Baseball Reference Blog
Top 5 Leaders in Home Runs for the Philadelphia Phillies
Posted by Darren Baker on April 26, 2024
In the famous words of iconic Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas, “That ball is outta here!” The Phillies have been around since 1883. This team and its fan base have endured a lot of heartache in 140 years; I know this all too well. As a franchise, they have lost more games (11,259 entering the 2024 season) than any team in MLB history. Every fan of the Phils knows about Black Friday in 1977, Joe Carter’s walk-off blast in 1993, Ryan Howard collapsing in 2011, and then losing the last two at home in the 2023 NLCS. However, this list will focus on something more celebratory: the top home-run hitters in Philadelphia Phillies history. This group is a nice blend of names from yesteryear and modern times. A few of these guys helped bring championships to Philadelphia, so hopefully Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber can do the same.
Chuck Klein
Position: Rightfielder
Bats: Left • Throws: Right
6-0, 185lb (183cm, 83kg)
Born: October 7, 1904 in Indianapolis, IN us
Died: March 28, 1958 (Aged 53-172d) in Indianapolis, IN
Buried: St. Joseph Cemetery, Indianapolis, IN
High School: Southport HS (Indianapolis, IN)
Debut:
July 30, 1928
(Age 23-297d,
6,762nd in major league history)
vs. STL 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
June 11, 1944
(Age 39-248d)
vs. NYG 1 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1980.
(Voted by Veteran’s Committee)
View Chuck Klein’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1928 season
Full Name: Charles Herbert Klein
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
46.6
6486
2076
300
.320
1168
1201
79
.379
.543
.922
137
Chuck Klein is 5th on the all-time home-run list for the Phils with 243. It is not a stretch to say Chuck Klein was the greatest Phillie for the first half of the 20th century. From 1929 to 1933, this outfielder led the National League in homers four times, topping out at 43 in 1929. During that five-year stretch, his RBI totals were 145, 170, 121, 137, and 120, and he had at least 200 hits every season. His season batting average never dropped below .337 in that period. Did I forget to mention his MVP in 1932 or his Triple Crown in 1933? He is still the franchise’s leader in slugging % (.553) and OPS % (.935). After that meteoric run, Klein’s production fell off when he went to the Chicago Cubs for a few seasons before returning to the red pinstripes to end his career. Chuck Klein was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1980, and he will be remembered as one of the best players in Philadelphia Phillies history.
Pat Burrell
Positions: Leftfielder and First Baseman
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-4, 235lb (193cm, 106kg)
Born: October 10, 1976 (Age: 47-170d) in Eureka Springs, AR us
Draft: Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 43rd round of the 1995 MLB June Amateur Draft from Bellarmine College Preparatory (San Jose, CA) and the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1st round (1st) of the 1998 MLB June Amateur Draft from University of Miami (Coral Gables, FL).
High School: Bellarmine College Preparatory (San Jose, CA)
School: University of Miami (Coral Gables, FL)
Debut:
May 24, 2000
(Age 23-227d,
17,661st in major league history)
vs. HOU 5 AB, 2 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
September 28, 2011
(Age 34-353d)
vs. COL 3 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 2000 season
Agents: Greg Genske • Previously: Jeff Moorad
National Team: us USA (College)
Full Name: Patrick Brian Burrell
Nicknames: Pat the Bat or The Machine
Pronunciation: \BURL\
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
18.9
5503
1393
292
.253
767
976
7
.361
.472
.834
116
There is a lot of pressure when you are the first overall pick of the MLB Draft and expected to be the franchise’s savior. Pat Burrell had to endure that with the Phillies, but he ended up 4th on their all-time home-run list (251). This superstar out of the University of Miami was drafted #1 overall by the Phillies in the 1998 draft. During his nine seasons in Philadelphia, Pat the Bat never had less than 18 bombs in a season. Four times he had 30 homers or more. His best season as a Phil was probably 2002: 37 home runs, 116 RBIs, 89 walks, .282 batting average, and a .544 slugging %. Burrell was a patient power hitter and had four seasons of 98 walks or higher. His crowning achievement in Philadelphia was helping lead the Phillies to the 2008 World Series title. In that postseason run, Pat had a two-dinger game against Milwaukee in the NLDS, a game-winning homer run versus the Dodgers in Game 1 of the NLCS, and a huge double (his last AB as a Phil) in Game 5 of the World Series that led to the go ahead run and eventual title. Pat Burrell closed out his time in Philadelphia with a championship, and his 251 career home runs make him one of the best power hitters in Phillies history.
Del Ennis
Position: Leftfielder
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-0, 195lb (183cm, 88kg)
Born: June 8, 1925 in Philadelphia, PA us
Died: February 8, 1996 (Aged 70-245d) in Huntingdon Valley, PA
Buried: Hillside Cemetery, Roslyn, PA
High School: Olney HS (Philadelphia, PA)
Debut:
April 28, 1946
(Age 20-324d,
10,139th in major league history)
vs. BSN 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
June 14, 1959
(Age 34-006d)
vs. BAL 2 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1946 season
Full Name: Delmer Ennis
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
30.0
7254
2063
288
.284
985
1284
45
.340
.472
.812
117
This native Philadelphian is 3rd all-time on the Phillies home-run list: Del Ennis (259). Between 1948 and 1956, Ennis was one of the most consistent power hitters in the National League. Seven times he had seasons of 20+ homers and 100+ RBIs. In 1950, he led the Whiz Kids to the World Series with phenomenal numbers: 31 home runs, 126 RBIs, a .331 batting average, and a .551 slugging %. That season saw him finish fourth in MVP voting. Although this left fielder didn’t play in the golden era of Phillies baseball, his mark on the team is immense. Besides home runs, he ranks in the franchise’s top 10 for many statistical categories: games played (1,630), at bats (6,327), RBIs (1,124), runs scored (891), hits (1,812), total bases (3,029), doubles (310), and triples (65). Del Ennis was one of the best offensive players in Phillies history, and being 3rd on the franchise’s home-run list solidifies his status.
