1958 Philadelphia Phillies season
Encyclopedia
The Philadelphia Phillies
season was the 76th in franchise history. The Phillies finished the season in last place in the National League
. It was the Phillies third losing season in five seasons, and their fourth losing season during the 1950s.
played their first game as the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Phillies at Miami Stadium
in the 1958 spring training
opener on March 8, 1958. The Phillies won 7 to 4.
and New York Giants
to California prior to the 1958 season, the Phillies became the closest National League club to New York City
, and in response, contracted to broadcast 78 games into the New York metropolitan television market to fill the void in National League games on TV in New York. Al Helfer
and Rex Barney
called the games for New York's WOR-TV
. However, due to competition with games at Yankee Stadium, Phillies games were not able to match the audience for Yankee broadcasts, and thus, they stopped broadcasting games in the New York television market in the 1959 season.
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 76th in franchise history. The Phillies finished the season in last place in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
. It was the Phillies third losing season in five seasons, and their fourth losing season during the 1950s.
Offseason
- December 11, 1957: Dave PhilleyDave PhilleyDavid Earl Philley is a former outfielder who played in Major League Baseball. A switch-hitter who threw right-handed, he debuted on September 6, and played his final game on August 6, . He was born in Paris, Texas....
was purchased by the Phillies from the Detroit TigersDetroit TigersThe Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
.
Spring training
Following their off-season move from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, the DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers
The 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...
played their first game as the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Phillies at Miami Stadium
Miami Stadium
Miami Stadium was a baseball stadium in Miami, Florida. It was primarily used for baseball, and was the home field of the Miami Marlins minor league baseball team, as well as other minor league teams. It opened in 1949 and held 13,500 people...
in the 1958 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...
opener on March 8, 1958. The Phillies won 7 to 4.
Regular season
With the move of the Brooklyn DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers
The 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...
and New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
to California prior to the 1958 season, the Phillies became the closest National League club to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and in response, contracted to broadcast 78 games into the New York metropolitan television market to fill the void in National League games on TV in New York. Al Helfer
Al Helfer
George Alvin Helfer was an American radio sportscaster.Nicknamed "Mr. Radio Baseball", Helfer worked six World Series, ten All-Star Games, and regular season broadcasts for several teams and the Mutual network...
and Rex Barney
Rex Barney
Rex Edward Barney was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1943 and from 1946 through 1950....
called the games for New York's WOR-TV
WWOR-TV
WWOR-TV, virtual channel 9 , is the flagship station of the MyNetworkTV programming service, licensed to Secaucus, New Jersey and serving the Tri-State metropolitan area. WWOR is owned by Fox Television Stations, a division of the News Corporation, and is a sister station to Fox network flagship...
. However, due to competition with games at Yankee Stadium, Phillies games were not able to match the audience for Yankee broadcasts, and thus, they stopped broadcasting games in the New York television market in the 1959 season.
Notable transactions
- April 15, 1958: Ramón CondeRamón CondeRamón Luis Conde Román is a former professional baseball player. He played 14 games in Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox in 1962, primarily as a third baseman. He came to the plate 19 times without a hit, although he did manage three walks.Conde had an extensive minor league baseball...
was acquired by the Phillies from the Kansas City AthleticsOakland AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
. - June 8, 1958: Danny CaterDanny CaterDanny Anderson Cater is a former Major League Baseball first baseman, third baseman, and outfielder. He was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies at the age of 18 on June 8,...
was signed as an amateur free agent by the Phillies. - June 13, 1958: Joe LonnettJoe LonnettJoseph Paul Lonnett is a former catcher and coach in Major League Baseball. As a player, he threw and batted right-handed, stood 5'10½" tall and weighed 185 pounds ....
was 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 Carl SawatskiCarl SawatskiCarl Ernest Sawatski was a catcher for the Chicago Cubs , Chicago White Sox , Milwaukee Braves , Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals...
. - July 9, 1958: John BoozerJohn BoozerJohn Morgan Boozer was an American Major League Baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies ....
was signed as an amateur free agent by the Phillies. - July 21, 1958: Dwight SieblerDwight SieblerDwight Leroy Siebler is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched parts of five seasons from until , all for the Minnesota Twins.-External links:...
was signed as an amateur free agent by the Phillies. - August 15, 1958: Ramón Conde was purchased from the Phillies by 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...
. - September 29, 1958: Solly HemusSolly HemusSolomon Joseph Hemus is a retired infielder, manager and coach in American Major League Baseball.As a player with the St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies, Hemus was primarily a shortstop, although he also saw significant time as a second baseman. He compiled a lifetime batting average...
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 Gene FreeseGene FreeseEugene Lewis Freese is a former third baseman in American Major League Baseball for 12 seasons . A journeyman, he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates , St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox , Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros, batting .254 with 115 home runs in 1,115 games...
.
Roster
| 1958 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 | 105 | 334 | 95 | .284 | 8 | 36 | |
| SS | 146 | 522 | 120 | .230 | 6 | 51 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 91 | 207 | 64 | .309 | 3 | 31 | |
| 60 | 183 | 42 | .230 | 5 | 12 | |
| 29 | 63 | 17 | .270 | 1 | 6 | |
| 1 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 269.2 | 17 | 14 | 3.24 | 130 | |
| 16 | 107.2 | 3 | 6 | 4.51 | 77 | |
| 2 | 8.1 | 0 | 0 | 7.56 | 0 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | 90.1 | 3 | 6 | 7.88 | 9 | |
| 5 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 7.88 | 9 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 3.35 | 73 | |
| 39 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 4.17 | 33 | |
| 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 11.69 | 9 | |
| 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.15 | 10 | |
| 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7.41 | 4 | |
| 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4.63 | 9 | |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11.25 | 1 | |
Awards and honors
All-Star Game1958 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1958 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 25th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 8, 1958, at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland the home of...
- Richie AshburnRichie AshburnDon Richard "Richie" Ashburn , also known by the nicknames, "Putt-Putt", "The Tilden Flash", and "Whitey" due to his light-blond hair, was an American center fielder in Major League Baseball. He was born in Tilden, Nebraska...
, starter, outfield - Turk FarrellTurk FarrellRichard Joseph "Turk" Farrell was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who had a 14-year career from 1956 to 1969...
, reserve