1987 Philadelphia Phillies season

The 1987 Philadelphia Phillies season was the 105th season for the Phillies. It was the third and final season with John Felske as manager, as he was fired on June 18 when the team won just 29 of their first 61 games. With Lee Elia at the helm, the team maneuvered itself to 51 wins in the next 101 games to finish fourth in the National League East.

Offseason October 7, 1986: Tom Gorman was released by the Phillies.Tom Gorman at Baseball Reference November 16, 1986: Rocky Childress was purchased from the Phillies by the Houston Astros.Rocky Childress at Baseball Reference

Regular season After getting off to a dismal 1–8 start, the season began to turn when Mike Schmidt hit his 500th career home run in Pittsburgh on April 18. Schmidt cracked the milestone long ball on a 3–0 count off the Pirates' Don Robinson with two men on base in the ninth inning, which rallied the club from a one-run deficit to an eventual 8–6 victory.

Schmidt slammed three home runs in an 11–6 victory over the Expos on June 14 in Montreal, eventually finishing the season with 35 and 530 career homers.

Phillies pitcher Kevin Gross was pitching against the Chicago Cubs on August 10, 1987. Gross was caught with sandpaper in his glove and suspended for 10 games.

After going as high as six games over .500 in late August, the team crashed to a 13–21 finish and tied for fourth place in the NL East with the Pirates.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions April 2, 1987: Ronn Reynolds was traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Houston Astros for Jeff Calhoun. June 2, 1987: Jim Vatcher was drafted by the Phillies in the 20th round of the 1987 Major League Baseball draft.Jim Vatcher at Baseball Reference June 10, 1987: Mike Easler was traded by the Phillies to the New York Yankees for Keith Hughes and Shane Turner.Shane Turner at Baseball Reference June 24, 1987: Dan Schatzeder and cash were traded by the Phillies to the Minnesota Twins for Danny Clay and Tom Schwarz (minors).Dan Schatzeder at Baseball Reference

