Teenagers on the Hill for the Phils

One of the stories to watch in Phillies' spring training this year will be if 19-year-old pitching phenom, Andrew Painter, makes the opening day roster. From all reports, Painter, who finished the season at Double-A Reading last year is nearly ready. Painter turns 20 on April 10. If he takes the mound for the Phillies before then, he will be the first teenager to pitch in a game for the Phillies since Mark Davis in 1980. Teams are understandably reluctant to bring their young pitchers along too quickly. The history of baseball is full of stories of young phenoms thrown to the wolves at a young age only to never reach their full potential. Think David Clyde. According to Matt Gelb, writing in The Athletic, only three teenagers, Todd Van Poppel, Felix Hernandez, and Julio Urias have started major league games since 1990.

The speculation about Painter spurred me to look back at the Phillies history of teenage pitchers. The picture is decidedly mixed. On the plus side twirlers like Curt Simmons, Rick Wise, and Larry Christensen became very good major league pitchers. On the minus side were phenoms like Charlie Bicknell, Tom Qualters, or Dave Bennett, who no doubt would have benefited with more seasoning before being thrown to the wolves. Here is a look at some of the teens who have toiled on the mound for the Phillies over the last 75 years.

Curt Simmons - Simmons was the most sought-after high school pitcher in the country when the Phillies signed him for a reported $65,000 bonus the day after he graduated from Whitehall High School near his home in tiny Egypt, Pennsylvania in June 1947. After 18 terrific starts for the Wimington Blue Rocks, Curt was called up to the big club to make his major league debut against the New York Giants on the last day of the season, September 28. He was 18-years and 132-days-old. Curt shut down the mighty Johnny Mize and the Giants on five hits, 3-1. You can read about that game here. The next two years, Curt struggled as the Phillies tinkered with his unique pitching motion and he struggled with his control. Finally, Simmons went back to his old motion and came fully into his own in the pennant winning season of 1950. In late August that year Curt was called up to military service because of the Korean War and missed out on the World Series. He missed all of 1951 while in the service and then returned to be a solid pitcher for the Phillies for many years. Injuries (including an unfortunate encounter with a lawn mower) and arm miseries limited Curt's effectiveness. After being traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1960, Curt reinvented himself as a soft-tosser and had several fine seasons for the Cards, including helping knock the Phillies out of the pennant in 1964 and pitching very well in the World Series himself. He won 193 games in his career.

Charlie Bicknell - Bicknell was signed out of Seton Hall University at about the same time as Simmons was signed. Bicknell got a more modest $20,000 bonus. After spending 1947 with the Wilmington Blue Rocks, the highly touted Bicknell made his major league debut on April 22, 1948, at age 19-270 days. The Phillies wanted Bicknell to spend more time in the minors, but Major League rules for "bonus babies" required he stay on the big-league roster for 1948. In his debut, Bicknell pitched one scoreless inning of relief in a blowout loss to the Boston Braves, walking one. He was used almost exclusively in relief and in mop-up roles throughout 1948. In his one start, against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Forbes Field, he walked the first two batters, allowed an RBI single to Ralph Kiner, and was pulled from the game without retiring a batter. Bicknell also spent the entire 1949 season with the Phillies, appearing in just 13 games and pitching to a 7.62 ERA. The Phillies waived Bicknell after the 1949 season and the Boston Braves picked him up. Charlie spent the next seven years bouncing around the minor leagues, eventually becoming a decent AAA level pitcher. He never pitched in the major leagues again. 

Tom Qualters - It is hard to imagine that a player could have been handled more poorly by a team than was pitcher Tom Qualters. Signed in June 1953 for a $40,000 bonus out of McKeesport High School in Pittsburgh, Qualters, as was required by the ever changing "bonus baby" rules, was brought straight to the big leagues. Unfortunately for him, he took the roster spot of veteran utility man Jackie Mayo, who was very popular with his Phillies teammates. Qualters was dubbed "Money Bags" by his resentful teammates and was given a pretty much permanent and isolated seat in the bullpen. He pitched in only one game for the Phillies that year, making his debut at the age of 18-165 days on September 13 against the St. Louis Cardinals. The first batter he faced, Steve Bilko, homered. Altogether he gave up four hits and six runs, while recording one out before he was mercifully pulled by manager Steve O'Neill. Qualters spent the next three seasons in the minor leagues, was called up to the Phillies for six games in 1957 and was sold to the Chicago White Sox in 1958. In 26 games with the Sox, he was decent as a middle reliever posting a 4.16 ERA. Qualters finished his career with four more years in the minor leagues.

