Earlier this week John Stolnis laid out Why the Phillies should change their policy on retiring numbers. It’s a half-baked policy that essentially abdicates the decision and leaves it to the BBWAA and the veterans committees that vote for the Hall of Fame.
There was no such policy until the 1990s, and even then it appears to have been put in place only to cushion the blow to Del Ennis’ family and supporters. Presumably the four numbers retired prior to that time (Robin Roberts, Richie Ashburn, Steve Carlton, and Mike Schmidt), were based on the player’s perceived historical importance to the Phillies franchise, without considering their Hall status.