What is a nugget? “A valuable idea or fact.”
From that definition a valuable idea developed to uncover valuable Phillies facts. For a sexier description, Phillies Phun Nuggets.
These Phun Nuggets cover the entire history of the franchise, over 2,100 players and 21,000 games. There are Phun Nuggets than can be classified as oddities, obscure perhaps even obscene.
Since nine players comprise a starting lineup here are nine Phun Nuggets. Don’t fret many more lineups are in the works.
Richie Ashburn got a hit in his major league debut which happened to be the first major league game he’d seen. It happened on April 20, 1948. Exactly 41 years later Mike Schmidt broke Ashburn’s record for most hits in Phillies history (2,217). Both were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1995, the Phillies greatest day in Cooperstown, NY.
Righthanded pitcher Bill Duggleby had the thrill of hitting a grand slam in his first major league at-bat (April 21, 1898) and the agony giving up the most runs in a Phillies game, 17 (September 19, 1903; first game of a doubleheader). Oh, Bill is one of three who played for the Phillies three different times.
Outfielder Don Demeter hit two home runs against the Mets at the Polo Grounds, April 28, 1962. What’s so odd? The homers came off two different pitchers named Bob Miller, Robert L. and Robert G.
Phillies have turned two unassisted triple plays in franchise history. Oddly, both were by second basemen, Mickey Morandini (September 20, 1992 at Pittsburgh) and Eric Bruntlett (August 23, 2009 at the Mets).
While pitching for the Cubs lefthander Dan Plesac is on record for allowing the only hit to Larry Andersen (1993). With that historic hit LA wound up with a career batting average (.091) in a Phillies uniform. Then pitching for the Phillies Dan recorded the last strikeout in the history of Veterans Stadium, Atlanta CF Ryan Langerhans (2003).
Groundbreaking for Veterans Stadium took place in 1967. It took four years to build but only 62 seconds to implode (2004).
The Phillies were caught in a triple play without making contact with the ball. With Richie Ashburn (single) and Granny Hamner (walk) on base, Eddie Waitkus looked at a called third strike (out #1). Cardinals catcher Joe Garagiola then threw to third, where Ashburn was caught stealing, 2-5-6 if you are keeping score. (out #2). The ball was then relayed to Stan Musial at first where Hamner was caught off the base, 6-3 (out #3). Yes, this really happened in the first inning of the first game of a Sunday afternoon doubleheader against the Cardinals at Shibe Park on May 21, 1950. Score? Cardinals 6, Phillies 5. Would love to hear Ashburn explain this one.
Outfielder Rob Ducey was traded to the Blue Jays for the infamous PTBNL (Player To Be Named Later). July 31, 2000. Seven days later Rob returned to the Phillies as the PTBNL for Mickey Morandini.
Phillies inaugural season was 1883. Team got off to an 0-8 start which remains the worst start in franchise history. That August 23, they were charged with 27 errors in a 28-0 loss to the Providence Grays. (Walks, wild pitches, passed balls were all charged as errors prior to 1888).