Dave Bennett - Dave was the younger, bigger, harder-throwing brother of Phillies pitcher Dennis Bennett. The 6'5", 195 lb. Bennett was a highly sought after prospect out of Yreka Union High School in California. The Phillies signed him in May 1963 for $70,000. After pitching fairly well in the minors in 1963 and early 1964, he was called up to the Phillies in June to be an extra pitcher as the Phillies faced a spate of doubleheaders. He made his Major League debut on June 12, 1964, at the age of 18-218 days, against the New York Mets in a game started by his brother. The Phillies trailed 11-3 when he entered in the ninth. Joe Christopher led off against Bennett with a triple. Bennett then got Ron Taylor to pop out and got his only Major League strikeout when he whiffed Charlie Smith. He then unleashed a wild pitch to score Christopher, before retiring Chris Cannizaro. Dave Bennett never pitched in the Major Leagues again. Arm problems slowed his progress. Eventually, the Phillies removed him from their 40-man roster. Bennett spent 10 more seasons in the minors with some success.

Rick Wise - Wise was signed for the modest bonus of $12,000 dollars out of Madison High School in Portland, Oregon, when he graduated in 1963. This small bonus was still enough to label Wise a "bonus baby" and he was required to remain on the Phillies roster in 1964 after spending one summer in the Minor Leagues at Bakersfield. Wise was used sparingly by manager Gene Mauch as the Phillies fought for a pennant they would not win, but he was surprisingly effective. Wise made his debut on April 18 at the age of 18-218 days, pitching three innings of one-run relief against the Chicago Cubs. Wise started and won the second game of the doubleheader against the New York Mets on Father's Day, after Jim Bunning pitched his perfect game. He ended the year with a 5-3 record and respectable 4.04 ERA. After spending 1965 in the Minor Leagues, Rick eventually established himself as the ace of the Phillies staff. Traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1972, he enjoyed a long productive Major League career with several teams, retiring with 188 career victories.

Larry Christensen - LC, as he was known, was the Phillies first round selection (3rd overall) in the June 1972 draft. The Marysville, Washington native began his career with Pulaski in the Appalachian Rookie League and then made the Phillies Major League roster out of spring training in 1973. Christensen made his Major League debut on April 13 at the age of 19-154 days. He dominated the New York Mets with a complete game five-hitter, winning, 7-1. That would be the only game he won in 1973 and by June he was back in the minors, but the Phillies had gotten a taste of the kind of pitcher Larry Christensen could be. LC eventually became a key complement to Steve Carlton on the great teams of the late 1970 and early 1980s. Arm miseries eventually curtailed his career. He finished with 83 victories in his 11 years with the Phillies.

Mark Davis - Davis was the first overall pick in the January draft secondary phase in 1979. After a great season at Double-A Reading in 1980, Davis was a September callup for the pennant contending Phillies. Davis made his Major League debut on September 12 at the age of 19-329 days. He set the St. Louis Cardinals down allowing just a walk over two innings. Davis struggled in a brief stint with the 1981 team and the Phillies seemed to lose interest in him. In December of 1982, the Phillies traded Davis and Mike Krukow to the San Francisco Giants for Al Holland and Joe Morgan. Davis eventually emerged as a top line reliever for the San Diego Padres. He won the Cy Young Award in 1989, leading the league with 44 saves. Davis returned to the Phillies for a brief and ineffective cameo in 1993.

I can't end this report on Phillies teenaged pitchers without a mention of the immortal Hilly Flitcraft. Hilly was a Quaker dairy farmer from Woodstown, New Jersey. After starring in several sports in high school, the 6' 2" 180 lb. Hilly enrolled in the New Jersey Agricultural School that was a part of Rutgers University. During the summer break from college in 1942, Hilly was playing on the Salen County team with Woody Litwhiler, who was the brother of Phillies outfielder, Danny Litwhiler. Danny got Flitcraft a tryout with the Phillies. After the two-week tryout the Phillies signed Hilly to a contract for $250 a month. Hilly made his major league debut on August 31 in Cincinnati against the Reds. He had just turned 19 ten days prior. Entering in the seventh inning, with the Phillies down 7-1, Hilly pitched a perfect inning getting three groundouts. Flitcraft's next two outings did not go as well, and he ended his Major League career with an 8.10 ERA in 3 and 1/3 innings. He did record one major league strikeout. Hilly resurfaced with the Wilmington Blue Rocks in 1945 and posted a fine 15-4 record, but a back injury suffered on his dairy farm brought an end to his career.

Maybe a spring game in 2023 will bring the next Phillies' teenage sensation to the mound. If it does, we'll have to keep our fingers crossed that the Phillies brass has not brought him to the big-leagues too soon.

The Shamokin Giant Killer: Harry Coveleski

By the time he was 14, Harry Coveleski. like most of the other young men in the coal region town of Shamokin, PA had followed his father into the mines. Harry got the nickname "Donkey Boy" because he was in charge of the mules who pulled the trucks loaded with coal out of the mines. But Harry, like his younger brother Stan, was lucky enough to ride his talented pitching arm out of the mines and into professional baseball. Stan, a righthander, became one of the best pitchers in the American League and eventually was elected to the Hall of Fame. Harry, a lefthander, had a decent career, that began with a flash of brilliance that earned him a new nickname, "The Giant Killer." 

