the club’s manager. From 1934-39, Traynor amassed a 457-406 record as the Pirates skipper.

Bob Elliott spent eight seasons playing third base and right field for the Pirates. He was a three-time All Star and finished in the top-10 for MVP thrice as well. Elliott made three more All Star appearances, and won the 1947 MVP after the Pirates traded him to the Boston Braves.

Manny Sanguillen spent 12 seasons behind the plate in Pittsburgh. He was a three-time All Star for the Pirates. Sanguillen anchored the great Pirates teams of the 1970s, including the 1971 champions. He was a role-player on the 1979 champs as well. Sanguillen ranks fourth all-time in bWAR among players born in Panama.

Pitchers

Starting Rotation	Name	B/T	ERA+	Years Played
1.	Wilbur Cooper	R/L	120	1912-24
2.	Sam Leever	R/R	123	1898-1910
3.	Babe Adams	L/R	118	1907-26
4.	John Candelaria	L/L	117	1975-85, 93
5.	Bob Friend	R/R	108	1951-65

Bullpen
LR	Roy Face	R/R	110	1953-68
RP	Al McBean	R/R	113	1961-68, 70
RP	Mike Williams	R/R	119	1998-2003
RP	Salomon Torres	R/R	120	2002-07
SU	Dave Giusti	R/R	121	1970-76
CL	Kent Tekulve	R/R	139	1974-85

Pittsburgh’s all-time pitching staff lacks the star power of its every day lineup. The average ERA+ of the Pirates starting rotation ranks just 20th among all-time teams. They are also the oldest team without a single Hall of Fame pitcher on its all-time staff.

Starting Rotation

Left-hander Wilbur Cooper spent 13 seasons with the Pirates. Cooper had four 20-win campaigns. He is Pittsburgh’s all-time leader in wins (202) and complete games (263).

Sam Leever spent his entire 13-year career in Pittsburgh. The 5-10 right-hander worked a league-leading 379 innings in 1899. In 1903, he won the ERA Title at 2.06; his 159 ERA+ was also best in the NL.

Curve ball specialist, Babe Adams spent 19 seasons in Pittsburgh. Between 1911-1922, Adams led the league in WHIP five times, FIP, BB/9, and K/BB four times each, and ERA+ once. He is the Pirates all-time leader in pitching bWAR (49.8), and shutouts (44). He was a member of the starting rotation for the 1909 World Champs, and hung around long enough to contribute to the 1925 team as well.

Lefty John Candelaria pitched 12 seasons for the Pirates. The “Candy Man” enjoyed a career-year in 1977. He went 20-5 and led the NL with a 2.34 ERA, and 169 ERA+. It was his only All Star season, and the only year in which he earned Cy Young and MVP votes. Despite the lack of league-wide recognition in subsequent years, he was the best pitcher on Pittsburgh’s 1979 championship team.

Right-hander Bob Friend made the All Star team in three of his 15 seasons with the Pirates. A consummate workhorse during his career, Friend is the Pirates all-time leader in starts (477), innings (3,480.1), and strikeouts (1,682). He led the league in innings twice, and wins, ERA+, FIP, and K/BB once each during his career. He finished third in the 1958 Cy Young voting. Friend was the ace of the 1960 World Series championship rotation.

Bullpen

Pittsburgh’s all-time bullpen is even less impressive than its starting rotation. The average 120 ERA+ of the team’s all-time relief corps ranks 29th overall.

Kent Tekulve is Pittsburgh’s all-time closer. In 12 seasons with the Pirates, Tekulve led the league in appearances, and games finished, three times. He finished fifth in the Cy Young voting in both 1978-79, and was an All Star in 1980. He earned saves in three of the four Pirates wins in the 1979 World Series. His 158 saves rank second in Pirates history.

After six seasons as a mediocre starter with Houston, right-hander Dave Giusti became one of the best relievers in baseball. In seven seasons with the Pirates, Giusti had three top-10 Cy Young finishes. In 1971, he led the league with 30 saves for the NL East champs. During the playoffs, Giusti hurled 10.2 scoreless innings, and earned three saves, to help the Pirates to a World Series title. He was an All Star in 1973.

Once a top prospect in the Giants system, Salomon Torres washed out of American affiliated baseball from ages 26-29. At 30, after a stint in Korea, he resurfaced with the Pirates. In six seasons with Pittsburgh, Torres was one of the most durable, and underrated, relievers in the National League. He led the league with 94 appearances in 2006.

Like Torres, Mike Williams took the long route to big league stardom. A 14th round draft pick in 1990, Williams was on his third organization by the time he emerged as a stellar reliever with the Pirates at age 29. Williams spent six seasons in Pittsburgh, including five as the primary closer. He was an All Star in 2002-2003.

Right-hander Al McBean spent nine seasons with the Pirates. Working primarily out of the bullpen, McBean hurled 1016 above-average innings. He is the most accomplished pitcher in history from the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Roy Face gets the final spot in Pittsburgh’s bullpen. An under-sized right-hander, Face spent 15 seasons in Pittsburgh. As a member of the Pirates, he led the league in games finished four times, saves thrice, and appearances twice. In 1959, he finished an incredible 18-1 without starting a game. He was an All Star each season from 1959-61. In 1960, Face helped pitch Pittsburgh to a World Series title, saving three of the four wins over the Yankees. He is Pittsburgh’s all-time leader in saves (186), and games finished (547).

All-Time Red Sox Team

Next up Franchise Phenoms is the All-Time Red Sox Team. Boston follows the White Sox, Phillies, and Rockies as fourth up in our series.

Franchise Overview

The Red Sox were founded in 1901 as a charter member of the American League. Only eight National League franchises have played more seasons than the Red Sox.

For much of the middle portion of their existence, Red Sox history was marked by disappointment and unfulfilled promise. Boston famously did not win a World Series from 1918-2004. They made the playoffs 10 times during that period, including four trips to the fall classic. Boston fans gradually became accustomed to having their hearts ripped out in the most dramatic and agonizing fashion.

The total picture of Red Sox history is actually much prettier than the heartache in the middle. The misery of Boston fans has been book-ended by two of the most impressive stretches of any franchise in history.

The Red Sox are tied for the third most World Series championships in history with nine (1903, 1912, 1915, 1916, 1918, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2018).

Their .519 winning percentage is the fifth best all-time mark of any big league franchise.

Boston has made the playoffs in 20.3 % of their seasons, the seventh highest percentage in history.

Red Sox fans may always measure their franchise against the long-term dominance of their rivals in New York. Viewed in that context, there is still work to do. At the same time, Boston’s history would be the envy of nearly every other fan-base in America. Context is fun.

