Getting to know the 1915 Phillies outfielders

Throughout this season, we've been posting stories and vintage images of the 1915 Phillies, the franchise's first pennant winners.

Noted baseball author and historian Rich Westcott supplied the photo above of the outfielders. They are, from left to right, left fielder Possum Whitted, center fielder Dode Paskert and right fielder Gavvy Cravath.

Beals Becker

Opening Day Age: 28... B-T: L-L… HT: 5-9; WT: 170... 112 games, 11 home runs, 35 RBI, .246 average.

Acquired in a trade with the Reds during the 1913 season. His 11 homers were second to Cravath's 24. Played mostly in left field. Appeared in two WS games, no at-bats.

Gavvy Cravath

Opening Day Age: 34... B-T: R-R... HT: 5-10; WT: 186... 150 games; led NL in runs (89), extra-base hits (62), homers (24), RBI (115), walks (86), on-base percentage (.393) and slugging percentage (.510) while hitting .285. His 28 assists also led NL outfielders.

Oldest player on the team. Tied club record by driving in 8 runs in a game, August 8 at Cincinnati. Drove in the Phillies' first WS run but had only one more hit in 16 total at-bats. Led NL in home runs six times. Phillies purchased him from Minneapolis (American Association) after the 1911 season for $9,000. Ended his Phillies career as player-manager (1919-20). His 119 career homers were a major league record until Babe Ruth broke it in 1921. 

Dode Paskert

Opening Day Age: 33... B-T: R-R... HT: 5-11; WT: 165... 109 games, 3 HR, 39 RBI, .244 average.

Played 73 games in center field, 20 in left. Hit .158 in the WS. Acquired from the Reds as part of an eight-player trade on 11/12/10 and dealt to the Cubs for OF Cy Williams on 12/26/17.

Bud Weiser

Opening Day Age: 24... B-T: R-R... HT: 5-11; WT: 165... 37 games, 0 homers, 8 RBI, .141 average.

Born in Shamokin, PA, Harry Budson Weiser played under the name Bud. Did not play in the WS. Big league career ended in 1916 after playing in four games for the Phillies. 

George "Possum" Whitted

Opening Day Age: 25... B-T: R-R... HT: 5-8; WT: 168... 128 games, 1 homer, 43 RBI, club-high 24 stolen bases, .281 average.

Played 67 games in center field, 52 in left field. Went 1-for-15 in the WS. Acquired from the Boston Braves as the player to be named later for Sherry Magee prior to the 1915 season. Played in 1914 WS for Boston.