Johnny Callison
Encyclopedia
John Wesley Callison was an American
right fielder
in Major League Baseball
, best known for his years with the Philadelphia Phillies
from 1960 to 1969. He led the National League
in triples
twice and doubles
once, and gained his greatest prominence in a season in which he was runnerup for the Most Valuable Player Award
and was named MVP
of the All-Star Game
. He also led the NL in outfield assists
four consecutive times and in double play
s once, and ended his career among the top five Phillies in home run
s (185) and triples (84).
Born in Qualls
, Oklahoma
, Callison batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was signed by the Chicago White Sox
out of high school in 1957, being assigned to the Class-C
Bakersfield Bears in the California League
, where he batted
.340 with 17 home runs and 31 stolen base
s. The next season, he was advanced to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians
, where he led the American Association
in home runs. In September he was recalled by Chicago, and hit .297 in 18 games.
The next season, Callison split time between Chicago and Indianapolis. He was not on the World Series
roster when the White Sox lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers
, and in December he was traded to the Phillies for third baseman
Gene Freese
, who would spend just one year in Chicago and last played regularly in 1961.
and lifelong Phillies follower Samuel Alito
was one such fan, even stating that while as a boy rooting for the Phillies he "adopted Johnny Callison out there" (in right field). Over the next decade, Callison would be named an All-Star three times (1962, 64-65). In he batted an even .300, the only time he would reach that mark, and led the NL with 10 triples. On June 27, he hit for the cycle
against the Pittsburgh Pirates
.
On July 23, , in a game against the Chicago Cubs
at Wrigley Field
, Callison had the first hit (a single) seen live by television audiences in Europe. A segment of the game was featured that day in the first transatlantic television broadcast via the Telstar
satellite, which had been launched thirteen days earlier.
In the 1964 All-Star Game at Shea Stadium
in New York, he hit a game-winning walk-off home run
off pitcher Dick Radatz
with two out in the ninth inning, a three-run shot to right field to give the NL a 7-4 victory; it was only the third walk-off HR in All-Star history, with Callison joining legends Ted Williams
and Stan Musial
in baseball annals.
The 1964 season became best remembered, however, for the Phillies' late-season collapse; despite a -game lead with 12 games to play, the Phillies lost ten in a row and finished one game behind the St. Louis Cardinals
. Manager Gene Mauch
was criticized for his handling of the pitching staff over the final two weeks, but players such as slugging rookie third baseman Richie Allen
also drew harsh treatment. Callison was 12-for-48 during the last twelve games, including a 3-homer game on September 27 against the Milwaukee Braves
which the Phillies still lost 14-8, dropping them out of first place for the first time since July. With the team behind by two on September 29, Callison did not start because he had the flu with chills and fever . But Callison pinch-hit late in the game and managed a single. He reached first base and would not come out, so the Cardinals and the umpires allowed him to wear a jacket on the base paths, against the rules. Callison was so fevered that he needed help from Bill White to button his jacket. Despite the disappointing second place finish, Callison ended the year third in the league in HRs (31) and fifth in runs batted in
(104). He earned two first-place votes for the MVP Award, won by Ken Boyer
of the champion Cardinals.
Callison returned by again leading the NL with a career-high 16 triples in 1965, once more topping 30 HRs and 100 RBI, and paced the league with 40 doubles in . On June 6, , he again hit three home runs against the Cubs for a 10-9 win. He is also remembered for being an excellent outfielder with a formidable throwing arm; his throwing accuracy helped him lead the NL in outfield assists (24) and double plays (7) in 1962, and he topped the league in assists the next three years with totals of 26, 19, and 21. But his power production fell off sharply, and he failed to collect 20 homers or 65 RBI in any of his last four Phillies seasons. After the 1969 season, he was traded to the Cubs, and he posted 1970 totals of 19 HRs and 68 RBI before hitting only .210 in 1971 with just 8 home runs. In January 1972 he was traded to the New York Yankees
, and he found limited playing time over two years, closing his career with a .176 average, one HR and 10 RBI in 45 games in .
Callison was a career .264 hitter with 226 home runs, 926 runs
, 840 RBI, 1757 hits
, 321 doubles, 89 triples, and 74 stolen bases in 1886 games. Following his retirement, Callison remained in Philadelphia where he made frequent appearances and had several business ventures.
