Telling Former Phillie Russ Wrightstone's Story

Russ Wrightstone played for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1920-1928. He was a pretty good hitter. No less an expert than Casey Stengel, a former teammate, called him "the best left-handed line drive hitter I ever saw." Grover Cleveland Alexander called him "the toughest man to get out in the National League." For his career with the Phillies he slashed a more than decent .298/.350/.492 in 899 games. 

I had the opportunity to write Russ Wrightstone's biography for the Society for Baseball Research (SABR) BioProject. The project is gathering 4,000 word biographies for all the players who ever played in the major leagues. It is a huge and on-going project that I am happy to be a small part of. I have written nine biographies to this point.

In beginning the research for these biographies, one of the first things I do is write to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown to get the file they maintain on every major league baseball player. The files contain death certificates, scouting reports, old contracts, newspaper clippings, etc. Russ Wrightstone's file contained something a bit unusual. It was a letter written in 1969 by Wrightstone's 22-year-old grandson, Dennis Corby, to Hall of Fame historian, Lee Allen, two days after Wrightstone's death. The letter had sat in this file for 50+ years. It was, in part, a plea for some recognition for his ball playing grandfather. Dennis wrote in part:

I don't know if you are familiar with grandpa's records or not - today few people remember his accomplishments, but I do believe that many of  his old teammates definitely remember him. For this reason I ask that you possibly research his career and devote some space to him in your "Cooperstown Corner" column in The Sporting News. I pleaded with [The Sporting News] for several years to do a story on grandpa while he was living so that he might finally receive recognition and that he might be boosted mentally, but [The Sporting News] refused. I do not ask now for recognition or a resuscitative laudatory - the man has not lived to see that, but I ask for a short notice which he, at least, deserved - a memorial to Russ Wrightstone, a man who played hard, lived so moderately, and a baseball lover 'til eternity.

Dennis Corby's 50-year-old plea affected me profoundly. I decided to see if I could find him and talk to him about his grandfather and I determined that my biography, though years too late, would stand as that memorial to Russ Wrightstone. Through some internet sleuthing, I found a Dennis Corby who was still alive, was formerly from the Harrisburg area, and was currently residing in Fullerton, CA, where he worked as a financial advisor. I thought this must be the author of the letter but I wasn't sure. I wrote to the Fullerton address I had, included my contact information, and crossed my fingers. Sure enough a week later I got an email from "Denn" Corby, Russ Wrightstone's grandson, thanking me for my letter and saying he was eager to talk to me. 

A week after that we had a one-hour telephone call where Denn shared his memories of his grandfather and where the two of us bonded over our mutual love of baseball and our fond interest in Russ Wrightstone's career. Denn shared stories of his grandfather's devotion to baseball and how he was always dropping by the sandlots in the West Shore area near Harrisburg to share his knowledge of the game with youngsters. Sometimes he would bring friends who happened to drop by for a visit with him. On one memorable occasion, Russ showed up with a friend whom he did not introduce. The friend offered some hitting tips. Only later did Denn learn that this friend was none other than Hall of Fame outfielder, Paul Waner. Former major leaguers were always dropping by to visit Russ Wrightstone.

Denn shared how his mother, Betty Wrightstone Corby, was a "dugout baby," often accompanying her father to spring training in St. Augustine, Florida and hanging out in the dugout with visiting players like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. While Russ was on the field practicing, other players would provide babysitting services. Denn also told me about Russ' son, Bob Wrightstone, a talented player, who pitched briefly in the St. Louis Cardinals organization. Both Bob and Russ were also accomplished golfers who competed successfully in local tournaments.

The affection Denn Corby had for his grandfather came through loud and clear on the telephone. It enhanced the biography I was writing immeasurably. I was proud to be able to tell the story and fulfill a 50-year-old wish. Russ Wrightstone died in 1969 after a 10 year battle with leukemia, but he left behind a grandson determined that his hero would be remembered.

The stories that baseball allows us to tell, both of the famous and the not so famous are limitless. You can read my SABR biography of Russ Wrightstone here.

