The Best of the Bank: All-Phillies Citizens Bank Park Team

The Phillies are in their 20th season at Citizens Bank Park and are in the middle of Alumni Weekend against the Nationals.

When the Phillies closed down Veterans Stadium in 2003, an all-Vet Phillies squad was put together, and it featured some of the most legendary players ever to don the Phillies’ red, or maroon, pinstripes.

So, I put together an all-Phillies team in their 20 seasons at CBP. The 28-man roster includes 14 position players and 14 pitchers. Here is what I came up with:

C – J.T. Realmuto

Starting off with a bang at, what some may think, is a surprising choice at catcher. It was tough between Realmuto and Carlos Ruiz. When you compare the stats, the offensive numbers are not crazily different. Realmuto’s slash line in his six years as a Phillie .265/.330/.460, and in Ruiz’s 11 years in Philly he hit .266/.352/.393. Realmuto’s slug is much better, and everything is pretty close. Also, the sample size needs to be considered. Realmuto also has more All-Stars, Gold Gloves, and Silver Slugger awards than Chooch. Ruiz actually never won a Gold Glove, which is pretty shocking. And then looking at caught stealing, Ruiz was 200-for-586, which is good for 34 percent. Meanwhile, Realmuto is 121-for-261, good for 46 percent. When Realmuto’s time is done, this conversation could maybe be revisited. But for now, I am going with Realmuto over Chooch.

1B – Ryan Howard

There were a few gimmies when constructing this squad. This was one of them. But what about Jim Thome? Or Bryce Harper? Even Tommy Joseph? Harper is on this team, but it is so obviously Howard at first base. A lifetime Phillie, Rookie of the Year, MVP, top-five in MVP voting six times, Silver Slugger (over Albert Pujols, which is why Howard only has one), three-time All-Star, most homers in a single season in Phillies history, and second in homers in Phillies history with 382. Look at these stats from Howard’s MVP, 2006 season: 182 hits, 58 home runs, 149 RBIs, 108 walks, 383 total bases, .313/..425/.659, 1.084 OPS, Home Run Derby champion. This was his second season in the big leagues. Need I say more?

2B – Chase Utley

Utley, of course, was another gimmie. No Phillies second baseman to play at Citizens Bank Park even comes to mind. Utley was the face of those great, 2007-11 teams that won five straight NL East crowns, two NL pennants, and of course the 2008 World Series. A .847 OPS in 13 seasons in Philadelphia, six All-Stars, and four Silver Sluggers. And that 2009 World Series, oh man. While in a losing effort to the Yankees, he smashed five homers, two in Game 1, had a 1.048 slugging, and a 1.448 OPS. The Man better be in the Hall of Fame one day.

3B – Plácido Polanco

Third base was tricky. I thought of Pedro Feliz, Alec Bohm, and Maikel Franco (seriously, that is how mediocre the third base position has been for the Phils since Scott Rolen). I ultimately went with Polanco. In Polanco’s two stints with the Phils, his best season was 2011, where he was an All-Star and won a Gold Glove. He slashed .289/.341/.398 in six seasons in Philadelphia. His defense was great. That is why I went with Polanco. By the time CBP is demolished for the new stadium in however many years, Polanco probably will not even be top three on all-time Phils to play at the Bank.

SS – Jimmy Rollins

Jimmy Rollins. In 15 years in Philadelphia, he won three-time All-Star, four Gold Gloves, a Silver Slugger, MVP, and has the most hits in Phillies history with 2,455. The best shortstop in Phillies history, and it is not even close. In his 2007 MVP season he played all 162 games, scored 139 runs, recorded 212 hits, 20 (!!) triples, 30 home runs, and stole 41 bags. Rollins is debatably the best of the trio including Utley and Howard. He was automatic at shortstop, a fantastic lead-off hitter, and has the most hits of any Phillie ever.

LF – Pat Burrell

Burrell was a member of the 2004 Phillies that opened the Bank and is one of the faces of those early 2000 Phillies squads. In his four years at Citizens Bank Park, Pat the Bat had a .495 slugging percentage, a .877 OPS, and 148 home runs. His best season came in ’05 when he was seventh in MVP voting. In nine seasons as a Phillie, Burrell hit 253 homers. He hit 299 in his full, 13-year career. He was not a great defensive left fielder, but Pat the Bat smashed the ball. After winning the World Series in 2008, although getting just one hit in that series, he went to San Francisco, where he won another ring in 2010.

CF – Shane Victorino

The Flyin’ Hawaiian is another gimmie on this team. He was an incredible defender and a great switcher. The eight-year Phillie slashed .279/.345/.439 with a .784 OPS. Victorino won three gold gloves and went to two All-Star games while wearing the red pinstripes. He always came through, whether it was in center field or at the plate.

