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

[PotatoOfCouch13]

RedSoxRockies: Not a bad suggestion, but I've already started planning for my next project. I'm not going to give anything away, but I will give some hints.

1) It will be a historical dynasty, but it will be closer to the present day.
2) I want to write about this, but I kinda feel like I owe it to someone.

DarthJaker: I'm actually writing this from my new computer. When I sent my old one away, I was expecting to get it back intact. However, I got a call last week saying that it was unfixable. I requested for the hard drive to be returned to me, so I suppose I could try and revive it when I get it back. However, I feel that the time may be right to move on. After all, I've had a great run.

1946 WORLD SERIES
GAME 2

Dizzy Trout toed the rubber in the bullpen, as he tossed his warm-up pitches. After spending 5 ½ mediocre seasons in with the Tigers, he was traded to the Red Sox midway through 1944. Since then, his career has been revitalized, going 42-15 in the 2 ½ seasons since. However, this was the biggest start of his career, and he was visibly nervous.

Charlie Ripple warmed up in the other bullpen, just 20 feet over from Trout. He was noticeably calm, despite being only 25 years old. This was going to be his 4th World Series start, but he hadn’t had success, only 1-1 with 5.95 ERA. However, Charlie was confident that he could do well. After all, he had a great performance in the All-Star game this year…

1ST INNING: Dizzy’s nerves were evident, falling behind Phil Rizzuto 3-1, before ‘Scooter’ lined a single through the hole to start the game. Rizzuto did his usual routine, dancing off first base, distracting Trout, who fell behind Ron Northey, 3-0. The next pitch was a fastball, and Northey punished it, lacing a gap shot all the way to the wall in right-centerfield. ‘Scooter’ easily came around to score, giving the Phillies the lead in the 1st inning, again. Phillies 1, Red Sox 0. Gil Hodges was next, looping a single into the void between 2nd and right, and Northey hustled around to score. Phillies 2, Red Sox 0. Larry Doby was hit by a pitch, and Vern Stephens walked to load the bases with nobody out. Andy Seminick just got under a hanging curve, but the fly ball out was deep enough to score Hodges from 3rd. Phillies 3, Red Sox 0. Butch Nieman grounded into a double play, but the damage was done.

Charlie’s confidence was shaken almost immediately, allowing a leadoff single to Dom DiMaggio. After 2 fly ball outs, Ted Williams’ bat awoke, going the other way over the wall for a 2-run home run. Phillies 3, Red Sox 2.

2ND, 3RD, & 4TH INNINGS: Both pitchers got locked into their rhythms, as both teams managed only a walk and a single over the course of those 3 innings.

5TH INNING: Charlie Ripple struck out, and Phil Rizzuto was robbed on a diving catch by Tommy Holmes. However, Ron Northey poked a single into left field. As usual, Gil Hodges was there to make the Red Sox pay, blasting a low pitch over the wall in left-centerfield. Phillies 5, Red Sox 2. Larry Doby worked a 3-0 count against reliever Mel Parnell, then yanked an inside fastball out of the park over the tall wall in left. Phillies 6, Red Sox 2. For the 2nd straight game, the Phillies go back-to-back in the 5th inning! Stephens grounded out to end the inning, but the Phillies had added to their lead.

The Red Sox managed only a 1-out single, stranding the runner with 2 pop-ups.

6TH INNING: The Phillies are unable to capitalize on 2 walks, and the Red Sox’ 3-4-5 hitters are set down in order, including strikeouts of Williams and Doerr.

7TH INNING: Ron Northey is at the center of another rally, hitting another gap double to right field. Hodges’ groundout advanced the runner to third, where Larry Doby’s single through the box brings him home. Phillies 7, Red Sox 2. Parnell gets out of the inning, but the Phillies add another run to their lead.

Charlie Ripple was cruising, until Clyde McCullough got a hold of a fastball, smashing a home run out to centerfield. Phillies 7, Red Sox 3.

8TH & 9TH INNINGS: Both teams had a runner reach in each frame. However, only Billy Johnson got to 2nd base (a 2-out double in the 9th inning), and he was stranded immediately as Ed Hanyzewski got McCullough to pop out and end the game.

