Events in Phillies history on November 18
- November 18, 1997 – The Phillies acquired outfielder Bobby Abreu from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in exchange for shortstop Kevin Stocker, a trade that would become one of the most impactful in franchise history. The Devil Rays had selected Abreu from the Astros in the expansion draft earlier in the day, and rapidly turned around and sent him to the Phillies.
- November 18, 1997 – The only player that the Phillies lost in the 1997 expansion draft was pitcher Jason Boyd, who was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Phillies players, coaches, executives, and broadcasters born on November 18
- Jamie Moyer (born 1962) – A left-handed pitcher who played for the Phillies from 2006 to 2010, he contributed veteran leadership in the later years of his long, 25-season MLB career.
- Tom “Flash” Gordon (born 1967) – A relief pitcher who spent three seasons (2006-2008) with the Phillies. Gordon was a combined 11-10, 4.19 with 42 saves in 137 relief appearances with the Phillies. In all, Gordon pitched 21 seasons for eight different MLB teams finishing with a 138-126 record, 158 saves, a 3.96 ERA, and struck out 1,928 hitters in 2,108 innings.
A DEEPER DIVE… Jamie Moyer
Jamie Moyer’s career stands as one of the most remarkable longevity stories in Major League Baseball. Born on November 18, 1962, Moyer entered professional baseball when the Chicago Cubs drafted him in 1984. Few could have predicted that he would pitch in parts of four decades, reinvent himself multiple times, and ultimately become one of the most effective finesse pitchers of his era. Early in his career, Moyer relied more on competitiveness and command than overpowering stuff, but inconsistency and injuries led to a period in the early 1990s when his future in the majors was far from certain. After stints with the Cubs, Rangers, Cardinals, Orioles, and Red Sox, he finally found his footing with Seattle, beginning in 1996. There, he developed a deeper understanding of how to change speeds, locate precisely, and exploit hitters’ tendencies, turning himself into a reliable rotation anchor well into his late thirties and early forties.
By the time the Phillies acquired Moyer from Seattle in August 2006, he was already 43-years-old, an age when most pitchers are long retired. Philadelphia brought him in partly for stability and partly for leadership, knowing the club had a young core that needed guidance. Moyer delivered both immediately. His approach—mixing an 80-mph fastball with devastating changeups and pinpoint control—fit perfectly in the National League. He made eight starts down the stretch in 2006 and helped the Phillies stay in contention. It was a small preview of what would become one of the most endearing late-career chapters for any pitcher in Phillies history.
The Phillies’ rise from 2007 through 2009 coincided with Moyer becoming a trustworthy constant in the rotation. In 2007, at age 44, he threw 199.1 innings and won 14 games, showing that he could still handle a full workload. His presence was especially valuable to the younger pitchers on the staff, who openly credited him with helping them refine their preparation and approach. Moyer’s calm demeanor, steady pacing on the mound, and refusal to give in to hitters stood out on a team loaded with offensive firepower but still shaping its pitching identity.
His finest season in Philadelphia came in 2008. At age 45, Moyer went 16–7 with a 3.71 ERA, providing exactly the stability the Phillies needed as they pushed toward October. He made 33 starts and often went deep into games despite lacking the velocity needed to intimidate hitters. Instead, hitters frequently found themselves out in front of his changeup or jammed by cutters that darted just enough to miss barrels. That consistency earned him the honor of starting Game 3 of the World Series against the Rays. While he did not get the win, his performance helped steady a pitching staff navigating the biggest stage. The Phillies went on to win the World Series in five games, giving Moyer the championship that had eluded him for more than two decades.
Moyer continued pitching for the Phillies through 2010, though injuries and age began to cut into his effectiveness. Even then, he contributed valuable innings and remained a respected figure in the clubhouse. His durability and competitiveness extended beyond his playing days in Philadelphia, too. After missing the 2011 season due to Tommy John surgery—a procedure nearly unprecedented for someone approaching 50—Moyer returned in 2012 with Colorado, briefly becoming the oldest pitcher ever to win a major-league game.
Jamie Moyer finished his career with 269 wins, more than 4,000 innings pitched, and a reputation as one of the greatest finesse pitchers the game has seen. But for Phillies fans, his legacy is tied closely to those memorable seasons from 2006 to 2010, when he stabilized the rotation, mentored younger teammates, and played a vital role on a team that brought a championship back to Philadelphia.
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