Hitters

Starting Lineup	Name	Position	B/T	bWAR/ 650	OPS+	Years Played
1.	Wade Boggs	3B	L/R	6.5	142	1982-92
2.	Ted Williams	RF (LF)	L/R	8.2	190	1939-60
3.	Nomar Garciaparra	SS (1B)	R/R	6.3	133	1996-2004
4.	David Ortiz	DH (1B)	L/L	4.2	148	2003-16
5.	Carl Yastrzemski	CF (LF/1B)	L/R	4.5	129	1961-83
6.	Jim Rice	LF	R/R	3.5	128	1974-89
7.	Dwight Evans	1B (RF)	R/R	4.3	127	1972-90
8.	Carlton Fisk	C	R/R	6.0	126	1969-80
9.	Dustin Pedroia	2B	R/R	5.0	113	2006-Present

Bench
OF	Harry Hooper	RF	L/R	3.5	114	1909-20
OF	Dom DiMaggio	CF	R/R	3.3	110	1940-53
IN	Bobby Doerr	2B	R/R	4.2	115	1937-51
IN	Rico Petrocelli	SS/3B	R/R	4.2	108	1963-76
C	Jason Varitek	C	S/R	2.8	98	1997-2011

Fenway Phenoms

Not surprisingly, for a team that has had the long-term historical success of the Red Sox, the All-Time Red Sox Team is one of the most impressive rosters in the entire exercise. The All-Time Red Sox hitters have the seventh highest average OPS+.

Boston’s all-time starting nine is an impressive collection of talent and names.

“The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived”

Any list of the greatest Red Sox in history has to begin with Ted Williams. A two-time MVP who twice won the Triple Crown, Williams is in a category all by himself in Boston lore. He was an All Star in 17 of the 19 seasons he played for the Red Sox.

His career bWAR ranks 14th in history despite missing significant time in his prime while serving in the military. Williams has the highest OBP in big league history (.482) and ranks second in slugging (.634). Any way you slice it, Teddy Ballgame is one of the greatest players in baseball history.

Red Sox Royalty

Like Williams, Carl Yastrzemski holds a special place in the hearts of Boston fans. Yaz spent his entire 23-year career in Boston, earning All Star honors in 18 of those seasons. In 1967, he propelled the Red Sox to the World Series. He won the MVP and the Triple Crown that year, captivating Red Sox Nation. He is probably more responsible for reversing the fortunes of one of the game’s great franchises than any other player.

Designated Hitter, David Ortiz is a similarly mythical figure in Boston history. A 10-time All Star, Big Papi was one of the most feared sluggers of his generation. The slayer of Boston’s postseason demons, his clutch-hitting feats are the stuff of baseball legend. Ortiz has a chance to break the stigma against players who were primarily designated hitters making the Hall of Fame.

Hall of Famers Galore

Third baseman Wade Boggs was an eight-time All Star during his 11 years in Boston. Perhaps the greatest pure hitter and on-base machine of his generation, Boggs won five batting titles, and led the league in OBP six times during his Red Sox career. He was a solid defender as well, winning two Gold Gloves to boot.

Carlton Fisk is one of the great catchers in big league history. In 11 seasons in Boston, Pudge was a seven-time All Star as one of the best offensive catchers the game has ever seen. His homer in Game Six of the 1975 World Series is one of the most iconic moments in baseball history. He made the All Star team five more times as a member of the White Sox, where he can also lay claim to the title of best catcher in their franchise’s history.

Left-fielder Jim Rice developed a reputation as one of the most feared sluggers of his day. In 16 seasons with the Red Sox, Rice was an eight-time All Star. He led the league in homers three times, and won the AL MVP in 1978.

The Rest of the Starters

Shortstop Nomar Garciaparra burst onto the scene as the 1997 AL Rookie of the Year. Nomar was a two-time batting champion, and five-time All Star in Boston. Nomar’s nine years in Boston represent one of the best offensive stretches for a shortstop in big league history.

Dwight Evans gets the nod at first base. Dewey played 19 of his 20 seasons in Boston. An excellent outfielder who won eight Gold Gloves in Boston’s difficult right field, Evans moves to first to accommodate Boston’s wealth of great outfielders. He was a three-time All Star and two-time Silver Slugger as well. A well-rounded player, he led the league in walks three times and homers, runs, and OBP once each.

Second baseman Dustin Pedroia endeared himself to Red Sox fans the way few other players have. Listed at just 5’9″, 175 pounds, Pedroia’s “Laser Show” was one of the top attractions on two World Series teams. To date, Pedroia has made the All Star team four times. He has also won four Gold Gloves, and a Silver Slugger with Boston. He was the AL MVP in 2008 when he led the league in runs, hits, and doubles.

Bench

Hall of Fame right fielder Harry Hooper is part of a deep Boston bench. A speed/OBP oriented offensive player, Hooper spent 12 years in Boston. He received MVP votes in 1913-1914. He is Boston’s career leader in triples (130).

Center fielder Dom DiMaggio played his entire 11-year career with the Red Sox. He was a seven-time All Star despite missing his age 26-28 seasons in military service during World War II. DiMaggio received MVP votes six times, including a 9th place finish in 1946. He twice led the league in runs, and once each in triples and stolen bases.

Hall of Fame second baseman Bobby Doerr headlines the Boston bench. With more power than a typical middle infielder, Doerr racked up nine All Star selections in 14 seasons with Boston. He led the league in slugging in 1944. Doerr received MVP votes eight times, finishing third in 1946.

Rico Petrocelli spent 13 years in Boston, splitting his time between shortstop and third base. A well-regarded defensive player who as occasionally excellent at the plate as well, Petrocelli was one of the more underrated players of his generation. He was a two-time All Star, and received MVP votes three times. In 1969, he clubbed 40 homers en route to an incredible 10.0 bWAR to lead the American League, but finished just 7th in the MVP race.

Jason Varitek gets the nod as the backup catcher. As captain of the Red Sox for the final seven seasons of his 15-year career, Varitek was at the center of some of the best teams in Boston history including two World Series champions. The switch-hitter was a three-time All Star who also pulled in Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards in 2005. He received down-ballot MVP consideration three times.

