The Big 50: Philadelphia Phillies

Overview

An extensive and dynamic look at the 50 men and moments that make the Phillies the Phillies

The Philadelphia Inquirer's Scott Lauber recounts the living history of the team, counting down from No. 50 to No. 1. Learn about and revisit the remarkable stories, featuring greats like Mike Schmidt, Chase Utley, Roy Halladay, and Bryce Harper.

Author Biography

Scott Lauber covers the Phillies for the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philly.com. He has also written for the News Journal, ESPN, the Boston Herald, and others. Larry Anderson is the radio color commentator for the Philadelphia Phillies. He pitched for the Phillies from 1983-1986 and from 1993-1994.

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The Big 50: Philadelphia Phillies

The Men and Moments that Make the Philadelphia Phillies

By Scott Lauber

 

Contact: Bill Ames, Triumph Books, 312.676.4256, b.ames@triumphbooks.com

 

The Philadelphia Phillies are the oldest continuously run, single-name, single-city franchise in American professional sports. Founded in 1883, the team was not an early success, only first qualifying for the playoffs in 1915. Ups and downs are a part of the Phillies’ mold, but even periods of failure cannot stop the Phillies determination for a win. 1950 legends Richie Ashburn and Robin Roberts led the “Whiz Kids” to Philadelphia’s first break into the World Series in 35 years. Another playoff drought hit after 1950, but the team began a turnaround in 1972, when Hall of Famers Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton made their Phillies debuts. There was a palpable feeling during this time, at least in the clubhouse, that this golden age of Phillies baseball—the first in franchise history—had an expiration date during this time. If they didn’t win the World Series in 1980, ownership would have demanded changes and blown up the roster. Author Scott Lauber recounts how the team rallied together and with Carlton’s dominant pitching and Schmidt’s timely power hitting, the team won its first world championship.

 

The Big 50: Philadelphia Phillies (Triumph Books, April 21, 2020), captures the exceptional perseverance of the Phillies as they push through the decades, bringing pride to the city of Philadelphia. Highlights include:

 

• A heartfelt foreword from American former relief pitcher of the MLB and current radio color commentator for the Philadelphia Phillies, Larry Andersen.
• Learn about and revisit the remarkable stories, featuring greats like Mike Schmidt, Chase Utley, Roy Halladay, and Bryce Harper. 

 

In The Big 50: Philadelphia Phillies (Triumph Books, April 21, 2020), Philadelphia Inquirer's Scott Lauber looks at 50 people and moments that have defined the Phillies over their first 136 seasons. Scott sets this book apart from other Phillies books, finding different points of view and perspectives that others haven’t considered.

 

About the Author:

Scott Lauber has covered the Phillies for the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philly.com for over a decade. He has also written for the News Journal, ESPN, and the Boston Herald. 

 

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