All-Time Philadelphia Roster | Natives of the region

By PATRICK GORDON | Managing Editor

@Philabaseball

Dozens of ballplayers from the Philadelphia area have made their mark at the major league level. Some were role players with minimal historical importance while others were the best of their generation. 

Today, the region is connected to four Hall of Fame players and two Hall of Fame managers. Players from the Philadelphia area lay claim to four Most Valuable Player awards, two home run titles and a slew of other accomplishments.

Putting together any All-Time roster is difficult and this project was no different. For consideration a player was required to have been born within a 50 mile radius of Philadelphia and have had a significant historical contribution to Major League Baseball. 

I will be adding five names a week until a 25-man roster is in place. At that point I will explore the strengths and weaknesses of an All-Time Philadelphia baseball club. I'll also look at players that just missed the cut.  

*  *  *  * 

C | Mike Piazza | Norristown, Pa., Phoenixville High School | 16 Seasons | 56.1 WAR

Regarded by many as the best offensive catcher to ever have played the game, Piazza's story is legendary. Drafted in the 62nd round of the 1988 Amateur Draft as nothing more than a favor to his father, Piazza blasted through the minors and made his debut with the Dodgers in September 1992. He won Rookie of the Year honors in 1993 and went on to appear in 12 All-Star Games. 

C | Roy Campanella | Philadelphia, Pa., Simon Gratz High School | 10 Seasons | 31.6 WAR

Campanella dropped out of Simon Gratz on his 16th-birthday to embark on a career in professional baseball. He spent several seasons in the Negro and Mexican Leagues before joining the Brooklyn Dodgers organization in 1946. He made his Dodgers' debut in 1948 and went on to be a vital part of Brooklyn's 1955 World Series championship. An eight-time All-Star and three-time MVP, Campanella's career was tragically cut short when he was paralyzed in a car accident prior to the 1958 season. 

RF | Reggie Jackson | Wyncote, Pa., Cheltenham High School | 21 Seasons | 68.4 WAR 

The self-proclaimed 'straw that stirs the drink', Jackson is best remembered for hitting three consecutive home runs in the clinching game of the 1977 World Series - he finished the series with a 1.792 OPS and eight RBIs. A 14-time All-Star, Jackson won five World Series championships and was a two-time World Series MVP. 

SS | Buck Weaver | Pottstown, Pa., | 9 Seasons | 18.5 WAR 

Unfortunately, Weaver is best known for his ties to the Black Sox scandal and the 1919 World Series. Not one for education, Weaver signed his first minor league deal with the Phillies when he was 20-years-old. Bought by the White Sox in the fall of 1910, Weaver made his major league debut in 1912. Ray Schalk, the starting catcher of the '19 White Sox, argued on Weaver's behalf that he had no part of throwing the World Series. 

LF | Del Ennis | Philadelphia, Pa., Olney High School | 14 Seasons | 27.5 WAR 

Ennis was a three-time All-Star and one of the few local greats that spent the majority of their professional career with the Phillies. He spent nearly three years serving in the Navy during his career. He was a vital part of the Phillies pursuit of the 1950 pennant, hitting .311 while leading the league with 126 RBIs. Throughout his career he averaged 25 home runs and more than 100 RBIs a season.

P | Bobby Shantz | Pottstown, Pa., Pottstown High School | 16 seasons | 32.1 WAR
Shantz entered the Army after graduation high school, eventually signing a professional contract in 1948 with the Philadelphia Athletics. He excelled in his one season in the minors and joined the A's in 1949. He was named MVP in 1952 after putting together a 24-7 season where he tossed 27 complete games. He was dealt to the Yankees in 1957 and excelled, appearing in two World Series'. In 1962 he started the first contest for the Houston Colt 45's in franchise history.