Pitchers

Starting Rotation	Name	B/T	ERA+	Years Played
1.	Cy Young	R/R	147	1901-08
2.	Pedro Martinez	R/R	191	1998-2004
3.	Roger Clemens	R/R	145	1984-96
4.	Jon Lester	L/L	120	2006-14
5.	Luis Tiant	R/R	119	1971-78

Bullpen
LR	Tim Wakefield	R/R	106	1995-2011
RP	Bob Stanley	R/R	119	1977-89
RP	Derek Lowe	R/R	128	1998-2004
RP	Ellis Kinder	R/R	135	1948-55
SU	Dick Radatz	R/R	147	1962-66
CL	Jonathan Papelbon	R/R	197	2005-11

Starting Rotation

The Red Sox carry a truly elite collection of all-time pitching talent. The 144 OPS+ average of their five starting pitchers is the best of any all-time team’s rotation.

All-Time Greats

The Name

The man whose name is synonymous with pitching excellence fronts Boston’s rotation. Cy Young started his career with nine seasons for the now-defunct Cleveland Spiders, then two in St. Louis before coming to Boston in 1901. In eight seasons with the Red Sox, Cy Young solidified his status as a big league legend.

Young won the Triple Crown while pitching for Boston in 1901. Overall, he led the league in wins three times, innings twice, ERA and strikeouts once each for the Red Sox. Modern metrics view him favorably as well. He led the league in FIP three times, WHIP four times, and strikeout-to-walk ratio five times during his time in Boston. He eclipsed nine bWAR an incredible four times during his Boston years alone. Cy Young remains baseball’s all-time leader in wins (511), starts (815), complete games (749), and innings (7356).

The Force

Name recognition gets Cy Young the ceremonial top spot in Boston’s rotation, but Pedro Martinez has a legitimate claim to the title of best Red Sox pitcher in history. Pedro’s seven-year run in Boston is considered among the best stretches of any pitcher, in any era, in history. His pinpoint control of some of the best stuff the game has ever seen often made him unhittable.

Like Cy Young himself, Pedro has a Triple Crown to his credit with the Red Sox in 1999. Pedro was a four-time All Star in Boston. He won back-to-back Cy Youngs in 1999-2000 and finished in the top-five four more times. He also received MVP votes five times, including back-to-back top-five finishes in his Cy Young seasons.

Martinez led the league in ERA, ERA+, WHIP, FIP, and K/9 in the same season four times with the Red Sox. In a loaded pantheon of Boston starting pitchers, Pedro has the top strikeout and strikeout-walk rates in team history. While he may not have the longevity of some of Boston’s other pitchers, there is little debate that he was the most dominant.

The Rocket

Roger Clemens spent the first 13 seasons of his 24-year career in Boston giving him the longest tenure of any member of the rotation. With some of the most explosive stuff the game had seen in its history, Clemens became an icon nationwide. He would go on to forge one of the most remarkable, and controversial, careers in big league history, and it all began in Boston.

Clemens won the first of three Cy Young awards with Boston at age 23 in 1986 when he was also the MVP. He backed it up with another Cy Young season in 1987 before winning his third in 1991. Clemens also had three other top-six finishes with the Red Sox. He earned MVP votes four times in Boston. He was a five-time All Star for the Red Sox.

Clemens led the league in FIP six times as a member of the Red Sox. He also paced in the A.L. in ERA, ERA+, and strikeout-to-walk ratio four times, and wins, strikeouts, and WHIP twice each. Clemens leads Red Sox pitchers in wins, strikeouts, and shutouts for his career. With the most pitching bWAR of any Red Sox hurler, we will dig deeper into his career in the Mount RushWAR series.

The Lefty

Jon Lester spent the first nine years of his career in Boston. Although rarely recognized as among the very best pitchers in the game, his steadiness in big games proved invaluable on the road to two World Series titles in Boston. Lester was a three-time All Star in Boston. He finished fourth in the Cy Young voting in 2010 and 2014. He led the league in K/9 in 2010.

The Cuban

One of the best Latin pitchers in history, Luis Tiant began his career in Cleveland before coming to Boston at age 30 in 1971. At a time in his career when it appeared his best days were behind him, Tiant’s eight years in Boston were his renaissance. In Boston, he was a two-time All Star who finished sixth or better in the Cy Young voting three times while earning MVP votes in each of those seasons. Tiant led the league in ERA in 1972, and WHIP in 1973.

Bullpen

As good as Boston’s all-time starting rotation is, the bullpen isn’t far behind. The average ERA+ for Boston’s all-time relievers is tied for sixth best.

Jonathan Papelbon gets the nod at closer for the Red Sox. His 197 ERA+ over seven seasons in Boston is the fourth best mark of any Franchise Phenom reliever. Papelbon made four straight All Star teams from 2006-2009. He earned saves in three of Boston’s four World Series wins, including the clincher, in 2007. His 219 saves are the most in Red Sox history.

In five years with Boston, Dick Radatz was one of the most effective relievers in baseball. He was utterly dominant for his first three seasons, and led the league in saves twice during that stretch. He was a two-time All Star who twice finished in the top-10 in the MVP voting. Radatz still has the lowest Hit/9 rate of any pitcher in Boston history.

Ellis Kinder began his Red Sox career as a starter, including a 23-win season in 1949. He ultimately shifted to the bullpen, and was primarily a reliever for five of his eight years in Boston. Kinder led the league in saves, and appearances, in 1951 and 1953. He finished 11th, or better, in the MVP race three times.

Acquired from the Mariners in the same trade that brought fellow Franchise Phenom Jason Varitek to Boston, Derek Lowe would go on to be one of the best pitchers in Red Sox history. Lowe began his career as a versatile, mult-inning arm before becoming closer, and eventually shifting to the starting rotation for the second half of his Red Sox career. He was a two-time All Star, once as a reliever, and once as a starter. He led the league in saves in 2000, and finished third in the Cy Young as a starter in 2002.

Bob Stanley spent his entire 13-year career in Boston, primarily as a reliever. A versatile pitcher who regularly threw multiple innings out of the bullpen, Stanley was one of Boston’s most trusted arms for more than a decade. He was a two-time All Star who twice finished seventh in the Cy Young voting, and earned MVP votes three times. He led the league in ERA+ in 1982. Stanley remains Boston’s all-time leader in games pitched (637) and games finished (377).

Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield rounds out the Boston pitching staff. Although he was primarily a starter in his 17 seasons with Boston, he did make 160 relief appearances. Wakefield finished third in the Cy Young voting in his 1995 Red Sox debut. He would go on to be a critical piece of two World Series teams. He was an All Star in 2009. Wakefield is Boston’s all-time leader in games started (430) and innings (3006).

All-Time Rockies Team

Next up on Franchise Phenoms is the All-Time Rockies Team. Colorado follows the White Sox and Phillies as third up in our series.

Franchise Overview

The Colorado Rockies were founded in 1993. They joined the National League that season along with the Florida Marlins. Only the Diamondbacks and Rays are newer to Major League Baseball than the 1993 expansion teams.