A St. Louis Cardinals' scout first spotted Harry pitching for a local club in 1907. The scout got Harry signed to play with the Kane (PA) Mountaineers. After two months, when the Kane team disbanded, Harry went to play with his older brother John on a Wildwood, NJ team, where a Phillies' scout signed him for $250 a month. He pitched in four games for the Phillies in 1907 and then spent most of 1908 twirling for the Lancaster (PA) Red Roses of the Tri-State League. After a fine season with Lancaster, Harry was called up to the Phillies for the last two weeks of the season. Harry pitched well in his first two games with the big club, losing to St. Louis 1-0 on a ninth inning error, and beating Cincinnati, 1-0, in a rain shortened three-hitter.

The Phillies were now set to face the pennant contending New York Giants in a home and home series comprising eight games. The Giants were in contention for the pennant. The Phillies were a first division team that year, but were in fourth place, out of the pennant race. After the Phillies lost the first two games at the Polo Grounds, the Giants were tied with the Pittsburgh Pirates just one-half game behind the league leading Chicago Cubs. Phillies manager Bill Murray called a meeting of the pitchers to plan the next few games, when first-baseman Kitty Bransfield stuck his nose into the meeting and said, "Why not give the Polack kid a chance?" And so, 22-year-old Harry got to pitch his first game against the Giants. 

On September 29, Coveleski shut out the Giants on seven hits, winning, 7-0. He was supported by a 12-hit barrage by the Phillies against Giants' pitchers Doc Crandell and Luther "Dummy" Taylor. Bransfield, second baseman Otto Knabe, left fielder Sherry Magee, and center fielder Fred Osborn all hit doubles. Covaleski contributed a triple and scored a run. He was aided by three double plays turned by the Phils. 

Two days later, Covaleski was on the hill again, this time at the Baker Bowl in the second game of a doubleheader. The Phillies had dropped the two games played since Coveleski's shutout. The Giants were now tied for first place in the National League. Harry beat them again, 6-2 on just four hits. Coveleski was a little wild, walking five, but a two-run double by outfielder Mike Donlin was all the Giants could muster. Bransfield, Magee, and right fielder John Titus were the hitting stars for the Phillies. Years later, interviewed while tending his bar in his hometown, Coveleski recalled, "And how [Giants manager John] McGraw worked me in that game. When he tells me to take out my citizenship papers, I get mad, for I'm born right here in Shamokin." 

After just one day's rest, Coveleski took the mound against the Giants on October 3. His mound opponent was Christy Mathewson, the greatest pitcher in the game at the time. "Matty" came into the game with a record of 37-9, and an ERA below 1.50. He was a tired pitcher, though and the Phillies got to him for three runs in the fifth and sixth. In the meantime, Coveleski was masterful. He gave up an unearned run in the first inning, when Magee bobbled a single to left. After that Coveleski blanked the Giants until the ninth. In the ninth, Osborne dropped a Buck Herzog fly ball and Titus allowed a Moose McCormick single to go straight through his legs, scoring one run and sending McCormick around to third with no one out. With the score now 3-2, Coveleski showed his mettle. Donlin popped up for the first out. Cy Seymour tapped a grounder to Otto Knabe at second. Knabe caught McCormick in a run down between third and home for the second out. Coveleski then finished with a flourish by striking out Art Devlin. 

Walking off the field, Coveleski almost came to blows with the cantankerous McGraw, who had been riding him form the bench all game. "When we leave the field, I walk right up alongside McGraw and say, 'So I'm a hunk, am I?', but before we tangle Bransfield steps in and we go to the showers."

Coveleski's heroics knocked the Giants out of the pennant. Although McGraw's team wrapped up the season by winning three of four from Boston, they finished one game behind the pennant winning Cubs. For his exploits the sportswriters of the day dubbed Coveleski, "The Giant Killer."

A combination of wildness and arm miseries meant that Harry was unable to duplicate his 1908 success in subsequent seasons with the Phillies. By 1910 he was back in the minor leagues. He eventually regained his form at Chattanooga in the Southern Association and returned to the major leagues in 1914 with the Detroit Tigers. From 1914-1916, Harry Coveleski was one of the top pitchers in the major leagues, going 65-36 during that stretch. Eventually, the arm problems returned, and he ended his career in 1919 with Little Rock in the Southern Association. 

After his playing days, Coveleski returned to Shamokin, where he eventually opened a bar called "The Giant Killer." From his place behind the bar, Covaleski held court on all manner of baseball topics. Asked about controversial Dodger manager, Leo Durocher, he compared the feisty Leo to his old nemesis, "Durocher's another smartie like John McGraw, he thinks he can win by out-talkin' the other fellow."

