Philadelphia Phillies Wall of Fame candidates for 2015 announced
By Tim Boyle
Aug 2, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies wall of fame member
Steve Carltonis introduced during the 2013 Philadelphia Phillies wall of fame induction ceremony prior to the game against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. The Braves defeated the Phillies 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
In 1978, the Philadelphia Phillies Wall of Fame was created. Different from the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, the Wall of Fame was designed to honor the franchise’s best players for what they did for the city of Philadelphia, whether they were a legend of the game or simply had a couple of very memorable seasons with the team. It’s a ring of honor below the Hall of Fame or having your number retired.
A franchise history dating back to 1883, the Phillies also added players from the Philadelphia Athletics into the Wall of Fame until 2003. They stopped when they realized everyone from the Athletics worthy of the honor was already in.
Although they discontinued the annual tradition of adding plaques of Athletics onto the wall, the organization continues to spend a weekend each summer honoring a former player, broadcaster, coach, baseball executive, etc. associated with the Phillies. It’s becoming clearer how few names are left for future spots on the wall.
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The 12-man ballot for 2015 is now open to the public and consists of these very underwhelming choices: outfielder Pat Burrell, pitcher Larry Christenson, manager Jim Fregosi, reliever Gene Garber, outfielder Tony Gonzalez, closer Jim Konstanty, first baseman Fred Luderus, reliever Ron Reed, coach Mike Ryan, third baseman Pinky Whitney, catcher-manager Jim Wilson, and pitcher Rick Wise.
You may have to work in the Phillies’ dugout to know who each of these men are. The choices are so dated that Burrell is the only player people under 30 would have seen play.
Even Konstanty, the 1950 National League MVP, isn’t someone very many people are familiar with. Konstanty spent 7 seasons with the Phillies and was one of the older players on the NL Pennant-winning Whiz Kids.
When eligible, several players from the 2008 World Series team will get their moment. Considering Mike Lieberthal was inducted in 2012, just about everyone on the 2008 roster has a chance. Until then, the choices will probably remain a disappointing bunch.
The likely choice for 2015 is Fregosi. The Phillies’ manager during the 1993 season, Fregosi passed away in February of 2014, which makes this his first time on the ballot posthumously. If he does get elected, this will be the second straight season the team has honored a manager.
Last summer, Charlie Manuel was the one who went on the Wall of Fame. As the Phillies’ manager, Manuel won 780 games and had a .551 winning percentage. Meanwhile, Fregosi won 431 games and had just a .482 winning percentage. This is clear example of the level to which the nominees have fallen.
The big problem with any Wall of Fame is that the obvious choices are quickly elected. Since 1990, only 6 of the 39 men are members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, including broadcaster Harry Kalas.
Far more famous than the Phillies’ Wall of Fame is Monument Park at Yankee Stadium. The New York Yankees have a much greater history of players than the Phillies or anyone else for that matter. They’ve been much better at restricting lesser players from entering Monument Park than the Phillies have been with the Wall of Fame.
The Yankees may be changing their ways, though, as they added plaques of Tino Martinez, Rich Gossage, Paul O’Neill, and Joe Torre in 2014. Players like Martinez and O’Neill are probably better utilized in a year by themselves when two Hall of Famers are not available.
The last remaining omission from the Philadelphia Phillies Wall of Fame currently eligible is Lenny Dykstra. Due to legal issues, the Phillies have been wise to stay away from honoring “Nails” with a plaque. It could change, one day, when a little more time has passed since his incarceration.
In the meantime, prepare to see more players from the past that we don’t remember too well enshrined on the wall in Ashburn Alley. Tomas Perez, prepare yourself.