. A resident of Glenside
, a northern suburb of Philadelphia, Callison died in 2006 in Abington, Pennsylvania
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
right fielder
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, best known for his years with the Philadelphia Phillies
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...
from 1960 to 1969. He led 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...
in triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
twice and doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
once, and gained his greatest prominence in a season in which he was runnerup for the Most Valuable Player Award
MLB Most Valuable Player Award
The Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award is an annual Major League Baseball award, given to one outstanding player in the American League and one in the National League. Since 1931, it has been awarded by the Baseball Writers Association of America...
and was named MVP
Major League Baseball All-Star Game MVP Award
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award is an annual Major League Baseball award given to the most outstanding player in each year's MLB All-Star Game. Awarded each season since , it was originally called the "Arch Ward Memorial Award" in honor of Arch Ward, the man who...
of the All-Star Game
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
. He also led the NL in outfield assists
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
four consecutive times and in double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
s once, and ended his career among the top five Phillies in home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s (185) and triples (84).
Born in Qualls
Qualls, Oklahoma
Qualls is a small community in Cherokee County, Oklahoma, west of Lake Tenkiller. The Qualls Post Office existed from January 20, 1909, until August 31, 1942. The first postmaster was William A. Qualls...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, Callison batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was signed by the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
out of high school in 1957, being assigned to the Class-C
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
Bakersfield Bears in the California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
, where he batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.340 with 17 home runs and 31 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s. The next season, he was advanced to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
, where he led the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
in home runs. In September he was recalled by Chicago, and hit .297 in 18 games.
The next season, Callison split time between Chicago and Indianapolis. He was not on the World Series
1959 World Series
The 1959 World Series featured the National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers beating the American League champion Chicago White Sox, four games to two. It was the first pennant for the White Sox in 40 years . They would have to wait until 2005 to win another championship...
roster when the White Sox lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los 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 in December he was traded to the Phillies for third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
Gene Freese
Gene Freese
Eugene 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...
, who would spend just one year in Chicago and last played regularly in 1961.
Phillies
Callison became a fan favorite in Philadelphia; Supreme Court JusticeSupreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
and lifelong Phillies follower Samuel Alito
Samuel Alito
Samuel Anthony Alito, Jr. is an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. He was nominated by President George W. Bush and has served on the court since January 31, 2006....
was one such fan, even stating that while as a boy rooting for the Phillies he "adopted Johnny Callison out there" (in right field). Over the next decade, Callison would be named an All-Star three times (1962, 64-65). In he batted an even .300, the only time he would reach that mark, and led the NL with 10 triples. On June 27, he hit for the cycle
Hitting for the cycle
In baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...
against the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
.
On July 23, , in a game against the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
at Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
, Callison had the first hit (a single) seen live by television audiences in Europe. A segment of the game was featured that day in the first transatlantic television broadcast via the Telstar
Telstar
Telstar is the name of various communications satellites, including the first such satellite to relay television signals.The first two Telstar satellites were experimental and nearly identical. Telstar 1 was launched on top of a Thor-Delta rocket on July 10, 1962...
satellite, which had been launched thirteen days earlier.
In the 1964 All-Star Game at Shea Stadium
Shea Stadium
William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea , was a stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets from 1964 to 2008...
in New York, he hit a game-winning walk-off home run
Walk-off home run
In baseball, a walk-off home run is a home run that ends the game. It must be a home run that gives the home team the lead in the bottom of the final inning of the game—either the ninth inning, or any extra inning, or any other regularly scheduled final inning...
off pitcher Dick Radatz
Dick Radatz
Richard Raymond Radatz , nicknamed "The Monster" or "Moose", was an American right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who had a scorching but short-lived period of dominance for the Boston Red Sox . Radatz also played for the Cleveland Indians , Chicago Cubs , Detroit Tigers and...
with two out in the ninth inning, a three-run shot to right field to give the NL a 7-4 victory; it was only the third walk-off HR in All-Star history, with Callison joining legends Ted Williams
Ted Williams
Theodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 21-year Major League Baseball career as the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox...
and Stan Musial
Stan Musial
Stanley Frank "Stan" Musial is a retired professional baseball player who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals . Nicknamed "Stan the Man", Musial was a record 24-time All-Star selection , and is widely considered to be one of the greatest hitters in baseball...
in baseball annals.
