Ed Wade, Wall of Fame Inductee
“2008 would not have happened without the players scouted and signed by Ed Wade and his staff. Their fingerprints are all over the World Series Trophy,” explained Baseball Hall of Fame executive Pat Gillick.
A kid from tiny Carbondale, Pa., is the newest executive to be immortalized on the Toyota Phillies Wall of Fame. Wade’s path began playing baseball in Carbondale’s Russell Park. His crowning moment will take place at Citizens Bank Park when he joins other club executives so honored, Gillick (2018), Ruly Carpenter (2023), John Quinn (2023) and David Montgomery (2024).
After missing the 2005 playoffs by a one-game margin, Gillick replaced Wade as the Phillies’ general manager. Wade had been the assistant GM (1989-97), interim GM (December 1997) and GM (1998-2004). Gillick faced rebuilding the Phillies. Working with two outstanding scouting directors, Mike Arbuckle (1998-2001) and Marti Wolever (2002-05), the process produced.
The Phillies drafted and developed nine of the players on the World Series roster, eight while Wade was in charge of baseball operations. Manager Charlie Manuel was hired by Wade in 2004, replacing the popular Larry Bowa. Manuel became the winningest manager in franchise history.
Jimmy Rollins was drafted the year before (1996) Wade was Lee Thomas’ assistant. J-Roll was followed by Carlos Ruiz, Pat Burrell and Ryan Madson (1998), Brett Myers (1999), Chase Utley (2000), Ryan Howard (2001), Cole Hamels (2002) and Kyle Kendrick (2003).
Shane Victorino (2004) was a Rule 5 Draft selection on the recommendation of Mike Ondo (director, professional scouting). Wade along with Ruben Amaro Jr., his assistant, convinced Victorino to stay in the organization even though he could have taken his free agency after not making the Opening Day roster in ’05.
As an assistant GM (1997), Wade was instrumental in a trade for Bobby Abreu, who became a Phillies Wall of Fame player. While on a Minor League scouting mission Wade had seen Abreu play. Once drafted by Tampa Bay in the Expansion Draft, Thomas acquired Abreu for shortstop Kevin Stocker at Wade’s recommendation.
The Phillies were planning on exiting Veterans Stadium and moving into a new home, Citizens Bank Park (2004). Wade played a key role in designing both the Phillies' and visiting team clubhouses, dugouts and bullpens.
With a new ballpark, additional revenue would allow the Phillies to get good and stay good. Wade signed free-agent first baseman Jim Thome to a six-year, $85 million contract after the 2002 season, fulfilling the team's promise to its fans that spending would increase. Thome’s signing triggered the acquisitions of veterans Billy Wagner, Kevin Millwood, David Bell, Jon Lieber and Kenny Lofton.
Early Path
Wade’s 42-year baseball career began as an intern with the Phillies public relations department on Feb. 1, 1977, one day after his 21st birthday. He shared a room around the corner from the PR department on the executive level at the Vet. Occupying most of the space was a large Xerox copier. Dave Raymond, a promotions department intern, was Wade’s other roommate. Raymond went on to become the Phillie Phanatic the next season. Wade often kidded, “I was a heartbeat away from becoming the Phanatic.”
Wade’s job description: copy gameday notes and the same for visiting teams, the standings and statistics, copy press releases and stuff them in envelopes for mailing, master clearing copy machine jams, temper his temper during jams, type play-by-play during games, copy and distribute postgame notes to the media. And anything else.
Compensation: “$2.50 per hour and all the Tastykakes I could eat,” he often joked.
Career
After the Phillies internship, Houston Astros PR assistant (1977-79; advanced to director (1979) ... Pittsburgh Pirates PR director (1981-85) ... Associate in Tal Smith Enterprises (1986-1989) ... Assistant to Phillies GM (1989-97) ... Phillies interim GM (December 1997) ... Phillies GM (1998-2004) ... San Diego Padres pro scout (2005-07) ... Houston Astros GM (2007-11) ... Phillies Special Consultant and pro scout (2011-17).
He began playing baseball as a four-year-old in Carbondale’s Little League programs. Following graduation from St. Rose High School (1973), he enrolled in Temple University, majoring in journalism and graduating in 1977. While at Temple, internships included the Scranton Times, Williamsport Sun-Gazelle, Philadelphia Bulletin and The Associated Press office in Philadelphia.