This is one of the things that makes baseball great. You can compare players era to era and season to season — which brings us to the The Phillies All Time Nine.

[Before anyone reads any further please know that this article does not contain any current players. Respectively, we expect Bryce Harper and JT Realmuto to make the list at some point, but for now this only open to players who are retired.]

The Philadelphia Phillies have a rich history of talented players, from Hall of Famers to franchise icons. Choosing an all-time starting nine for the Phillies is no easy task, but here is one possible lineup that showcases some of the team’s best:

Richie Ashburn, Center Field: Ashburn played from 1948-1959 and was a seven-time All-Star. He won two National League batting titles and was known for his exceptional defense in center field.
Jimmy Rollins, Shortstop: Rollins played for the Phillies from 2000-2014 and was the National League MVP in 2007. He holds several Phillies records, including most hits, doubles, and stolen bases.
Mike Schmidt, Third Base: Schmidt is arguably the greatest Phillie of all time. He played for the team from 1972-1989 and was a three-time National League MVP. He hit 548 career home runs and won 10 Gold Glove Awards.
Ryan Howard, First Base: Howard played for the Phillies from 2004-2016 and was the National League Rookie of the Year in 2005. He hit 382 career home runs and was a three-time All-Star.
Chuck Klein, Right Field: Klein played for the Phillies from 1928-1933 and again from 1936-1939. He won the National League MVP award in 1932 and was a four-time All-Star. He hit .320 with 300 home runs in his career.
Del Ennis, Left Field: Ennis played for the Phillies from 1946-1956 and was a four-time All-Star. He hit 259 career home runs and drove in 1,124 runs.
Darren Daulton, Catcher: “Dutch” played for the Phillies from 1983-1997 and was a three-time All-Star. He was known for his leadership and helped lead the Phillies to their first World Series championship in 1980.
Chase Utley, Second Base: Utley played for the Phillies from 2003-2015 and was a six-time All-Star. He hit .282 with 233 career home runs and was known for his gritty play and clutch performances.
Steve Carlton, Pitcher: Carlton played for the Phillies from 1972-1986 and was a four-time Cy Young Award winner. He won 241 games in his career and struck out over 4,000 batters.

This starting nine would be a formidable lineup that showcases some of the best players in The Phillies history. [Some people on this list are worthy of their own Phillies Shirts.] Of course, there are many other great players who could also make the list, but these nine players would undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with.