Here in the year 2025, we have ostensibly reached the quarter-century mark of the 21st century. Many columnists at various baseball outlets continue to provide their versions of a “Quarter-Century Team” and this seems as good a time as any to reveal my own.
I am going to make this a true 26-man active roster. For this reason, there will be eight starting position players and six bench position players. There will also be six starting and six relief pitchers.
Finally, I will name a manager for the team and give him two assistants selected from among the remaining men who have skippered the club during this period.
At the bottom of each entry, I will also include my pick for overall Major League Baseball during these past 25 years.
FIRST BASE
Ryan Howard – he played his entire 2004-16 career here in Philly. Howard was both the National League Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player in 200 as well as the 2009 NLCS MVP. He blasted 382 home runs over a 13-year career. Nicknamed ‘The Big Piece,’ Howard was a 3x NL All-Star and during his 2006 MVP season also won the Hank Aaron Award.
MLB PICK: Alber Pujols
SECOND BASE
Chase Utley – while playing here in Philly from 2003-15, ‘The Man’ was a 6x NL All-Star and 4x Silver Slugger Award winner. The greatest second baseman in the history of the franchise, Utley holds the franchise records for hits (1623), home runs (233), RBI’s (916), Runs (949), Doubles (346), Walks (625), and Stolen Bases (142) at the keystone position as well as a number of other categories.
MLB PICK: Chase Utley
SHORTSTOP
Jimmy Rollins – ‘JRoll’ was the heart and soul of Phillies teams that captured five consecutive NL East Division crowns from 2007-11, back-to-back National League pennants in 2008-09, and the 2008 World Series. Like Utley, he is the greatest player at his position in franchise history.
Rollins is the franchise all-time hits leader with 2,306 base knocks while playing the first 15 of his 17 big league seasons in Philadelphia. He ranks first in doubles, second in steals, third in triples and runs scored, sixth in walks, and eighth in RBIs among all players to ever pull on the red pinstripes.
The 2007 National League Most Valuable Player finished third in 2003 NL Rookie of the Year voting. Rolins also was a 3x NL All-Star and 4x NL Gold Glove Award winner. This summer he will join Burrell on the Phillies Wall of Fame.
MLB PICK: Derek Jeter
THIRD BASE
Scott Rolen – enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame and honored with a plaque on the Phillies Wall of Fame in 2023, Rolen won three consecutive NL Gold Glove Awards from 2000-02. The first of his seven All-Star appearances also came as a member of the Phils’ in that final 2002 campaign.
MLB PICK: Adrian Beltre
CATCHER
J.T. Realmuto – now in his seventh season here, Realmuto has won two of his three Silver Sluggers and enjoyed two of his three NL All-Star appearances while here. He has also added a pair of NL Gold Glove Awards to his trophy case during his Phillies seasons.
MLB PICK: Ivan ‘Pudge’ Rodriguez
LEFT FIELD
Pat Burrell – the first player from the 2008 World Series championship team to be honored with a plaque on the franchise Wall of Fame, ‘Pat the Bat’ played the first nine seasons of a 12-year big league career here in Philadelphia. His 251 career home runs rank fourth on the all-time franchise list. Burrell also ranks fifth in walks and 10th in RBIs in the club rankings.
MLB PICK: Barry Bonds
CENTER FIELD
Shane Victorino – starting center fielder for the 2008 world champions, ‘The Flyin’ Hawaiian’ played here from 2005-12. He earned three straight Gold Glove Awards from 2008-10. Victorino was named an NL All-Star here in both 2009 and 2011.
MLB PICK: Mike Trout
RIGHT FIELD
Bobby Abreu – honored with a plaque on the Phillies Wall of Fame in 2019, Abreu played here 1998-2006. He was an NL All-Star in 2004-05, won a Silver Slugger Award in 2004 and took home a Gold Glove Award in 2005.
MLB PICK: Mookie Betts
BENCH
Phillies: Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Jim Thome, Jayson Werth, Trea Turner, Carlos Ruiz
MLB PICKS: Miguel Cabrera, Alex Rodriguez, Chipper Jones, Aaron Judge, Jim Thome, Shohei Ohtani
STARTING PITCHER
Phillies: Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee, Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Brett Myers
Halladay is a no-brainer. Baseball Hall of Famer who was enshrined on the Phillies Wall of Fame in 2018. After the trade here he was a 2010-11 NL All-Star, 2010 NL Cy Young winner, 2011 NL Cy Young runner-up. He tossed a Perfect Game in 2010 as well as a no-hitter in the NLDS. Hamels is sixth on the franchise all-time wins list and third in strikeouts. He was MVP of both the World Series and NLCS in 2008.
MLB PICKS: Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, Clayton Kershaw, Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Roy Halladay
RELIEF PITCHER
Phillies: Billy Wagner, Jonathan Papelbon, Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson, Jose Mesa
Wagner is headed to the Hall of Fame this summer. Papelbon is the franchise all-time Saves leader. Lidge was a perfect 48-for-48 in save opportunities as the closer with the 2008 World Series champions.
MLB PICKS: Mariano Rivera, Billy Wagner, Trevor Hoffman, Joe Nathan, Kenley Jansen, Jonathan Papelbon
MANAGER (COACHES)
Phillies: Charlie Manuel (Larry Bowa, Rob Thomson)
Manuel is the franchise all-time leader in managerial victories. He was enshrined on the franchise Wall of Fame in 2014 as the manager of the 2008 World Series champions. Bowa is a franchise icon as a player, coach, and manager. He was enshrined on the Wall of Fame in 1991. ‘Topper’ has done nothing but win since taking over as skipper in mid-2022.
MLB: Joe Torre (Tony LaRussa, Bruce Bochy)
MATT VEASEY 