The Main Event

  • May 29, 1965 – Dick Allen hit a 510-foot home run against pitcher Larry Jackson — over a sign and the roof of Connie Mack Stadium — in a 4-2 victory over the Cubs.
  • May 29, 1989 – Michael Jack Schmidt announces his retirement in an emotional farewell speech. He had hit .203 for the season — his lowest average since his rookie year.
  • May 29, 2006 – Ryan Howard goes deep at Citizens Bank Park, leading the Phillies to an 11-2 win over Washington. It was Howard’s 18th home run of the season.

Philadelphia has produced some of the most dominant power hitters in baseball history, and no three names loom larger than Dick Allen, Mike Schmidt, and Ryan Howard. Each defined an era at third base or first base for the Phillies, and each brought a complicated, fascinating story beyond the raw numbers.

The Players They Were

Dick Allen arrived in Philadelphia in 1963 as a 21-year-old prodigy with extraordinary physical gifts — a thick-wristed, powerful man who could launch baseballs to places that left teammates and opponents speechless. Allen was a genuinely transcendent talent, perhaps the most physically gifted of the three, capable of hitting the ball harder and farther than almost anyone of his generation. Mike Schmidt was the consummate professional, relentless in his preparation and discipline, combining elite power with elite defense in a way that made him arguably the best third baseman who ever played the game. Ryan Howard was a force of nature built for one purpose — hitting baseballs over fences — and for a five-year stretch, he was arguably the most feared left-handed power hitter in baseball.

Personality and Public Perception

This is where the three diverge sharply. Allen was volatile, rebellious, and deeply wounded by his time in Philadelphia. He arrived as one of the first black stars in a city with deep racial tensions, endured vicious harassment from fans, and eventually became a target of criticism that followed him throughout his career. He wrote messages in the dirt, showed up late, and clashed with management — behaviors that got him labeled difficult and selfish, though context matters enormously. History has softened considerably toward Allen, with many analysts now arguing he was a man ahead of his time playing in a hostile environment.

Schmidt was cerebral, private, and sometimes perceived as cold. He famously said Philadelphia fans would boo a funeral, and the relationship between him and the Philly faithful was awkward and combative for long stretches despite his being the greatest player in franchise history. The media often found him guarded and analytical to the point of seeming robotic. He earned respect more than love.

Howard was genuinely beloved. He was warm, accessible, naturally charismatic, and wore his emotions on his sleeve. The city embraced him completely during his peak years, and he returned that affection without complication. He was not a difficult personality to cover or to root for.

Value to Their Teams

Allen carried teams that had little else. His 1972 MVP season with the White Sox demonstrated what he could do in a healthier environment, but his Phillies years, despite the chaos, featured seasons of jaw-dropping offensive production for a club that rarely competed. He was the show on otherwise forgettable rosters.

Schmidt was the cornerstone of the best era in Phillies history. The 1980 World Series championship runs directly through him — his MVP performance in that Series stands as the defining moment of Phillies baseball. He was the player around whom a championship roster was built and sustained.

Howard was the cleanup hitter and “Big Piece” of the 2008 championship puzzle and, for several seasons, one of the most productive RBI producers in the game. His 2006 MVP season and his 2008 World Series performance cemented his place in Philadelphia lore. The back half of his career was diminished by injuries, but at his peak, no left-handed bat in the sport was more dangerous.

Legacy

Schmidt’s legacy is the most settled — a Hall of Famer, universally regarded among the five best third basemen ever. Howard retired with a complicated story of peak brilliance followed by decline. Allen, still without a Hall of Fame plaque, remains perhaps the most argued-over figure in franchise history, a player whose talent was undeniable but whose career was shaped as much by circumstance and prejudice as by his own choices. All three, in their own way, are essential chapters in what it means to be a Philadelphia Phillies fan.

Philadelphia Baseball Events for May 29

  • May 29, 1939 – Traded Claude Passeau to the Chicago Cubs for Joe Marty, Ray Harrell and Kirby Higbe. Passeau came to the Phillies in 1936 and led the NL in starts (34) and led the majors with 292.1 innings pitched.
  • May 29, 1959 – With the game tied in the bottom of the ninth in Milwaukee, Phillies pitcher Gene Conley tries to intentionally walk Joe Adcock. Conley left one of the pitches a little too close to the plate and Adcock reached out to hit the ball and drove in Hank Aaron with the winning run.
  • May 29, 2010 – Roy Halladay sets down all 27 Florida batters, completing the 20th perfect game in major league history. The Phillies scored the game’s only run on an error by Florida’s Cameron Maybin.

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Philadelphia Baseball Birthdays for May 29

  • Dave Fultz (born 1875) – One of the players who played for both the Philadelphia Athletics and Phillies. Fultz, an infielder/outfielder started his career with the Phillies in 1898 and hit .200 in 21 games. After spending 1899 with Baltimore and 1900 in the minors, he returned to Philadelphia with the 1901 A’s and was a different player. In 261 games, he hit .297 and drove in 101 runs while scoring 204. He led the majors with 109 runs scored in 1902.
  • Hal Elliott (born 1899) – A right-hander who spent all four of his major league seasons with the Phillies. He led the NL in games with 48 in 1930. Overall, he made 30 starts and 90 relief appearances, posting an 11-24 record and a 6.95 ERA.
  • Vance Dinges (born 1915) – Played for the 1945 and 1946 Phillies in his only two major league seasons. Hit 2-46-.291/.350/.363/.713 in 159 games.
  • Charlie Hayes (born 1965) – Had two stints with the Phillies (1989-1991, 1995). Hayes played primarily at third base and spent 14 seasons in the majors and hit .262/.316/.398/.713 with seven different teams.
  • Toby Borland (born 1969) – Drafted by the Phillies in the 27th round of the 1987 Draft out of Quitman High School in Louisiana. Began his career with the Phillies in 1994 and made 143 relief appearances. He was 9-6, 3.66 with seven saves. He was traded to the Mets in the Rico Brogna deal, but returned to pitch in six games with the ’98 Phillies and posted a 5.00 ERA.
  • Jordan Dissin (born 2002) – Drafted by the Phillies in the 12th round of the 2022 Draft, Dissin is a catcher playing at Double-A Reading. He is hitting .200/.254/.300/.554 in 19 games this season.

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