Who will Phillies target in free agency?
By Larry Shenk
Media sources report the Phillies have begun interviewing for a new president, or general manager, or both. Or, no one as the possibility exists that there will be no new hires for now.
The Phillies, like most teams, have needs some of which are of extreme significance. The Phillies, like all teams, have major budget woes because of the unchartered waters of the fan-less pandemic season. Free agency waters will be choppier than ever. That, plus the uncertainty of what the 2021 season will be like. …
Crushed is the only way to describe my feelings when word came down that Ruly Carpenter, the former Phillies owner, died on Monday.
Last time I saw him was late July. He looked like Ruly, robust with that big, strong handshake. In August he went to Citizens Bank Park for Manny Trillo’s induction into the Toyota Phillies Wall of Fame. The 1980 World Champions were his team. He loved the players, and they had the same affection for him.
A huge University of Delaware booster, he was at the Blue Hens game on Saturday as he had done for decades…
Richie Ashburn’s induction into the Philadelphia Baseball Hall of Fame took on special meaning, the retirement of his uniform jersey #1. The date was August 24, 1979.
We began the tradition of honoring great Alumni the year before, inducting Ashburn’s teammate Robin Roberts. When the Phillies sold Robbie to the Yankees (October 16, 1961) owner Bob Carpenter said no one would ever wear #36 again. Ashburn’s event was the Phillies first formal number retirement ceremony. #1 for #1.
Others wore that number after Ashburn was traded to the Cubs before the 1960 season, infielder Alvin Dark, infielder Joe Morgan (not…
A young team under second-year manager Gene Mauch struggled through a 47–107 season in 1961 that included a major-league record 23-game losing streak. The best news, twitter didn’t exist.
Simply put, there were a lot more lumps than nuggets 60 years ago. For you lump lovers, here’s a recap of that streak:
**34-year-old Robin Roberts started opening day against the Dodgers in Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, his 12th opening day assignment. LA won, 6–2, before 50,655, largest crowd ever to see the Phillies play. The season would be Robbie’s last in a Phillies uniform. …
100 years ago today the Phillies were part of baseball history, the first radio broadcast. It took place in Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field where the Phillies were playing the Pirates.
Steve Carlton’s Hall of Fame induction began the greatest Phillies parade to Cooperstown, unparalleled in franchise history.
The greatest pitcher in Phillies history and one of the greatest left-handers ever was enshrined in Cooperstown on this day in 1994. Not surprisingly, Lefty was elected in his first year on the ballot.
That began a parade as Richie Ashburn and Mike Schmidt (1995) and Jim Bunning (1996) were commemorated with baseball’s highest honor. Phillies fans dominated the village of Cooperstown three straight years.
Later, Harry Kalas received the prestigious Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting excellence (2002). Then, GM Pat Gillick…
By Larry Shenk
“This game is OVERRRRR!” Tom McCarthy blared last night. “It… is …goneee!” Scott Franzke said raising his radio voice. There is nothing more exciting that winning a game on a home run.
Matt Gelb (TheAthletic) pointed out Andrew McCutchen’s dramatic walk-off blast was the 10th for the Phillies since 1950 in which they trailed by multiple runs. Matt included a chart from baseball-reference.com.
I’ve seen every one except the first but was probably listening on the radio.
Enjoy these memories:
LF Del Ennis, April 22, 1955; 3-run HR, Pirates Roger Bowman; down 4–2 in B9
LF Dick…
The late David Montgomery is one of five being honored at the annual Baseball Hall of Fame Awards Presentation today in Cooperstown as the fourth recipient of the prestigious Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award. His widow, Lyn will speak on behalf of their family.
Other honorees include Al Michaels, the 2021 winner of the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasters; Dick Kaegel, the 2021 winner of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s Career Excellence Award and 2020 award winners Ken Harrelson (Frick Award) and Nick Cafardo (BBWAA).
The Awards Presentation will be broadcast Sunday (July 25) on the MLB Network…
Rumor mill will be spinning faster and faster as MLB’s annual trade deadline is rapidly approaching — 4 p.m. (ET) on Friday, July 30.
GMs are balancing buying and selling. Factors include talent needs, salaries, luxury tax, rentable players (those who will be free agents after this season), young, controllable prospects. Add, demand vs. supply. Only one NL East team will qualify for postseason play. Wildcard won’t come from that division.
According to media reports, twitter posts, talk radio, Phillies needs: starting pitcher or two, bullpen piece or two, centerfielder, right-handed bench bat. That’s a lengthy shopping list. …
Phillies history is sprinkled with uniform phun stories. This season’s players decided wear red jerseys for some road game. Normal gray roadies since 1992 were labeled boring.
When Bill Giles joined the Phillies as executive vice president following the 1969 season, he brought with him a philosophy of creating family fun at the ballpark. Weekly Tuesday morning staff meetings became quite interesting. A few uniform stories come to mind, ideas that were hatched at those meetings.
The 1972 season was pretty bleak. We went all out to create much needed fun.
While “Turn It Around Night” didn’t involve uniforms it…
