Casey Stengel Reluctant Philadelphia Phillie

Casey Stengel

Even the most casual baseball fans likely remember Casey Stengel as the loquacious, syntax-challenged manager of the mighty New York Yankees of the 1950s and the woeful New York Mets of the 1960s. Fewer fans may realize that Casey was a fleet-footed outfielder for several teams in the 1910s and 1920s. And only the most dedicated of Phillies fans are likely to remember that in 1919 Stengel, a full 50 years before Curt Flood refused to report to the Phillies after the Dick Allen trade, also balked at being traded to the Phillies. Instead of reporting to his new team, Casey went home to Kansas City.

In August 1919, Phillies player/manager Gavvy Cravath traded utility man Possum Witted to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Stengel. He was hoping that Stengel would fill his need for a right fielder with speed and a decent bat. Stengel, who was traded two-years earlier by Brooklyn because he was always holding out for more money, refused to report to the Phillies unless he was given a new contract worth an extra $2000. Phillies owner and president, William F. Baker, refused the request and suspended Stengel for his failure to fulfill his contract. 

Casey, who is repeatedly described in newspaper accounts as "eccentric", stayed in Kansas City, the town that gave him his nickname, and played semi-pro baseball for a $100 dollars a week. Reports out of Kansas City were that Stengel was not pleased with the trade and that was the real reason for his holdout. Referring to the team owners who had traded him from Brooklyn to Pittsburgh to Philadelphia, Casey said, "Casey out; Ebbetts to Dreyfus to Baker." He refused to come to Philadelphia to discuss the contract and never played for the Phillies in 1919.

In February 1920, at baseball's annual winter meetings, two significant matters were settled. The spitball was banned beginning in 1921 and Casey Stengel signed his contract with the Phillies. Stengel apparently met up with Phillies owner Baker at the meeting and after a few words were exchanged asked, "Where's the contract?" He signed for $5,500, a $1200 increase over his Pirates pact. Apparently all sides were happy.

In 1920, Stengel played in 129 games for the Phillies batting .292 with 25 doubles, 6 triples, 9 home runs, and 50 RBIs. His excellent outfield defense and solid hitting were a definite asset to the lowly Phillies who would still manage to finish eighth and last in the league for the second straight year. Stengel was a Phillies star. He saved a game with his defense on June 18 against the St. Louis Cardinals. With two men on in the ninth inning, he made a leaping grab against the wall on a wicked drive by the Cards' Jack Fournier to preserve a 1-0 Phillies victory. 

On offense he generally batted third or fourth in the order, teaming with Cy Williams and Irish Meusel to give the Phillies some solid offensive punch. He had three hits in a 5-2 win over the New York Giants on May 1. One month later he hit two home runs and drove in three runs in a 8-4 loss to the Boston Braves.  On September 23, he had three hits, including his ninth home run of the season, in a 6-1 victory over the Braves.

Stengel also became a fan favorite with his antics on and off the field. After he hit a line smash home run to left field, Casey was asked how he hit the ball so hard.

"You have to butcher boy it," he said.

"What do you mean, butcher boy?"

"You have to "meat" it - that's all - just "meat" it." replied Casey.

When asked how he was going to spend a day off. Casey reported that he was going to Valley Forge to climb the hills. "I'm practicing for the wall climbing I have to do here at the ball park."

The good will did not last long. In April of 1921, Casey said, "Sure I'd like to be traded to Brooklyn. Not because I dislike Philadelphia or the Phillies, nor because I have been badly treated by President Baker. I feel I can be a better ball player in Brooklyn because of the outfield conditions. I can't play that right field wall in Philly [at the Baker Bowl]. In Brooklyn, I feel right at home. Also, most of my eastern friends are there."

In May, Casey was laid up with a bad back. After starting a handful of games in early June, he was relegated to the bench. He made his final Phillies appearance as a pinch hitter on June 29th, grounding into a double play. On June 30, Stengel and second baseman Johnny Rawlings were traded to the New York Giants for Lee King, Goldie Rapp, and Lance Richbourg. Beset by back and leg injuries, Casey played only 18 games for the Giants the rest of the year. He bounced back somewhat in the next three years, but was mostly a part time player until his playing career ended in 1925 with the Boston Braves.

Casey Stengel left a mixed legacy with the Phillies. When he was on the field he was one of the team's best players. Whether on or off the field his playful antics made him a fan favorite. But Casey never really wanted to play in Philadelphia and  his fraught relationship with management and clear preference to be traded insured his short tenure here. 

In the end manager Cravath probably said it best, "Casey is a fine player, when he wants to be."