Phillies Alumni

A peek at the past
Phillies Phlashback
A historical look at the dates of September 25-30.

September 25, 1944

The first game of a doubleheader features a matchup of two pitchers making their major league debuts, Phillies hurler Charlie Ripple against Chicago Cubs left-hander Charlie Gassaway. Ripple lasts less than 3.0 innings but doesn’t figure in the decision in a 7-6 Phillies loss. The Phillies would not have a starter debut against another debuting starter until July 10, 2018, when Enyel De Los Santos squared off against the Mets’ Drew Gagnon.

September 25, 1955

CF Richie Ashburn is hitless in seven at-bats in a season-ending doubleheader at the Polo Grounds, but still easily wins his first batting title (.338).

September 25, 2015

In an 8-2 win over Washington, LF Aaron Altherr hits the club’s first inside-the-park grand slam since Ted Kazanski’s on Aug. 8, 1956.

September 26, 1954

CF Richie Ashburn finishes the season by playing in his 730th straight game, a Phillies all-time record that still stands. Begun on June 7, 1950, the streak ends when Ashburn can’t play in the 1955 opener after getting injured in a collision with LF Del Ennis during a spring training exhibition game in Wilmington, Del.

September 26, 1976

After watching a lead of 15.5 games on August 24 slip to three games in three weeks, the Phillies clinch their first postseason berth in 26 years with a 4-1 win over the Expos in in the first game of a doubleheader at Jarry Park, the final day for the Montreal ballpark.

September 26, 1998

RHP Curt Schilling strikes out seven Florida batters in his final start to finish with 300 strikeouts, becoming only the fifth major league pitcher to record 300 or more strikeouts in back-to-back seasons.

September 27, 1949

Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt is born in Dayton, Ohio.

September 27, 1977

RHP Larry Christenson wins his 18th game and hits a grand slam as the Phillies capture their second consecutive NL East title, 15-9, over Chicago at Wrigley Field. Three additional victories give the club 101 wins for the second straight year.

September 27, 2003

The Phillies beat Atlanta, 7-6, in 10 innings on an RBI single by rookie 2B Chase Utley for their final win at Veterans Stadium. 1B Jim Thome hits the last home run and LHP Rheal Cormier is the last Phillies pitcher to record a win at the Vet. The fan-selected All-Vet Team is announced before the game.

September 27, 2008

The Phillies secure their second straight NL Eastern Division title with a 4-3 win over Washington at Citizens Bank Park on the penultimate day of the season. A game-ending double play with the bases loaded helps closer Brad Lidge convert his 41st save in as many opportunities.

September 27, 2010

RHP Roy Halladay throws an 8-0 shutout at Nationals Park as the Phillies win a fourth consecutive division title for the first time in franchise history.

September 27, 2016

1B Ryan Howard hits the 15th grand slam of his career, establishing a new franchise record.

September 28, 1919

In the fastest game ever played in the major leagues, it takes the New York Giants 51 minutes to beat the Phillies, 6-1, in the first game of a doubleheader at the Polo Grounds on the final day of the season. Most batters swing at the first pitch and run the bases at will.

September 28, 1952

RHP Robin Roberts defeats the New York Giants, 7-4, at the Polo Grounds, improving his record to 28-7, the most victories in the majors since 1935.

September 28, 1958

CF Richie Ashburn goes 3-for-4 in the final game of the season, a 6-4 win at Pittsburgh, to edge Willie Mays, .350 to .347, for his second NL batting title. The Phillies haven’t had a batting champion since.

September 28, 1975

2B Dave Cash finishes the season with 213 hits, becoming the first Phillie to lead the majors in that category since Richie Ashburn in 1958.

September 28, 1983

C Bo Diaz has five hits, including two homers, and 2B Joe Morgan has four hits and three RBI as the ā€œWheeze Kidsā€ clinch the NL East, 13-6, at Chicago, their 12th win in the last 13 games.