Harry Coveleski died in Shamokin on August 4, 1950 at the age of 64.

Harry Coveleski behind his bar, "The Giant Killer" in 1947.

For more on Harry Coveleski's career, read his SABR biography by John Heiselman here.

The City Series Begins: The Phillies vs. Athletics, April 14, 1883

Blondie Purcell

A few veteran Philadelphia baseball fans may remember The City Series, an annual series of (usually three) exhibition games between the two Philadelphia professional baseball teams, the Athletics and the Phillies. The history of the City Series actually dates back to 1875, but the team we now know as the Phillies was not formed until the National League's Worcester, Massachusetts team transferred to Philadelphia in 1883 under the leadership of local sports equipment purveyor, Albert Reach. The team was formally called the Philadelphia Quakers, but even then, fans and sports writers alike often referred to the team as the Phillies. 

On April 14, 1883, the Phillies faced off against the Athletics of the American Association. This was not the same franchise that would enter the American League in 1901, but Philadelphia had had professional baseball teams in various leagues since 1860. The name was derived from the name Athletic Base Ball Club of Philadelphia. The 1883 iteration of the Athletics was one of the strongest teams in the American Association, having finished second in the league in 1882, they would go on to win the championship in 1893.

The Phillies first foray into the City Series was covered by a brand-new sports journal, called Sporting Life, that would publish its first edition the day after this first City Series game. This new journalistic endeavor was the brainchild of Philadelphian, Francis Richter, who published, edited, and wrote stories for this venture out of his offices at 202 South Ninth Street. Sporting Life would eventually become the most important baseball journal in the country and Richter a key figure in the development of professional baseball, but in this initial edition the focus was on local Philadelphia sports, especially baseball. We know every play of this game because of the comprehensive coverage of Richter and Sporting Life.

This very first game of the spring was apparently highly anticipated by local fans. The game was to be played at the Athletics home field, the Jefferson Street Grounds, a ball field at Jefferson and 26th Street in what we would today call Brewerytown. It had a capacity of about 5,000-6,000 fans.  According to Sporting Life, 

For hours before the game a constant stream of people was wending its way along all the streets leading to the grounds... By the time the game began fully ten thousand people were on the ground and "still they came."

The crowd was so large that it "encroached upon the playing field." The teams mutually agreed any ball hit into the crowd on the field counted as two bases. 

The more experienced Athletic team was heavily favored to win. Their pitcher was Bobby Matthews, recently arrived from Boston. Matthews would have three consecutive 30-win seasons for the Athletics. First baseman Harry Stovey, a Philadelphia native, was one of the top offensive players in the American Association. A rare combination of speed and power. he led the league in home runs four times and in runs scored three. Germantown native, fleet-footed Jud Birchall batted leadoff and played left field. Lon Knight, a graduate of Girard College (High School) was in right field. Another Philly native, diminutive Cub Stricker, all 5'3" of him, was the second baseman.

The battery for the Phillies was the 20-year-old youngster Hardie Henderson on the mound and left-handed catcher, "Roaring Bill" Harbridge behind the plate. Thirty-eight-year-old Bob (Death to Flying Things) Ferguson, who served as second baseman and manager of the club, is remembered today mostly for his nickname. Other members of the Phillies made their reputations off the baseball field. Third baseman Frank Ringo, left fielder Blondie Purcell, and centerfielder Fred Lewis all had reputations for heavy drinking and barroom brawling. First baseman Alex McKinnon played in this game but was sick during the spring and asked for his release, never appearing in the regular season. 

The game itself started inauspiciously when the Athletics Birchal dropped a fly ball from Phillies leadoff hitter Jack Manning. Catcher Ed Rowen then dropped a foul popup, before Purcell singled. Matthews wriggled out of the inning with the help of a good defensive play by Stovey at first. Birchall led off for the Athletics and drove the ball over centerfielder Lewis' head and into the crowd for a ground rule double. Henderson retired the Athletics without further ado. 

Bill Harbridge

In the second inning "a new ball was put in as the old one had ripped." Lewis "whanged" a ball to center for a single. Harbridge walked after his foul pop was muffed and both runners moved up on a passed ball. After two batters went out, Manning drove a ball to deep center over Jack O'Brien's head for a bases clearing double. Both runs were unearned.

The score stayed 2-0 Phillies, until the sixth, when the Athletics cut the lead in half on doubles by shortstop Mike Moynahan and Rowen. The Phillies got that run back in the top of the seventh, thanks again to some sloppy fielding by the Athletics. Frank Ringo got to third base on an overthrow at first by third baseman Bob Blakiston, and went all the way to third after a return throw from Knight hit him in the basepaths and ricocheted away. From there, Purcell drove him home with a single. 

