Greatest Phillies All-Star Selections

On Tuesday Night, JT Realmuto hit a Home Run in the 2021 MLB All-Star Game, becoming the first Phillies player to hit a Homer in the Mid-Summer Classic since Mike Schmidt did it in the 1981 MLB All-Star Game. So for this week's Top Ten Thursday, I wanted to take time to remember some of the best players in Phillies Franchise History.

For this list of the Top Ten Phillies All-Star Selections, the criteria comes down to number of All-Star Selections as a Phillies player along with other career achievements plus awards they received such as MVP awards, Gold Gloves, and election to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Before we get to the top ten list, here is the list of Honorable Mentions:

*Dick Allen (Three All-Star Selections with Phillies, Seven Overall), Darren Daulton (Three All-Star Selections), John Kruk (Three All-Star Selections), Lenny Dykstra (Three All-Star Selections), Bob Boone (Four All-Star Selections with Phillies, Four Overall), Johnny Callison (Four All-Star Selections)

10. Larry Bowa (5-time All-Star Selection, Two-time Gold Glove Winner)

-A key member of the 1980 Phillies World Series team, Larry Bowa was one of the top Shortstops in the National League during the 1970's and was one of the anchors of the Phillies Infield next to future Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt. Bowa had a Batting Average of .280 or better four different seasons and led the league in Triples with 13 during the 1972 season.

9. Greg Luzinski (4-time All-Star Selection)

-"The Bull" was one of the top sluggers of the 1970's and another member of the 1980 Phillies World Series team. Luzinski had at least 20 Home Runs and 90 Runs Batted in five times over six seasons along with hitting .300 or better three times during those years. He also finished second the National League MVP Voting twice (1975 and 1977) which highlights his status as one of the best hitters in the league during the 1970s.

8. Curt Schilling (3-time All-Star Selection with Phillies, Six overall, 1993 NLCS MVP)

-One of the best Postseason Pitchers over the last 30 years, Curt Schilling established his reputation in Philadelphia during the 1990's. His 2.61 ERA in four playoff starts with the 1993 Phillies team, including throwing a Shutout in the World Series, was the first time we got to see him as one of the Clutch Pitchers of his generation. With 61 Complete Games and 14 Shutouts in the Regular Season during his Phillies career combined with back to back 300 plus Strikeout seasons, Schilling is one of only eight pitchers with 100 wins in a Phillies uniform in franchise history.

7. Chase Utley (Six All-Star Selections)

-Chase Utley is one of the most popular players in Philadelphia over the last 20 years and his Blue Collar play on the field endeared him to a fan base that was ecstatic when the Phillies won the 2008 World Series. Utley had five seasons with 90 RBI and a .282 Batting Average along with leading the league in Hit By The Pitch three times. Utley was also a valuable hitter in the postseason with 25 RBI and .500 Slugging Percentage in 46 games; Plus don't forget Utley's Five Home Runs in the 2009 World Series versus the New York Yankees.

6. Jimmy Rollins (Three All-Star Selections, 2007 MVP, Four-time Gold Glove Award Winner)

-"J-Roll" is one of five Phillies players in franchise history to win the National League MVP Award and one of 16 Shortstops in Baseball history to win the prestigious MVP award in either league. Rollins was one of the best fielding Shortstops in the National League during his 15 seasons in a Phillies uniform, finishing the season top three in Fielding Percentage among NL Shortstops 11 times. Rollins also was top ten in the National League in Runs Scored six times and top ten in Stolen Bases 12 different seasons.

5. Ryan Howard (3-time All-Star Selection, 2006 Home Run Derby Winner, 2005 NL Rookie of the Year, 2006 NL MVP, 2009 NLCS MVP)

-The "Big Piece" has the most hardware of the 2008 Phillies World Series team plus he was the most feared hitter in the Phillies lineup that features Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley. Howard had an incredible run for six straight seasons with at least 100 Runs Batted In and 30 plus Home Runs. In the postseason, Howard compiled 33 RBI in 46 games played and in the 2008 World Series he had three Home Runs in five games.

4. Robin Roberts (7 All-Star Selections, Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee)

-Member of the 1950 Phillies team that won the National League Pennant, Robin Roberts was one of the best pitchers in the National League during that decade. During the 1950's, Roberts led the National League in Complete Games five times and Innings Pitched five straight seasons. Roberts 234 Wins are the second most in Phillies Franchise History and he has the most Complete Games in Franchise History with 272.

3. Richie Ashburn (Four All-Star selections with the Phillies and Six Overall, Two-time NL Batting Champion, Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee)

-Many Phillies fans remember Richie Ashburn as a Broadcaster but he had a great career on the field during his 12 years in Philadelphia. Ashburn finished with a .300 or better Batting Average eight different seasons and he led the National League in Hits three times along with finishing top ten in Stolen Bases 11 times during his Phillies career. It's a shame the 1950 Phillies team didn't win the World Series or that group of players never got back because players like Ashburn and Roberts was great careers but don't get enough recognition.

2. Steve Carlton (7 All-Star Selections with Phillies and 10 overall, Four-time Cy Young Award Winner, Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee)

-Steve Carlton's 15 seasons in a Phillies uniform laid the foundation for his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Carlton was a very good pitcher in Saint Louis, but in Philadelphia Carlton became one of the most feared pitchers in all of Baseball. He led the National League in Strikeouts five times and finished top ten in ERA in the NL seven times during his time with the Phillies. Carlton's 4,136 Career Strikeouts are the fourth most in Major League Baseball history and his 241 Wins in a Phillies uniform are the most in Franchise History.

1. Mike Schmidt (12 All-Star Selections, Three NL MVP Awards, Ten Gold Glove Awards, Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee)

-Arguably the best Third Baseman in Baseball History, Mike Schmidt is the greatest player in Phillies Franchise history. An elite power hitter, Schmidt finished his career with 548 Home Runs which is 16th Most in Baseball History and he had 12 seasons with at least 90 Runs Batted In. Schmidt has won the most Gold Gloves for a Third Baseman in National League history and he finished top five in Fielding Percentage 11 times in his Hall of Fame Career. Schmidt is the all-time leader in Phillies Franchise history in Home Runs, Runs Batted In, Games Played, Bases on Balls, and Extra Base Hits.