September 28, 1993

2B Mariano Duncan belts his second grand slam of the season as the Phillies go from worst to first and secure the NL East crown with a 10-7 victory at Pittsburgh. The slam is the Phillies’ eighth, then a new club record for a single season.

September 28, 2003

Before a sellout crowd of 58,554, the final game in Vet history is won by the Atlanta Braves, 5-2. Following the last out, emotional and memorable closing ceremonies are held featuring the 2003 Phillies and nearly 100 alumni, including Steve Carlton, Mike Schmidt and Tug McGraw.

September 28, 2011

The Phillies set a franchise record for most wins in a season with 102 as they beat the Atlanta Braves, 4-3, in 13 innings. In addition, Charlie Manuel sets a club record for most wins by a manager with 646, passing Gene Mauch.

September 28, 2018

RHP Jerad Eickhoff ties the club mark with seven consecutive strikeouts but the Phils fall to Atlanta at home, 10-2.

September 29, 1894

Making his major league debut in his one and only game with Philadelphia, Tom Delahanty joins his brother Ed as the first pair of brothers to play for the Phillies.

September 29, 1907

With a 1-0 shutout in the first game of a doubleheader at Cincinnati, RHP George McQuillan extends his consecutive scoreless innings streak to 25.0 innings, a Phillies record for the start of a career.

September 29, 1915

The Phillies clinch their first NL pennant with a 5-0 win at Boston, a one-hitter for RHP Grover Cleveland Alexander, his 31st win. It is his fourth one-hitter and 12th shutout of the season.

September 29, 2019

LF Brad Miller goes deep twice, giving the Phillies 46 home runs in September, a franchise record for most homers in a calendar month. Miller also becomes the first player in Phillies history with three multi-HR games in a span of nine games (9/21-29).

September 30, 1893

Manager Harry Wright earns his 1,000th career victory in the season finale, a 10-2 win over Cleveland.

September 30, 1926

Hall of Fame right-hander Robin Roberts is born in Springfield, Ill.

September 30, 1951

CF Richie Ashburn goes 4-for-8 in the final game of the season to finish with 221 hits, the first Phillie to lead the NL since Chuck Klein in 1933. Brooklyn edges the Phillies, 9-8, on Jackie Robinson’s 14th-inning home run to set up a three-game playoff with the New York Giants for the NL pennant.

September 30, 1971

CF Willie Montanez sets a club rookie record with his 30th home run as the Phillies end the season with a 4-3 loss to Pittsburgh at Veterans Stadium.

September 30, 1977

The Phillies hit three consecutive home runs for the first time in club history, with Greg Luzinski, Richie Hebner and Garry Maddox going back-to-back-to-back in the second inning off Montreal starter Stan Bahnsen in a 9-4 win at the Vet.

September 30, 1978

LHP Randy Lerch hits two home runs and picks up the win as the Phillies capture their third straight NL East title with a 10-8 victory at Pittsburgh.

September 30, 1979

1B Pete Rose sets a club record by playing in his 163rd game of the season, a 2-0 win in the season finale at Montreal.

September 30, 1980

Rookie RHP Marty Bystrom, who was called up on Sept. 1, wins his fifth straight start, 14-2 over Chicago, en route to NL Pitcher of the Month honors.

S**eptember 30, 2007**

After being seven games out with 17 to play, the Phillies clinch the NL East title on the final day of the season by beating Washington, 6-1, at Citizens Bank Park while the New York Mets, who started the day tied with the Phils for first place, lose to Florida, 8-1. SS Jimmy Rollins hits his 20th triple of the season, a new modern club record.

September 30, 2009

The Phillies clinch their third straight NL East title and ninth overall with a 10-3 win over Houston at Citizens Bank Park.

September 30, 2022

With three stolen bases in a 5-1 win at Nationals Park, J.T. Realmuto becomes only the second catcher in MLB history with a 20-homer/20-steal season, joining Hall of Famer IvƔn Rodrƭguez.