Tony Taylor: Phillies Lone All Star in 1960

When the Phillies acquired the 24-year-old Cuban, Antonio Nemesio (Tony) Taylor, in a May 1960 trade with the Chicago Cubs, they solved a decade long problem at second base. From 1950- 1959 the Phillies tried a long list of undistinguished players at the position with little success. Among those sad second sackers was 1950 Whiz Kid Mike Goliat, who did not hit much and did not field well and was gone by 1951. Other pretenders included Putsy Caballero, Connie Ryan, Bobby Morgan, "Bonus Baby" Ted Kazanski, aging ex-Cardinal Solly Hemus, and rookie  George "Sparky" Anderson, who was a much better manager than infielder. 

The most successful experiment was when the Phillies moved Whiz Kid shortstop, Granny Hamner, to second, but Hamner himself admitted he was a poor second baseman with a slow pivot to first on the double play. The acquisition of Taylor gave the Phillies a solid hitter, a base stealer, a fine defensive second baseman and, very soon, a fan favorite.

Taylor became available to the Phillies because, as he himself admitted, he did not want to move to third base for the Cubs. The Cubs wanted to bring up minor league second baseman Jerry Kindall and move Taylor to third base. Tony balked at the move and was therefore placed on the trade block. The Phillies obtained Taylor and back up catcher Cal Neeman for first baseman Ed Bouchee and pitcher Don Cardwell. 

Taylor immediately won the hearts of Phillies fans with his hustle and inspired play in the field, on the base paths, and at the plate. Taylor played his first four games with the Phillies on the road at Cincinnati, but in his first game at Connie Mack Stadium, batting lead off, Taylor had two hits and a stolen base. In late May and early June, Tony went on a tear that saw him record 16 hits during an eight game hitting streak, raising his batting average to .313. After getting no hits in one game, Taylor went on another hitting streak, this time a 14-gamer, adding another 19 hits. In a game against the Milwaukee Braves at Connie Mack on June 2, Taylor had three hits, including a double and a home run, a walk, four runs scored, and an RBI, while fielding six chances in the field flawlessly. 

On June 12 at Wrigley Field against his former team, the Cubs, Taylor had two hits, scored three runs, stole three bases, and turned two double plays as the Phillies dropped a close one to the Cubs, 8-7. The 1960 Phillies were not a good team, but they had a blue chip player at second base and with Taylor's batting average hovering around .300 in early July, speculation was that he would be selected as an All Star. 

Tony himself thought his chances were slim. He told the Philadelphia Inquirer's Larry Merchant that if he  didn't make it last year [1959 with the Cubs] when he was hitting .305 and had only made two errors - "How can I make it now?" Taylor predicted that perennial All Star Pittsburgh Pirate Bill Mazeroski as well as the Los Angeles Dodgers' Charlie Neal would be named.  It turns out, Tony was right, Mazeroski and Neal were named to the team, but, because every team needed to be represented, and because Taylor was clearly the most deserving Phillie, Taylor was also named an All Star. 

In 1959, 1960 and 1961, the National and American Leagues played two All Star games. The idea of the second game came from the Major League Player's Association, including Phillies' pitcher Robin Roberts, who wanted the extra game to add more money to the player's' pension fund. It was an ill thought out arrangement and was not repeated after 1961, but it did give Tony Taylor a chance to play in two All Star games.

In 1960, before many games were televised and before inter-league play, the All Star Game was a very big deal. For baseball fans, it was a chance to see the great stars of the game like Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Whitey Ford, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Ernie Banks. For Phillies fans, going through some lean years, at least there was new hero Tony Taylor to root for. Worryingly, in those days there was no guarantee that all the players would appear in the game. Starters often played seven innings or more in these games. With Taylor the third second baseman on the team, Phillies fans might not get to see Taylor play.

The first game was played on July 11 at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City, the first ever All Star game in that city. The National League won the game 5-3 behind the home runs of Ernie Banks and Del Crandall off American League starting pitcher Bill Monbouquette. Phillies fans had little to cheer, however, as Taylor appeared only as a pinch runner for Stan Musial in the eighth inning.