Ryan Howard
Position: First Baseman
Bats: Left • Throws: Left
6-4, 250lb (193cm, 113kg)
Born: November 19, 1979 (Age: 44-130d) in St. Louis, MO us
Draft: Drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 5th round of the 2001 MLB June Amateur Draft from Missouri State University (Springfield, MO).
High School: Lafayette HS (Wildwood, MO)
School: Missouri State University (Springfield, MO)
Debut:
September 1, 2004
(Age 24-287d,
18,554th in major league history)
vs. ATL 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
October 2, 2016
(Age 36-318d)
vs. NYM 4 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 2005 season
Agents: Excel Sports Management • Previously: CAA Sports
National Team: us USA (College)
Full Name: Ryan James Howard
Nicknames: Big Piece
Pronunciation: \HOW-erd\
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
14.7
5707
1475
382
.258
848
1194
12
.343
.515
.859
125
The man who is 2nd on the Phils all-time home-run list provided some of the greatest memories in recent franchise history. Ryan Howard and his 382 blasts helped power one of the most exciting eras in Philadelphia baseball. In 2005, the Big Piece had to replace an injured Jim Thome at first base and never looked back. That year, in just 88 games, Howard won the National Rookie of the Year with 22 homers, 63 RBIs, and a .567 slugging %. The following season he won the NL MVP and broke the Phillies single-season home-run record with one of the best offensive years this century: 58 homers, 149 RBIs, 108 walks, a .313 batting average, a .425 on-base %, and 383 total bases. From 2006 to 2009, #6 averaged 49.5 bombs and 143 steaks a season. Four of the top eight single-season home-run totals in team history are from this big lefty. Howard’s success directly fueled five straight NL East division titles, two NL Pennants, and a World Series championship in 2008. He hit three homers when the Phils beat the Rays in the 2008 Fall Classic, and he was the NLCS MVP in 2009 against the Dodgers. As far as clutch spots, look no further than his two-out double in the ninth at Colorado that surged a manic Phils comeback win during the 2009 NLDS. Ryan Howard is on the Mount Rushmore of Philadelphia Phillies power hitters, and he sits behind only one legend on the team’s all-time home-run list.
Mike Schmidt
Positions: Third Baseman and First Baseman
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-2, 195lb (188cm, 88kg)
Born: September 27, 1949 (Age: 74-183d) in Dayton, OH us
Draft: Drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2nd round of the 1971 MLB June Amateur Draft from Ohio University (Athens, OH).
High School: Fairview HS (Dayton, OH)
School: Ohio University (Athens, OH)
Debut:
September 12, 1972
(Age 22-351d,
13,310th in major league history)
vs. NYM 3 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
May 28, 1989
(Age 39-243d)
vs. SFG 3 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1995.
(Voted by BBWAA on 444/460 ballots)
View Mike Schmidt’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1973 season
Agents: Arthur Rosenberg • Previously: David Landfield
Full Name: Michael Jack Schmidt
Nicknames: Schmitty
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
106.9
8352
2234
548
.267
1506
1595
174
.380
.527
.908
148
No shocker here… Michael Jack Schmidt is 1st on the Philadelphia Phillies all-time home-run list. When he retired in 1989, Schmidt’s 548 homers were 7th on MLB’s all-time list. For many positions, there is a spirited debate about the best ever. With third base, #20 in red pinstripes is generally regarded as the best ever without much argument. The numbers don’t lie: a first-ballot Hall of Famer, three National League MVP Awards, 12 All-Star Games, 10 Gold Gloves, eight NL Home-Run Crowns, and the 1980 World Series MVP. Schmitty’s unique blend of power and defense was a revelation for 18 big league seasons. He hit 30 round trippers in a year 13 times. The magical season of 1980 broke the title drought for the Phils, and Schmidt’s MVP year was probably his best campaign: 48 homers, 121 RBIs, .624 slugging %, 1.004 OPS %, 342 total bases, a Gold Glove, and a Silver Slugger. At ages 36 and 37 in ‘86 and ‘87, Michael Jack put up two banner years and won the 1986 NL MVP trophy. In ‘87, he entered the very exclusive (at the time) 500 home-run club. Go watch Harry Kalas’s immortal call of the climatic moment in Pittsburgh; you won’t be disappointed. Mike Schmidt, the Philadelphia Phillies home-run king, is one of the greatest players in MLB history, and the city of Philadelphia was fortunate to have him.
Ryan Howard has the Phillies home-run record for a season. He hit 58 home runs in 2006. As of the moment, he is the only Phillie ever to hit 50 homers in a season.
Mike Schmidt is the Phillies career home-run leader with 548.
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