1987 Game Log Legend Phillies win Phillies loss PostponementBoldPhillies team member

|- style="background:#fbb" | 1 || April 7 || @ Braves || 0–6 || Rick Mahler (1–0) || Shane Rawley (0–1) || None || 31,343 || 0–1 |- style="background:#fbb" | 2 || April 9 || @ Braves || 7–8 (10) || Gene Garber (1–0) || Dan Schatzeder (0–1) || None || 8,907 || 0–2 |- style="background:#fbb" | 3 || April 10 || Cubs || 3–4 || Ed Lynch (1–0) || Kevin Gross (0–1) || Dickie Noles (1) || 43,212 || 0–3 |- style="background:#fbb" | 4 || April 11 || Cubs || 1–9 || Rick Sutcliffe (1–1) || Joe Cowley (0–1) || None || 21,581 || 0–4 |- style="background:#bfb" | 5 || April 12 || Cubs || 9–8 (10) || Steve Bedrosian (1–0) || Lee Smith (0–1) || None || 23,769 || 1–4 |- style="background:#fbb" | 6 || April 13 || Cubs || 2–5 || Jamie Moyer (1–0) || Don Carman (0–1) || Lee Smith (1) || 15,366 || 1–5 |- style="background:#fbb" | 7 || April 14 || Mets || 5–7 || Ron Darling (1–0) || Steve Bedrosian (1–1) || Jesse Orosco (3) || 22,836 || 1–6 |- style="background:#fbb" | 8 || April 15 || Mets || 1–4 || Sid Fernandez (2–0) || Kevin Gross (0–2) || Doug Sisk (2) || 21,995 || 1–7 |- style="background:#fbb" | 9 || April 16 || Mets || 3–9 || Rick Aguilera (1–0) || Joe Cowley (0–2) || None || 16,350 || 1–8 |- style="background:#bfb" | 10 || April 17 || @ Pirates || 6–2 (10) || Steve Bedrosian (2–1) || Barry Jones (0–1) || None || 10,105 || 2–8 |- style="background:#bfb" | 11 || April 18 || @ Pirates || 8–6 || Kent Tekulve (1–0) || Don Robinson (2–1) || None || 19,361 || 3–8 |- style="background:#fbb" | 12 || April 19 || @ Pirates || 2–5 || Doug Drabek (1–1) || Bruce Ruffin (0–1) || Don Robinson (2) || 7,962 || 3–9 |- style="background:#bfb" | 13 || April 20 || @ Expos || 4–3 || Dan Schatzeder (1–1) || Jay Tibbs (1–2) || Kent Tekulve (1) || 50,482 || 4–9 |- style="background:#fbb" | 14 || April 22 || @ Expos || 3–7 || Neal Heaton (2–1) || Joe Cowley (0–3) || None || 8,114 || 4–10 |- style="background:#fbb" | 15 || April 23 || @ Expos || 5–6 || Randy St. Claire (1–0) || Mike Jackson (0–1) || Andy McGaffigan (2) || 5,632 || 4–11 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || April 24 || Pirates || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); Makeup: June 29 as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#bfb" | 16 || April 25 || Pirates || 3–2 || Don Carman (1–1) || Doug Drabek (1–2) || Kent Tekulve (2) || 18,553 || 5–11 |- style="background:#bfb" | 17 || April 26 || Pirates || 6–4 || Bruce Ruffin (1–1) || Rick Reuschel (0–1) || Steve Bedrosian (1) || 30,234 || 6–11 |- style="background:#fbb" | 18 || April 27 || Expos || 4–6 || Neal Heaton (3–1) || Kevin Gross (0–3) || Randy St. Claire (3) || 15,149 || 6–12 |- style="background:#fbb" | 19 || April 28 || Expos || 1–7 || Floyd Youmans (1–2) || Joe Cowley (0–4) || Andy McGaffigan (3) || 11,598 || 6–13 |- style="background:#bfb" | 20 || April 29 || Expos || 5–0 || Shane Rawley (1–1) || Bob Sebra (1–3) || None || 14,588 || 7–13