In the ninth inning the Athletics "got another streak of muffery." After Henderson reached on Moynihan's bad throw, Manning hit another double to drive him in. Purcell drove a single to left and Manning scored when Birchall juggled the ball. After two outs, Purcell scored when Ferguson's popup fell between four fielders in shallow right field. The Athletics went down in order in the bottom of the ninth and the final score was Phillies 6, Athletics 1. 

According to Sporting Life,

After the game, the enormous crowd flocked across the field, and it was a long time before the ground was cleared. On the street and [street] cars, nothing was heard but comments upon the unexpectedly severe defeat of the Athletics.

Blondie Purcell with three hits and Jack Manning with two doubles were the hitting stars for the Phillies. The Athletics were guilty of six errors. 

The final two games of the City Series were played at the Phillies home field - Recreation Park. The field was at 24th and Ridge Avenues in Strawberry Mansion. The Phillies won both of these games as well by scores of 8-1 and 3-1. The sweep of the city series was not a harbinger of things to come for either team, however. The Athletics won the American Association championship with a record of 66-32, while the Quakers/Phillies finished dead last in the National League at 17-81-1. 

The City Series was held every year until the Athletics left for Kansas City in 1955.

Harry Stovey

Light-Hitting Denny Doyle Owned Pitching Great Bob Gibson

Former Phillies second baseman Denny Doyle died this week at the age of 78. Denny was signed as a free agent out of Morehead State University in his native Kentucky. Doyle was disappointed not be drafted but was spotted by former Phillies outfielder and scout Mel Clark who convinced the Phillies to take a chance on the scrappy 5'9" Doyle. Denny worked his way through the Phillies farm system with stops at Spartanburg, Tidewater, Reading and Eugene, before making his debut with the Phillies in 1970. He was paired with another rookie, shortstop Larry Bowa, to form a fine double play combination. Doyle had four decent years with the Phillies, providing solid defense and a .240 batting average. He bought a home in the Philadelphia area and settled in with his wife and three children.

At the end of the 1973 season, the Phillies traded Doyle to the California Angels to complete a trade for Billy Grabarkowitz. California traded Doyle to the Boston Red Sox in 1975 and Doyle had his greatest season, hitting .310 with the Sox and helping lead them to the American League pennant. In the post-season Doyle started every game and had hits in all but one of them, as the Red Sox eventually fell to the Cincinnati Reds in that classic World Series. Doyle retired in 1977 after two more seasons with the Bosox.

Doyle was chiefly known as a good defensive second sacker and contact hitter with little power. While he only averaged .240 in his years with the Phillies, in one of those strange anomalies that make baseball so compelling, little Denny Doyle simply owned future Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Gibson. In 31 plate appearances against the most dominant right-handed pitcher of the era, Doyle had 13 hits, two walks and a hit-by-pitch, for an astounding .464 batting average.

In Doyle's first-time facing Gibson, on May 23, 1970, the rookie went 2-for-4 with two singles as the Phillies and Jim Buning fell to Gibson's St. Louis Cardinals, 3-1. The next time Doyle faced Gibson, on July 30, 1971, Denny had one of the finest offensive games of his career. Batting leadoff, Doyle reached base in the first when Gibson drilled him with a 1-2 pitch. In the third inning, Doyle got revenge for the bruise by smashing a homerun over the right field fence in Veterans Stadium to get the Phillies on the board. It was one of a total of only 16 home runs Doyle hit in his career. Doyle then singled in his next three at bats against Gibby, the final single pulling the Phillies to within one run at 4-3. Unfortunately, Bowa grounded out to end the game. Doyle was 4-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.

On April 19, 1972, Gibson squared off against his former teammate and new Phillies pitcher, Steve Carlton. Carlton bested his old mate in a classic pitcher's duel, 1-0. Doyle went two-for-two with a walk. In his next two games against Gibson in 1972, Doyle came back to earth a bit, going 0-for-7 with just one walk to show for his efforts. The Phillies lost both games. 

On April 22, 1973, Mike Schmidt hit a ninth inning walk off home run to beat Gibson 2-1. Doyle was 1-for-3 in the game. On June 26, Doyle was back at it, going 3-for-4 against Gibson (3-for-5 overall), with a triple, two runs scored and an RBI, as the Phillies romped, 10-3. Dick Ruthven shut the Cardinals down on two hits in besting Gibson, 2-1 on July 1. Doyle was 1-for-3 in his final career appearances against Gibson. That fall he was traded out of the National League for good.

Denny Doyle was anything but an intimidating presence at the plate, but for reasons known only to the baseball gods, he turned into Ty Cobb when he came to bat against one of the most intimidating pitchers baseball has ever known. I am sure Gibson raised a glass in mute celebration when the Phillies traded him away.

RIP Denny.