The Rockies are one of seven teams that have never won an World Series.

The team’s 0.473 winning percentage is 25th all-time. The Rockies have had just nine winning seasons out of 26.

Despite all of their lean years along the way, Rockies fans have been fortunate in terms of playoff appearances. Colorado has made the playoffs in 19.2% of the team’s seasons, the eighth best mark in history.

Hitters

Starting Lineup	Name	Position	B/T	bWAR/650	OPS+	Years Played
1.	Ellis Burks	CF (RF/LF)	R/R	3.8	128	1994-98
2.	Larry Walker	RF	L/R	6.7	147	1995-2004
3.	Matt Holliday	LF	R/R	4.1	131	2004-08, 18
4.	Todd Helton	1B	L/L	4.3	133	1997-2013
5.	Troy Tulowitzki	SS	R/R	5.9	123	2006-15
6.	Nolan Arenado	3B	R/R	5.7	122	2013-Present
7.	Chris Iannetta	C	R/R	1.8	95	2006-11, 18-Present
8.	D.J. LeMahieu	2B	R/R	2.9	93	2012-18
9.	Pitcher	P

Bench
OF	Carlos Gonzalez	RF/LF/CF	L/L	3.1	116	2009-18
OF	Charlie Blackmon	CF/RF	L/L	2.5	116	2011-Present
1B	Andres Galarraga	1B	R/R	3.3	125	1993-97
IN	Vinny Castilla	3B/SS	R/R	2.6	106	1993-99, 2004, 06
IN	Trevor Story	SS	R/R	5.4	113	2016-Present
C	Jeff Reed	C	L/R	2.5	99	1996-99

Slugging at Altitude

Playing their home games in Denver has given Rockies hitters the benefit of arguably the most favorable hitting environment in big league history. The Rockies have an impressive history of offensive production.

On Top of the Mountain

First baseman Todd Helton is the historical face of the Rockies franchise. Helton played his entire 17-year career in Colorado. Helton was a five-time All Star who won four Silver Sluggers and three Gold Gloves in his career. Even after accounting for Coors Field, Helton was regularly one of the most dangerous hitters in baseball.

The Rockies have yet to have a player elected to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. At this moment, Helton probably has the best chance to be the first. He is probably among the top 15-20 first basemen in baseball history.

There is a case to be made that right fielder Larry Walker had an even better career than Helton. Walker was already one of the best outfielders in the National League when he left the Montreal Expos to sign as a free agent with the Rockies. Walker made four All Star teams in Colorado. He also won five Gold Gloves and two Silver Sluggers with the Rockies. Walker was the National League MVP in 1997 when he led the league in homers (49), OBP (.452), and slugging (.720). Hall of Fame voters have struggled with how to account for the impact of Colorado on his offensive production. As modern metrics help provide context, Walker may still have a late surge in support coming.

Current third baseman Nolan Arenado could find himself on the level of Walker and Helton before long. Arenado is crafting a case as one of the best defensive third basemen in history, winning the Gold Glove in each of his first five seasons. In addition to his glove work, Arenado has become one of the most feared hitters in baseball. He has made four straight All Star teams, won three straight Silver Sluggers, and finished eighth or better in the MVP voting three years running.

Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki seemed to be on a Hall of Fame trajectory for much of his 10 seasons in Colorado. Tulo is a five-time All Star with two Gold Gloves and two Silver Sluggers to his credit. One of the most well-rounded players in the game for the bulk of an eight-year period, Tulo finished eighth or better in the MVP voting three straight times. By age 30, injuries had taken their toll. He was frequently unavailable and less effective when he was. Now with the Blue Jays, and with two more guaranteed seasons left on his contract, Tulo will try to bounce back after missing all of 2018.

Smaller Peaks

Matt Holliday gets the nod in left field. Holliday earned a place among the all-time Rockies greats in his first five seasons. A three-time All Star and Silver Slugger winner, Holliday had a chance to join the upper tier of Rockies elite. Instead he was traded to Oakland heading into free agency and made four more All Star teams with the St. Louis Cardinals. In a great addendum, 11 seasons after he departed, Holliday came out of retirement late in 2018 to help the Rockies win a Wild Card spot and advance in the playoffs.

Center fielder Ellis Burks was a tremendously talented, and underrated, player for much of his 18-year career. Although he bounced around a bit, some of his best seasons were in Colorado. 1996 was his career year. He finished third in the MVP voting, made the All Star team, and won a Silver Slugger.

Current second baseman D.J. LeMahieu has crafted a unique path to the All-Time Rockies Team. On the strength of an excellent contact and on-base profile, LeMahieu made himself a respectable hitter despite minimal power. His solid glove work at second is the final piece to a fine package. He is a two-time All Star with two Gold Gloves. He won the NL batting title in 2016. He heads into free agency this winter leaving his Rockies future in limbo for the time being.

Chris Iannetta starts at catcher. A roughly league-average hitter over seven seasons and two stints with the Rockies, Iannetta was a contributor to three of the five playoff teams in franchise history. He is under contract for 2019 with a chance to add to his legacy.

Bench

Based on the total bodies of their work, either Carlos Gonzalez, or Charlie Blackmon, might have a case to start in center over Burks.

Cargo has three All Star selections under his belt along with two Gold Gloves and two Silver Sluggers. He won the batting title and finished third in the MVP voting in 2010. After signing a one-year deal to return for 2018, he is a free agent again this winter.

A late-bloomer, Blackmon was not a regular player until he was 27. He is a three-time All Star with two Silver Sluggers to his credit. He won the batting title and finished fifth in the MVP voting in 2017. With a contract guaranteed through 2021 with two player options at the end, Blackmon will have every opportunity to overtake Burks and enter the starting lineup.

Current shortstop Trevor Story has a steeper climb to catch Tulo. He was an All Star as a 25-year-old in 2018. Entering his prime with four years of team control remaining, Story could make it interesting with his solid all around game.

Teammates with the Rockies for the first five years of the franchise’s existence, Andres Galarraga and Vinny Castilla joined Walker, Burks, and Dante Bichette as the Blake Street Bombers in the organization’s heyday of absurd offensive production.

Galaragga came to the Rockies at age 32. The Big Cat took to altitude. He earned two All Star selections and won a Silver Slugger. He finished in the top-10 of the MVP voting four times with the Rockies including 1996 when he led the league with 47 homers and 150 RBI.

Castilla joins relievers Steve Reed and Curt Leskanic as the only players selected by the Rockies in the 1992 Expansion Draft to make the Rockies All-Time Team. The third baseman was a two-time All Star and won two Silver Sluggers with the Rockies.

