Phillies have long history of player-managers
In early baseball history, it was not uncommon for players to serve as player-managers; that is, they managed the team while still being signed to play for the club. The Phillies have had 15 player-managers, seven coming prior to 1900.
Bob Ferguson
Ferguson was the first manager in franchise history (1883). It didn’t last long, as he was relieved after 17 games (4-13 record that included an 0-8 start of the season). He wound up playing 86 games at second base.
Blondie Pursell
The Opening Day left fielder, Purcell got the first hit in franchise history. The club finished 13-68 under Blondie, who also played third base and pitched. It was his only managerial experience.
Jack Clements
Clements was a left-handed throwing catcher and native of Philadelphia. He was one of three who managed when future Hall of Famer Harry Wright had to take time off because of eyesight problems in 1890. Clements posted a 13-6 record.
Bob Allen
Allen was a rookie shortstop on the 1890 club who also managed when Wright was out (25-10). Al Reach, part owner, also managed the club for 11 games (4-7).
Arthur Irwin
A one-time shortstop on the club (1886-89), Irwin managed the Phillies in '94 (71-57) and '95 (78-53). He played one inning at shortstop in one game in 1894, barely qualifying as a player-manager.
Billy Nash
A third baseman, Nash ended a 15-year playing career with three Phillies seasons, 1896-98. He was a player-manager in the first season, playing 65 games at third; 62-68 record.
George Stallings
Stallings managed the Phillies in 1897 (55-77) and replaced by Bill Shettsline on June 18 of the following season (19-27). Stallings' playing time was extremely limited, appearing in two games his first season and one in his second.
Chief Zimmer
A catcher for 19 Major League seasons, Zimmer managed the Phillies in 1903, playing his final 37 games (35 behind the plate). He went 49-86 and was gone after the season ended. Zimmer was a National League umpire in 1904.
Hugh Duffy
Duffy ended his 17-year big league career as player-manager, 1904-06. An outfielder, he played only 34 games in those seasons. During this tenure, the Phillies finished eighth (52-100), fourth (83-69) and fourth again (71-82).
Red Dooin
Dooin spent 13 of his 15 seasons as a catcher with the Phillies, including five years as a player-manager (1910-14). He went on to post a 392-370 record. Dooin was replaced by another catcher, Pat Moran, who led Phillies to their first pennant in '15.
Gavvy Cravath
Cravath was a power-hitting outfielder on the 1915 pennant winners. He led the National League in home runs during six of his nine seasons (1912-20) with the Phillies. He replaced Jack Combs as Phillies manager on July 9, 1919, and ended his career as player-manager the following season, going 91-137.
Kaiser Wilhelm
Wilhelm replaced Bill Donovan on July 26, 1921, as player-manager, pitching his final four games of nine-year career. In '22, he served as only the manger. His overall record was 83-137.
Stuffy McInnis
A first baseman, McInnis ended a 19-year career with the Phillies as a player-manager in 1927. He played only one game in a long season, going 51-103.
Jimmie Wilson
Wilson was a catcher who began his career with Phillies, 1923-28. After six seasons with Cardinals, he returned to the Phils as player-manager for five seasons, '34-38. Wilson was the second Philadelphia native to manage the Phillies. With the ballclub in financial difficulties, the best players were traded. Wilson wound up with a 280-477 record.
Ben Chapman
An outfielder/third baseman with 15 years in the Majors, Chapman managed the Phillies from 1945-48, going 196-276. His first two years were as a player-manager.
Nuggets
The Philadelphia A’s had one player-manager -- Eddie Joost -- in their final season (51-103) in the city, 1954. The regular shortstop for the A’s for eight seasons, Joost started 12 games as a player-manager.
The last player-manager in Major League Baseball was Pete Rose with the Cincinnati Reds, 1984-86. After being traded from the Montreal Expos to the Reds in August '84, Rose was immediately named the Reds' manager. He retired as a player after the '86 season but continued managing the Reds through '89. Coach Tommy Helms was the interim manager when Rose was suspended ('88) and then banned from baseball ('89).