Two nights later, on July 13, Phillies fans had another long wait for the appearance of their hero. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Taylor finally replaced Charlie Neal at second base. Quick calculations by Phillies fans indicated that Taylor would indeed get to bat in the top of the ninth. He would be up third. Bill Henry came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth for the Nationals. Under the unwritten rule that the ball always finds the new guy in the field, Taylor made the first out of the eighth by snaring a Vic Power pop up in shallow right field. Taylor caught another shallow fly to right, this time off the bat of Ron Hansen, for the third out of the inning.

When the top of the ninth rolled around, the National League had a commanding lead of 4-0 behind home runs by Eddie Mathews, Willie Mays and Stan Musial. Gary Bell of the Cleveland Indians came in to pitch. Norm Larker led off with a walk. As Ken Boyer stepped to the plate, Tony Taylor popped out of the dugout to go to the on deck circle. To Phillies fans, Boyer's subsequent home run was just an after thought. As he crossed home plate and headed to the dugout, Taylor took a practice cut and walked into the batter's box. The score was now 6-0.  

Taylor lashed a hard ground ball right over the second base bag for a single. For those who had been watching him all summer, it was a typical Tony Tatylor base hit. Phillies fans at home in front of their black and white TV sets erupted in cheers. Our hero had delivered. After Ed Bailey flew out to left, pitcher Bill Henry sacrificed Tony up to second base, but he died there as Vada Pinson walked and Orlando Cepeda flew out.

Taylor trotted out to second base to begin the bottom of the ninth. Lindy McDaniel came in to pitch. The first play of the ninth was a ground ball to second base that Taylor handled flawlessly.  Two outs later, Taylor was shaking hands and celebrating the 6-0 victory with his National League All Star teammates. 

Tony Taylor had a distinguished 19 year major league career with the Cubs, Detroit Tigers, and especially in his two stints with the Phillies (1960-71 and 1974-76). He played in the ALCS with the Tigers in 1972. He is remembered for his consistency, hustle, and good nature, and, of course, for making the defensive play that saved Jim Bunning's perfect game against Jesse Gonder of the New York Mets in 1964. One of the most popular Phillies players ever, he was inducted into the Phillies Wall of Fame in 2002. 

Taylor was never selected to another All Star Game. He retired with a 1.000 batting average in All Star competition. His presence on that 1960 All Star team, his hit, and his solid play in the field, however, brought joy to Phillies fans who were suffering through yet another cellar dwelling season.

The Rifle Arm of Phillies' Right Fielder Bob Bowman

In doing some baseball research the other day, I was perusing some journalists' lists of the best outfield throwing arms in history. Anyone who makes these lists knows that they are opening themselves up to second guessers like me who will argue who should be 36th on the list or some other silly point, but the lists seemed pretty reasonable to me for the most part. Every list had Roberto Clemente at number 1 and having had the good fortune of seeing Clemente unleash howitzers from the right field corner in Connie Mack Stadium to catch a runner foolish enough to try to go first to third on him, I have no argument with that.

Quite a few Phillies make the lists as well. While Phillies fans often got on him for his defensive lapses in going after balls over his head, Bobby Abreu makes most lists. He piled up 59 assists from 1998-2002 alone. Many Phillies fans will also remember the fine throwing arm of Johnny Callison. Callison, who held down right field for the Phillies through most of the 1960s, was a terrific all around defensive outfielder. For four seasons from 1962-1965, Callison led the league in assists and totaled 175 for his career. Glenn Wilson, who played right field for the Phillies in the mid-eighties also makes most of these lists. Wilson led the league in assists in both 1985 and '86. Even the obscure Glen Gorbous, who played briefly for the Phillies and Cincinnati Reds in the mid-50s is on these lists, primarily for a stunt he was involved in the minor leagues. In 1957, while playing for the Omaha Redbirds, Gorbous threw a ball from home plate over the center field wall, 410 feet away. On another occasion, with a running start, he made a throw that was measured at 445 feet 10 inches.