Jeff Reed is the backup catcher. He came to the Rockies as a free agent at age 33. He was a league-average hitter over four seasons in Colorado.

Pitchers

Starting Rotation	Name	B/T	ERA+	Years Played
1.	Ubaldo Jimenez	R/R	128	2006-11
2.	Jhoulys Chacin	R/R	120	2009-14
3.	Jorge De La Rosa	L/L	106	2008-16
4.	Aaron Cook	R/R	106	2002-11
5.	Jason Jennings	L/R	103	2001-06

Bullpen
LR	Curt Leskanic	R/R	108	1993-99
RP	Bruce Ruffin	S/L	131	1993-97
RP	Rafael Betancourt	R/R	131	2009-15
RP	Adam Ottavino	S/R	136	2012-18
SU	Steve Reed	R/R	140	1993-97, 2003-04
CL	Brian Fuentes	L/L	144	2002-08

Pitching at Altitude

Just as the Rockie Mountain air has historically benefited Colorado’s hitters, it has traditionally had the inverse effect on their pitching staff. Although they have turned out some decent relievers (19th best All-Time Team), the starting pitching (25th) has consistently struggled to give the Rockies a chance to contend.

Starting Rotation

In six seasons with the Rockies, Ubaldo Jimenez turned in a handful of the best starting pitching seasons in franchise history. 2010 was his career year. He made the All Star team and finished 19-8 with a 161 ERA+. He was third in the Cy Young voting, the highest finish in Rockies history.

Like Jimenez, Jhoulys Chacin pitched six years in Colorado. Although not a prolific strikeout pitcher, Chacin mixed pitches effectively enough to be a consistently above-average starter in baseball’s least forgiving environment.

Left-hander Jorge De La Rosa is the Rockies all-time leader in wins (86) and strikeouts (985). In nine seasons with Colorado, De La Rosa posted above-average ERA+ marks six times.

In ten seasons with the Rockies, sinker-baller Aaron Cook had above-average ERA+ marks seven times. His reliability allowed him to set the Rockies career records for starts (206), and innings (1312.1). He was an All Star in 2008.

Fellow sinker-baller Jason Jennings gets the final spot. Jennings spent six seasons in Colorado finishing just above-average for his career. He was the NL Rookie of the Year in 2002.

Bullpen

Left-hander Brian Fuentes is the most successful closer in Rockies history. A consistently devastating force for seven years with the Rockies, his 115 saves are tops in franchise history. He made three-straight All Star teams from 2005-2007.

Steve Reed utilized a nearly submarine delivery to help keep the ball in the park for seven seasons with the Rockies. Although he was never the team’s full-time closer, his 140 ERA+ over 499 innings give him a strong case as the most effective right-handed reliever in Rockies history.

Current setup man Adam Ottavino has been a force for most of his seven seasons with the Rockies. Like Reed, he has seldom been called on to save games, instead using his explosive stuff to preserve leads and bridge the gap to the ninth inning. He is a free agent after 2018.

Rafael Betancourt spent six seasons in a rather specialized role for the Rockies. He worked just 275.2 innings over 309 games. His excellent command of nasty stuff proved to be a devastating combination. There is a strong case for his inclusion in the all-time bullpen of the Cleveland Indians as well.

Left-hander Bruce Ruffin signed a free agent deal to join the Rockies for their inaugural season. He saved 60 games in five seasons as one of the more underrated relievers of the mid-90s.

Another original Rockies player, Curt Leskanic pitched parts of seven seasons with the club. From 1995-1999 he averaged 66 games and 78 innings per seasons as the team’s most versatile reliever.

All-Time Phillies Team

Our coverage of each franchise’s all-time greatest players began with the Chicago White Sox. This week, we continue with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Franchise Overview

The Phillies were founded in 1883. They are tied with the Giants as the sixth oldest franchise in big league history. They are one of the eight National League franchises that has existed longer than any American League team.

Their two World Series championships (1980, 2008) are the lowest total of any of the teams that predate the American League.

With a total franchise winning percentage of just 0.472, the Phillies rank fourth worst all-time.

When viewed through the lens of total playoff appearances, the Phillies fare only slightly better. They have appeared in the postseason in 10.3% of their total seasons, the seventh lowest mark in history.

It took the Phillies 98 seasons to win their first world championship. They only managed to win the National League two other times during that stretch (1915 and 1950).

To make matters worse, their crosstown rivals, the Athletics, won five World Series and eight total AL pennants during their years in Philadelphia from 1901-1954.

In the 38 years since they won their first championship, things have been considerably better in Philadelphia. Since 1980, the Phillies have made the playoffs nine times, winning five NL pennants, and the 2008 World Series.

Hitters

Starting Lineup	Name	Position	B/T	bWAR/650	OPS+	Years Played
1.	Bobby Abreu	RF	L/R	5.3	139	1998-2006
2.	Ed Delahanty	LF (1B/2B)	R/R	5.7	153	1888-89, 1891-1901
3.	Dick Allen	1B (3B/LF)	R/R	5.2	153	1963-69, 75-76
4.	Mike Schmidt	3B	R/R	7.0	147	1972-89
5.	Chase Utley	2B	L/R	6.3	122	2003-15
6.	Darren Daulton	C	L/R	3.6	114	1983-97
7.	Richie Ashburn	CF	L/R	4.7	111	1948-59
8.	Jimmy Rollins	SS	S/R	3.2	97	2000-14
9.	Pitcher	P

Bench
OF	Sherry Magee	LF/1B/CF	R/R	5.2	142	1904-14
OF	Sam Thompson	RF	L/L	4.2	144	1889-98
OF	Chuck Klein	RF/LF	L/R	4.0	139	1928-33, 36-38, 39-44
1B	Ryan Howard	1B	L/L	1.2	125	2004-16
IN	Scott Rolen	3B	R/R	5.4	126	1996-2002
C	Mike Lieberthal	C	R/R	2.3	102	1994-2006

Infield

Third Baseman Mike Schmidt is undoubtedly the greatest player in franchise history. Schmidt played his entire 18-year career in Philadelphia. With three MVPs, 12 All Star selections, 10 Gold Gloves, and six Silver Sluggers, Schmidt has a compelling case as the best third baseman in baseball history.

While Schmidt may be the only clear cut top tier all-time player, the rest of the Phillies position players are solid all around. The overall offensive production for the members of the Phillies All-Time Team has them pushing for the top-five among all franchises.

The Phillies won five straight NL East championships from 2007-2011. Not surprisingly, five members of those teams make the All-Time Phillies team. The Phillies pitching staff was dominant during that stretch, but nobody was more important to the team’s success than it’s double-play combination. The duo of Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins treated Phillies fans to a golden age of middle infield play for the better part of 12 seasons.

