Best Phillies Pitchers by Decade (1950s–2020s)
- The 1950s: Robin Roberts and the Workhorse Era
- The 1960s: Jim Bunning and Chris Short
- The 1970s and 1980s: The Steve Carlton Reign and Bullpen Anchors
- The 1990s: Curt Schilling's Big-Game Dominance
- The 2000s: Cole Hamels and the Championship Rotation
- The 2010s to 2020s: The Four Aces, Zack Wheeler, and Aaron Nola
- FAQ
Every dominant era of Philadelphia baseball has been anchored by an undeniable ace on the mound. When you examine the best phillies pitchers by decade, you trace the entire narrative of franchise history—from post-war resilience at Shibe Park to championship parades down Broad Street.
Looking back from the 1950s Whiz Kids through the electric postseasons of the 2020s, individual mound dominance has defined South Philly. Here is the definitive, decade-by-decade breakdown of the aces who carried the Phillies on their arms.
The 1950s: Robin Roberts and the Workhorse Era
The 1950s belonged entirely to Robin Roberts. Leading the famous 1950 'Whiz Kids' to a National League pennant at just 23 years old, Roberts became the standard against which all future Philadelphia starters would be measured.
Throughout the decade, Roberts logged over 3,000 innings, completed 237 games, and won 199 contests. Between 1950 and 1955, he posted six consecutive 20-win seasons, leading the NL in innings pitched five straight times. Roberts did not rely on blistering velocity or deceptive spin rates; he threw strikes, challenged hitters relentlessly, and finished what he started. Left-hander Curt Simmons offered stellar support alongside Roberts, but when evaluating the best phillies pitchers by decade from the post-war era, Roberts stands uncontested as the decade's gold standard.
The 1960s: Jim Bunning and Chris Short
The 1960s were a turbulent time for Philadelphia sports, but the rotation boasted genuine top-tier talent. The arrival of Jim Bunning via trade from Detroit before the 1964 season gave the Phillies an immediate Hall of Fame presence. On Father's Day in 1964, Bunning etched his name into baseball lore by tossing a perfect game against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium—the first regular-season perfect game in the National League since 1880.
Over his five-year peak with the Phillies during the decade, Bunning recorded an ERA of 2.93 and struck out over 1,100 batters across 1,500+ innings. Complementing Bunning was dependable southpaw Chris Short, an All-Star who quietly won 109 games in the decade with an ERA below 3.30. Bunning gave the team an edge and an elite strikeout repertoire that set the tone for Philadelphia pitching throughout the 1960s.
The 1970s and 1980s: The Steve Carlton Reign and Bullpen Anchors
No list of the best phillies pitchers by decade would make sense without recognizing Steve Carlton's complete command over the 1970s and early 1980s. Acquired from St. Louis before the 1972 campaign, 'Lefty' produced arguably the greatest single-season pitching performance in baseball history: 27 wins, a 1.97 ERA, 310 strikeouts, and 30 complete games for a last-place team that won only 59 games total.
Carlton claimed four Cy Young Awards (1972, 1977, 1980, and 1982) in a Phillies uniform. His wipeout slider was unhittable, making him the anchor for three straight NL East titles in the late 70s and the club's first World Series title in 1980.
The 1970s and 1980s also saw the rise of modern relief aces in Philadelphia. Tug McGraw provided the emotional heartbeat and clutch outs out of the bullpen, punctuated by his strikeout of Willie Wilson to clinch the 1980 Fall Classic. In the latter half of the 1980s, arms like Kevin Gross and Shane Rawley held the rotation together, but Carlton remained the towering icon.
The 1990s: Curt Schilling's Big-Game Dominance
As we trace the best phillies pitchers by decade into the turn of the century, the 1990s presented a mix of high-stakes drama and rebuilding seasons. The unquestioned leader of this era was Curt Schilling. Arriving in 1992, Schilling quickly transformed from an erratic prospect into a fiery, strikeout-compiling workhorse.
Schilling played a vital role in the unforgettable 'Macho Row' pennant run in 1993, earning NLCS MVP honors and throwing a complete-game shutout against Toronto in Game 5 of the World Series. Later in the decade, between 1997 and 1998, Schilling posted back-to-back 300-strikeout campaigns, becoming the first right-hander to achieve that feat in the National League since J.R. Richard. Despite limited run support on some underwhelming late-90s rosters, Schilling posted a 3.35 ERA and 61 complete games over nine seasons in Philadelphia.
The 2000s: Cole Hamels and the Championship Rotation
The 2000s started with rebuilding arms like Randy Wolf and Brett Myers, but the decade belongs to Cole Hamels. Drafted in 2002, the smooth-throwing lefty reached the majors in 2006 equipped with one of the most deceptive circle changeups in the sport.
Hamels came of age just as the Phillies built an offensive juggernaut. In October 2008, Hamels turned in one of the most dominant postseason runs ever, going 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA across five starts to capture both the NLCS MVP and World Series MVP trophies.
The 2000s were also defined by elite bullpen execution. Brad Lidge delivered his legendary 'perfect season' in 2008, converting all 41 regular-season save opportunities and going 7-for-7 in the postseason to secure Philadelphia's second world title.
The 2010s to 2020s: The Four Aces, Zack Wheeler, and Aaron Nola
Rounding out our look at the best phillies pitchers by decade brings us into modern dominance. The 2010s began with the fabled 'Four Aces' rotation: Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, and Roy Oswalt. Halladay's 2010 season remains legendary, featuring a regular-season perfect game in Miami, a postseason no-hitter against Cincinnati in his playoff debut, and an NL Cy Young Award.
Following a rebuilding stretch in the mid-2010s, Aaron Nola emerged as a homegrown cornerstone, finishing top-seven in Cy Young voting three times and providing reliable innings.
In the 2020s, Zack Wheeler took the mantle. Since signing in late 2019, Wheeler has been arguably the most valuable starting pitcher in Major League Baseball, combining pinpoint command with elite fastball velocity. Wheeler's shutdown starts spearheaded deep playoff runs in 2022 and 2023, while left-hander Cristopher Sánchez and reliever Jeff Hoffman have reinforced a pitching staff built to contend year after year.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the overall greatest pitcher in Phillies franchise history?
Steve Carlton is almost universally recognized as the greatest pitcher in Phillies history. Across 15 seasons in Philadelphia, he compiled 241 wins, 3,031 strikeouts, four NL Cy Young Awards, and was the ace of the 1980 World Series championship club.
Which pitcher has the most career wins in a Phillies uniform?
Robin Roberts and Steve Carlton top the list. Carlton holds the modern franchise record with 241 wins, while Robin Roberts won 234 games with the Phillies between 1948 and 1961.
How many Phillies pitchers have thrown a perfect game?
Two Phillies pitchers have thrown a perfect game: Jim Bunning against the New York Mets on June 21, 1964, and Roy Halladay against the Florida Marlins on May 29, 2010.
Who stands out among the best phillies pitchers by decade for postseason success?
Cole Hamels (2008 NLCS and World Series MVP), Steve Carlton (key starter in the 1980 title run), and Tug McGraw (closer for the 1980 title) are the standout postseason pitchers in club history, with Zack Wheeler posting historically low playoff ERAs in the 2020s.