Neha Patil (Editor)

1989 Philadelphia Phillies season

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Owner(s)
  
Bill Giles

Manager(s)
  
Nick Leyva

General manager(s)
  
Lee Thomas

Local television
  
WTAF (Harry Kalas, Richie Ashburn, Andy Musser) PRISM (Andy Musser, Chris Wheeler, Garry Maddox)

Local radio
  
WCAU (Harry Kalas, Richie Ashburn, Andy Musser, Chris Wheeler)

The 1989 season was the Phillies 107th season. The Phillies finished in 6th place in the National League East for the second consecutive season. It would also be Mike Schmidt's final season.

Contents

Offseason

  • October 24, 1988: Shane Rawley and cash were traded by the Phillies to the Minnesota Twins for Tom Nieto, Eric Bullock and Tom Herr.
  • December 7, 1988: Kent Tekulve was released by the Philadelphia Phillies.
  • December 7, 1988: Greg A. Harris was signed as a Free Agent with the Philadelphia Phillies.
  • December 8, 1988: Phil Bradley was traded by the Phillies to the Baltimore Orioles for Gordon Dillard and Ken Howell.
  • December 16, 1988: Milt Thompson was traded by the Phillies to the St. Louis Cardinals for Steve Lake and Curt Ford.
  • January 11, 1989: Steve Stanicek was signed as a free agent by the Phillies.
  • Regular season

    Injuries to Mike Schmidt's knees and back caused him to miss much of the 1988 season. After a poor start to the 1989 season, Schmidt chose to suddenly announce his retirement in San Diego, on May 29. Known as "Captain Cool" by many in Philadelphia sports circles, Schmidt surprised many with an emotional, and occasionally tearful, retirement speech. In honor of his career, fans voted Schmidt to the NL All-Star team; Schmidt declined to play but was announced with the team. His last game was May 28, 1989, against the San Francisco Giants.

    The Phillies played 163 regular season games due to a tie game on June 5 when they hosted the Pittsburgh Pirates. With the score tied 3-3, the game ended due to rain after only 8 innings had been played. Under the playing rules in place at the time, all player and team statistics generated during the tie game would stand (except since neither team had won, there could not be a winning or losing pitcher); a replacement game would be played at a later date. This game would mark the last regular season tie game for the Phillies as playing rules changed in 2007 allowing tie games to continue from the point of interruption at a later date.

    On June 8, 1989, Steve Jeltz hit two of his five career home runs in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, despite not starting the game. A switch-hitter, Jeltz hit one of these homers from the right side of the plate and one from the left side. This was the first time in the history of the Phillies that this feat had been accomplished. It was in this same game that, after the Pirates scored 10 runs in the top of the first, Pirate broadcaster Jim Rooker said on-air, "If we lose this game, I'll walk home." The Phillies came back to win 15-11, and after the season Rooker conducted a 300-mile charity walk from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh.

    Notable transactions

  • June 1, 1989: Shane Turner was traded by the Phillies to the Baltimore Orioles for John Posey (minors).
  • June 2, 1989: Chris James was traded by the Phillies to the San Diego Padres for John Kruk and Randy Ready.
  • June 18, 1989: Juan Samuel was traded by the Phillies to the New York Mets for Lenny Dykstra, Roger McDowell and a player to be named later. The Mets completed the trade by sending Tom Edens to the Phillies on July 27.
  • June 18, 1989: Steve Bedrosian and a player to be named later were traded by the Phillies to the San Francisco Giants for Charlie Hayes, Dennis Cook and Terry Mulholland. The Phillies completed the deal by sending Rick Parker to the Giants on August 7.
  • August 7, 1989: Greg A. Harris was selected off waivers by the Boston Red Sox from the Philadelphia Phillies.
  • Starters by position

    Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

    Other batters

    Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

    Starting pitchers

    Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

    Other pitchers

    Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

    Relief pitchers

    Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

    References

    1989 Philadelphia Phillies season Wikipedia