Phillies' pitchers leave lasting impact
Throughout this season, we've been posting stories and vintage images of the 1915 Phillies, the franchise's first pennant winners.
RHP Grover Cleveland Alexander
Opening Day Age: 28
Bats-Throws: Right-Right
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 185
31-10, 1.22 ERA in 42 starts
Led NL in wins, complete games (36), shutouts (12), innings (376 1/3) and strikeouts (241). Won pennant-clinching game and Game 1 of the World Series, the Phillies' lone win. He pitched three one-hitters in a month and added a record fourth one-hitter in the pennant-clinching game. Won 33 and 30 games the next two seasons, including 16 shutouts in 1916, a record that still stands. Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1938.
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LHP Stan Baumgartner
Opening Day Age: 20
Bats-Throws: Left-Left
Height: 6-feet
Weight: 175
0-2, 2.42 ERA in 16 games, one start
Youngest player on the team. Did not appear in the World Series. Pitched for the Phillies from 1914-16, 1921-22 and for the Philadelphia A's from 1924-26. After retirement, became a baseball writer for The Philadelphia Inquirer, covering the Phils, including their next pennant winner, the 1950 Whiz Kids. He also wrote for the Sporting News.
RHP George Chalmers
Opening Day Age: 26
Bats-Throws: Right-Right
Heights: 6-foot-1
Weights: 189
8-9, 2.48 ERA in 20 starts.
Was 0-1, 2.25 ERA in one WS start. Contract purchased in August 1910 from Scranton of the New York State League for $3,000. Seven-year Phillies career ended after 1916. Born in Aberdeen, Scotland.
RHP Al Demaree
Opening Day Age: 30
Bats-Throws: Left-Right
Height: 6-feet
Weight: 170
14-11, 3.05 ERA in 26 starts
Acquired from Giants in a trade prior to the season. Did not pitch in the World Series. Won 19 games in 1916 and was traded to Cubs in April 1917.
RHP Erskine Mayer
Opening Day Age: 25
Bats-Throws: Right-Right
Height: 6-feet
Weight: 168
21-15, 2.36 ERA in 33 starts.
Allowed the most home runs in the NL (9). Was 0-1 in two World Series starts. Won 21 games the previous season. Phillies purchased his contract in August 1912 from Atlanta (Southern Association) for $2,500.
RHP George McQuillan
Opening Day Age: 29
Bats-Throws: Right-Right
Height: 5-feet-11
Weight: 175
4-3, 2.12 ERA in nine games, eight starts
Began season with Pirates (8-10) and was claimed off waivers on August 20. Did not appear in the World Series. Originally broke in with the Phillies in 1907, 4-0, 0.66 ERA in six games (five starts). Did not allow a run in his first 25 innings, a club record that still stands.
RHP Joe Oeschger
Opening Day Age: 22
Bats-Throws: Right-Right
Height: 6-feet
Weight: 190
1-0, 3.42 ERA in six games, 1 start (Win came in the last game of the season)
Did not appear in the World Series. Was 21-10 in 37 games at Providence (International League) in same season. Shares Phillies record for most innings pitched in a game with 20 in April of 1919. Pitching for the Braves in 1920, he matched a Major League record by tossing 26 innings in a game. As the oldest living Phillies alumnus (91), he threw out the first ball at the Phils' first game of the 1983 World Series at Veterans Stadium.
LHP Eppa Rixey
Opening Day Age: 24
Bats-Throws: Right-Left
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 210
11-12, 2.39 ERA in 22 starts
Signed out of the University of Virginia by the Phillies in 1912. Was 0-1, 4.05 ERA in one World Series start. In 1920 was traded to Cincinnati for RHP Jimmy Ring and OF Greasy Neale, who later coached the Eagles in the NFL. Won 179 games with the Reds. Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1963.
RHP Ben Tincup
Opening Day Age: 22
Bats-Throws: Left-Right
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 180
0-0, 2.03 ERA in 10 relief appearances.
Was 8-10 the previous season. Did not appear in the World Series. A Cherokee Indian, he was one of the first Native Americans to play in the major leagues. Scouted for the Phills from 1956-58.