Phillies 1915 World Series Catcher Eddie Burns: Little Man, Big Job

When the Phillies get to the World Series, as they have done eight times in their history, one team member knows he won't be seeing much action. In seven of those eight World Series the backup catcher is a virtual invisible man, finding a comfortable spot on the bench and acting as cheerleader when events demand is about all that is asked of them. In 2022, backup catcher Garrett Stubbs earned a DNA (did not appear) next to his name in the final World Series stats. J. T. Realmuto caught every inning of every game. The same was true in 2009, when Carlos Ruiz caught every inning of the six games, while backup Paul Bako (remember him?) could only sit and wait. The 2008 World Championship team had Chris Coste, who did manage to get four at bats as a designated hitter, but Chooch again caught every inning. Darren Daulton played every inning of the 1993 Series against Toronto, while Todd Pratt was a DNA.

The last time a backup catcher actually appeared behind the plate for the Phillies in a World Series was 1983, when Ozzie Virgil, Jr. caught one inning after Bo Diaz was taken out for a pinch runner. Bob Boone caught every inning for the World Champion 1980 team, although backup Keith Moreland saw some action (12 at bats) as the DH. In 1950, Andy Seminick caught all but one inning of the Series even though he was playing on a dislocated ankle. Backup Stan Lopata came in after Andy went out for a pinch runner. Lopata also had a pinch-hitting at bat. That's seven World Series, 38 games, 345 innings and just two innings caught by the backup catcher.

The 1915 World Series was very different, however. The Phillies starting catcher. Bill Killefer came down with what was described as a "dead arm" in August. That opened the door for career backup catcher Eddie Burns to become the starter. Pundits of the day worried that the diminutive Burns (Eddie was just 5'6", 165 pounds) would not be up to the task. As the baseball journal Sporting Life put it, "It was generally thought that the Philly pitching staff would go to pieces," after the Killefer injury. "It was feared that his throwing would not be up to the mark and that the pitchers would lose confidence with him behind the bat." Those fears proved to be unfounded, Burns performed well, threw out 40% of those trying to steal against him, and hit .244 after taking over for Killefer on August 25. The Phillies kept winning too, going 29-12 and clinching the National League pennant with Burns behind the plate.

Before the World Series against the Boston Red Sox began, the Phillies' brass called in a specialist from New York to look at Killefer's arm, but he was deemed unfit to play and thus, little Eddie Burns caught every inning of the World Series. The Phillies were the underdogs to the powerful Red Sox team that had won 101 games on the season. The Phillies did have the great Grover Cleveland Alexander, winner of 31 games on the season, to give them hope. 

Alexander beat the Sox in Game 1 in Philadelphia. 3-1. The Phillies scored two runs in the eighth to win it, after Boston shortstop Everett Scott failed to cover second base on a potential double play ball. In the ninth inning, twenty-year-old Babe Ruth made his first ever World Series appearance as a pinch-hitter. Alexander got him to ground out to first baseman Fred Luderas. Burns went a quiet 0-for-3 at the plate but handled the catching duties well.

In the second game, Burns caught the ceremonial first pitch, thrown out by President Woodrow Wilson. In the first inning, with runners on first and third, he threw out Boston star Tris Speaker trying to steal second but bobbled second baseman Bert Niehoff's low return throw for an error that allowed the on-sliding Harry Hooper to score. Burns was again 0-for-3 at the plate as the Phillies lost, 2-1.

In Game 3 at Fenway Park, Burns got his first hit of the Series in the third inning and came around to score on a Dave Bancroft single. Unfortunately, that was the only run the Phillies scored in the game as they fell by another 2-1 score. Burns gunned down Duffy Lewis trying to steal in the second. Lewis had the last laugh though as he hit a walk-off game winning single in the ninth inning against Alexander. Game 4 also finished 2-1 in favor of Boston. Burns had a good game with a single and a walk and another caught stealing, catching Speaker at second base again. 

The Series returned to Philadelphia for Game 5 with Boston leading the series 3-to-1. Luderas doubled in two runs in the first and then homered in the fourth. In that same inning, Burns stroked an RBI single scoring Niehoff to put the Phillies up by 4-2.  Boston prevailed 5-4, however, on two home runs by Hooper and one by Lewis. Burns threw out Speaker trying to steal in the first inning. The Phillies lost the last four games of the series, all excruciatingly close, but losses, nonetheless. Their Game 1 victory would be the only Phillies World Series game win for 65 years.

Eddie Burns hit just .188 over the five games, but that was actually a few points better than his teammates had managed for the Series. Burns acquitted himself well behind the plate throwing out five of six baserunners attempting to steal, including future Hall of Famer Tris Speaker three times.