Even fans who follow the modern game closely might be surprised to find that second baseman Chase Utley crafted a solid Hall of Fame case during his 13 years in Philadelphia. He was a six-time All Star and won four Silver Sluggers.

Playing across the keystone from Utley, shortstop Jimmy Rollins was likewise one of the best all-around players of his day. The switch-hitting Rollins was a three-time All Star who won four Gold Gloves and a Silver Slugger for the Phillies. He was the National League MVP in 2007 as the Phillies won their first divisional championship in 14 years.

First baseman Dick Allen was among the most feared sluggers in baseball for the more than a decade. He spent the first seven years of his career in Philadelphia before returning for two more late in his career. Allen was the NL Rookie of the Year in 1964 when he led the league in runs, triples, and total bases. He also led the NL in OPS+ back-to-back seasons in 1966-1967. He was a four-time All Star for the Phillies. He went on to make three more All Star teams with the White Sox where he also won the 1972 AL MVP.

Outfield

Hall of Famer Ed Delahanty is the starter in left field. Although he played before the advent of MVP and All Star voting, he led the league in offensive bWAR three times as a member of the Phillies, and once more for the Washington Senators.

Fellow Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn gets the nod in center field. Ashburn played 12 seasons for the Phillies. An on-base machine who played the overwhelming majority of his career up the middle, Ashburn was a tremendously valuable player. He won batting titles for the Phillies in 1955 and 1958. He also paced the NL in OBP in those seasons as well as 1954. Ashburn made four All Star teams for Philadelphia.

Right fielder Bobby Abreu was among the most talented, and versatile offensive players of his generation. In nine seasons with the Phillies, Abreu made two All Star teams. He also won one Gold Glove, and a Silver Slugger. Abreu’s best seasons were right at the beginning of the sabermetric revolution, and at the end of the steroid era. His unique blend of power, speed, and on-base skills was largely undervalued during his career.

Darren Daulton starts at catcher. In 14 seasons with the Phillies, Daulton was a three-time All Star and won a Silver Slugger. In 1992, he was third among NL position players in bWAR, and led the league with 109 RBI. Amazingly, he is one of only two players (the only hitter) from the 1993 NL Championship team to make the Phillies All-Time team.

Bench

The Phillies have had a remarkable history of excellent outfielders. To reflect that distribution of talent, three outfielders were added to their bench.

Sherry Magee has a strong case to overtake Abreu as the starter in right field. He was an excellent offensive player over 11 years in Philadelphia. He led the NL in average, OBP, slugging, runs, and RBI in a fantastic 1910 season.

Joining Magee as extra outfielders are Hall of Famers Chuck Klein and Sam Thompson.

Klein had a stretch of three straight seasons finishing either first or second in the MVP voting from 1931-1933. He won the award in 1932. A two-time All Star, Klein was among the most feared sluggers in the NL throughout the early part of his career. He led the league in homers four times from 1929-1933.

Thompson played 10 years in Philadelphia before the turn of the century. He led the league twice each in hits, doubles, homers, RBI, and slugging during his years with the Phillies.

First baseman Ryan Howard spent his entire 13-year big league career with the Phillies. Howard burst onto the scene winning the Rookie of the Year in 2005. He led the NL in homers twice, and RBI three times. He was a three time All Star and won one Silver Slugger. In 2006 he hit 58 homers and drove in 149 runs to win the NL MVP.

Howard is difficult player to evaluate in a historical context because his career is a tale of two different players. From 2004-2011, Howard produced 138 OPS+, and was regarded as one of the most dangerous hitters in the game.

On the flip side, from 2012-2016 he played an additional 545 games in which he was a below-average hitter, and miserable defender. In total, the decline phase of his career cost him more than seven bWAR off his career total. In light of the terror he was at the start of his career, and the central role he played during arguably the best stretch in franchise history, I have opted to remember Howard at his best, rather than his worst.

As good as Philadelphia’s lineage of excellent outfielders has been, their legacy in the infield has been just as shallow. Third baseman Scott Rolen is the lone infielder on the Phillies bench. Rolen won the NL Rookie of the Year in 1997. He won four Gold Gloves and one Silver Slugger. He was selected as an All Star in 2002, just weeks before the Phillies would trade him to St. Louis. He remained a similarly excellent player for six seasons with the Cardinals.

Catcher Mike Lieberthal played 13 seasons for the Phillies. He was a two-time All Star and won one Gold Glove. He finished his career as a roughly average hitter at a premium defensive position.

Pitchers

Starting Rotation	Name	B/T	ERA+	Years Played
1.	Steve Carlton	L/L	120	1972-86
2.	Robin Roberts	S/R	114	1948-61
3.	Grover Cleveland Alexander	R/R	140	1911-17, 30
4.	Cole Hamels	L/L	124	2006-15
5.	Chris Short	R/L	105	1959-72

Bullpen
LR	Turk Farrell	R/R	114	1956-61, 67-69
RP	Ricky Bottalico	L/R	115	1994-98, 2001-02
RP	Mitch Williams	L/L	119	1991-93
RP	Tug McGraw	R/L	120	1975-1984
SU	Ryan Madson	L/R	122	2003-11
CL	Ron Reed	R/R	122	1976-83

As good as the Phillies position players have been throughout their history, the pitching staff has been decidedly mediocre for an organization with such a lengthy history.

The Phillies all-time rotation ranks 15th by average ERA+. They boast a trio of Hall of Famers at the front of the group.

The most iconic pitcher in Phillies history is Steve Carlton. “Lefty” earned 241 of his 329 career wins over the course of 15 seasons in Philadelphia. He won an incredible four Cy Young Awards during his Phillies career. He is fifth in big league history with 4.29 career Cy Young shares. He ranks fourth all-time in strikeouts. Carlton was a seven-time All Star for the Phillies, and was chosen 10 times overall. He was the ace of the 1980 World Series champions, winning two games in the series. Steve Carlton is probably among the five greatest left-handed pitchers in history.

Right-hander Robin Roberts pitched 14 seasons of his Hall of Fame career for the Phillies. Remembered for his exceptional control, Roberts was one of the best pitchers of the 1950s. He was a seven-time All Star, and received MVP votes in each of those seven seasons. Roberts led the league in bWAR for pitchers six times in his career.

Grover Cleveland Alexander began his exceptional career with the Phillies in 1911. A dominant pitcher of his day, Alexander led the league in both wins and strikeouts in five of his first seven seasons. He pitched the Phillies to 90 wins, and the pennant, in 1915. After the 1917 season, the Phillies traded Alexander to the Cubs. After missing most of 1918 while fighting in Europe during World War I, Alexander reestablished himself with the Cubs. This second act was a critical piece of his eventual Hall of Fame selection.

