Memorable May Moments

A lot of Phillies history has taken place in the month of May….records, oddities, familiar names and not so familiar. A trip down May’s Memory Lane.

Recreation Park was home to the franchise’s first game, May 1, 1883, a bullpen implosion that produced a 4–3 loss to the Providence Grays. Reported attendance, 1,200. Exactly 100 years later the Phillies beat Houston at Veterans Stadium, 11–3, as 40-year-old Tony Perez drove in five runs. One-time righthanded pitcher, 93-year-old John Enzmann the oldest living former Phillie, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Pitching Gems
Roy Halladay tosses a perfect game over the Marlins in Miami (2010) . . . John Lush (1906) and Tommy Greene (1991) pitch no hitters.

Close friends, Curt Simmons (1953) and Robin Roberts (1954), each allow a hit to the first batter and then retire the next 27 batters.

Steve Carlton loses a no-hitter with two out in the bottom of the eighth inning (1982).

Another lefty, Jamie Moyer, becomes the oldest pitcher (47 years, 170 days) to toss a shutout (2010).

Record setters
Ryan Howard plays his 1,299th game at first base (2015) to break Fred Luderus’ long-time team record set in 1920. The Big Piece also sets a club record with his eighth career grand slam (2009).

Roberts wins his 191st career record (1958), passing Grover Cleveland Alexander. Then Alexander is passed by Carlton (1982).

Garrett Stephenson, in his major league debut (1997), strikes out the first five batters, a Phillies rookie record.

Jonathan Papelbon’s 113th save (2015) passes Jose Mesa for the most in Phillies history.

Hitting highlights
Mariano Duncan has a career game (1992), 5 runs, 5 hits, 5 at-bats; a double shy of a cycle.

Dale Murphy hit his 398th and final career home run (1992).

Greg Gross collects his 100th career pinch-hit (1986).

Dick Allen hits a monster homer over the Coca-Cola sign on top of the Connie Mack Stadium (1965). Ten years later he was back in a Phillis uniform and draws a Veterans Stadium standing-ovation after singling in his first at-bat.

Bob Dernier hits a 3-run, game-winning, inside-the-park homer at the Vet in the bottom of the 12th inning, one of the most exciting finishes in stadium history (1989).

Greg Luzinski hits a 500-foot homer off the Liberty Bell (mounted on 400 level facade in center field) at the Vet (1972).

Don Carman blanks San Diego on three hits, 9–0, but the big news…he gets his first major league hit after going 0-for-48 (1987).

Oddities
Chuck Klein hits a home run off the same pitcher (Boston Braves’ RH Ben Cantwell) in each game of a Memorial Day doubleheader (1931).

Starting pitcher Wayne LaMaster is the losing pitcher despite throwing only four pitches (1938). He leaves with an injury and a 3–1 count on the first hitter. Tommy Reis relieves and issues ball four. The walk is charged to LaMaster. Hack wound up scoring one of four, first-inning runs in a 21–2 blowout.

Wait, there’s more from that game. Hal Kelleher allows a major league-record 12 runs (10 hits, 3 walks) in the eighth inning. Sorry to drag you into this story, Hal.

Phillies are caught in a triple play without making contact (1950). With Richie Ashburn (2nd) and Granny Hamner (1st) on base, Eddie Waitkus looks at a called third strike (out #1). Ashburn was out #2 in a run-down between second and third. Hamner was out #3 when he was caught too far off first base. The good news, there was no social media.

Relief pitcher John Boozer is ejected without throwing a pitch (1968). While warming up, he put his fingers to his mouth, a violation. Home plate umpire Ed Vargo warned him to stop. Boozer did it again and was tosses along his manager Gene Mauch.

In a real rarity, both Phillies catchers, Tim McCarver and Mike Ryan, suffer broken bones in their right hands in the sixth inning of a game (1970).

RHP Joel Bennett and C Bennett become first Phillies battery with the same surname (1999).

Aaron Rowand leaves the game with a broken nose after he crashes into the fence making a spectacular catch (2006).

Great Moments
A 10-inning classic in Wrigley Field: Phillies 23, Cubs 22 (1979). Mike Schmidt, hits two homers including a two-out, game-winner off Bruce Sutter in the 10th.

The idea of Phillies wearing all-burgundy uniforms on Saturdays starts and ends after one game (1979).

Longest game at Citizens Bank Park, 19 innings (2011). INF Wilson Valdez pitches the 19th inning and becomes the first position player in Phillies history to record a win.

Mike Schmidt, hitless in 22 at-bats, strikes out in first four ABs on 12 pitches and delivers a 2-run, walk-off homer on the 13th pitch he sees (1983) . . . Switches to first base (1985) . . . Plays final game of career (1989, San Francisco) . . . Holds press conference in San Diego the next day and the Vet a day later . . . His #20 is retired in pre-game ceremonies (1990).

LF Babe Ruth goes hitless (one at-bat) at Baker Bowl and leaves the game (1935, 1st game of DH). It is his final game. In 1915, Babe had his first World Series at-bat, also was against the Phillies at Baker Bowl.

“Life in the Minors, 5th annual Phillies Minor League Digest” now available on amazon.com. Joint effort of Steve Potter and Larry Shenk. Exclusive stories on history of all 115 Phillies minor league teams; over 170 photos; Alumni Pro Debuts; Foreword: Tom McCarthy.