When the 1916 season began, Killefer's arm had not fully mended. Burns started the first 18 games of the season, but when Killefer healed, Burns returned to the bench. He broke his thumb in 1917 and appeared in just 20 games. In 1918, the Phillies traded Killefer to the Cubs as part of the infamous Grover Cleveland Alexander trade.  Burns began the season as the starting catcher, but in late July, with his batting average hovering near the Mendoza line and with his father-in-law falling ill at home, Eddie Burns, just 30-years-old, abruptly quit baseball. He returned to his home in Monterey, California and opened a clothing store. He died of a heart attack in Monterey on May 20, 1942. He was 54.

Eddie Burns was a solid defensive catcher with a weak bat, in other words a proto-typical backup catcher. Eddie, however, got the chance that few backup catchers ever get. The chance to be the "main guy" behind the plate in the World Series.

To read more about Eddie Burns career, check out his SABR biography here. 

Curt Simmons Greatest Game

With the news Tuesday, December 13 that Curt Simmons, the last surviving member of the 1950 Philadelphia Phillies Whiz Kids, had died at 93, tributes began pouring in from all over. Excellent obituaries in the Inquirer and the New York Times covered the highlights.

For Phillies fans those highlights of Simmons remarkable pitching career are familiar. A high school phenom out of tiny Egypt, PA near Allentown, Simmons signed with the Phillies for the largest bonus ever given up to that time: $65,000. With very little minor league experience, Simmons struggled to find his bearings in his first two seasons with the Phillies. He put it all together in 1950, however, and with his righthanded counterpart, Robin Roberts, pitched the upstart Phillies to the pennant. He could not pitch in the World Series, however, because he was called up to his National Guard Unit, the first baseball player called up due to the Korean War. 

Returning to the Phillies after his military duty, Simmons had an up and down career featuring a blazing fastball and some great pitching, marred by frequent arm miseries and a 1953 encounter with a lawn mower that removed part of his big toe. After 13 years with the Phillies, he was released and caught on with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he reinvented himself as a crafty, soft-tossing lefty who helped pitch the Cards to the 1964 pennant. He finally got to pitch in the World Serie that Year and acquitted himself very well.

As I said, these facts about Simmons career are well-known and well-detailed elsewhere. In my tribute to Curt, I would like to focus on one game - the greatest game he ever pitched. The game was played on May 16, 1953, at County Stadium in Milwaukee against the Braves. That day Curt pitched a one-hit shutout, to win 3-0 and deposit the Phillies, however temporarily, into sole possession of first place in the National League.

Nineteen-fifty-three was the first year for the Braves in Milwaukee, who moved there after 50 years in Boston. Despite threatening skies, an enthusiastic crowd of 23,578 was on hand for the Saturday afternoon tilt. The Phillies and Braves were tied for first place a month into the season. Simmons mound opponent was rookie lefty Don Liddle. The Milwaukee lineup featured another rookie, Bill Bruton, second year star Eddie Mathews, as well as veteran sluggers Sid Gordon and Joe Adcock. The Phillies fielded a team of mostly Whiz Kid holdovers like Richie Ashburn, Del Ennis, Granny Hamner, Willie Jones, and Simmons battery-mate, Stan Lopata.

After the Phillies went down quietly in the first, Bruton, leading off for the Braves, whacked Simmons first pitch for a clean ground single to centerfield. Bruton would be the only baserunner Curt would allow. He retired the next 27 batters in order. He struck out ten. He walked no one. After Bruton's single, he allowed only two other hard-hit balls. Braves shortstop, Johnny Logan, hit a line drive that Jones snagged at third and, in the ninth, the Phillies third sacker made another fine play to flag down catcher Del Crandall's ground smash. 

The Phillies pushed across a run in the second. With one out, first baseman Earl Torgeson singled and stole second base. Jones knocked him in with a line single to left. The Phils doubled their lead in the third when Ashburn singled to center and moved to third base when Bruton drop-kicked the ball into left. Left-fielder Mel Clark scored Ashburn with a double off the right-field wall. Another Clark double, this time off reliever Lew Burdette led to the Phillies final run in the eighth. Clark scored when Del Ennis followed with a single over shortstop Logan's head.

Simmons ended the game with a flair striking out pinch-hitter Jim Pendleton and then whiffing his nemesis Bruton.

After the game, the Braves were effusive in their praise of Simmons. "Simmons was unhittable," said Braves manager Charley Grimm. "He ranks with the great left-handers of all-time. His fastball was hopping and jumping onto the handles of our bats." Slugger Sid Gordon said, "All I did was step to the plate and hope I would get a piece of the ball." Eddie Mathews was left shaking his head. "I'm glad there is only one Simmons in the league, and we don't have to face him for a while."

Simmons was off to a great start in '53 and looked to be headed for a big season, but three weeks after this dominant performance, he ran that lawnmower over his foot and missed a month. While Curt always said that the injury did not affect his pitching, before the injury he was 7-3, with a 2.60 ERA. Afterwards, he was 9-10, 3.71.