PHILLIES 7, RED SOX 3
Phillies lead World Series, 2-0
W: Charlie Ripple (1-0) L: Dizzy Trout (0-1)

PHI – 2B: Ron Northey 2 (2); HR: Gil Hodges (3), Larry Doby (1)
BOS – 2B: Billy Johnson (1); HR: Ted Williams (1), Clyde McCullough (1)

*

[PotatoOfCouch13]

1946 WORLD SERIES
GAME 3

With their backs against the wall, the Red Sox send Gene Lambert to the hill. Lambert was a free agent signing last offseason, and paid immediate dividends, sparking the Red Sox to their red-hot start. He returns to the City of Brotherly Love to face…

…the man that replaced him in the rotation: Harvey Haddix. Haddix had a great rookie year, a season that was very much overlooked by the incredible rookie seasons of Charlie Ripple and Robin Roberts before him. Still, 22 wins is an outstanding season, especially for someone only 20 years old.

The sellout crowd was ready, making the banks of the Schuylkill tremble with all the noise they were making! Let’s go Phillies!

1ST INNING: Harvey Haddix was a rookie. It might’ve got lost in the shuffle of an outstanding regular season, but it showed itself early on. Dom DiMaggio led off the ballgame with a double, but was still standing on second 2 outs later. Ted Williams stepped up to bat, and was walked intentionally. Bobby Doerr’s grounder was booted by Vern Stephens, loading the bases. However, Haddix got Mike Schemer to pop out to end the threat.

The Phillies were retired 1-2-3, the first time the Phillies didn’t score in the 1st inning this series.

2ND INNING: With 2 outs in the top of the inning, Haddix walked the pitcher, Lambert. DiMaggio comes through with a base knock, putting runners on first and second. Johnny Pesky was handcuffed by an inside fastball, though, striking out to end the inning.

Pesky’s woes continued in the bottom half, booting a groundball off the bat of Larry Doby. Vern Stephens walked, putting runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs. Andy Seminick and Butch Nieman, however, couldn’t do anything to advance the runners, and they were still there with 2 outs. Danny Murtaugh saved the day, though, poking a single past the diving Pesky, and bringing home Doby. Phillies 1, Red Sox 0.

3RD INNING: Both teams were retired in order.

4TH INNING: Back-to-back singles by Schemer and Billy Johnson put runners on the corners with no outs, and Clyde McCullough brought home the big 1st baseman with a sacrifice fly. Phillies 1, Red Sox 1. Lambert struck out and DiMaggio flied out to end the inning.

The Phillies were sent down in order again. Lambert was starting to find his groove.

5TH INNING: The only action was a 2-out single by Phil Rizzuto. Aside from that, both teams were sent down as easily as possible.

6TH INNING: Haddix lost his control, walking the bases full with only 1 out. Gene Lambert helped his own cause with a sacrifice fly, giving the Sox their first lead of the Series. Red Sox 2, Phillies 1.

The DiMaggio family is quickly becoming a thorn in my side. First Joe’s Yankees dominate the early part of the ‘40’s, and then Vince underperforms in a Phillies uniform. Now, we’ve become Dom’s personal punching bag. The little centerfielder lined a double into the rightfield corner, scoring 2 runs. Red Sox 4, Phillies 1. Pesky followed with a single, scoring Dom and adding to the lead. Red Sox 5, Phillies 1. Johnny wasn’t paying attention, though, and wandered too far off first base, getting picked off by Haddix to end the inning.

The crowd was out of it. They weren’t used to seeing their Phillies get dominated like this. Fortunately, the prescription was coming with the heart of the order due up…

After Gil Hodges flied out, Larry Doby stepped up to bat. The star centerfielder wasted no time, bombing the 1st pitch he saw into the left-centerfield bleachers. Red Sox 5, Phillies 2. One out later, a walk by Seminick and a double by Nieman set the Phillies up with 2 runners in scoring position, and pinch-hitter Johnny Blatnik took advantage. Blatnik lined a double over the outstretched glove of Pesky, scoring both runners, chasing Lambert from the game, and bringing the Phillies to within 1 run. Red Sox 5, Phillies 4.

7TH INNING: Vern Stephens’ 2nd error of the day proves harmless, as Hugh Casey tosses a hitless 7th inning.

Ron Northey has been consistently in the action for us, and he started the 7th inning with a single to center. Following a walk to Hodges, Doby crushed a hanging curveball, but right at Ted Williams. No matter, as Vern Stephens shot a grounder past the diving Johnson at 3rd and into the leftfield corner! Northey scored easily, and Hodges was waved around 3rd! The fans were on their feet, screaming and yelling as Williams dug the ball out of the corner and fired to the relay man, Pesky. Pesky turned to home, but double-pumped before letting the ball fly (PESKY HELD THE BALL!!!). This delay gave precious time to the runner, and Hodges’ hook slide beat the tag from McCullough! The Phillies had the lead! Phillies 6, Red Sox 5. One out later, Nieman dropped a Texas League single down the rightfield line, adding an insurance run. Phillies 7, Red Sox 5.