The player with the best outfield arm I ever saw play for the Phillies, however, is not on any of the lists I read. That arm belonged to Bob Bowman. Bowman played right field for the Phillies from 1955 to 1959 as one of the many players the Phillies tried at that position after Del Ennis was moved to left field and before they traded for Callison. Ironically, despite his great throwing arm, if Bowman is remembered at all today by Phillies fans, it is because he set a record for pinch hitting in 1958 with an average of .406. Bowman never hit enough as a starter to nail down a regular spot in the outfield, but when he did play, his powerful arm was on full display.

After playing a few games for the Phillies in 1955 and 1956, Bowman made the team as the starting right fielder in 1957. He introduced his arm to the National League on Opening Day at Connie Mack Stadium against the Dodgers. With the game tied at 6 in the top of the ninth, Bowman gunned down Don Zimmer trying to go first to third on a Jim Gilliam single to right. Two weeks later, he threw out the Cubs' Lee Walls trying to score on a fly ball. On June 6, the Cincinnati Reds Roy McMillan learned his lesson when he tried to score from second on a Smoky Burgess single to right and Bowman gunned him down with a laser to catcher Stan Lopata. "Whew, what a throw," proclaimed Phillies manager Mayo Smith. Smith later was effusive in his praise of Bowman.. "He's won five games for us with his arm and it is getting so that enemy third base coaches are throwing up their hands when they see him getting ready to throw." 

As spectacular as some of these assists were, what has burned Bowman in my memory is a throw that did not result in an assist, or even show up in a box score. As I remember it, the throw happened in a day game I attended in 1957 or 58. Stan Musial was on third base. A Cardinal hitter launched a high fly ball to right field and Bowman backed up close to the stadium's 32 foot high wall. Bowman caught the ball and Musial, tagging up, broke for home. Bowman unleashed a line drive heave that seemed to trail sparks on its way to the plate. Musial got half way home, slammed on the brakes, and retreated to third as the ball landed on the fly in the catcher's mitt. If it had been a pitch, the umpire would have called it a strike. I would estimate the throw traveled 325 feet on a line. The crowd stood and cheered. I sat mouth agape.

A knee injury suffered while playing winter ball ended Bowman's career early. Bob, who had begun his career as a pitcher, even tried his hand at pitching in the major leagues, appearing in five games and pitching 6 innings for the Phillies in 1959, but a second career was not in the cards. After playing two additional years in the minor leagues, he retired from baseball in 1961. But the memory of that one day and one perfect and improbable throw lingers in my mind. Bob Bowman has a spot on my list of the best outfield arms ever.

Sources

Rick Weiner, "MLB: The Forty Best Outfield Arms in Baseball History," Bleacher Report, accessed on August 17, 2021.

Greg Erion, "Bob Bowman," SABR BioProject. accessed on August 17, 2021.

Manny Trillo Makes the Greatest Throw in Phillies History

Game changing throws have been a vital part of many of the scant Philadelphia Phillies' championship seasons. Older Phillies fans remember Richie Ashburn's throw that cut down the Dodgers' Cal Abrams at the plate in the final game of the 1950 season. Ashburn, a great centerfielder with a reputedly weak arm, made the throw that saved the season for the Phillies and allowed Dick Sisler to come to the plate in the 10th inning and hit a three-run home run that gave the Phillies their first pennant in 35 years. And then, of course, there was Chase Utley's alert fake to first and throw to home that caught the Tampa Bay Rays Jason Bartlett trying to score from second base, preserving the Phillies one-run lead in the final game of the 2008 World Series. Both great plays at the most critical of times.

