This Date in Phillies History: November 6

November 6th has been a day of receiving awards and roster moves. Plus, it’s Caleb Cotham’s birthday on This Date in Phillies History.

Events in Phillies history that occurred on November 6 (confirmed items I located)

November 6, 2007 — Shortstop Jimmy Rollins and center fielder Aaron Rowand were announced as Rawlings Gold Glove winners for the 2007 season, marking the first time the Phillies had multiple Gold Glove winners since 1982.
November 6, 2018 — The Phillies added Paco Figueroa to their staff as outfield/baserunning coach.
November 6, 2022 — Left-hander Matt Strahm was outrighted to Triple-A Worcester by the Boston Red Sox and elected to become a free agent. A little more than a month later, he would sign with the Phillies.
November 6, 2023 — The Phillies claimed LHP Josh Fleming off waivers from Tampa Bay, outrighted Erich Uelmen and Michael Plassmeyer to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. They also acquired RHP Michael Mercado from the Tampa Bay Rays for RHP Adam Leverett (with cash considerations), and selected Mercado’s contract to the 40-man roster .
November 6, 2023 — Zack Wheeler was announced as a Gold Glove Award winner. It was Wheeler’s first Gold Glove and the first for a Phillies pitcher since Steve Carlton in 1981.

Phillies folks born on November 6:

Caleb Cotham (1987) – Cotham is a former MLB pitcher with the Yankees and Reds. The Phillies named him as their pitching coach in November of 2020.

A DEEPER DIVE… Caleb Cotham’s path to Philadelphia

Caleb Cotham was born in Mount Juliet, Tennessee and pitched in the majors for the Cincinnati Reds and New York Yankees prior to becoming the Phillies pitching coach. His baseball career has followed a path marked by resilience, analytical curiosity, and a deep commitment to understanding the craft of pitching; qualities that have helped him transition seamlessly from the mound to one of baseball’s most respected young coaches.

Cotham attended Mount Juliet High School before pitching collegiately for Vanderbilt University, one of the premier baseball programs in the country. As a Commodore, he developed a reputation for command and competitiveness under coach Tim Corbin, and was part of a staff with future big leaguers like David Price and Mike Minor. His 2009 junior season was cut short by knee and elbow injuries, but his performance and potential still drew professional interest. The New York Yankees selected him in the fifth round of the 2009 MLB Draft, signing him to a professional contract that summer.

Cotham’s early professional years were hampered by arm troubles. He missed all of the 2011 season recovering from surgery and appeared in only 31 games over his first four years in the Yankees’ system. Despite the setbacks, he slowly worked his way up the organization, showing solid strike-throwing ability and a clean, repeatable delivery. His perseverance paid off in 2015, when he was called up to the Yankees and made his Major League debut on July 29, 2015, against the Texas Rangers. Cotham pitched in 12 games that season, posting a 6.52 ERA across 9.2 innings. While the numbers weren’t eye-catching, his story of persistence after multiple injuries impressed coaches and teammates alike.

That December, Cotham was traded to the Cincinnati Reds as part of the deal that sent All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman to New York. The trade gave him an opportunity for a more regular big-league role, and he opened the 2016 season in Cincinnati’s bullpen. Unfortunately, elbow and shoulder issues resurfaced, and his season — and ultimately his playing career — was derailed. He appeared in 23 games for the Reds in 2016, recording an 0–3 record with a 7.40 ERA before undergoing another surgery. At just 28 years old, Cotham decided to retire from playing in March 2017.

Retirement marked the beginning of his second act in baseball. Cotham quickly became involved with Driveline Baseball, the data-driven training facility that was revolutionizing player development through biomechanics and pitch-tracking technology. His ability to blend firsthand playing experience with a passion for analytics made him a valuable resource for pitchers seeking to optimize their performance. That expertise drew the attention of the New York Yankees, who hired him as their minor league pitching coordinator in 2018.

Cotham joined the Cincinnati Reds’ major league staff in 2019 as assistant pitching coach and was promoted to pitching coach in 2020. His modern approach — emphasizing individualized development, data integration, and communication — earned widespread praise. In November 2020, the Philadelphia Phillies hired him as their pitching coach under manager Joe Girardi. Since joining Philadelphia, Cotham has been instrumental in refining the club’s pitching strategy and helping elevate the performance of aces like Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola while fostering a collaborative, technology-savvy culture among pitchers.

From his injury-riddled playing days to his rapid rise as one of baseball’s most forward-thinking pitching minds, Caleb Cotham’s career reflects the evolution of modern baseball — where experience, science, and adaptability combine to shape success.

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