(Mike Schmidt MLB Photos/Getty Images)
The 2014 MLB All-Star Game is a little under two weeks away from today and although it has basically become a popularity contest in recent years, there are still players every year who do deserve to be there. As of today, Chase Utley is the only Phillie who is a possible All-Star vote-in as he leads the NL 2B voting. Last season, the Phillies sent only Domonic Brown (.273, 23 HR, 67 RBI Pre-2013 ASG) and Cliff Lee (10-3, 2.86 ERA, 125 K Pre-2013 ASG) to Citi Field to represent their team in the Mid-Summer Classic.
Today we will take a look at five Phillies who had the best all-star years in their careers.
Darren Daulton (1992 Season):
Darren Daulton was the backbone of the Phillies in the early 90's, becoming a vital part of their 1993 NL Pennant run. Daulton, who began his career with the Phillies in 1983, had his best year in 1992. Finishing 6th in MVP voting for the year, the Phillies catcher hit .270, 29 HR, 109 RBI in his ninth year as a Phil. Daulton was hitting .269, but had driven in 59 RBI with 13 HR in 81 games played before the break. During the game Daulton went 0-for-3, but to finish off the year he would drive in another 50 runs and hit 14 more home runs. Daulton would also make the National League All-Star team in 1993 and 1995 with the Fightins.
Richie Ashburn (1958 Season):
Before Richie Ashburn became the voice of the Phillies from 1963-1997, he played for them from 1948-1959. A Hall of Fame outfielder who played during the Whiz Kids era, Ashburn was a six-time all-star, had one of his finest years in 1958. That year, Ashburn led the league in plate appearances, hits, walks and triples. Along with those accolades, Ashburn led the league with a .350 average and a .440 OBP. Before the all-star game, Ashburn drove in 19 runs while hitting .303. Ashburn didn't play in the game as he was a reserve. Whitey would finish 7th in MVP voting and would emerge an all-star once more in his final season as a New York Met in 1962.
Curt Schilling (1997 Season)
Although Curt Schilling's career year didn't come during his tenure with the Phillies, he still hits this list because his 1997 season was his best in a Phils' uni. Leading the league in strike outs that year with 319 and finishing 4th in Cy Young Award voting with a 2.97 ERA, Curt Schilling made it to the first All-Star game in his career. Before the break, Schilling was 9-8 with a 3.59 ERA, but after that he finished out the year with a 17-11 record and a 2.97 ERA. During the game, Schilling made an out in 1/3 innings pitched. Schilling would go on to become a six-time all-star and a three-time World Series Champion.
Chase Utley (2007 Season)
Chase Utley has become one of the most loved Phillie of the past decade. In the past 12 years, Chase Utley has amazed, dazed and shined for the crowd. An all-star five years in a row (2006-2010), Utley is close to securing his sixth all-star appearance this year in Minnesota. He currently leads the NL 2B in voting. During that five year span of his all-star years, one year sticks out like a sore thumb. In 2007, Utley hit .332, 22 HR, 103 RBI and finished 8th in MVP voting. In the first half of the year, Utley blazed through pitchers, hitting .325 and drove in 68 RBI. Utley went 0-for-2 in the game, but he finished the second half hitting .345 in 45 games.
Mike Schmidt (1980 Season)
Mike Schmidt is the most decorated player in Phillies history and one of the most decorated third basemen in MLB history. The hall of famer, who spent 18 years in red pin stripes, was a three-time league MVP, one-time World Champion, and 12-time all-star. His most impressive year came in 1980, one of the best seasons in his career and for the Phillies. Leading his team to a 92-70 record, Schmidt led the league with 48 home runs and 121 RBI while also leading SLG with .624%. In 68 games before the all-star break, Schmidt hit .280, hit 21 HR and drove in 57 RBI. To finish the year, Schmidt drove in another 27 home runs and 64 RBI to finish the year and drive the Phillies to a World Series Championship.
Although the All-Star Game used to be a true contest to enter and is now a popularity contest where having a "bat flip" can nearly get you into the game a month after beginning your career (Yasiel Puig), it is still fun to watch every year. With other festivites, such as the Future's Game and Home Run Derby, All-Star week is still a big part of the year. Hopefully Chase Utley will make us proud and show up in Minnesota July 15th.
If you have any different opinions and want to share them, please comment below!
Erik Seybold is a writer for Philliedelphia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ErikSeyboldPHI.