8TH & 9TH INNINGS: It was all over but the crying. The wind was sufficiently sucked out of the Red Sox’ sails, and the last 6 batters looked disinterested as they took their hacks against Casey, who notched 2 perfect innings to close out Game 3.

PHILLIES 7, RED SOX 5
Phillies lead World Series, 3-0
W: Hugh Casey (1-0) L: Emmett O’Neill (0-1)

BOS – 2B: Dom DiMaggio 2 (3)
PHI – 2B: Vern Stephens (1), Butch Nieman (1), Johnny Blatnik (1); HR: Larry Doby (2)

*

[PotatoOfCouch13]

1946 WORLD SERIES
GAME 4

20 years ago, in Springfield, IL, a child was born. Little did that baby’s parents know, their son would grow up to be one of the most dominant pitchers in the National League. With 2 full seasons under his belt, Robin Roberts had recorded nearly 50 wins, while maintaining a sub-2.50 ERA. Now, on September 30, 1946, he had a chance to clinch the World Series, on the date of his 20th birthday.

The poor sap that had to pitch against fate was the loser of Game 1, Tex Hughson. With the Red Sox down 0-3, they had both feet and half their torso already in the grave. No team in baseball history had fought back from this kind of deficit to win the World Series.

THE GAME: Wow, I guess the fates really wanted to make this one emphatic. This was about as anti-climactic as last year’s Game 4. The Phillies put up 2 in the 1st, 4 in the 2nd, 4 in the 3rd, added another in the 5th, and 3 more in the 7th, scoring 14 runs on a beleaguered Red Sox pitching staff. Despite 8 walks allowed by Robin Roberts, the Sox can only manage 2 runs.

Don Grate was brought in to close out the game, and got Williams, Doerr, and Schemer on 15 pitches. As the confetti rained down on the field, I had to pause and reflect. This was definitely the greatest team in Phillies history. 102 wins and a World Series title! What to do next?

Only one thing to do: start planning for next year!

PHILLIES 14, RED SOX 2
Phillies win World Series, 4-0!
W: Robin Roberts (2-0) L: Tex Hughson (0-2)

BOS - 2B: Ted Williams (1)
PHI – 2B: Butch Nieman (2), Robin Roberts (1); HR: Ron Northey 2 (3)

*

WORLD SERIES MVP: 1B Gil Hodges - .278 (5/18), 3 HR, 6 RBI
Can’t go wrong with the 22-year-old superstar. Personally, I would’ve given it to RF Ron Northey, who hit 100 points better with 2 more RBIs than Gil.

*

[EVEN11323]

Congrats on the WS Win! I look forward to your new dynasty.

[PotatoOfCouch13]

EVEN11323: Thanks! I just have some minor housekeeping stuff to finish up before I turn in the keys here. As for my new dynasty, I'm just getting some background information, and establishing a record book, something that I was never able to get around to in this dynasty. It's much easier to grab 15 years of history than 60 years!

*

END OF SEASON AWARDS

AL MVP: LF Ted Williams, Red Sox - .264, 40 HR, 126 RBI
Despite a down year in terms of batting average, Williams wins his 4th MVP Award

AL CY: SP Dizzy Trout, Red Sox – 23-3, 2.76 ERA, 142 K
A truly outstanding year from the ace of the AL champions.

AL ROY: 3B Nap Reyes, Browns - .317, 10 HR, 58 RBI
The 1st pick in last year’s Rule V draft broke out once free of the Giants’ system, making the All-Star game and almost winning a batting title.

AL GG:
P – Hal Newhouser, Tigers (1)
C – Joe Tipton, Indians (1)
1B – Mike Schemer, Red Sox (1)
2B – Red Borom, Tigers (1)
3B – George Kell, Athletics (1)
SS – Merl Combs, Browns (1)
OF – Ted Williams, Red Sox (2)
OF – Vince DiMaggio, White Sox (1)
OF – Ed Freed, Browns (1)

NL MVP: 1B Gil Hodges, Phillies – .260, 35 HR, 99 RBI
A breakout year for the 22-year-old, he won the All-Star MVP, World Series MVP, and regular season MVP, an unprecedented trifecta.

NL CY: SP Robin Roberts, Phillies – 24-6, 2.19 ERA, 130 K
Still only 20 years old, Roberts stayed consistent all season, leading the Phillies to a World Series win.

NL ROY: SP Harvey Haddix, Phillies – 22-9, 3.66 ERA, 150 K
Another Phillies Rookie of the Year? Yawn.