RIP Curt. It was always a pleasure to watch you pitch, with that leg waggle and sling shot action that drove batters crazy for 20 years in the big leagues.

 

Milt Stock: Hero of Two Phillies Pennant Winning Teams

Milt Stock

On the final day of the 1950 season, the Phillies were battling the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbetts Field in Brooklyn with the National League Pennant on the line.  The Phillies, who had had a 7.5 game lead over the Boston Braves on September 17, had seen that lead dwindle to just one game over the surging Dodgers. A Phillies win meant they captured their first pennant in 35 years. A loss meant a one game playoff with the Dodgers the next day. Phillies ace Robin Roberts faced off against Dodger ace Don Newcombe. The game entered the bottom of the ninth tied at 1-1. Roberts walked Dodger leadoff hitter, Cal Abrams to start the inning. Pee Wee Reese singled to left moving Abrams to second. Next, Duke Snider lined a single to centerfield. The Phils' Richie Ashburn charged the ball, Abrams took off for third and as he approached third, saw third base coach Milt Stock waving him home, Abrams turned, and sped home as Ashburn launched a throw to catcher Stan Lopata. Ashburn's throw was strong and true and Abrams was out by 15 feet. Roberts then worked out of the inning.

The Phillies won the game in the tenth on a Dick Sisler three-run homerun followed by a shutout inning by Roberts. Coach Stock came under considerable criticism for sending Abrams home with no one out and Jackie Robinson due up. Stock defended his decision, “We have been scoring on plays like that all season against the Phillies because Ashburn is not a great thrower. Furthermore, Reese was coming around fast, and if I had held up Abrams there might have been a jam at third base.” Abrams said, "I think he should have held me at third." Dodger manager Burt Shotten came to Stock's defense, "Stock played it right. That's the sort of set up when you send in the big run." Brooklyn fans and the Dodgers ownership were not so forgiving. General Manager Branch Rickey, Shotten, and Stock were all fired at the end of the season.

While most longtime Phillies fans likely know that story, what many fans might not know is that Milt Stock was also highly instrumental in the Phillies winning their first ever National League pennant in 1915. Stock was a 21-year-old utility player for that Phillies team, when he was suddenly thrust into the starting lineup during the team's stretch run to the pennant. The Phillies' regular third baseman and leadoff hitter, Bobby Byrne, broke his finger fielding a throw during the first game of a doubleheader on August 23. He was replaced by Stock, who up to that time had had only seven starts all season and was hitting just .200. 

Stock proved to be a more than capable replacement. His hitting improved with regular play and his defensive play was praised by all who saw him. "Milton Stock looks great at third base," gushed the Philadelphia Public Ledger. "While he may not be as strong on defense as Byrne, he is a much better hitter and a faster and better man on the bases." Buck Herzog, manager of the Cincinnati Reds, said, "He is not only a good hitter and a fine baserunner, but he has the best pair of hands I ever saw for a third baseman." Stock also possessed a strong arm, which allowed him to play deep and cut off balls in the hole and over the bag. 

In the Sporting Life* preview of the World Series, editor Francis Richter had this to say of Stock:

J. Milton Stock is in large measure responsible for the great finish made by the champions. When Bobby Byrne was injured Manager Moran sent Stock to third base. The team had lost three straight games to Brooklyn, and unless Stock filled the gap in the infield, it was almost certain the team would slump. Stock filled the bill so well, that Moran intends to make him the regular third baseman.

In his first game as a regular, Stock had two hits, an RBI and two runs scored in a 13-5 victory over the Chicago Cubs. Two days later he had two hits, two walks, two runs scored, and an RBI as the Phillies defeated Cincinnati, 8-0. On September 25 in Chicago, Stock went 3 for 6 including his only homerun of the season. His twelfth inning single helped the Phillies prevail over the Cubs, 5-4. Stock had a four-hit game on October 1, scoring two runs as the Phillies beat the Boston Braves, 9-4. 

Overall, the Phillies went 31-12 in the final 43 games. all of which Stock started in place of Byrne. Byrne recovered but never got his starting position back. Stock hit .260 for the season. In the World Series he scored the winning run in Game 1, the only Series game the Phillies won. He had a poor series at the plate, however, hitting just .118.

Stock was the Phillies starting third baseman for four seasons before being traded to the St. Louis Cardinals where he enjoyed five very good seasons. He wrapped up his career with Brooklyn in 1926 and then became a coach, which set up his second date with Phillies destiny in 1950.

If you would like to read more about Milt Stock's career, you can find his SABR biography here. 

*Sporting Life, established in 1883, and published in Philadelphia by Francis Richter from their offices at 54 S. 3rd Street, was the premiere national paper chronicling baseball. It had stiff competition from The Sporting News, which was published in St. Louis. Sporting Life ceased publication in 1917 as a result of the first world war.