This Date in Phillies History: December 2

Events of December 2 in Phillies history

December 2, 1993 – The Phillies traded closer Mitch Williams to the Houston Astros in exchange for relievers Doug Jones and Jeff Juden.
December 2, 2002 – Free agent first baseman Jim Thome signed a six-year contract with the Phillies. The signing was a major splash at the time meant to boost the team’s power and signal a new willingness to spend on veteran star talent.

Phillies players born on December 2

Glenn Crawford (1913) Crawford had a major-league career that included time with the Phillies in 1945 and 1946. He played in 82 games and hit .295 in 1945.
Wayne Simpson (1948) A hard-throwing right-hander best known for his sensational rookie start with the 1970 Reds, Simpson spent part of the 1975 season with the Phillies, making 5 starts and 2 relief appearances with a 3.23 ERA.
Art Jahn (1895) Jahn, an outfielder, played briefly for the Phillies in 1928 (36 games, .232 AVG); though his major-league career was short, he was a contact-oriented hitter who also played for the Cubs and New York Giants during the late 1920s.

A DEEPER DIVE… Jim Thome

Jim Thome’s career is one of the great power-hitting stories in modern baseball, but it is also a story shaped by the steady guidance of Charlie Manuel. Thome entered pro ball as a 13th-round pick of the Cleveland Indians in 1989, and at first he didn’t look like someone destined for 600 home runs. He was a skinny, contact-oriented infielder who played hard but not yet with the identity that later defined him. The Indians saw potential, though, and as Thome worked through the minor leagues he kept adding strength, confidence, and a better understanding of how to lift the ball. Much of that development happened under the watchful eye of Manuel, then Cleveland’s hitting coach and later the team’s manager.

Manuel recognized Thome’s raw power before Thome believed in it himself. He pushed him to embrace the idea of being a middle-of-the-order force. The two spent countless hours in batting cages, often long after teammates had left the facility. Manuel stressed keeping Thome’s hands relaxed and encouraged him to trust his natural loft. As their bond grew stronger, so did Thome’s production. By the mid-1990s he had become a star at third base, later moving to first as his frame filled out. He was a major force on the powerhouse Cleveland teams that reached the World Series in 1995 and 1997. Teammates often noted his quiet intensity and his genuine personality, traits that made him one of the most admired players of his era.

By the time he left Cleveland as a free agent after the 2002 season, Thome had already secured a place among the franchise’s all-time greats. He hit 337 home runs for the club, consistently reached base at an elite level, and helped lead one of the most feared lineups of the decade. His departure was emotional for fans and for Manuel, who had long championed him as both a player and a person.

Phillies Signing and Veteran Leadership
Thome’s next chapter took him to Philadelphia, where the Phillies signed him to a landmark contract in December 2002. The franchise was moving out of Veterans Stadium and into a new competitive window. Thome became the centerpiece of that shift. Even in a new league, he immediately shaped the lineup with his patience, power, and professionalism. He delivered 47 home runs in 2003 and followed with 42 home runs in 2004.

During his time in Philadelphia, Thome continued to lean on his relationship with Manuel, who joined the Phillies organization not long after Thome arrived. When Manuel was hired as manager before the 2005 season, it reunited the pair in a way that felt natural. Manuel trusted Thome’s voice in the clubhouse and valued the example he set for younger players. For Thome, having Manuel around helped maintain a sense of continuity at a point when injuries were beginning to take a toll. A lingering elbow injury cost him significant time in 2005, allowing Thome to play just 59 games, and ultimately opened the door for the Phillies to transition to a new star first baseman in Ryan Howard.

Though Thome’s Phillies tenure was not long, his influence on the franchise lasted well beyond the three seasons he played there. He helped accelerate a culture change that contributed to the team’s eventual championship core.

Journeyman Years and Continued Production
After leaving Philadelphia, Thome revitalized his career with the Chicago White Sox, delivering a 42-homer season in 2006 and continuing to terrorize pitchers well into his late thirties. He later made stops with the Dodgers, Twins, Indians again, and Orioles. His late-career run with Minnesota was particularly memorable. Even as his mobility declined, his plate discipline never disappeared, and he still punished mistakes with towering opposite-field shots.

The milestones kept coming. In 2011 he became only the eighth player to reach 600 career home runs, doing so in classic Thome fashion with a humble celebration and genuine gratitude toward everyone who helped him along the way. Manuel, who was still managing the Phillies at the time, publicly praised him and spoke about how proud he was to see Thome reach a level he always believed was possible.

Final Seasons and Reunion with Charlie Manuel
Thome finally returned to the Phillies in 2012 for a brief stint that gave fans a chance to welcome him back in person. Manuel was still managing the club, and the reunion brought a familiar comfort. Thome was no longer an everyday player, but he contributed key pinch-hit moments and remained a respected mentor in the clubhouse. Their bond was more than baseball. Both men spoke often about their friendship, built over decades of trust and shared work.

Legacy and Hall of Fame Career
Jim Thome retired as one of baseball’s most beloved figures. With 612 home runs, more than 1,700 walks, and a reputation for unfailing integrity, he entered the Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 2018. His career represents power, patience, and consistency, but it also represents the impact that a meaningful player-coach relationship can have. Charlie Manuel helped shape Thome’s identity as a hitter, and Thome helped reinforce Manuel’s belief in his own approach to teaching the game. Their partnership is one of the most enduring and genuine in recent baseball history, and it remains a defining thread in the story of Jim Thome’s remarkable career.

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