1959 Philadelphia Phillies season
Encyclopedia
The Philadelphia Phillies
season was the 77th season in the history of the franchise
. During spring training
, manager Eddie Sawyer
told the press, "We're definitely not a last place club... I think the biggest thing we've accomplished is getting rid of the losing complex. That alone makes us not a last place club." The Phillies finished in last place in 1959, seven games behind seventh-place St. Louis
and 23-games behind the pennant and World Series winning Dodgers
.
proposed building a new ballpark for the Phillies on 72 acres (291,373.9 m²) adjacent to the Garden State Park Racetrack in Cherry Hill, New Jersey
. Connie Mack Stadium was 50 years old, did not have sufficient parking, and the sale of alcohol was banned at sports venues in Pennsylvania. Beer sales were legal in New Jersey. The proposed ballpark would have seated 45,000 fans, been expandable to 60,000, and would have had 15,000 parking spaces. The Phillies would eventually move to the South Philadelphia Sports Complex
in 1971.
was removed from the coaching staff and reassigned to the front office where he worked in team public relations.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
season was the 77th season in the history of the franchise
History of the Philadelphia Phillies
The history of the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball's National League is a long and varied one. The Phillies are based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and are a member of the National League East division. Since , the team's home has been Citizens Bank Park in the South Philadelphia...
. During spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
, manager Eddie Sawyer
Eddie Sawyer
Edwin Milby Sawyer was an American manager and scout in Major League Baseball. As a manager, he led the 1950 Philadelphia Phillies — the "Whiz Kids", as the youthful club was known — to the second National League championship in team history.-A scholar-athlete:Born in Westerly, Rhode Island,...
told the press, "We're definitely not a last place club... I think the biggest thing we've accomplished is getting rid of the losing complex. That alone makes us not a last place club." The Phillies finished in last place in 1959, seven games behind seventh-place St. Louis
1959 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 78th season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 68th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 71-83 during the season and finished seventh in the National League, 16 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers....
and 23-games behind the pennant and World Series winning Dodgers
1959 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The Los Angeles Dodgers finished in a first-place tie with the Milwaukee Braves, then won the pennant as they swept the Braves in a best-of-three playoff series. They went on to defeat the Chicago White Sox in the 1959 World Series in just their second season since leaving Brooklyn.- Offseason :*...
.
Offseason
In early 1959, Phillies owner Bob CarpenterR. R. M. Carpenter, Jr.
Robert Ruliph Morgan Carpenter Jr. was an owner and club president of the Philadelphia Phillies of American Major League Baseball. When he took command of the Phils, in November 1943 after his father purchased the franchise, Carpenter became the youngest club president in baseball history, and he...
proposed building a new ballpark for the Phillies on 72 acres (291,373.9 m²) adjacent to the Garden State Park Racetrack in Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Cherry Hill is a township in Camden County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a population of 71,045, representing an increase of 1,080 from the 69,965 residents enumerated during the 2000 Census...
. Connie Mack Stadium was 50 years old, did not have sufficient parking, and the sale of alcohol was banned at sports venues in Pennsylvania. Beer sales were legal in New Jersey. The proposed ballpark would have seated 45,000 fans, been expandable to 60,000, and would have had 15,000 parking spaces. The Phillies would eventually move to the South Philadelphia Sports Complex
South Philadelphia Sports Complex
The South Philadelphia Sports Complex is the current home of Philadelphia's professional sports teams. It is the site of the Wells Fargo Center, Lincoln Financial Field and Citizens Bank Park...
in 1971.
Notable transactions
- December 1, 1958: Johnny O'BrienJohnny O'BrienJohn Thomas O'Brien is a former backup second baseman and pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates , St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Braves . O'Brien batted and threw right-handed...
was drafted by the Phillies from the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
in the 1958 rule 5 draftRule 5 draftThe Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
. - December 2, 1958: John HerrnsteinJohn HerrnsteinJohn Ellett Herrnstein was an American professional baseball player, an outfielder, first baseman and pinch hitter in the Major Leagues from 1962–1966. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and Atlanta Braves...
was signed as an amateur free agent by the Phillies. - December 3, 1958: Chuck EssegianChuck EssegianCharles Abraham Essegian, Jr. is a former backup outfielder who played from through in Major League Baseball. Listed at 5' 11", 200 lb., he batted and threw right-handed....
was traded by the Phillies to the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
for Rubén AmaroRubén Amaro, Sr.Rubén Amaro, Sr. was a shortstop and first baseman in Major League Baseball who played from through .son of a cuban Santos Amaro and a mexicanJosefina Mora....
. - December 3, 1958: Jack SanfordJack SanfordJohn Stanley Sanford was an American right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball, and later in his career a relief pitcher as well, for the Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, and California Angels. He finished his career playing very briefly with the Kansas City...
was traded by the Phillies to the San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco GiantsThe San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
for Rubén Gómez and Valmy ThomasValmy ThomasValmy Thomas was a Major League Baseball catcher. In his five-year career, he played for five different home cities: the New York Giants , the San Francisco Giants , the Philadelphia Phillies , the Baltimore Orioles , and the Cleveland Indians...
