Former Phillie of the Day - Juan Samuel

I've somehow managed to get 100 posts in this blog in about 2 months. Again, thanks to all who read and maybe smile and go "oh yeah, I remember that dude."

Anyway, for the 100th post, I wanted to write about someone who had something to do with the number 100. So I turned to the Phillies all-time home run leaders. And in 24th place, with 100 home runs as a Phillie, is Juan Samuel.

The thing I remember most about Juan Samuel is how fast he was. The native of San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic (which I believe is Spanish for really good ballplayer. Seriously. Look up how many players come from that town) stole 195 bases in 451 minor league games in the Phillies system. I vividly remember him being in a Phillies commercial where he says "I am the fastest" but I can't find it anywhere online.

Samuel's first appearance for the Phillies was in San Francisco against the Giants on Aug. 24, 1983. He tripled in his second at-bat and scored on an error. The speedy second baseman was with the team for the rest of the season, including the playoffs.

He had power and speed and he struck out. A lot. He led the National League in strikeouts from 1984 to 1987 and led the NL in triples in 1984 and 1987. He was a 2-time All Star in finished second to Dwight Gooden in Rookie of the Year voting in 1984, when he stole 72 bases. He held the team record for leadoff home runs with 14 until Jimmy Rollins broke it.

Samuel was traded to the Mets in June 1989 for Roger McDowell and Lenny Dykstra, who became one of the stars of the 1993 NL Champion team. He only lasted in New York for the rest of the 1989 season and was traded to the Dodgers. He made the All-Star team for LA in 1991. But his speed was declining, and he became a utility player. From LA, he went to Kansas City, Cincinnati, Detroit, back to Kansas City, and then Toronto. His last game was Sept. 26, 1998.

He became a coach with the Tigers in 1999 and stayed there until 2006, when he managed the Mets minor league team in Binghamton, N.Y. He joined the Orioles coaching staff in 2007 and served as interim manager for about 2 months in 2010. He joined the Phillies coaching staff in 2011, where he remained until the end of last season.