Short’s “Bat Day”

Chris Short was a very good left-handed pitcher who swung a poor bat from the right side. How poor?

Well, for starters “Shortie” began his 15-year career hitless in his first 38 at-bats. He ended with a .121 average in 786 plate appearances.

But he had a career game with a bat in his hand, facing future Hall of Famer Warren Spahn, winner of 363 games, most for left-hander in baseball history. Short, age 24, went 4-for-4 in a game against the 41-year-old Spahn of the Milwaukee Braves.

It happened in Milwaukee County Stadium on Sunday, September 9, 1962: 2nd inning, single; 4th inning, single; 7th inning, ground ball double to left field; 8th inning, RBI single. That hit sent Spahn to the showers. Phillies 4, Braves 2.

Four days later Short and Spahn hooked up again, this time at Connie Mack Stadium. Spahn didn’t allow a hit to Chris in 3 at-bats but Shortie won again, 2–1.

How good a pitcher was he?

His 132 wins with the Phillies trail only Steve Carlton (241), Robin Roberts (234) and Grover Cleveland Alexander (190), three Hall of Famers.

Short was inducted into the Phillies Wall of Fame in 1992. His bronze plaque:

Ranks as one of the top left-handers in club history. Third on all-time list in games started, strikeouts; fourth in wins, games, shutouts. Posted 132–127 record in 14 seasons with Phillies. Won 20 in 1966, 19 in 1968. Shares National League record for most opening day shutouts (three), including first game in Astrodome in 1965. Struck out 18 New York Mets in 15-innning game in 1965, tying NL record for most strikeouts in an extra-inning game by a left-hander. With Phillies, he pitched in 459 games, worked 2,253 innings, struck out 1,585 and hurled 24 shutouts.

The stylish left-hander is the greatest pitcher to come out of Delaware. Made his major league debut when he was 21 years of age, two years after he signed. Was a dominant pitcher with the Phillies from 1964–67, averaging 250+ innings, 190+ strikeouts and 17 wins. NL All-Star 1964, 1967. Was the winning pitcher in final game at the Polo Grounds in New York. Finished career with Milwaukee in 1973. Back problems cut his career short. He suffered a rupture aneurysm in 1988, lapsed into a coma, never regained consciousness, and died three years later at age 53.

(Second in a series of outstanding hitting accomplishments by Phillies pitchers. These accomplishments will never be matched or topped with the designated hitter now in play.)