Twenty-five years ago the Phillies had a decent core of hitting talent. There was 29-year-old catcher Darren Daulton and 28-year-old center fielder Lenny Dykstra, both suffering injuries in 1991 after a serious drunken driving crash. There was 30-year-old first baseman John Kruk, 25-year-old second baseman Mickey Morandini and 25-year-old outfielder Wes Chamberlain. On the farm were third baseman Dave Hollins and infielder Kim Batiste.
The pitching staff was getting younger, led by 24-year-old Tommy Greene, who threw a no-hitter in 1991. Farmhands Andy Ashby and Jason Grimsley were beginning to make noise. And they were led by Terry Mulholland, who broke through in 1990 and continued his success with a 16-13 record in 1991.
As the 1992 season approached, and the team introduced a new look, the Phils would make a couple moves to shore up the roster, and those moves would soon pay off.
Over the next week we’ll look closely at the 1992 Phillies. While they finished just 70-92, way back in sixth place in the six-team National League East, they showed the signs of a much better team. Only one year later, the Phillies would find themselves on baseball’s biggest stage.
We’ll look at the names and games, talk to one of the team’s stars, and show how the 1992 Phillies were a real predictor for better things to come. (And how that team mirrors what we’re seeing today in Philadelphia.)
This is 1992 Week. Welcome!
Tim MalcolmTim first found the Phillies as a little infant at Veteran’s Stadium, cheering on a Juan Samuel game-winning home run in his very first game. With the pinstripes in his blood, he witnessed Terry Mulholland’s 1990 no-hitter, “Steve Carlton Night” at the Vet, game three of the 1993 World Series, countless games during the charmed 2008 championship season and various road excursions. Since November 2007 Tim’s been writing about them daily at Phillies Nation, becoming one of the world’s most popular Phillies scribes. You can catch him on Twitter and Facebook, as well. When he’s not talking about the Phils he’s relaxing with a St. Bernardus ABT 12 or one of his many favored brews.
