Trapped in the Basement: The Philadelphia Phillies (1942 - )

[RedsoxRockies]

Oh please. He wants GOOD players on his team.

Gustav is a GOOD player.

[CatKnight]

He's a 65 looking for a Major League contract. That's just a wasted expense.

[RedsoxRockies]

He's a 65 looking for a Major League contract. That's just a wasted expense.

But look at that peak! It is not shabby! As John Van Nuemman would say " Tell me I can build a machine and not make it better than your ability to do something" OR something like that

[PotatoOfCouch13]

Well, I would sign him, but I've already got Vern Stephens manning the hot corner, so I think I'm all set for now.

Besides, he's already signed with the last-place Chicago Cubs, who promptly put him in the C-level minors.

[Coach Owens]

So when's Seattle getting a team?

[RedsoxRockies]

Well, I would sign him, but I've already got Vern Stephens manning the hot corner, so I think I'm all set for now.

Besides, he's already signed with the last-place Chicago Cubs, who promptly put him in the C-level minors.

He is in Chicago! ! He must get moved out at once! (I hate Chicago lol)

[CatKnight]

So when's Seattle getting a team?

If the AL wins the Series, NEVER. ::Bwahahahahahahahahaha!::

[PotatoOfCouch13]

CoachOwens: No later than 1952. But I can always go sooner, if you catch my meaning...

CatKnight: Don't count your eggs before they hatch! Commissioner Chandler may realize the benefits of expansion and change his thinking. Or, he could always move a team...

APRIL – MAY 1946
PART III

*

The Chicago Cubs made a bit of a splash. No, not one on the field, where they’ve lost 6 straight. They managed to sign a 22-year-old Norwegian 3B, Gustav Forkhann to a one year contract. Forkhann, if he makes the show, will be the 4th Nordic ML ballplayer in history.

*

April 12-14: Philadelphia Phillies (5-4) at Pittsburgh Pirates (3-6)

12 – In what has been a recurring theme so far this young season, Ed Hanyzewski was victimized for 2 runs in 1 inning, costing the Phillies the game.
Pirates 8, Phillies 6
W: Emil Kush (1-0) L: Ed Hanyzewski (1-1) SV: Len Perme (1)
2B: Gil Hodges (2), Nick Goulish (1)
HR: Gil Hodges (4), Ron Northey (2)
SB: Don Kolloway (2)

13 – It was a day for the little guy, as Phil Rizzuto and Don Kolloway both hit home runs in a Phillies victory.
Phillies 6, Pirates 2
W: Charlie Ripple (1-2) L: Bob Chesnes (0-2)
2B: Ron Northey (1)
HR: Phil Rizzuto (1), Don Kolloway (1)

14 – Finally! After 2 rough starts, Harvey Haddix earns his first career victory: a complete-game where he took a shutout into the 9th inning to win the series for the Phillies.
Phillies 2, Pirates 1
W: Harvey Haddix (1-2) L: Jim Hopper (3-1)
2B: Don Kolloway (4), Phil Rizzuto (2)

*

Yankees SS Pee Wee Reese hit for the cycle in the Yankees’ win today.

*

April 15: Day Off

April 16-18: Philadelphia Phillies (7-5, 3rd, 2 GB) at New York Giants (9-3, 1st, 0.5 GA)

16 – A run in the bottom of the 8th inning breaks the 1-1 tie and gives the Giants another win against the bullpen.
Giants 2, Phillies 1
W: Max Lanier (2-1) L: Hugh Casey (0-1) SV: Hoyt Wilhelm (3)
2B: Gil Hodges (3), Robin Roberts (1)
3B: Vern Stephens 2 (2)

17 – Hal Schumacher tosses a complete game shutout, extending the Giants’ lead to 1.5 games over the Dodgers.
Giants 4, Phillies 0
W: Hal Schumacher (4-0) L: Tommy Hughes (1-1)
2B: Phil Rizzuto (3)

18 – An error by Vern Stephens allows the tying and winning runs to score in the bottom of the 9th inning, as the Giants sweep the Phillies.
Giants 3, Phillies 2
W: Sal Maglie (2-0) L: Charlie Ripple (1-3)
2B: Nick Goulish (2), Larry Doby (1)

April 19-21: Boston Braves (8-7, 3rd, 4 GB) at Philadelphia Phillies (7-8, T-4th, 5 GB)

19 – After falling behind 2-0, the Phillies score a run in each of the next 4 innings, giving Harvey Haddix (8 IP, 2 R, 9 H) the victory.
Phillies 4, Braves 2
W: Harvey Haddix (2-2) L: Rob Kelley (0-2) SV: Ike Pearson (1)
2B: Vern Stephens (2)
3B: Don Kolloway (1)
HR: Vern Stephens (4), Larry Doby (3)
SB: Don Kolloway (3)

*

20 - It was a beautiful day in Philadelphia, as another sellout crowd packed the gates of Franklin Stadium to witness two important events: a pitcher’s duel between Warren Spahn and Robin Roberts, and the honoring of one of the games’ greatest pitchers. I managed to bring my camera, so I’ve assembled a little photo album.

The sellout crowd at Franklin Stadium, ready for gametime!


“Ol’ Pete” Alexander, from his glory days


The banner, hung next to Chuck Klein’s on the upper deck wall.

