2003 Fleer Tradition Update #U152 Mike Williams

6 days away . . . The Phillies Room counts down to the Trade Deadline

July 20, 2003: Mike Williams acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates for Frank Brooks.

On the day this trade was made, the Phils were 11 games out of first place in the NL East and had six teams ahead of them in the Wild Card standings. For the Phils to have made a run at the Postseason, they probably needed a little more than Mike Williams.

In his second stint with the Phillies, and in his 12th and final Major League season, Mike did not pitch well. In 28 games, Mike went 0-4 with a 5.96 ERA. In 25.2 innings pitched, he allowed 24 hits and 19 walks. That's too many.

If I remember correctly, Mike, along with Jose Mesa, was one of the few active Phillies who did not take the field for the Veterans Stadium closing ceremonies. I was also annoyed at Topps for including Mike in its 2004 Topps Heritage set, even though the Phils had set him loose in October 2003.