NL GG:
P – Vern Olsen, Cubs (1)
C – Andy Seminick, Phillies (1)
1B – Jack Graham, Dodgers (2)
2B – Jackie Robinson, Dodgers (3)
3B – Bobby Rhawn, Giants (3)
SS – Jeff Cross, Cardinals (1)
OF – Jim Russell, Pirates (1)
OF – Andy Pafko, Cubs (3)
OF – Augie Bergamo, Braves (1)

Chuck Klein Award for Best Major League Hitter
1B Gil Hodges

G.C. Alexander Award for Best Major League Pitcher
SP Robin Roberts

Crash Davis Award for Best Minor League Hitter
SS Jack Albright - .375, 2 HR, 103 RBI at A Utica

Ron Necciai Award for Best Minor League Pitcher
SP Eric Whelan - 13-5, 2.95 ERA at A Utica

*

[PotatoOfCouch13]

SEPTEMBER 30, 1991

I sat in the owner’s box tonight. Sitting in the crowd had gotten more and more tiring since the 1970s. I prefer to sit up here with my family: I like the solitude and the companionship. My son Sam pitched for the team in the ‘60s and ‘70s, then served as general manager since his retirement in 1981. His son A.J. is only 12, but already has a great baseball mind: he proposed the trade to bring Dwight Gooden to Philly, and that’s already paid huge dividends.

This was the final game of my 50th year of ownership. The Phillies were long since eliminated from playoff contention, with the San Francisco Seals and the New York Giants getting set to square off in the NLCS. However, it was still an opportunity to beat our cross-state rivals, the Pirates.

And what a 50 years it’s been! You’ve all been let in on the struggles of the first 5 years, but the last 45 have been the most successful, arguably, in any franchise’s history. 21 championships, 30 pennants, and countless superstars: the pennants hang off the upper deck, wrapping around the rightfield bleachers almost to the press box at Sunoco Stadium. The retired numbers adorn the leftfield façade: Hodges, Northey, Roberts, Doby, Stephens, Seminick, Haddix, Seaver, Monbouquette, Yastrzemski, Jackson, and more.

The legacy of the Phillies is quite alive. 38-year-old 3B George Brett continues to chase Ty Cobb’s hit record, recently passing the great Ron Northey for 2nd all-time. C Carlton Fisk has carried on the tradition of great catchers in a Phillies uniform, and RF Tony Gwynn is poised to carry the banner into the next generation.

The future of the Phillies looks bright as well. Although we won’t be playing into October this year, we have several young players that look to be future superstars. The ‘cornerstone’ of the franchise is CF Ken Griffey. No, not the one that played for the great Phillies teams of the ‘70s, but his son. DiMaggio, Doby, Mays: ‘Junior’ has the potential to be better than them all. He’s already had a full year of Major League experience, and is on pace to break Gil Hodges’ home run record. The rotation will be anchored by 2 talented prospects: Kevin Appier and Al Leiter. Neither is Robin Roberts, and neither will come close to his 420 career wins, but both are going to be good.

What a long strange trip it’s been. I can only hope that the next 50 years are as successful!

*

Thank you all for reading! It's been a pleasure sharing this with you. Hopefully you'll carry over to my next dynasty, the story of the 1990 Seattle Mariners.

~ PoC13

*

THE END

[RedsoxRockies]

The Mariners! Don't tell Coach Owens!

[filihok]

A world series win, a sweep of the major awards. A pretty way to go out.

And your last post almost got me a little misty eyed.

Great job!!!

We'll see if the mariners are as interesting

[AthleticsFan2k8]

I Can't Wait for the Seattle Mariners Dynasty.

[phillies999]

This dynasty deserves a standing ovation.

[OregonDuck1989]

I will miss Trapped in the Basement. A dynasty that inspired me.

A great way to go out. A world title, sweeping the major awards. Perfect way.


Congrats on a great dynasty Potato and if the mariners dynasty is even close to as good as this one then it will be another great dynasty.

[PotatoOfCouch13]

ALL: Thank you for all the kind words. This experience couldn't be what it was without your support.

Meanwhile, my new project, A Shot at Redemption, has been launched. Please check it out when you get a chance!

[FloydtheBarber]

Bump

[PotatoOfCouch13]

FTB: Thanks. That reminds me...

If anyone can tell me how to hook an old hard drive up to my current computer for use as a mass storage unit/to retrieve files without damaging my current machine or the hard drive, your help would be greatly appreciated.

[ewing6]

you have something planned don't you