1950 "Whiz Kids" team. The Phillies are the longest continuous franchise (est. 1883)

[tedzan]

In 1950, as an 11-year old kid, I recall these colorful pictures in the Sunday editions of the Philadelphia Inquirer during the month of September.
This team set comprises of 24 cards.....and, a complete set of them in Ex (or better) condition goes for approx. $500 - 700.
Depicted here, are the two key players on the team. Richie Ashburn was one of the greatest lead-off batters to play the game. Del Ennis was one
of the best Clutch-Hitters during that era.

I'll never forget the last day at Ebbets Field when Dick Sisler (son of George Sisler) hit a tenth-inning, 3-run home run against the Dodgers to win
the National League pennant for the "Whiz Kids".





Hey you Phillies fans on this forum, are you getting excited about the Phils getting into the post-season this year ?

My wife, Charlotte, is an ardent Phillies fan, and she is quite excited this season.


TED Z

T206 Reference
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[nooner10]

As a Phillies fan, I'm hoping for meaningful baseball in September. I just hope the bullpen can stop giving up runs.

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[Eric72]

They seem to have gone from a middling .500 club to a playoff contender. Yes, I'm excited.

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by nooner10

As a Phillies fan, I'm hoping for meaningful baseball in September. I just hope the bullpen can stop giving up runs.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

Hi Steve

Thanx for posting your 1950 BOWMAN card of Dick Sisler. It brings back very fond memories from my youth.
Furthermore, at age 9, I had this strange predilection for Baseball cards with Light Towers depicted on them.





TED Z

T206 Reference
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[mrreality68]

NOT A FAN

Love the History

[bgar3]

Ted, I love the Ashburn reference, he is the only modern player I collect.
Here is a photo of Sisler’s home run. Ashburn was on first and can be seen running to second.
He also threw out Cal Abrahms at the plate to save the game.

[skelly423]

Here's the starting lineup, with their closer and best 2 starters, from that magical 1950 season

[molenick]

I love the cards and Ted's posts, and I don't want to make this into one of those argumentative threads, but wouldn't the Braves and Cubs be considered longer continuous franchises, having been charter NL teams in 1876? And if you count the NA, wouldn't the Braves (as the Red Stockings) be the longest running team?

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by bgar3

Ted, I love the Ashburn reference, he is the only modern player I collect.
Here is a photo of Sisler’s home run. Ashburn was on first and can be seen running to second.
He also threw out Cal Abrahms at the plate to save the game.

Hi bgar3

Thanks for posting the photos.

Here is my photo of Richie "doing his thing" by placing down a drag-bunt. It was a guaranteed hit, since he was the fastest guy getting to 1st base.....exactly 3.0 seconds.

When I had Richie autograph this photo, I asked him if he was the fastest guy in the Major's getting to 1st base ? And, like the fine gentleman, which he was, he said NO !
He replied......
"At the beginning of every season, the Sports media would time him and Mickey Mantle (batting Left-handed). Both of them ran to 1st base in exactly 3.0 seconds, each."





TED Z

T206 Reference
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[phlflyer1]

Loved growing up with Richie as a broadcaster. Wish I was old enough to see him as a player as he was my dads favorite.

One of my favorite moments with Ashburn as a broadcaster was during a game (can't remember the particular year) where the Phils pitchers were so bad that he remarked to his partner Harry Kalas that "the pitching coach is making so many trips to the mound that they're going to have to issue him frequent flyer miles"!

[oldphil]

Only 2 Whiz Kids here but I thought you Phillies fans might enjoy this photo.

[tedzan]

Here are two more 1950 "Whiz Kids" from my 24-card set.....Willie "Puddin Head" Jones and Dick Sisler.

"Puddin Head" Jones had a good year in 1950, scoring 100 Runs, hitting 25 HR's, and drove in 88 RBI's.

Dick Sisler batted .296 with 83 RBI's and 13 HR's. Number 13 was the lucky HR which won the Pennant
for the Phillies on the last day of the season at Ebbets Field in the 10th inning.

September 1950 Philadelphia Inquirer team set




TED Z

T206 Reference
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[19802008Phillies]

A nice group of full pages...

[molenick]

Here's another book. This used to be considered a tougher one from the Putnam team history series (although I guess there are only a handful of books now that would be considered tough). Anyway, it's copyright 1953, so it is of the era.

[molenick]

I've been looking for this for three years and finally found it during a basement clean-up. I knew I had a personally autographed Jim Konstanty postcard because I remember my Dad taking me to his sporting goods store in Oneonta, NY either on the way to or coming back from Cooperstown. Not in a Phillies uniform but I'm adding it to this thread nonetheless. He ran the store until 1973. I always read it as "Best Mishes".

[GaryPassamonte]

Originally Posted by molenick

I've been looking for this for three years and finally found it during a basement clean-up. I knew I had a personally autographed Jim Konstanty postcard because I remember my Dad taking me to his sporting goods store in Oneonta, NY either on the way to or coming back from Cooperstown. Not in a Phillies uniform but I'm adding it to this thread nonetheless. He ran the store until 1973. I always read it as "Best Mishes".

Michael- Jim Konstanty was born about 40 miles from Mount Morris NY, where I live. Eddie Sawyer lived in Mount Morris in the off season. He went to Ithaca College and married a Mount Morris girl. He is buried here. Quite a "Whiz Kid" connection for a small town.

[Balticfox]

And in any American professional sport!

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

The Phillies have won eight NL pennants and two World Series titles (1980 and 2008) and are the oldest continuously run, single-name, single-city franchise in American professional sports.

But here in Canada the Toronto Argonauts date back to 1873!

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

Founded in 1873, the team (Argonauts) is the oldest existing professional sports team in North America still using its original name....

Notice the 150 jersey patch!

[PhillyFan1883]

1894 Phillies team issued schedule. HOF outfield Hamilton, Delahanty, Thompson all hit above 400. Phils still couldn’t win dick. So is being a Phil’s fans. Dad forever broken from the 1964 Phold.. 2 for 141 is not good….

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by PhillyFan1883

1894 Phillies team issued schedule. HOF outfield Hamilton, Delahanty, Thompson all hit above 400. Phils still couldn’t win dick. So is being a Phil’s fans. Dad forever broken from the 1964 Phold.. 2 for 141 is not good….

Look on the bright side. The Phillies have a somewhat decent team these days and they play their home games at a fairly nice-looking ballpark.

When I was in my late teens, they pulled off six straight losing seasons and played at Veterans Stadium.


ETA: the 1894 team wasn't that bad. They finished 71-57. Of course, this meant they were in fourth place, eighteen games out of first.

[Eric72]

Speaking of memorable Phillies seasons, how about 1942...

42 wins
109 losses
.278 winning percentage

62 1/2 games out of first

The funny thing (to me, at least) is that they had more losses in 1941. By at least one metric, their 1942 season was an improvement over the prior year.

[PhillyFan1883]

Yes they are decent to good now and will ruin Harper's prime by not properly managing the team. We have a prototypical power hitter leading off its a joke.


How about 2 winnings seasons from 1918- 1949 including 1932 which they were 2 games above 500.. No wonder my great grand parents were so bitter about baseball. Always wished the Athletics carried on in Philly so I could follow a winner. lol.