This Date in Phillies History: November 14

Events in Phillies history on November 14

November 14, 2011: The Philadelphia Phillies signed free agent closer Jonathan Papelbon to a four-year, $50 million contract with a vesting option for a fifth year.
November 14, 2001: Phillies manager Larry Bowa was named National League Manager of the Year after guiding the team to an 86-76 record, his first season at the helm.

Phillies-affiliated players/managers/executives born on November 14

Curt Schilling (1966) — Schilling pitched for the Phillies from 1992-2000, helped them reach the 1993 World Series and later had Hall-of-Fame caliber seasons elsewhere.

A DEEPER DIVE… Curt Schilling’s MLB career

Curt Schilling’s major league career is one of the more memorable and complicated stories in recent baseball history, and a big part of that story took place during his years with the Phillies. Before he became known for postseason heroics in Arizona and Boston, he built his reputation in Philadelphia as a durable, competitive starter who anchored the rotation through most of the 1990s. His time with the Phillies transformed him from a promising arm into one of the most respected pitchers in the National League, even if it also came with some friction and later baggage tied to his outspoken personality.

Schilling first arrived in Philadelphia before the 1992 season as part of a trade with the Houston Astros that sent pitcher Jason Grimsley to Houston. It didn’t take long for him to stand out. In 1992 he logged more than 200 innings and showed the mix of command, power, and intensity that would become his trademark. By 1993 he had taken a major step forward, playing a central role on a Phillies team that shocked baseball by winning the National League pennant. His postseason that year remains one of the best stretches of pitching in franchise history. He earned MVP honors in the NLCS after throwing two complete games against Atlanta, helping the Phillies topple a club many believed unbeatable.

Across the mid and late 1990s, Schilling was the clear ace of several Phillies teams that never quite put enough talent around him. He produced big strikeout totals year after year, carried heavy workloads, and maintained a reputation as a fierce competitor who demanded as much from himself as he did from his teammates. His 1997 and 1998 seasons were especially strong, featuring high strikeout rates and long outings that were increasingly rare in the modern era. Even during difficult rebuilding years, fans could count on Schilling to turn in a performance that made tuning in worthwhile.

His time in Philadelphia wasn’t without tension though. Schilling was vocal about the team’s direction and at times pushed for changes he felt were needed to win. That approach didn’t always sit well with the front office or with some teammates. By 2000 it became clear the relationship had run its course, and the Phillies traded him to Arizona, where he went on to further establish himself as a postseason legend. His work with the Diamondbacks and Red Sox brought championships, memorable October performances, and eventually controversies unrelated to his pitching. His social media activity and political commentary in retirement became major points of debate and ultimately hurt his standing in Hall of Fame voting.

Still, for Phillies fans, the on-field story is the one that matters most. Schilling remains one of the premier pitchers in franchise history, a workhorse who delivered dominant stretches during an era when the team struggled to find its footing. His 1993 postseason run alone guarantees him a permanent place in Philadelphia baseball lore. Even with the complicated legacy that followed, his time with the Phillies represents the foundation of a career that influenced a generation of pitchers and produced some of the most memorable moments of the 1990s.

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