Philadelphia Phillies starting lineup of the all-time greats
By Tim Boyle
Batting second for the Philadelphia Phillies is LF Ed Delahanty.
I would guess nobody reading this was alive to watch Ed Delahanty play. Yet another Hall of Fame player for our all-time Phillies lineup, his career ended in 1903. It was a tragic end, too, with Delahanty reportedly getting swept over Niagara Falls in what is one of the strangest deaths of a major professional athlete you will find.
The career totals Delahanty posted are ridiculous because it was pre-Dead ball when I’m pretty sure outfielders were terrified of catching the ball on the fly.
His accomplishments include leading the league with 19 home runs in 1893 and adding in a league-best 146 RBI. One season in 1899, he batted .410. It was actually his third time with a season over the .400 mark.
Back in those days, a lot of guys didn’t have a single position. Left field is the first listed on Mr. Delahanty’s Baseball-Reference page, so despite some other notable Phillies to play the position, I have to travel way back in time and invite him for our lineup.
With Ashburn batting first and Delahanty right behind him, the Phillies are going to find ways to clog up the bases rather easily. Who will be the first to get their chance to knock them in?