For my money though, the greatest throw in Philadelphia Phillies playoff history occurred on October 12, 1980 against the Houston Astros in the fifth and final game of the National League Championship Series. The throw was made by Manny Trillo, who was just inducted into the Phillies Wall of Fame on August 7, 2021. The reason I consider this the greatest in Phillies history is that no other second baseman in the history of the game could have made that throw. Not Chase Utley. Not Ryne Sandberg. Not Roberto Alomar. Not Bill Mazeroski. Not Honus Wagner. Manny Trillo had the strongest most accurate arm I have ever seen in a second baseman and that strength and accuracy were on full display on this play. Trillo had begun his professional career as a catcher and that quick-snap, whip-like throwing motion never left him.

Game 5 of the NLCS was played in the Houston Astrodome. The Phillies and Astros had battled each other through four gut wrenching games. Games 3 and 4 went into extra-innings and were filled with big hits, great defense, outstanding pitching, and some truly bizarre plays. By the time the fifth game rolled around, players, managers, coaches, umpires, and fans were all emotionally drained. In the winner take all finale, Astros veteran ace Nolan Ryan faced off against Phillies rookie Marty Bystrom. 

The Astros opened the scoring in the first inning on a Jose Cruz double, which scored Terry Puhl, who had singled. The Phillies took a 2-1 lead when Trillo singled, Gary Maddox walked, and after moving up on a Larry Bowa groundout, both scored on a Bob Boone single to center field. In the bottom of the second, with one out, Luis Pujols walked. Pujols was nursing a sore foot injured earlier in the series and was not running at 100%. The next hitter, Astros shortstop Craig Reynolds, lined a Bystrom pitch down the right field line. You can see what happened next below.

https://youtu.be/nqJlTcV7tKU

 

As you can see, Trillo goes well up the first base line to receive the relay throw from Bake McBride, who fields the ball on the warning track. McBride's throw is perfect. Trillo then wheels and with that characteristic sling shot motion, launches a laser to Bob Boone. The throw is both powerful and extraordinarily accurate. Boone receives the ball  and sweeps the tag in one motion, just nipping Pujols as he slides by. 

That's Keith Jackson on the call, and color man Don Drysdale saying he didn't think they had a chance to get him. You also hear Howard Cosell declaiming, "And again, Manny Trillo becomes the significant figure." Trillo had made a great play in the first inning, going to his right to backhand a Denny Walling bid for an RBI base hit and wheeling to throw him out at first by a step. Cosell was likely referring to that play and Trillo's significant contributions to the Phillies win in game four of the series.

Of course, Trillo was not done in this game. His two-run triple capped off a five-run eighth inning Phillies rally that brought them back from a 5-2 deficit in one of the finest offensive innings in Phillies history. But that is a story for another day. Right now the focus is on Trillo's amazing throw.

The next day, the Philadelphia Daily News' Ray Didinger called it a "tracer bullet", that was "the pivotal defensive play of the series." Bake McBride, Trillo's best friend on the team, said, "It's funny, We practiced that play on our off day [in Houston]. I practiced digging the ball out of the corner and throwing to Manny. He practiced taking the throw and making the relay. The only thing was, Manny kept practicing making the throw to third base. I said 'Hey, why don't you practice making the throw home, too?' He said he didn't need to practice that. He knew he could do it if he had to."

Trillo was named the MVP of the NLCS. Interviewed at the trophy presentation ceremony, Trillo's wife, Maria, predicted the Phillies would win the World Series. The Trillo family could get nothing wrong that October.

Cookie Rojas: From Utility Man to Fan Favorite

In November of 1962 the Phillies made what appeared to be an insignificant trade when they sent disgruntled pitcher Jim Owens to the Cincinnati Reds for a little known utility infielder named Octavio "Cookie" Rojas. Phillies manager Gene Mauch said of the trade of the problem-child Owens, "Sometimes you add by subtracting." A Cuban, Rojas had worked his way through the Cincinnati system and made his major league debut in 1962 appearing in 39 games for the Reds and hitting .221. In 1963, Rojas appeared in 64 games for the Phillies , but got only 82 at bats, again hitting just .221. Despite the low batting average, Mauch liked Rojas' versatility and willingness to play anywhere. In 1964 Cookie was used as a "super-sub" and he responded to the increased playing time with a banner year. 

