“We are going to win it all in 1950.”

That comment was made by manager Eddie Sawyer to his team following the final game in 1949, when the Phillies finished third in the National League. Their record was 81-73, the first winning season since 1932. On Opening Day of 1950, the Phillies debuted the red pinstripe uniform they still wear today. Sawyer had designed it after concluding “the old uniforms were terrible looking.”

Seven seasons after the Carpenter family bought the Phillies, the beleaguered franchise showed some hope. The 1950 club was dubbed the Whiz Kids. The roster consisted of young, homegrown talent: pitchers Robin Roberts, Curt Simmons, Bob Miller, Bubba Church, shortstop Granny Hamner, third baseman Willie Jones, center fielder Richie Ashburn, right fielder Del Ennis, second baseman Mike Goliat, catchers Andy Seminick and Stan Lopata, infielder Putsy Caballero and outfielder Jackie Mayo. Seminick was the “senior citizen” at age 29, Simmons, the “kid” at 21.

• Phillies alumni

Today, only Miller, 94, and Simmons, 91, are still with us.

First place

Bouncing between first and third place, the Whiz Kids took sole possession of first place on July 25 in a tight four-team race: Phillies 53-38, St. Louis 51-37, Boston, 48-38 and defending champion Brooklyn, 47-37. The Phillies stayed on top the rest of the season,but what seemed like as easy ride to the Phillies' first pennant since 1915 became a nail-biter.

A Wednesday afternoon win before only 4,259 Shibe Park fans gave the Whiz Kids (88-55) a 7.5-game lead with 11 games to go, including three doubleheaders in four days. Boston and Brooklyn were tied for second at the end of play on Sept. 20.

But the starting rotation was struggling. Simmons (17-8) last pitched on Sept. 9 as his National Guard unit was activated because of the Korean War. Miller (11-6), winner of his first eight decisions, had back and arm ailments and was 0-3 in September, and Church (8-6) was recovering from being hit in the face by a line drive on Sept. 15. He returned nine days later to make two starts, both losses.

A nine-game road trip would end the season on Sunday, Oct. 1, in Brooklyn. A 7-3 loss on Saturday, the Whiz Kids’ fifth straight, cut the lead to one game, setting up a pennant-deciding game against the Dodgers. Knowing a loss would force a one-game playoff with Brooklyn for the pennant the following day, Sawyer decided to go with his ace, Roberts, in the big Sunday afternoon game at Ebbets Field. For Roberts, it was his fourth start in nine games. He had started three days earlier and lost to the Giants in New York.

Dramatic ending

Roberts and the Phillies appeared to be on the brink of disaster in the last of the ninth inning of a 1-1 tie. Cal Abrams walked to start the inning for Brooklyn and Pee Wee Reese singled him to second. Duke Snider followed with another hit to center. Ashburn made the throw of his life, nailing Abrams to deny the winning run. But “Robbie” remained in a huge jam as the Dodgers had runners on first and second with one out. Jackie Robinson was walked intentionally to load the bases. Roberts retired Carl Furillo on a foul to first base and Gil Hodges on a routine fly ball to right, sending the game to extra innings.

Roberts remained in the game and singled off Don Newcombe to start the 10th. Eddie Waitkus’ single moved Roberts to second. Ashburn laid down a sacrifice bunt, but Roberts was thrown out at third. That brought up left fielder Dick Sisler.

Phillies radio broadcaster, Gene Kelly, described what happened next:

“One ball, two strikes. Now Newcombe’s set, in the stretch, delivering, swinging ... A fly ball, very, very deep to left field, moving back Adams, way, way back ... He can’t get it ... It’s a home run—WOW! ... A home run for Dick Sisler, the Phillies lead 4-1.”

The most dramatic home run in team history put the Phillies on top. Roberts retired three straight Dodgers in the 10th, setting off celebrations in Philadelphia.

The Whiz Kids, drained from a tough pennant race, were no match for the New York Yankees. who won four straight games, 1-0, 2-1 (10 innings), 3-2 and 5-2.

Relief ace Jim Konstanty (16-7, 22 saves in 74 bullpen appearances) was Sawyer’s surprise starter in Game 1. He lost, 1-0, allowing four hits and one run in eight innings. He was named the National League Most Valuable Player following the season, a first for a relief pitcher.

Roberts’ win on the final day of the season was his 20th. It began a streak of six straight seasons in which he won 20 or more and pitched more than 300 innings. Ennis hit .311 with a career-high 31 home runs. His 126 RBIs led the league. Ashburn hit .303, the second of eight times he would bat over .300, and he led the league with 14 triples.

Hopes for more pennants from this young team never happened. A tie for third in 1953 was the decade’s highest finish.