Philadelphia Phillies History on December 11

  • December 11, 1917 – The Phillies made one of the most infamous trades in franchise history, sending future Hall of Fame pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander and his personal catcher Bill Killefer to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for pitcher Mike Prendergast, catcher Pickles Dillhoefer, and cash. Alexander had been one of the game’s premier pitchers and the move was largely motivated by owner William Baker’s financial concerns during World War I.
  • December 11, 1929 – Grover Cleveland Alexander was reacquired from the St. Louis Cardinals along with catcher Harry McCurdy in exchange for outfielder Homer Peel and pitcher Bob McGraw, bringing back the legendary hurler who had starred in Philadelphia earlier in his career.
  • December 11, 1947 – The Phillies traded pitcher Tommy Hughes to the Cincinnati Reds for infielder/outfielder Bert Haas, a veteran who contributed both infield depth and leadership for the club.
  • December 11, 1957 – Philadelphia purchased outfielder Dave Philley from the Detroit Tigers, adding a seasoned bat and glove to the roster during the offseason.
  • December 11, 1962 – Philadelphia traded outfielder Jacke Davis to the Los Angeles Angels for catcher/outfielder Earl Averill, a move that reshaped depth options on the roster.
  • December 11, 1985 – The Phillies made a significant trade, sending pitchers John Denny and Jeff Gray to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for outfielder Gary Redus and pitcher Tom Hume; Hume went on to pitch effectively out of the bullpen for Philadelphia.
  • December 11, 1996 – Free agent pitcher Mark Portugal signed a two-year contract with the Phillies, adding veteran experience to the pitching staff during the winter meetings.
  • December 11, 2014 – The Phillies selected outfielder Odúbel Herrera from the Texas Rangers in the Rule 5 Draft, giving the team a young athletic center fielder who would become a key part of the lineup in the 2015 season.

Phillies personnel born on December 11

  • Bill Nicholson (1914) A powerful outfielder nicknamed “Swish” who played 16 seasons in the majors, including five seasons with the Phillies; he was known for his slugging and was among the league leaders in homers and RBI in the 1940s. He hit 235-948-.268/.365/.465/.830 in his 16 year MLB career.
  • Jim Bivin (1909) A pitcher who played one season in the majors and it was in Philadelphia. Bivin contributed as a right-handed arm making 14 starts and 33 relief appearances in 1935 when he went 2-9, 5.79.
  • Lou Raymond (1894) Another player who pitched in the majors for one season; actually part of a season. In 1919 Raymond, who was a second baseman and had one hit in two at-bats with the Phillies
  • Joe Blanton (1980) – Blanton pitched 13 seasons in the majors, four of which were with the Phillies, including being a key starting pitcher on the 2008 World Series championship team.
  • Andy Tracy (1973) – Tracy played parts of five MLB seasons, including 13 games with the Phillies over 2008 and 2009. Tracy has continued his career in coaching and player development roles and is the current manager of the Columbus Clippers (Cleveland).
  • James McArthur (1996) – The Phillies drafted McArthur in 2018 and reached the majors in 2023 with the Kansas City Royals. He last pitched in the majors with the Royals in 2024.

A DEEPER DIVE… The fall and rise of Odubel Herrera

Odubel Herrera’s time with the Philadelphia Phillies began like a storybook. Picked up from the Texas Rangers in the 2014 Rule 5 Draft, he came to Philadelphia as an unknown prospect and immediately seized his opportunity in the big leagues. In his rookie season (2015) he produced one of the best Rule 5 rookie campaigns in history, impressing with his lively bat, speed on the bases, and instinctive play in center field. His energy and swagger quickly made him a fan favorite in a rebuilding Phillies club.

Herrera’s early years were defined by his ability to make solid contact and hit for extra bases, especially doubles. By 2017 he had developed into a legitimate offensive threat. In that season, he finished third in the National League with 42 doubles, becoming the first Phillies player with at least 40 doubles since Jayson Werth in 2010. That year also marked his only All-Star selection, and he became a central part of the Phillies’ core as their everyday center fielder.

Doubles were one of Herrera’s strengths because he combined gap power with good bat-to-ball skills. From 2015 through 2018 he consistently ranked among team leaders in extra-base hits, and his total of 158 career doubles with the Phillies reflects both his ability and his role as a top-of-the-order hitter. The doubles defined his ability to drive the ball into the gaps, create scoring opportunities, and put pressure on defenses.

As Herrera’s star was rising on the field, the Phillies showed their commitment by signing him to a long-term contract extension in December 2016, a five-year deal that locked him in as a foundational player for the franchise through the early 2020s. At the time it seemed like the Phillies had secured a key building block as they tried to return to contention. Unfortunately, Herrera’s trajectory took a sharp turn in 2019. Midway through that season he was arrested and subsequently suspended for 85 games by Major League Baseball for violating its domestic violence policy. The legal charges were eventually dropped, but the incident effectively derailed his career in Philadelphia. The Phillies removed him from their 40-man roster, and he did not play again in the majors that year.

Herrera did return to the Phillies organization in subsequent seasons and signed a one-year contract to give himself another chance. He received an opportunity to compete for playing time but struggled to regain the form that had made him an All-Star. His offensive numbers after 2019, including batting average and on-base percentage, were below the levels expected of a top center fielder, and he spent time in spring training and at the alternate training site trying to earn a spot on the roster.

Since 2022, Herrera, who turns 34 later this month, has played in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League and is currently playing for the Tigres de Aragua in the 2025–2026 season, continuing his career in his home country’s winter league. Herrera has remained active in the game in an attempt to gain a return to the majors. After hitting .249 in 37 games last season, he is batting just .158 in 14 games this winter.

Herrera’s story is a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in professional sports. Early success, highlighted by his doubles and dynamic play, gave way to off-field issues and performance struggles that have kept him from sustaining the career many imagined during his first years with the Phillies.