RF – Jayson Werth

The majority of Werth’s career was spent in Washington, but some of his best years were in Philadelphia. He hit .282/.380/.506 with an .885 OPS. He was a doubles machine, hitting 99 in his four years as a Phillie, including 46 in 2010. Werth also had a major factor in the 2008 World Series, where he went eight-for-18, hitting .444 with a 1.361 OPS. Like fellow members on this ’07-’11 teams, Werth always came through. Sensing a theme with these guys on those teams?

DH – Bryce Harper

Another current Phillie has made the roster, and this one was pretty obvious. Harper in six years into his massive 13-year contract has been more than what the Phillies have expected. You can list his accomplishments and numbers for days, that .929 OPS as a Phillie is pretty special. But no athlete has embraced Philadelphia more than Harper. From what he has said about the fans in press conferences, to his Phillie Phanatic cleats on Opening Day, it has been pretty unbelievable. And he backs it up. Especially in the postseason. he is batting .324 with 34 hits, 11 homers, 21 RBIs, and has the clutches home run in Phillies history in 30 games for the Phils in the postseason.

SP1 – Roy Halladay

Now we enter the starting rotation, and Halladay is the greatest pitcher to throw a pitch as a Phillie at Citizens Bank Park. Pedro Martinez does not count, because he spent half a year here. But Halladay came over from Toronto in 2010 and posted maybe the best season by a starter in club history. In 33 starts and 250.2 innings, he went 21-10, with a 2.44 ERA, pitched nine complete games, four shutouts, threw a perfect game in Miami, and won the Cy Young. He got to his first-ever postseason, and in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Reds threw a no-hitter.

SP2 – Cliff Lee

Lee had two stints as a Phillie. He was traded at the deadline to Philadelphia from Cleveland in 2009 and was excellent. That postseason, Lee went 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA. His best was in Game 1 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium, where he threw a complete game, allowing six hits, one unearned run, and struck out 10 on 122 pitches. He returned in 2011 and stayed until the end of his career in 2014. He was an All-Star in 2011 and ’13.

SP3 – Zack Wheeler

Wheeler has been a Phillie for five years already. Am I the only one that finds that hard to believe? But in those five years, he has been magnificent. He has been the Phillies’ ace through these last few postseason runs and was second in Cy Young voting in 2021 when he pitched 213.1 innings, three complete games, two shutouts, 247 strikeouts, and had a 2.78 ERA. However, he has been even more improbable in the postseason. He has an ERA of 2.42 and 68 strikeouts in 11 postseason appearances. He is turning into perhaps the greatest postseason pitcher in Phillies history.

SP4 – Cole Hamels

Hamels retired as a member of the Phillies with a huge ceremony just a month or two ago. He was one of the biggest prospects in club history and lived up to it. In his 10 seasons with the Phils from 2006-2015, he went 114-90 in 294 stats with a 3.30 ERA, 14 complete games, seven shutouts, 492 walks, 1,844 strikeouts, and a no-hitter in his final start as a Phillie. He was also a great postseason performer, especially in 2008 when he won World Series MVP. You can read more on his ’08 postseason in an extensive story I wrote when he retired in June here.

SP5 – Aaron Nola

Rounding out the rotation, I have true Phillie Aaron Nola. I saw that because he has been with this club through it all. Was drafted during the glory days, came up in the middle of the dark days in 2015, and has become one of the most reliable postseason pitchers for the Phillies ever. Nola has up years and down years. The highs are high, like in 2018 where in 212.1 innings he had a 2.37 ERA. But the lows are very low, like last season where in 193.2 innings he had a 4.46 ERA and allowed 32 homers. But in October, he is lights out and earns himself a spot on the all-time CBP squad.

RP – Ranger Suarez

Now into the bullpen, where things get messy. Suarez actually started as a reliever in 2018. Then in 2021, they tried him in the rotation, and he was excellent. That is where he has been ever since, and has been very underrated around the league. But this season, he has been better than ever. While currently in the IL, Suarez has a 2.87 ERA in 119.1 innings. He was hovering around a one-ERA in the first few months of the season, earning him an All-Star selection. But his best moment came in Game 5 of the 2022 NLCS, where he came in with runners on and one out while up one in the rain. He got out of it in just a few pitches and sent the Phils to the World Series. Hearing “Mr. Rager” when he came out to close the game will always stay with me.

RP – Brett Myers

Myers was a starter in his eight years in Philadelphia, except 2007. He only started three games, struggled, and went to the bullpen. He was a part of an iconic moment because of it, where he ended the final game of the season to clinch the Phillies’ NL East crown, the first since 1993. He returned to the rotation in 2008, was alright, and then went off to Houston. But Myers is a fan favorite, and was solid in his time in Philadelphia. It is good enough to make the team.

RP – J.A. Happ

Here is a name for you. How about J.A. Happ? Happ is not the biggest name on this roster by any means, but he was solid for four season as a Phillie. And with the bullpens the Phillies have put out there since 2004, that earns you a spot on this roster.