|- style="background:#fbb" | 21 || May 1 || Reds || 5–8 || Mario Soto (2–0) || Don Carman (1–2) || Ron Robinson (4) || 21,249 || 7–14 |- style="background:#bfb" | 22 || May 2 || Reds || 8–3 || Bruce Ruffin (2–1) || Tom Browning (2–4) || None || 32,103 || 8–14 |- style="background:#fbb" | 23 || May 3 || Reds || 6–9 || Bill Gullickson (4–1) || Kevin Gross (0–4) || John Franco (4) || 33,062 || 8–15 |- style="background:#fbb" | 24 || May 5 || Astros || 1–5 || Danny Darwin (2–1) || Shane Rawley (1–2) || None || 15,611 || 8–16 |- style="background:#fbb" | 25 || May 6 || Astros || 2–3 || Larry Andersen (3–1) || Kent Tekulve (1–1) || Dave Smith (6) || 15,809 || 8–17 |- style="background:#fbb" | 26 || May 8 || @ Reds || 3–4 || Tom Browning (3–4) || Bruce Ruffin (2–2) || John Franco (6) || 37,176 || 8–18 |- style="background:#bfb" | 27 || May 9 || @ Reds || 4–2 || Kevin Gross (1–4) || Bill Gullickson (4–2) || None || 36,910 || 9–18 |- style="background:#bfb" | 28 || May 10 || @ Reds || 4–3 || Shane Rawley (2–2) || Ted Power (3–1) || Steve Bedrosian (2) || 29,867 || 10–18 |- style="background:#bfb" | 29 || May 11 || @ Astros || 7–6 || Dan Schatzeder (2–1) || Larry Andersen (3–2) || Steve Bedrosian (3) || 11,369 || 11–18 |- style="background:#fbb" | 30 || May 12 || @ Astros || 2–5 || Bob Knepper (2–2) || Mike Jackson (0–2) || Aurelio López (1) || 8,950 || 11–19 |- style="background:#fbb" | 31 || May 13 || Braves || 5–10 || David Palmer (3–4) || Bruce Ruffin (2–3) || Jim Acker (3) || 16,142 || 11–20 |- style="background:#bfb" | 32 || May 14 || Braves || 5–4 || Kevin Gross (2–4) || Rick Mahler (2–5) || Steve Bedrosian (4) || 17,705 || 12–20 |- style="background:#bfb" | 33 || May 15 || Padres || 7–4 || Shane Rawley (3–2) || Ed Whitson (4–5) || Steve Bedrosian (5) || 22,907 || 13–20 |- style="background:#bfb" | 34 || May 16 || Padres || 9–0 || Don Carman (2–2) || Jimmy Jones (0–1) || None || 21,713 || 14–20 |- style="background:#fbb" | 35 || May 17 || Padres || 5–6 || Andy Hawkins (1–5) || Mike Jackson (0–3) || Lance McCullers (4) || 34,964 || 14–21 |- style="background:#bfb" | 36 || May 18 || Dodgers || 5–3 || Bruce Ruffin (3–3) || Rick Honeycutt (2–2) || Steve Bedrosian (6) || 17,314 || 15–21 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || May 19 || Dodgers || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 21 as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#bfb" | 37 || May 21 || Dodgers || 6–3 || Shane Rawley (4–2) || Alejandro Peña (0–4) || Steve Bedrosian (7) || 13,639 || 16–21 |- style="background:#fbb" | 38 || May 22 || Giants || 1–2 || Atlee Hammaker (2–1) || Don Carman (2–3) || Scott Garrelts (6) || 18,744 || 16–22 |- style="background:#bfb" | 39 || May 23 || Giants || 9–8 || Steve Bedrosian (3–1) || Jeff Robinson (3–2) || None || 21,841 || 17–22 |- style="background:#fbb" | 40 || May 24 || Giants || 3–6 || Mike LaCoss (5–1) || Kent Tekulve (1–2) || Jeff Robinson (7) || 28,541 || 17–23 |- style="background:#bfb" | 41 || May 25 || @ Padres || 6–4 || Dan Schatzeder (3–1) || Dave Dravecky (1–5) || Steve Bedrosian (8) || 11,504 || 18–23 |- style="background:#bfb" | 42 || May 26 || @ Padres || 3–1 || Shane Rawley (5–2) || Jimmy Jones (0–2) || Steve Bedrosian (9) || 9,347 || 19–23 |- style="background:#bfb" | 43 || May 27 || @ Padres || 6–4 || Don Carman (3–3) || Andy Hawkins (2–6) || Steve Bedrosian (10) || 8,164 || 20–23 |- style="background:#fbb" | 44 || May 29 || @ Dodgers || 0–6 || Bob Welch (6–2) || Bruce Ruffin (3–4) || None || 36,036 || 20–24 |- style="background:#bfb" | 45 || May 30 || @ Dodgers || 3–0 || Kevin Gross (3–4) || Orel Hershiser (4–6) || None || 30,216 || 21–24 |- style="background:#bfb" | 46 || May 31 || @ Dodgers || 3–1 || Shane Rawley (6–2) || Rick Honeycutt (2–4) || Steve Bedrosian (11) || 39,204 || 22–24

