Phillies Missing Links of the 1990s - #5 Bob Wells

#56
Robert Lee Wells
Relief Pitcher

Signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent in August 1988, Bob Wells spent five seasons toiling in the minors before getting the call to the big leagues in May 1994.  John Kruk went on the disabled list on May 12th and Wells was recalled as the Phillies were in need of a bullpen arm.  He lasted the month with the club before being sent down in part to make room for the newly acquired Paul Quantrill on the club's roster.  Wells was waived a month later to free up a spot on the 40-man roster for Fernando Valenzuela, and the Mariners picked him up.

Wells would find success as an American League reliever, bolstering the bullpens of the Mariners (1995-1998) and Twins (1999-2002) while leading the league in appearances (76) in 1999.

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'0"  Weight:  180
Born:  November 1, 1966, Yakima, WA
Signed:  Signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent, August 18, 1988
Major League Teams:  Phillies 1994; Seattle Mariners 1994-1998; Minnesota Twins 1999-2002
Professional Affiliations:  Phillies 1989-1994; Seattle Mariners 1994-1998; Minnesota Twins 1999-2002

Phillies Career
6 games, 1-0, 1.80 ERA, 5 innings pitched
Acquired:  Via free agency
Debut:  May 16, 1994 - Relieved Curt Schilling in the sixth inning of a game against the Expos, allowing a run on two hits.
Final Game:  May 30, 1994
Departed:  Selected off waivers by the Seattle Mariners, June 30, 1994.

1990 Best Spartaburg Phillies #10

1994 Fleer ProCards #2063

1995 Fleer Update #U-79

1997 Topps #357

5 Wells Baseball Cards in My Collection
First Card:  1990 Best Spartanburg Phillies #10
Last Card:  1994 Fleer ProCards #2063

Other Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1995 Fleer Update #U-79
First Topps Base Card:  1997 Topps #357
Last Mainstream Card:  2002 Upper Deck 40-Man #381
Other Notable Cards:  1998 Pacific Online #699, 2000 MLB Showdown 1st Edition #262, 2002 Topps Total #341

Sources:  Baseball Reference and The Trading Card Database

Phillies Missing Links of the 1990s
1 Louie Meadows
2 Dave LaPoint
3 Darrin Chapin
4 Mickey Weston
5 Bob Wells
6 Tom Edens
7 Omar Olivares

8 Kevin Elster

9 Jim Deshaies

10 Chuck Ricci
11 Dennis Springer
12 Manny Martinez
13 Rafael Quirico
14 Bronson Heflin
15 Glenn Dishman
16 Rob Butler
17 Mike Robertson
18 Matt Whiteside
19 Robert Dodd
20 Joel Bennett
21 Joe Grahe
22 Domingo Cedeno
23 Torey Lovullo

This is a continuing series looking at those players who spent time with the Phillies but possess no baseball card proof of their time in Philadelphia.  In some cases, the First and Last Mainstream cards listed above have been subjectively chosen if multiple cards were released in that year.