The 1964 season became best remembered, however, for the Phillies' late-season collapse; despite a -game lead with 12 games to play, the Phillies lost ten in a row and finished one game behind the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The 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...
. Manager Gene Mauch
Gene Mauch
Gene William Mauch was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a second baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers , Pittsburgh Pirates , Chicago Cubs , Boston Braves , St...
was criticized for his handling of the pitching staff over the final two weeks, but players such as slugging rookie third baseman Richie Allen
Dick Allen
Richard Anthony Allen is a former Major League Baseball player and R&B singer. He played first and third base and outfield in Major League Baseball and ranked among his sport's top offensive producers of the 1960s and early 1970s...
also drew harsh treatment. Callison was 12-for-48 during the last twelve games, including a 3-homer game on September 27 against the Milwaukee Braves
Atlanta Braves
The 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....
which the Phillies still lost 14-8, dropping them out of first place for the first time since July. With the team behind by two on September 29, Callison did not start because he had the flu with chills and fever . But Callison pinch-hit late in the game and managed a single. He reached first base and would not come out, so the Cardinals and the umpires allowed him to wear a jacket on the base paths, against the rules. Callison was so fevered that he needed help from Bill White to button his jacket. Despite the disappointing second place finish, Callison ended the year third in the league in HRs (31) and fifth in runs batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
(104). He earned two first-place votes for the MVP Award, won by Ken Boyer
Ken Boyer
Kenton Lloyd Boyer was an American Major League Baseball third baseman and manager. During a 15-year baseball career, he played for 1955-1969 for four different teams, playing primarily for the St. Louis Cardinals...
of the champion Cardinals.
Callison returned by again leading the NL with a career-high 16 triples in 1965, once more topping 30 HRs and 100 RBI, and paced the league with 40 doubles in . On June 6, , he again hit three home runs against the Cubs for a 10-9 win. He is also remembered for being an excellent outfielder with a formidable throwing arm; his throwing accuracy helped him lead the NL in outfield assists (24) and double plays (7) in 1962, and he topped the league in assists the next three years with totals of 26, 19, and 21. But his power production fell off sharply, and he failed to collect 20 homers or 65 RBI in any of his last four Phillies seasons. After the 1969 season, he was traded to the Cubs, and he posted 1970 totals of 19 HRs and 68 RBI before hitting only .210 in 1971 with just 8 home runs. In January 1972 he was traded to the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The 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...
, and he found limited playing time over two years, closing his career with a .176 average, one HR and 10 RBI in 45 games in .
Callison was a career .264 hitter with 226 home runs, 926 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, 840 RBI, 1757 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, 321 doubles, 89 triples, and 74 stolen bases in 1886 games. Following his retirement, Callison remained in Philadelphia where he made frequent appearances and had several business ventures.
Awards
In he was named to the Philadelphia Baseball Wall of FamePhiladelphia Baseball Wall of Fame
The Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame is a collection of plaques, mounted on a brick wall in the Ashburn Alley section of Citizens Bank Park, the ballpark of the Philadelphia Phillies...
. A resident of Glenside
Glenside, Pennsylvania
Glenside is a census-designated place in Abington, Cheltenham, and Springfield townships, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,384 at the 2010 census...
, a northern suburb of Philadelphia, Callison died in 2006 in Abington, Pennsylvania
Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Abington Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 55,310 in as of the 2010 census.Abington Township is one of Montgomery County's oldest communities dating back to before 1700 and being incorporated in 1704. It is home to some of the county's...
.
See also
- Major League Baseball All-Star Game MVP AwardMajor League Baseball All-Star Game MVP AwardThe Major League Baseball All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award is an annual Major League Baseball award given to the most outstanding player in each year's MLB All-Star Game. Awarded each season since , it was originally called the "Arch Ward Memorial Award" in honor of Arch Ward, the man who...
- List of Major League Baseball doubles champions
- List of Major League Baseball triples champions
- List of top 300 Major League Baseball home run hitters
- Hitting for the cycleHitting for the cycleIn baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...
External links
- BaseballLibrary - career highlights
- Fan page with articles and photos
- Johnny Callison at Find a Grave.com