Born:  Decatur, Ill., 12/9/1944

B-R, T-R...  5'11", 180 lbs

 

Del Unser was the Phillies pinch-hitter extraordinaire and utility player. Although he struggled a bit in the 1980 season, his bat came alive during the post season. He had several key hits in both the LCS and the World Series. Without Unser, the World Series trophy may have been out of the Phillies' reach.  In the 9th inning of pivotal Game 5 of the Series, Unser doubled home Mike Schmidt to tie the game and came around to score the eventual game-winner on Manny Trillo's single off Dan Quisenberry.

 

1980 Statistics

 

Games

 Hits

 HR

RBI

Avg.

1980

      96

   29

0

10

.264

LCS

        5

     2

 0

1

.400

WS

        3

     3

0

2

.500

Lifetime Statistics

Year

Team

AB

Runs

Hits

HR

RBI

Avg.

1968

Senators

  635

   66

  146

   1

   30

.230

1969

Senators

  581

   69

  166

   7

   57

.286

1970

Senators

  322

   37

   83

   5

   30

.258

1971

Senators

  581

   63

  148

   9

   41

.255

1972

Indians

  383

   29

   91

   1

   17

.238

1973

Phillies

  440

  64

  127

 11

   52

.289

1974

Phillies

  454

  72

  120

 11

   61

.264

1975

Mets

  531

  65

  156

 10

   53

.294

1976

Mets

  276

  28

   63

   5

   25

.228

1976

Expos

  220

  29

   50

   7

   15

.227

1977

Expos

  289

  33

   79

 12

   40

.273

1978

Expos

  179

  16

   35

   2

   15

.196

1979

Phillies

  141

  16

   42

   6

   29

.298

1980

Phillies

  110

  26

   29

   0

   10

.264

1981

Phillies

   59

    5

     9

   0

    6

.153

1982

Phillies

   14

    5

     0

   0

    0

.000

TOTALS

 

5215

617

1344

 87

481

.258

Phillies Publications

From The Phillies 1980 Media Guide:

 

How Obtained:  Signed as a free agent, March 1979.

 

1979 Season:  Set a major league record when he slammed three consecutive pinch hit home runs on June 30 vs. St. L; vs. N.Y. on 7/5; vs. S.D. on 7/10...  As a pinch hitter, he was 14-46, .304 with 4 HR and 14 RBI...  Worked out with the Phillies last spring as a free agent and signed during spring training...  Dropped under .300 on his final AB...  Can play all three outfield positions.

 

Career:  Is a member of the Phillies for the second time...  Played here in 1973 and 1974 before he was traded to the Mets in the Tug McGraw deal...  Mets traded him to Montreal on 7/21/76 with Wayne Garrett for Pepe Mangual and Jim Dwyer...  Became a free agent following the 1978 season and did not sign with any of the seven teams that drafted him...  Was claimed by the Phillies in the February, 1979 reentry draft which meant that he was free to sign with any club and the signing club did not have to compensate Montreal with a June draft pick...  Originally signed by the Washington Senators in 1966; played for Cleveland in 1972.

 

Personal/Misc:  Bought a home in the Northern California community of Moraga, 15 miles from San Francisco...  Worked in Real Estate during the off-season.

From The Phillies 1981 Media Guide:

 

1980 Season:  Had another fine season coming off the bench as a pinch hitter and defensive replacement at first base and all three outfield positions...  Batted .316 as a pinch hitter with 6 RBI...  Had some key hits during the September pennant drive and was spectacular in post season play...  Biggest hit was pinch single to give Phillies important 11th inning win over Pirates on 9/17 @ Pittsburgh...  Opted for free agency following the season but re-signed with the Phillies (two-year contract) on 12/22.

 

1980 Post-Season:  Hit .400 in the LCS and .500 in the WS...  His two-out pinch hit in Game #5 of the LCS got the Phils even at five as they scored five times in the 8th inning en route to the come-from-behind win...  Doubled and scored eventual game and series winner in 11th...  Pinch 8th inning double in WS Game #2 keyed another Phils come-from-behind win...  He doubled again as a pinch hitter in the 9th inning of WS Game #5 and scored game winner in pivotal game of the series.

 

Career:  Has been the Phillies top pinch hitter the last two seasons with 26 hits, a .310 average and 20 RBI...  Set a major league record in 1979 when he slammed three consecutive pinch HR on 6/30, 7/5 and 7/10...  Came to Phils camp in 1979 as a free agent and signed during spring training...  Currently is a member of the Phillies for the second time...  Played here in 1973 and 1974 before he was traded to the Mets in the Tug McGraw deal...  Mets traded him to Montreal on 7/21/76 where he played until opting for free agency and eventually signing with the Phils...  Originally was signed by the Washington Senators in 1966.

 

Personal/Misc:  Now makes his permanent home in Moraga, north of San Francisco...  Has real estate brokers license and works in real estate during the off-season... His father, Al, was a former major league player with Detroit and Cincinnati...  Likes to play golf.

From The 1980 Phillies Yearbook:

  • Favorite Color:  Blue
  • Favorite Singer/Group:  Simon and Garfunkle
  • Favorite Song:  The Sound of Silence
  • Favorite City:  San Diego
  • Least Favorite City:  Cleveland
  • Person You'd Most Like To Meet:  Burt Reynolds
  • Boyhood Idol(s):  Bob Cousy (Boston Celtics), Stan Musial
  • Biggest Turn-On:  Family vacations, competing to the best of my ability
  • Biggest Turn-Off:  Family separation
  • Favorite Subject in School:  Math, Kinesiology, Finance
  • Favorite TV Show:  Tonight Show
  • Favorite Book:  Your Erroneous Zones
  • Person You Most Admire:  Edwin H. Mosler, Sister Teresa of Calcutta
  • Greatest Achievement:  3rd consecutive pinch home run at the Vet in 1979 vs. San Diego
  • Most Memorable Moment:  1st major league game (Washington, DC), my marriage, daughters' births
  • Hobbies:  Racquetball, pool, golf, real estate, bridge
  • Toughest Pitcher You've Faced:  Hoyt Wilhelm, Mickey Lolich
  • Other Comments:  I believe it is incumbent on today's professional athletes to exemplify maximum effort and sportsmanship in competition