A plethora of Phun Phacts
Which Phillies uniform was retired first, and which number was the first to be retired in a pregame ceremony? Which announcers made their debuts against the Phillies? Babe Ruth did what at Baker Bowl? Who caught the most games in Phillies history? Enjoy a trivia journey.
Larry Bowa made his Major League debut in the final season opener at Connie Mack Stadium and played in the park’s final game (1970). He got the first hit in the inaugural game at Veterans Stadium (1971). He managed the Phils in the Vet’s final game and jumped on home plate in the closing ceremonies (2003). He was their manager in the first game at Citizens Bank Park (2004). He struck out four times in four at-bats in his first pro game in the Minors (1966). The pitcher was Nolan Ryan.
Ejection nuggets: Most by a Phillies manager -- Charlie Manuel (41), which matches his uniform number. He’s followed by Jim Fregosi (23), Bowa (22), Gene Mauch (20) and Danny Ozark (14).
Bowa: 35 ejections wearing a Phillies uniform, 22 as a manager, 8 as a player, 5 as a coach. For his entire career as player/manager/coach: 52. While Spring Training ejections aren’t tabulated, Bowa did get run on March 9, 2002, at Jael Stadium -- the last one in that stadium.
Numbers weren’t always part of a Major League player’s uniform or identity. The American League first approved numbers in 1929, while the National League started three years later. The Phillies first wore uniform numbers in 1932. The next step didn’t occur until 1973, when names were added on the back of their road uniforms. Two years later, names were added on home jerseys.
Robin Roberts’ No. 36 was the first retired Phillies number. After his contract was sold to the Yankees (Oct. 16, 1961), owner Bob Carpenter said no one would ever wear that number again. The first official on-the-field ceremony retiring a number was No. 1, the night Richie Ashburn was inducted into the Phillies Hall of Fame (1979) at Veterans Stadium.
Uniform numbers for Phils debuts: Dick Allen (33 in 1963); Mike Schmidt (22, 1972); Greg Luzinski (42, 1970); Scott Rolen (6, 1996); Jimmy Rollins (29, 2000); Pat Burrell (33, 2000); Juan Samuel (9, 1983); Ryan Howard (12, 2004); Darren Daulton (29, 1983).
Right-hander Larry Christenson only played for the Phillies in his 11 big league seasons and wore No. 38 every year. That’s the longest Phillies tenure for anyone playing his entire career wearing the same number.
Mike Lieberthal caught the most games in Phillies history, 1,139. Since his last game in 2006, Howard (first base), Chase Utley (second base) and Rollins (shortstop) took over the top spot at their respective positions.
Right-hander Grover Cleveland Alexander was the winning pitcher in the Phillies’ first World Series game (1915). He also had the Phils’ first hit.
Babe Ruth (pinch-hitter for Boston Red Sox) made his first World Series appearance against the Phillies at Baker Bowl (1915). Playing for the Boston Braves, his last game was at Baker Bowl (1935), batting once. In each case, he grounded out to first base.
Left-hander Curt Simmons had a 17-8 record for the 1950 Whiz Kids when his National Guard unit was activated during the Korean War. His last start was Sept. 9. Simmons was granted a 10-day pass during the World Series, but he was ruled ineligible. He didn’t pitch again in the Majors until 1952.
In the 1980 World Series, the last out in each Phillies win was a strikeout: Game 1 -- Willie Wilson (Tug McGraw); Game 2 -- John Wathan (Ron Reed); Game 5 -- Jose Cardenal (McGraw); Game 6 -- Wilson (McGraw). The last out when the Phillies won the 2008 World Series championship was a strikeout -- Eric Hinske (Brad Lidge).
The Phillies won the first game played in Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field (1913), Houston’s Astrodome (1965), Montreal’s Olympic Stadium (1977) and Houston’s Enron Field (2000). They won the last game in New York’s Polo Grounds (1963) and Montreal’s Jarry Park (1976) but lost the last game at D.C.’s RFK Stadium.
The last game as the Brooklyn Dodgers was a 2-1 loss to the Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium on Sept. 29, 1957, in the season’s final game. 9,886 fans; 1:58 game. That offseason, the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles.
Tommy Lasorda was a 17-year-old lefty the Phillies signed out of Norristown, Pa. (1945). His pro debut was with the Concord (N.C.) Weavers of the Class D North Carolina State League that summer. Following two years in the military service, his pro career resumed in Schenectady (1948). He struck out 25 Amsterdam Rugmakers in a 15-inning game (May 31), a professional record at the time. Lasorda was selected by the Dodgers in the Rule 5 Draft (1948).
Twice, the Phillies sent four consecutive Kevins to the plate vs. the Giants at the Vet on Aug. 18, 1995. In both the fourth and fifth innings, Kevin Stocker made the final out. The next inning, Kevin Elster, Kevin Flora and Kevin Jordan batted.
Legendary broadcaster Vin Scully’s first game was Opening Day, Brooklyn Dodgers against the Phillies at Shibe Park on April 18, 1950, a 9-1 Phillies win. ... Harry Kalas’ debut was the Astros’ first regular-season game at the Astrodome on April 12, 1965, a 2-0 Phillies win.
Phillies pitchers on the 1993 World Series roster, and none were homegrown: Larry Andersen, Tommy Greene, Danny Jackson, Roger Mason, Terry Mulholland, Ben Rivera, Curt Schilling, Bobby Thigpen, David West, Mitch Williams.