Used primarily as a pinch hitter and defensive replacement in the fist month of the 1964 season, Rojas played every outfield position and second base. Inserted into the starting line up on May 27, Rojas responded with 14 hits in the next seven games, playing mostly at second base and center field. In the May 27 game Rojas had 2 hits, a run scored and an RBI, almost single-handedly leading the Phillies offense to a 2-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Art Mahaffey pitched the shutout. On May 29, however, against the Houston Colt .45s before 13, 000+ fans at Connie Mack Stadium, Rojas won the hearts of even the crustiest of Phillies fans with his inspired play.

The Phillies awoke on May 29, one game behind the San Francisco Giants in the National League pennant race. Pennant fever was just beginning to build in Philadelphia, where the Phillies had been a bad team for nearly a decade. Young stars like Johnny Callison, Dick Allen, Tony Gonzalez and Chris Short, were joined by veterans Jim Bunning, Ed Roebuck, and Wes Covington to make the Phillies a pennant contender. Rojas was about to add his name to the list of leaders on the Phillies team.

In this game, Phillies ace Jim Bunning faced off against Houston ace Bob Bruce. Batting leadoff, Rojas greeted Bruce with a single in the bottom of the first. The Phillies eventually scored two runs in the inning on a Gonzalez two out triple. In the third inning, Rojas again led off and this time reached Bruce for a double, but was stranded there as Allen, Covington, and Gonzalez all made outs. In the fifth, Rojas reached when Colt .45 shortstop, Eddie Kasko, made an error. Allen, Callison, and Covington followed with consecutive singles and the Phillies led 4-0. Don Larsen replaced Bruce on the mound for the Colt .45s.

Rojas helped the Phillies build the lead to 5-0 in the sixth inning when he singled off Larsen, scoring Clay Dalrymple, who had singled and moved up on a couple of ground outs. In the seventh, the Colt .45s got one run back when Mike White doubled on a misjudged fly ball to Covington and scored on a Walt Bond single. Phillies 5, Colt .45s 1. 

In the eighth inning the Phillies almost gave the game away. After Rusty Staub walked and Dave Roberts singled, Ruben Amaro, playing at first base, dropped John Bateman's pop-up. Right fielder Callison recovered the ball in time to easily throw out Roberts at second, but threw wildly allowing Staub to score and Roberts and Bateman to move to third and second respectively. Kasko then singled scoring two runs. After two were out, Nellie Fox tripled in Kasko with the tying run and then scored the go-ahead run on another White double. That was it for Bunning, as Dennis Bennett replaced him to get the final out of the inning.

Suddenly down 6-5, the Phillies rallied behind Rojas. Danny Cater pinch hit for John Hernnstein and singled off new Colt .45 pitcher, Hal Woodeshick. Tony Taylor batted for Dalrymple and laid down a sacrifice bunt. Gus Triandos hit for Bennett and doubled to left scoring Cater with the tying run. That brought up Rojas, who promptly tripled for his fourth hit of the game, bringing home Triandos with the lead run.

Leading by one run, the Phillies turned the game over to Roebuck, who set the Colt .45s down on order in the ninth to record his fifth save of the season. The Phillies moved into first place in the standings. Rojas, with four hits, including a double and triple,  2 RBIs, and a run scored was the hero. He would be a regular in the Phillies line up and a fan favorite for the next five years.

Over his time with the Phillies, Rojas' versatility was on full display. He played every position on the field at some point, including catching in seven games. He even pitched one shut out inning in a blow out against the San Francisco Giants in 1967. In 1969, Rojas was a part of the famous Phillies/St. Louis Cardinal Dick Allen/Curt Flood trade that was the beginning of free agency in baseball. Unsuccessful in St. Louis, he was traded that same year to the Kansas City Royals. With the Royals, Rojas established himself as the starting second baseman and a perennial All-Star. After his playing days he spent many years as a major league coach. Today at 82, he is the Spanish language color commentator for the Miami Marlins.