. - December 23, 1958: Rip RepulskiRip RepulskiEldon John Repulski was an outfielder in Major League Baseball. From 1953 through 1961, he played with the St. Louis Cardinals , Philadelphia Phillies , Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox . He batted and threw right-handed...
, Jim GoldenJim GoldenJames Edward Golden was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched from 1960-1963 for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Colt .45's.-External links:...
and Gene SnyderGene Snyder (baseball)Gene Walter Snyder was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched in 11 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 1959 baseball season.-External links:...
were traded by the Phillies to the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles DodgersThe Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
for Sparky AndersonSparky AndersonGeorge Lee "Sparky" Anderson was an American Major League Baseball manager. He managed the National League's Cincinnati Reds to the 1975 and 1976 championships, then added a third title in 1984 with the Detroit Tigers of the American League. He was the first manager to win the World Series in both...
. - March 31, 1959: Johnny O'BrienJohnny O'BrienJohn Thomas O'Brien is a former backup second baseman and pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates , St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Braves . O'Brien batted and threw right-handed...
, Ted KazanskiTed KazanskiTheodore Stanley Kazanski is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Philadelphia Phillies. Listed at 6' 1" , 175 lb., he batted and threw right-handed....
and Stan LopataStan LopataStanley Edward Lopata was an American professional baseball player. Lopata played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for parts of 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Braves...
were traded by the Phillies to the Milwaukee BravesAtlanta BravesThe Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
for Gene ConleyGene ConleyDonald Eugene Conley is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played eleven seasons from to for four different teams. Conley also played forward in the 1952-1953 season and from 1958 to 1964 for two teams in the National Basketball Association...
, Harry HanebrinkHarry HanebrinkHarry Aloysius Hanebrink was a backup second baseman/left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Milwaukee Braves and Philadelphia Phillies . Listed at 6' 0", 165 lb., Hanebrink batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
and Joe KoppeJoe KoppeJoseph Koppe , born Joseph Kopchia in Detroit, Michigan, was an American Major League Baseball player for the Milwaukee Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, and Los Angeles Angels....
. - Prior to 1959 season: John AndersonJohn Anderson (pitcher)John Charles Anderson is a former professional baseball pitcher. He played parts of three seasons in Major League Baseball, between 1958 and 1962, for the Philadelphia Phillies, Baltimore Orioles, St. Louis Cardinals, and Houston Colt .45s.- References :...
was returned by the Phillies to the Miami MarlinsMiami Marlins (IL)The Miami Marlins was the name of a Class AAA American minor league baseball franchise based in Miami, Florida, that played in the International League from 1956 through 1960.The Marlins were a transplanted version of the original Syracuse Chiefs...
after expiration of their minor league working agreement.
Regular season
On April 11, coach Benny BengoughBenny Bengough
Bernard Oliver "Benny" Bengough was a major league baseball catcher who played for ten seasons for the New York Yankees and St. Louis Browns. He was born in Niagara Falls, New York...
was removed from the coaching staff and reassigned to the front office where he worked in team public relations.
Notable transactions
- April 13, 1959: Bobby Del GrecoBobby Del GrecoRobert George Del Greco was an Outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates , St. Louis Cardinals , Chicago Cubs , New York Yankees , Philadelphia Phillies and Kansas City Athletics .Del Greco grew up in Pittsburgh's Hill District and was signed by the hometown Pirates...
was purchased by the Phillies from the New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. - June 5, 1959: Gary KrollGary KrollGary Melvin Kroll is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for four seasons. The , righthander played for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1964, the New York Mets from 1964 to 1965, the Houston Astros in 1966, and the Cleveland Indians in 1969...
was signed as an amateur free agent by the Phillies. - June 6, 1959: Willie JonesWillie Jones (baseball)Willie Edward Jones , nicknamed "Puddin' Head", was a Major League Baseball third baseman who played for the Philadelphia Phillies , Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds...
was traded by the Phillies to the Cleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
for Jim BolgerJim Bolger (baseball)James Cyril Bolger is an American former professional baseball outfielder. Although Bolger played for the Reds, Indians, and Athletics, Bolger had over two-thirds of his major league playing time with the Chicago Cubs. In 1957 Bolger achieved his career-high batting average of .275, in 273 at...
and cash.
Roster
| 1959 Philadelphia Phillies | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers | Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 152 | 477 | 104 | .218 | 0 | 34 | |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 66 | 140 | 28 | .200 | 1 | 7 | |
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 180 | 12 | 7 | 3.00 | 102 | |
| 25 | 153 | 9 | 10 | 4.06 | 106 | |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 72.1 | 3 | 8 | 6.10 | 37 | |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|