Events in Phillies history on November 7

Phillies-related people born on November 7

  • Mike Pasquella (1898) – A Philadelphia native, Pasquella appeared in one game for the Phillies in 1919 before finishing his major-league career with the St. Louis Cardinals.
  • Russ Springer (1968) – A relief pitcher who spent parts of two seasons (1995-96) with the Phillies, Springer logged a long major-league career across multiple teams.

A DEEPER DIVE… The trade for Brad Lidge

On November 7, 2007 the Philadelphia Phillies traded outfielder Michael Bourn, reliever Geoff Geary and prospect Mike Costanzo to the Houston Astros for closer Brad Lidge and utility infielder Eric Bruntlett. The deal was announced as a classic “win-now” move by the Phillies—acquiring a high-leverage closer to lock down late innings and a versatile infielder to provide depth.

Brad Lidge’s value to Philadelphia was immediate and enormous. After struggling in Houston in 2006–2007, Lidge rebounded spectacularly in Philly. In 2008 he converted every save opportunity — 41 in the regular season and 7 more in the postseason — finishing the year 48-for-48 on save opportunities and closing out the Phillies’ World Series championship by recording the final out of the clinching game. That perfection in pressure situations turned a rental closer into a season-defining, franchise-altering piece.

Beyond the raw save totals, analytical work shows Lidge materially increased Philadelphia’s chances to win every time he appeared in 2008. Advanced metrics and win-probability analyses credit him with a large marginal impact on the club’s success that season — exactly the sort of high-leverage boost a contender covets. In short, Lidge was not just a closer who racked up saves — he was the reliable, game-finishing arm the 2008 Phillies desperately needed.

Eric Bruntlett’s contributions were smaller but memorable. A light-hitting infielder, Bruntlett provided defensive versatility and was the author of one of the most improbable plays in recent memory. On August 23, 2009 he turned an unassisted triple play to end a game, an historic defensive moment that exemplified the kind of timely, heads-up play a utility guy can provide. Bruntlett’s bat never became a major factor, but his glove and that iconic play made him a useful short-term piece for the club.

On the other side, the Astros received a collection of young, controllable players who had upside but whose trajectories did not match the immediate, franchise-level impact Lidge provided. Michael Bourn turned into a very good starting center fielder for Houston: he posted a 61-steal season in 2009, won consecutive Gold Gloves (2009–2010) and finished multiple seasons among the National League leaders in steals and value as a defensive center fielder. Bourn later was traded to the Braves at the 2011 deadline as the Astros continued their roster retooling.

Geoff Geary returned to Houston as a middle-relief piece but never became a long-term impact arm there. He bounced through a few organizations and left the majors a couple of years later. Mike Costanzo remained a prospect who shuffled through trades and the minors and never developed into a meaningful big-league regular. In sum, Houston gained useful depth and a future everyday center fielder in Bourn, but none of the players they acquired provided the single-season, championship lift that Lidge delivered in Philadelphia.

Taken in context: for a contender like the 2008 Phillies, acquiring a dominant, near-automatic closer is disproportionately valuable—one player can flip many close games into wins. That’s why, despite some later service and flashes from the players sent to Houston, especially Bourn, the trade is widely viewed in Philadelphia as lopsided in favor of the Phillies — Lidge’s perfect 2008 and the World Series ring he helped secure make the point succinctly.