Cole Hamels was a consistently reliable force for the Phillies from 2006-2015. The lefty was a three-time All Star. He finished eighth, or better, in the Cy Young voting four times. In 2008, he led the National League with a 1.08 WHIP as the clear cut ace of a World Championship rotation. In the postseason, the Phillies won all five of his starts including two in the World Series.

Left-hander Chris Short rounds out the rotation. In 14 seasons with the Phillies, he helped anchor the pitching staff of some respectable teams. He was a two-time All Star, and received down ballot MVP votes in two seasons as well. He ranked in the top-five among NL pitchers in bWAR three times.

Bullpen

Despite a solid starting rotation, the bullpen of the All-Time Phillies is arguably the weakest unit in this entire exercise. The top three players on the organization’s all-time saves leader board were all placed on the rosters of other franchises. As a result, the Phillies unit that survived is a bit picked over.

Ron Reed gets the call at closer. An average starting pitcher for the first 10 years of his career with the Braves, Reed was reborn as a reliever. After he was traded twice in one season, he landed in Philadelphia. Reed was often dominant out of the Philadelphia bullpen. In 1980, he was one of manager Dallas Green’s most trusted relievers on the organization’s first World Championship team.

Ryan Madson managed an identical ERA+ to Reed in nearly identical bodies of work over the course of their Phillies careers. Like Reed, Madson was also one of the most trusted relievers on a Phillies World Series team (2008). Despite being frequently overshadowed by Brad Lidge, Madson was also a force over nine seasons with Philadelphia. He is third all-time in pitching appearances for the Phillies.

Left-hander Tug McGraw was among the game’s most accomplished relievers when the Phillies acquired him from the Mets after the 1974 season. In ten seasons with Philadelphia, he was mostly excellent, averaging 120 ERA+. Like Reed, he was relied upon heavily during the 1980 World Series run including nailing down saves in two of the four Phillies wins in the series. McGraw made one All Star team in Philadelphia, received Cy Young votes once, and MVP votes twice. He is fourth all-time in pitching appearances for the Phillies.

Mitch Williams was one of the most recognizable relievers of his generation. Wild Thing established his late-inning chops with the Rangers and Cubs before joining the Phillies in 1991. He was sixth in the Cy Young voting in his first season with the club. He then helped pitch them to the World Series in 1993. Although he only pitched three seasons in Philadelphia, he ranks fourth all-time in saves for the Phillies.

Ricky Bottalico played seven seasons over two stints in Philadelphia. He broke into the league with a bang. Over his first three full seasons, Bottalico posted a 139 ERA+, saved 69 games, and made the All Star team in 1996. The remainder of his career consisted of alternating respectability with struggles, and six different team changes.

The final spot in the bullpen went to Turk Farrell. Farrell played nine seasons over two stints with the Phillies. He was an All Star for Philadelphia in 1958. Between his stints in Philadelphia, he was a three-time All Star for Houston.

All-Time White Sox Team

Every week at Franchise Phenoms, I plan to release the all-time 25 man roster for a new franchise.

In addition to publishing the 25-man roster, there will be other content related to the history of the franchise’s best players.

I chose to begin with the Chicago White Sox. I have lived most of my life in Northwest Indiana, a short 40-minute drive from the ballpark on the South Side of Chicago. For better or worse, I was raised a White Sox fan, and that’s where we will begin.

Franchise Overview

The White Sox were founded in 1901 as a charter member of the American League. Only eight National League franchises have played more seasons than the White Sox.

Their three World Series championships (1906, 1917, 2005) have them tied for 10th most in history.

The White Sox are one of 13 teams to have a franchise winning percentage over .500. Their .503 mark puts them at 11th best in history.

Despite a long history of respectability, White Sox fans have struggled as often as not.

The Sox went without a World championship from 1917-2005. The club made just two World Series appearances in the meantime.

The 1919 club had the second best record of any team in Sox history before infamously conspiring with gamblers to throw the World Series. This cloud hung over the franchise for decades as the Sox made just one more World Series trip in the next 85 years.

The most telling statistic in White Sox history might be the fact that the percentage of the team’s seasons in which they have made the playoffs is the lowest of any team in history at just 7.63%.

For a franchise that has frequently fielded winning teams, the Sox have rarely rewarded their fans with a chance to see baseball in October.

Hitters

Starting Lineup	Name	Position	B/T	bWAR/ 650	OPS+	Years Played
1.	Joe Jackson	LF	L/R	3.6	159	1915-20
2.	Eddie Collins	2B	L/R	6.2	133	1915-26
3.	Frank Thomas	DH (1B)	R/R	5.3	161	1990-2005
4.	Minnie Minoso	RF (LF/3B)	R/R	4.7	133	1951-57, 60-61, 64, 76, 80
5.	Paul Konerko	1B	R/R	2.1	120	1999-2014
6.	Robin Ventura	3B (1B)	L/R	4.9	117	1989-98
7.	Luke Appling	SS	R/R	4.8	113	1930-50
8.	Fielder Jones	CF	L/R	4.3	112	1901-08
9.	Sherm Lollar	C	R/R	3.6	106	1952-63

Bench
OF	Magglio Ordonez	RF	R/R	4.0	127	1997-2004
OF	Harold Baines	RF	L/L	2.4	118	1980-89, 96-97, 00-01
IN	Luis Aparicio	SS	R/R	3.6	83	1956-62, 68-70
IN	Nellie Fox	2B	L/R	3.3	95	1950-63
C	Ray Schalk	C	R/R	3.1	83	1912-28

The White Sox careers of Frank Thomas, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, and Eddie Collins place them among the elite in this entire exercise.

A two-time A.L. MVP, and Hall of Famer, Thomas would start at first base or DH for the all-time team of every single franchise without requiring much shuffling to make it work. Thomas is unquestionably one of the best hitters in history.

No team has three outfielders who were better hitters than Shoeless Joe was for the White Sox. It was a tough decision as to whether or not to include Jackson in this exercise given his involvement in the 1919 Black Sox Scandal. Considering his performance record in the games in question, and the fact that some historians dispute his guilt, I gave him the benefit of the doubt where others throughout history have not.

Collins is part of a rare breed of player who would be a lock to start for two different franchises if I permitted players to appear for more than one team. He was actually a better player on a rate basis with the Athletics, but accrued more playing time and total value for the White Sox.

For a team with such a long history, it’s not surprising to find that most of the starters for the Sox are approximately average at worst when compared to their counterparts on other teams.

