Trades are a part of baseball and it’s been that way for decades. Deals can be one-for-one, involve multiple players and often include the infamous PTBNL (Player To Be Named Later). Like every club, the Phillies have made some good ones and been burned by others.
Among the many they’ve acquired over the last 60 years, Ruben Amaro Sr., Tony Taylor, Tony Gonzalez, Cookie Rojas, Jim Bunning, Steve Carlton, Tug McGraw, Garry Maddox, Del Unser, Greg Gross, Ron Reed, Bake McBride, John Kruk, Terry Mulholland, Lenny Dykstra, Curt Schilling, Bobby Abreu, Jamie Moyer, Joe Blanton….each of whom had an impactful career of five or more years in Philadelphia.
Among many who had a shorter impactful span, Manny Trillo, John Denny, Al Holland, Joe Morgan, Bo Diaz, Mitch Williams, Tommy Greene, Steve Bedrosian, Brad Lidge, Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, Pedro Feliz, Raul Ibanex, Roy Oswalt.
There are probably many others I’ve missed, unintentionally.
Twice the Phillies got burned when they gave up young players as part of a larger deal, Fergie Jenkins and Ryne Sandberg. Each is enshrined in Cooperstown.
John Quinn’s first trade as the Phillies GM was Gene Freese to the White Sox for Johnny Callison (1959). His last trade: acquiring Carlton from the St. Louis Cardinals for Rick Wise (1972). It was not a popular trade.
The Phillies traded for outfielder Alfred “Greasy” Neale with the Reds. He played 22 games for the Phils in (1921) and was claimed on waivers by the Reds that same season. He later coached the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL (1941-50).
They traded for outfielder Casey Stengel (1919), started him in RF (1920) and traded him in the middle of next season (2021). Casey made it to the Baseball Hall of Fame as a manager.
Catcher Andy Seminick was traded to the Reds in a seven-player trade in which catcher Smoky Burgess came to the Phillies (1951). Four years later, the Reds traded Seminick back to the Phillies in a six-player deal that again included Burgess.
A big multi-player trade took place following the 1969 season—Dick Allen, Cookie Rojas, Jerry Johnson to the Cardinals for Curt Flood, Tim McCarver, Joe Hoerner and Byron Browne. Flood refused to report. The Cardinals sent Willie Montanez (April 8, 1970) and Jim Browning (August 30,1970) to complete the trade.
Needing a right-handed outfield bat for the final month of the 1983 season, the Phillies acquired Sixto Lezcano and a PTBNL from the Padres for four PTBNL. A record for PTBNL in one deal?
Earlier in 1983, San Diego GM Jack McKeon and Bill Giles were in the executive offices men’s room pre-game at the Vet. Bill mentioned the need for a left-handed bat, “Would you trade Joe Lefebvre?” Jack responded, “How about Sid Monge?” “You’ve got a deal,” Bill said quickly. Both washed their hands and then shook hands. After the game, the deal was announced. Lefebvre walked from the visiting clubhouse to the Phillies clubhouse.
OF Rob Ducey was traded to the Blue Jays on July 26, 2000 for a PTBNL (John Sneed, July 31, 2000.) Rob returned to the Phillies (August 7, 2000) as the PTBNL for Mickey Morandini who went to Toronto on August 5, 2000. Need to read this one again?
Father’s Day (1989) home game with the Mets. After the game, the Phillies acquired Lenny Dykstra, Roger McDowell and a PTBNL for Juan Samuel. Lenny and Roger just carried their personal belongings from the visiting clubhouse to the Phillies clubhouse.
GM Lee Thomas swung another deal on same post-game day. This one with the Giants, getting Terry Mulholland, Dennis Cook and Charlie Hayes for Steve Bedrosian and a PTBNL. Only time I can remember two trades after one game.
Dick Ruthven was a first-round draft pick by the Phillies in the January draft (1973), traded to the White Sox (1975), acquired in a trade with Atlanta (1978) and traded to the Cubs (1983).
For years, the trade deadline was midnight June 15, Pacific Coast time. The Bake McBride trade was completed around 2:45 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Remember it well.
Then there was C Clyde Kluttz. Phillies acquired him from the NY Giants for OF Vince DiMaggio the morning of May 1, 1946. That afternoon they dealt him to the Cardinals for 2B Emil Verban. Hardly knew you, Clyde.
LHP Cliff Lee was involved in four multi-player deals between 2002 and 2010. Not counting Cliff, 18 players were involved.
Phinally, my first trade: pale blue Mercury Comet plus cash for a new white Chevy Impala and a STTBDL (1962). (STTBDL? Sparetiretobedeliveredlater).