RP – Tom Gordon

Hey, how about Flash? Gordon pretty much ended his 21-year career in Philadelphia, winning a ring in 2008. He was an All-Star in 2006 and was good in the ‘pen from ’06-’08 for the Phils. He was a good guy to have the clubhouse and was solid on the mound.

RP – Jonathan Papelbon

People either love Papelbon or absolutely hate him. I think it just came with the time he played here. Papelbon was a Phillie from 2012-15 and was traded at the deadline in ’15. But he was not bad at all. Papelbon had a 2.31 ERA in 237.2 innings.

RP – Billy Wagner

Wagner had a 1.86 ERA in his two seasons as a Phillie, including 59 saves. He was an All-Star in 2005, where he finished 70 games. His best years were not in Philadelphia, and he is not known as a Phillie, but he was here. So, Wanger is on the all-CBP team.

RP – Ryan Madson

Everyone can talk all they want about how good Brad Lidge was as the Phillies’ closer, especially in 2008, but he does not get in those save situations with Madson. He had 113 holds in his nine years as a Phillie, including seven in the postseason. That was his job, and he did it. Madson is the greatest setup man in Phillies history.

CL – Brad Lidge

And, of course, Lidge is the closer. 48 save attempts in 2008, and 48 saves in 2008. He was perfect and struck out Eric Hinske to win the Phillies’ second World Championship.

Bench:

C- Carlos Ruiz

I wrote about Chooch earlier when comparing him to Realmuto, but something I did not bring up was how clutch Ruiz was. He always came through in big situations, especially in Game 3 of the 2008 World Series when he walked off the Rays to take a 2-1 series lead. And he was good in the postseason, hitting .254 with 36 hits, four homers, and 15 RBIs in 46 games in Red October. Chooch was an unsung hero of those great Phillies teams.

INF – Trea Turner

Turner’s Phillies career has been all over the place. He started 2023, the first year of his 11-year, $330 million contract playing horribly. He was not making plays at shortstop, was striking out a ton, and costing the Phillies heavily. But on August 4, he received a standing ovation in all of his at-bats, and it continued throughout the weekend. Something snapped inside of Turner, and he has been even better than expected since. Since his ovation, Turner has a batting average of .321 with 172 hits, 29 homers, and 84 RBIs, and his defense has been much better. He had a great 2023 postseason as well, hitting .347 with 17 hits, three homers, and five RBIs. However, like the whole team, things fail off the rails at the end of the NLCS.

OF – Raul Ibanez

Ibanez signed with the Phillies on December 12, 2008, and became a huge fan favorite. An All-Star in 2009, the Burrell-replacement hit .264/.329/.469 with a .798 OPS in three years with the Phils. Ibanez was reliable. He played every day, stayed consistent, and put it all out there. Those three things will certainly make you a fan favorite in Philadelphia.

OF – Bobby Abreu

The majority of Abreu’s Phillies career was played at Veterans Stadium. But, he began the history of Citizens Bank Park by hitting the first home run in the building. In his two-and-a-half seasons at the Bank with the Phils, he had a .295 batting average and a .912 OPS. He was an All-Star in 2004 and ’05 and even won the 2005 Home Run Derby while playing all 162 games.

UTIL – Eric Bruntlett

The final man of the 28-man roster is the super-utility man, Eric Bruntlett. Bruntlett is the only true bench guy on this list, but was extremely good in his role with the Phillies in 2008 and ’09. He played everywhere but catcher and pitcher and was a good fielder at all positions. Bruntlett was not a good hitter, but had a very large role, especially in the ’08 World Series, scoring the game-winning runs in Games 3 and 5 and being in left field for the final out. And of course, he ended a game in ’09 against the Mets by turning an unassisted triple play. No one has done it since.

That is the 28-man roster, here is my starting lineup:

Lineup

1. Jimmy Rollins SS
2. Jayson Werth RF
3. Chase Utley 2B
4. Ryan Howard 1B
5. Pat Burrell LF
6. Bryce Harper DH
7. J.T. Realmuto C
8. Plácido Polanco 3B
9. Shane Victorino CF

Pretty solid.

A few Phillies that did not make this list that I considered include Jim Thome, Kyle Schwarber, Alec Bohm, and Randy Wolf.

Thome was not at the Bank for very long, and I would rather have Howard and Harper over him.

Schwarber and Harper were in contention for the DH spot, but it was so obviously Harper. There was no other spot for Schwarber.

Bohm I considered heavily to start at third, but the defense just is not there yet for me. I am sure he will be on this team very soon.

And Wolf had a shot at this team, may in the bullpen. I wanted to get his name in here, also, because he threw the first-ever pitch at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies continue Alumni Weekend on Saturday where they will induct David Montgomery, the man who put CBP together, onto the Wall of Fame. And on Sunday they honor the 20th anniversary of the Bank with a pregame ceremony featuring Phillies legends.

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