On the field, Robin Roberts lived up to his end of the deal. Warren Spahn, meanwhile, was roughed up for 4 runs in the first inning, and the Phillies cruise.
Phillies 7, Braves 2
W: Robin Roberts (4-0) L: Warren Spahn (2-2)
2B: Phil Rizzuto (4), Gil Hodges (4), Vern Stephens (3), Robin Roberts (2)
HR: Gil Hodges (5), Vern Stephens (5), Nick Goulish (2)

*

21 – A 16-inning marathon, the Phillies get 8 shutout innings from their bullpen, as Hanyzewski, Pearson, and Casey allow only 3 hits as the Phillies walk off with a bases-loaded single.
Phillies 5, Braves 4 (16)
W: Hugh Casey (1-1) L: Frank Hiller (0-1)
2B: Gil Hodges (5)
3B: Nick Goulish (2)
SB: Nick Goulish (1)

April 22-24: Philadelphia Phillies (10-8, 3rd, 5 GB) at Pittsburgh Pirates (5-13, 8th, 10 GB)

22 – Despite Gil Hodges’ 6th home run of the year, the Pirates get to Ike Pearson in the bottom of the 10th inning to walk off with a win.
Pirates 4, Phillies 3 (10)
W: Jim Hooks (1-1) L: Ike Pearson (0-1)
2B: Phil Rizzuto (5), Don Kolloway (5)
HR: Gil Hodges (6)
SB: Nick Goulish (2)

23 – Harvey Haddix is the beneficiary of an offensive explosion, as the Phillies pound out 14 hits in the victory.
Phillies 10, Pirates 1
W: Harvey Haddix (3-2) L: Bob Chesnes (1-3)
2B: Phil Rizzuto (6), Larry Doby 2 (3), Nick Goulish (3), Harvey Haddix (1)
3B: Butch Nieman (1)
SB: Nick Goulish (3)

24 – Babe Young’s walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth ends a great pitchers’ duel, giving the Pirates the series in the process.
Pirates 2, Phillies 1
W: Emil Kush (2-1) L: Ed Hanyzewski (1-2)
2B: Nick Goulish (4), Bill Peterman (1)
3B: Phil Rizzuto (1)
SB: Vern Stephens (1)

STANDINGS (after games on April 24, 1946)

NATIONAL LEAGUE		
New York	16-4	--
Brooklyn	15-6	1.5
Philadelphia	11-10	5.5
Boston		10-11	6.5
Cincinnati	9-12	7.5
Chicago		8-12	8.0
St. Louis	7-14	9.5
Pittsburgh	7-14	9.5
			
AMERICAN LEAGUE		
Boston		17-4	--
New York	14-7	3.0
Washington	12-9	5.0
Detroit		11-9	5.5
St. Louis	8-13	9.0
Cleveland	7-13	9.5
Chicago		7-13	9.5
Philadelphia	6-14	10.5

[CDuffy26]

Its a sellout, and yet the upper left field deck and right field bleachers are empty, hmm...just kidding. Is that The Met though, it looks like it but I can't be sure.

[RedsoxRockies]

Mr. Walsh, you invented color photography!

[PotatoOfCouch13]

RedsoxRockies: And the internet! Although I'm probably not going to get credit for it...

CDuffy: We sold all the tickets! That's a sellout!

And yes, it is Metropolitan Stadium in Minneapolis. Since Franklin Stadium is fictional, I had to find something with similar capacity for the photo. I guess you all can use your imagination in this one. I mean, you use it pretty frequently for all these great dynasties!

APRIL 25, 1946

“Andrew, sweetie, can you feed Sam tonight?”

“Sure thing honey.”

I grabbed the spoon and the plate of vegetables. Sam didn’t like veggies. I think he preferred wearing them to eating them, quite frankly. I wasn’t so fond of wearing broccoli. Unfortunately, that decision wasn’t up to me.

*RING RING*

The phone! My escape!

“I’ll get it!”, I shouted to Elizabeth.

“This doesn’t relieve you of dinner duty!”, she shouted back.

D***, my plan had failed! I picked up the receiver and walked back towards the table.

“Andrew Walsh.”

“Andrew! This is Ford Frick.”

I hadn’t heard from the man since my panicked call almost a month ago. “Ford! I trust you’re giving me a pep talk to win the World Series this year!”

“Now’s not the time to try out your comedy routine. I’m calling purely from a business standpoint. Do you have time to talk?”

“Sure, I’m just feeding Sammy. I can talk”, I said as more broccoli fell on my shirt. I’m sure if Sam could express thought in coherent sentences, he’d say something about his distaste for the green veggie. Sadly for him, he’s going to have to deal with it.

“You might need to put that aside for now.”

*

[3RunHomer]

Ford doesn't like broccoli either?

[RedsoxRockies]

Ford just put bussiness over a human life! Now Sammy is going to starve! Call PETA!

[PotatoOfCouch13]

3RunHomer: Can't say that he's weird. Lots of people don't like broccoli. I, on the other hand, love it. Especially when it's raw! Les crudites sont delicieux!!!

RedsoxRockies: I think that you should leave PETA out of this. Besides, their forte is more animals. Last time I checked (and it was a while ago), babies were humans. I think you should be calling Amnesty International...

UPDATE COMING SOONish

[RedsoxRockies]

3RunHomer: Can't say that he's weird. Lots of people don't like broccoli. I, on the other hand, love it. Especially when it's raw! Les crudites sont delicieux!!!

RedsoxRockies: I think that you should leave PETA out of this. Besides, their forte is more animals. Last time I checked (and it was a while ago), babies were humans. I think you should be calling Amnesty International...

UPDATE COMING SOONish

Yes, but how do we know that your wife was not an animal, which would make Sam part animal.....