8 Baseball Players who Played for Phillies and Red Sox
There is a good chance that if you’ve found this page then you’re playing the Immaculate Grid.
That also means that today’s grid has asked for players that have played for both the Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox.
And, it also means that you’re probably stuck on this particular box and you’re looking for a little help. Sound about right so far?
Well, good news, you’re in the right place.
I’ve done some research and have found players who played for both the Phillies and Red Sox. It’s a mix of well-known All-Stars and some under-the-radar guys that you might have forgotten about.
Curt Schilling
Curt Schilling is perhaps most noted for his part in the Boston Red Sox’s first World Series win in 86 years in 2004 and his exceptional performances in high-stakes games. From 1988 to 2007, he played in the MLB with five teams, notably the Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox.
He ended his career with a 216-146 win-loss record, a 3.46 ERA, and an impressive 3116 strikeouts, ranking 15th highest all-time.
Schilling’s remarkable postseason career included three World Series championships (2001 with the Arizona Diamondbacks and 2004 & 2007 with the Boston Red Sox), and he earned the World Series MVP in 2001.
Schilling Key Stats
- All-Star (Phillies, Red Sox, Diamondbacks)
- 3000+ Strikeouts Career
- 300+ Strikeouts Season (Phillies, Diamondbacks)
- 20+ Wins Season (Diamondbacks, Red Sox)
Jonathan Papelbon
Jonathan Papelbon’s career is marked by his impressive performances as a closer, primarily for the Boston Red Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies. He made his major league debut in 2005, and by the end of his career in 2016, he had recorded 368 saves with an ERA of 2.44.
Papelbon was a key player in the Red Sox’s 2007 World Series win and was even named the World Series MVP that year. His accolades include six All-Star selections.
Papelbon also holds the record for most saves in both Red Sox and Phillies history, solidifying his legacy as one of the elite closers of his era.
Papelbon Key Stats
- All-Star (Red Sox, Phillies)
- 300+ Career Saves
- 40+ Saves Season (Red Sox)
Kyle Schwarber
Kyle Schwarber is a left-handed hitting slugger who primarily plays as a left fielder and designated hitter. He debuted in the MLB in 2015 with the Chicago Cubs. Schwarber is known for his power at the plate, with career highlights including a .480 slugging percentage through the 2022 season.
He had a memorable 2015 postseason, belting five home runs in just nine games. However, he suffered a significant knee injury early in the 2016 season but made a dramatic return during the World Series the same year, helping the Cubs to their first championship in over a century.
Schwarber has since played for the Nationals, Red Sox and Phillies, continuing to add to his career totals of over 225 home runs and 500 RBIs.
Schwarber Key Stats
- All-Star (Nationals, Phillies)
- Silver Slugger (Phillies)
- 40+ Home Run Season (Phillies)
Craig Kimbrel
Craig Kimbrel made his MLB debut with the Atlanta Braves in 2010, quickly earning the closer role. In his rookie season, he recorded 46 saves, a 2.10 ERA, and was named the NL Rookie of the Year. He went on to lead the National League in saves for four consecutive seasons from 2011 to 2014, earning All-Star honors in each of those years.
After his time with the Braves, Kimbrel played for the San Diego Padres before being traded to the Boston Red Sox. He continued to be one of the league’s best closers, helping the Red Sox win the World Series in 2018 with some crucial postseason performances.
Kimbrel’s later career has included stints with the Cubs, White Sox, Dodgers and Phillies. His ability to strike out batters at a high rate and close out games with efficiency has been a hallmark of his career.
Kimbrel Key Stats
- All-Star (Braves, Red Sox, Cubs, Phillies)
- World Series Champ (Red Sox)
- 300+ Career Saves (Braves, Red Sox, Cubs, Phillies, Dodgers, Padres, White Sox)
- 40+ Save Season (Braves, Red Sox)
Jamie Moyer
Jamie Moyer was a steady pitcher in baseball for an impressive stretch from 1986 to 2012. He made a name for himself with teams like the Mariners and Phillies, but also had stops with the Cubs, Orioles, Rangers, Rockies, Cardinals and Red Sox.
Over his career, he snagged over 260 wins, proving that you don’t need a blazing fastball to get the job done. Moyer was an All-Star once and was also a big part of the Phillies’ World Series win in 2008.
What’s really cool about him is that he pitched in the majors until he was 49, which is just amazing.
Heathcliff Slocumb
You may remember Heathcliff Slocumb as a relief pitcher with the Phillies and Red Sox in the 90s, but he was a bit of a journeyman playing for 8 teams over the course of 10 years. (Cubs, Phillies, Cardinals, Red Sox, Mariners, Padres, Indians (now Guardians), Orioles)
He was a solid reliever with some good seasons and even an all-star appearance while with the Phillies in 1995.
However, he might be best known in baseball lore for being traded from the Red Sox to the Mariners in 1997 for Derek Lowe and Jason Varitek, a deal that later appeared very lopsided in Boston’s favor.
Vicente Padilla
Vicente Padilla, who played from 1999 to 2012, spent his career with several teams, including the Phillies, Rangers, Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Red Sox.
Known for his slider and unpredictable temperament, Padilla amassed over 100 wins and 1,000 strikeouts over his career. He had several strong seasons, particularly in 2002 when he won 14 games with the Phillies and earned his only All-Star appearance.
Matt Stairs
Matt Stairs had a lengthy Major League career that spanned from 1992 to 2011, during which he played for 12 different teams, essentially making him an Immaculate Grid Hall-of-Famer.
Known for his power-hitting abilities, primarily as a pinch-hitter, he hit 265 home runs over his career and holds the record for the most pinch-hit home runs in MLB history with 23. Stairs had a career batting average of .262 with an OPS of .832, and recorded 899 RBIs.
Notably, in the 2008 postseason with the Philadelphia Phillies, he hit one of the most famous home runs in Phillies history, helping the team move onto the World Series that year.