|- style="background:#fbb" | 47 || June 1 || @ Giants || 2–9 || Atlee Hammaker (3–1) || Don Carman (3–4) || None || 6,655 || 22–25 |- style="background:#bfb" | 48 || June 2 || @ Giants || 7–6 || Wally Ritchie (1–0) || Mark Davis (3–4) || Steve Bedrosian (12) || 10,826 || 23–25 |- style="background:#fbb" | 49 || June 3 || @ Giants || 1–4 || Mike LaCoss (6–2) || Bruce Ruffin (3–5) || Jeff Robinson (8) || 10,522 || 23–26 |- style="background:#bfb" | 50 || June 5 || Expos || 7–6 || Kevin Gross (4–4) || Andy McGaffigan (0–1) || Steve Bedrosian (13) || 26,508 || 24–26 |- style="background:#bfb" | 51 || June 6 || Expos || 4–3 || Shane Rawley (7–2) || Bob Sebra (3–6) || None || 30,177 || 25–26 |- style="background:#bfb" | 52 || June 7 || Expos || 3–1 || Mike Jackson (1–3) || Bryn Smith (3–2) || Steve Bedrosian (14) || 43,298 || 26–26 |- style="background:#fbb" | 53 || June 8 || Cardinals || 8–12 || Ricky Horton (3–0) || Don Carman (3–5) || None || 23,422 || 26–27 |- style="background:#bfb" | 54 || June 9 || Cardinals || 3–2 || Bruce Ruffin (4–5) || Danny Cox (6–3) || Steve Bedrosian (15) || 22,009 || 27–27 |- style="background:#fbb" | 55 || June 10 || Cardinals || 1–3 || Greg Mathews (4–4) || Kevin Gross (4–5) || Todd Worrell (14) || 27,976 || 27–28 |- style="background:#fbb" | 56 || June 12 || @ Expos || 6–13 || Bryn Smith (4–2) || Shane Rawley (7–3) || None || 20,031 || 27–29 |- style="background:#fbb" | 57 || June 13 || @ Expos || 5–7 || Neal Heaton (9–2) || Mike Jackson (1–4) || Tim Burke (7) || 24,221 || 27–30 |- style="background:#bfb" | 58 || June 14 || @ Expos || 11–6 || Don Carman (4–5) || Lary Sorensen (3–3) || None || 30,209 || 28–30 |- style="background:#bfb" | 59 || June 15 || @ Cubs || 3–2 || Kent Tekulve (2–2) || Lee Smith (2–4) || Steve Bedrosian (16) || 18,643 || 29–30 |- style="background:#fbb" | 60 || June 16 || @ Cubs || 2–7 || Steve Trout (3–1) || Kevin Gross (4–6) || Lee Smith (16) || 30,007 || 29–31 |- style="background:#fbb" | 61 || June 17 || @ Cubs || 3–5 || Jamie Moyer (7–4) || Shane Rawley (7–4) || Lee Smith (17) || 26,447 || 29–32 |- style="background:#fbb" | 62 || June 18 || @ Cubs || 7–9 || Rick Sutcliffe (9–3) || Mike Jackson (1–5) || Lee Smith (18) || 22,870 || 29–33 |- style="background:#fbb" | 63 || June 19 || @ Mets || 1–8 || John Mitchell (1–1) || Don Carman (4–6) || None || 46,824 || 29–34 |- style="background:#fbb" | 64 || June 20 || @ Mets || 2–3 || Dwight Gooden (3–1) || Kent Tekulve (2–3) || None || 49,043 || 29–35 |- style="background:#fbb" | 65 || June 21 || @ Mets || 3–8 || Sid Fernandez (9–3) || Kevin Gross (4–7) || Roger McDowell (8) || 44,838 || 29–36 |- style="background:#bfb" | 66 || June 23 || @ Cardinals || 4–1 || Shane Rawley (8–4) || Lee Tunnell (3–2) || Steve Bedrosian (17) || 30,455 || 30–36 |- style="background:#fbb" | 67 || June 24 || @ Cardinals || 3–5 || Todd Worrell (2–3) || Mike Jackson (1–6) || None || 29,328 || 30–37 |- style="background:#fbb" | 68 || June 25 || @ Cardinals || 0–3 || Greg Mathews (5–5) || Bruce Ruffin (4–6) || None || 38,357 || 30–38 |- style="background:#bfb" | 69 || June 26 || Mets || 5–2 || Kevin Gross (5–7) || Sid Fernandez (9–4) || Steve Bedrosian (18) || 36,263 || 31–38