At shortstop, Luke Appling is a Hall of Famer who spent his entire career with the franchise. His contact/on-base skills and above-average defense over a 20-year career put him in rarefied air among South Side greats. He was a seven-time All Star who twice finished second in the MVP voting.

Third baseman Robin Ventura was an extremely underrated player for his 10 seasons with the Sox. He won six Gold Gloves while providing consistently above-average offensive production.

As a solid hitter who provided no value defensively, or on the bases, Paul Konerko is among the 5-10 weakest starting franchise first baseman. Konerko became the face of the White Sox for the better part of a decade following the 2005 World Series. He was named the team’s captain, and was beloved by the organization’s fans. On a value basis, there is a case for his teammate, Magglio Ordonez to be inserted into the starting lineup. Given that Konerko is on the right side of the team’s improbable 2005 championship run, he gets the nod. Konerko was a six-time All Star.

Fielder Jones is the only member of the all-time Sox roster who played for the team during it’s inaugural season in 1901. Jones began his career with the Brooklyn Bridegrooms in the National League before posting eight seasons as an above-average hitter and solid outfielder for the Sox.

Cuban baseball icon Minnie Minoso gets the nod in right field. Minoso was an elite offensive player who was a seven-time All Star and two-time Gold Glover during his 12 seasons with the Sox. Minoso finished fourth in the MVP voting four different times with the Sox. He was famously brought back for cameo appearances with the club in 1976 and 1980 making him one of only two players to appear in the big leagues during five different decades.

Catcher Sherm Lollar played 12 years on the South Side. He was a six-time All Star, and won three Gold Gloves while playing for the Sox. He gets the starting nod over Hall of Famer Ray Schalk on the strength of a significantly better offensive career.

Bench

The Sox bench boasts three Hall of Famers who were excellent all around players over long careers with the club in Ray Schalk (C), Nellie Fox (2B), and Luis Aparicio (SS).

Schalk received MVP votes four different times in his 17 years with the Sox.

Fox was a 12-time All Star who led the league in hits four times. He added three Gold Gloves and is well-regarded for his defense. In 1959, as the best player on the American League Champion “Go-Go” White Sox, Fox was also the AL MVP.

Aparicio played 10 of his 18 seasons with the White Sox. He was a six-time All Star and seven-time Gold Glover in Chicago. He led the league in stolen bases for nine straight seasons to begin his career, seven of which were with the Sox. In 1959, he finished second to his double play partner Fox in the MVP race.

Organizational favorite Harold Baines was the first overall draft pick in 1977. He was a solid hitter, and four-time All Star in 14 seasons with the Sox. Some of his best offensive seasons were spent as a designated hitter in exile with other American League teams in the 1990s.

Venezuelan right fielder Magglio Ordonez rounds out the offense. Ordonez was a four-time All Star in eight seasons with the Sox. Terrible timing of a nasty knee injury in 2004 hastened his departure via free agency to Detroit the following winter. Maggs remained a productive hitter with Detroit including a second place MVP finish in 2007.

Pitchers

Starting Rotation	Name	B/T	ERA+	Years Played
1.	Ed Walsh	R/R	147	1904-16
2.	Billy Pierce	L/L	123	1949-61
3.	Mark Buehrle	L/L	120	2000-11
4.	Red Faber	S/R	119	1914-33
5.	Chris Sale	L/L	135	2010-16

Bullpen
LR	Ted Lyons	S/R	118	1923-46
RP	Bobby Thigpen	R/R	126	1986-93
RP	Bobby Jenks	R/R	136	2005-10
RP	Roberto Hernandez	R/R	154	1991-97
SU	Keith Foulke	R/R	166	1997-2002
CL	Hoyt Wilhelm	R/R	171	1963-68

The White Sox boast the sixth best starting pitching rotation of any all-time team by average ERA+.

Hall of Famer Ed Walsh spent 13 seasons with the Sox during which time he was, at times, arguably the best pitcher in baseball. He accumulated nearly all of his career value in Chicago. His 1.82 career ERA and 2.02 FIP are the best in baseball history.

Billy Pierce spent 13 seasons on the South Side. He was a seven-time All Star. He led the league in Wins, Strikeouts, and ERA at different times during his White Sox tenure.

Mark Buehrle is perhaps one of the more improbable all-time greats in history. A soft-tossing left-hander who first signed as a 38th round pick, Buehrle was a four-time All Star in 12 seasons for the Sox. He threw both a perfect game and a no-hitter with the Sox. He is one of just seven players to accomplish that feat in history.

Hall of Famer Red Faber pitched his entire 20-year career for the Sox. He led the league in ERA and Complete Games in back to back seasons (1921-22).

The most controversial selection to the White Sox pitching staff is probably Chris Sale. Sale pitched just seven seasons and 1110 innings with the Sox before being traded to Boston after the 2016 season. Sale was a five-time All Star with the White Sox, finishing sixth or better in the Cy Young voting in each of those seasons. He led the league in Strikeouts and ERA+ once each along the way. A quick Twitter Poll of my followers indicated most fans believe he had done enough to qualify for the list.

Bullpen

The White Sox have a long history of solid relief pitching as well. The average ERA+ of their relievers is third best of any all-time team.

As is my custom, most teams stash another elite starting pitcher in their bullpen. Hall of Famer Ted Lyons was bumped from the rotation to include Sale, but his 21-year White Sox career lands him in the pen. Lyons led the league in Wins and Innings twice each, and ERA once, during his career. He did make 110 career relief appearances.

Knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm gets the nod at closer. Wilhelm pitched for nine different teams in his career, but threw more innings for the Sox than any other. An old-school fireman who averaged nearly two innings per appearance for the Sox, Wilhelm was dominant during his six seasons on the South Side.

Like Wilhelm, change up specialist Keith Foulke spent six years with the Sox finishing 10th in the 1999 Cy Young vote.

Roberto Hernandez spent seven seasons with the Sox before bouncing around to nine other teams. He finished sixth in the Cy Young voting and was an All Star in 1996.

Bobby Jenks burst onto the scene for the Sox in 2005 before earning the closer’s role late in the regular season. His 100+ MPH heater helped him convert four of five save chances that October including the World Series clincher. He made the All Star team in 2006-2007 before departing as a free agent after the 2010 season.

Bobby Thigpen spent eight seasons with the Sox. He had a career year in 1990 making the All Star team and finishing in the top-five in both the Cy Young and MVP voting. His 57 saves that year stood as the single season record until 2008 when Francisco Rodriguez saved 62 for the Angels. He is Chicago’s franchise leader with 201 career saves.