Ken Brett’s home run streak

This is the fourth in a series of significant hitting “accomplishments” by Phillies pitchers. Because of the designated hitter, these past performances will last forever.

Ken Brett was a 24-year-old left-handed pitcher in the Phillies’ five-man starting rotation in 1973. In his lone Phillies season, he finished 13-9.

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Three other starters also won 13 games: Steve Carlton (13-20), Wayne Twitchell (13-9) and Jim Lonborg (13-16).

An excellent all-around athlete, Brett did something special with his bat that season, a first for a pitcher. His record was never matched and it will stand forever.

During a career-high four-game winning streak, Brett homered in each game, a Major League record for a pitcher.

June 9: Solo homer off Padres right-hander Bill Greif, 5th inning at Veterans Stadium. 4-1 win (4-2 record)

June 13: Solo homer off Dodgers right-hander Charlie Hough, 5th inning at the Vet. 16-3 win (5-2).

June 18: Solo off Mets left-hander Ray Sadecki, 4th inning at the Vet. 9-6 win (6-2).

June 23: Solo off Expos right-hander Tom Walker, 7th inning at Montreal’s Parc Jarry. 7-2 win (7-2).

But wait.

It could have and should have been a five-game streak except for a blown call by an umpire. In his first start that month (June 3), he was credited with a ground-rule double in the sixth inning of a 5-4 loss to the Giants at Candlestick Park. Bob Boone had singled to start the inning, and manager Danny Ozark had the eight-hole hitter (Larry Bowa) sacrifice. Brett followed with a drive to right-center that was ruled a ground-rule double because the ball bounced over the fence in the opinion of second-base umpire Dick Stello.

Chris Wheeler was on the road trip as the Phillies’ assistant director of public relations and in the press box.

“I, along with the writers, thought the ball went over the fence for a home run. It was tough to see with that funky fence and those orange retractable football seats,” Wheeler recalls. “Dick Stello signaled ground rule.”

The Philadelphia Daily News story the next day: Danny Ozark didn’t even come out to protest the ruling until he received a phone call from the Phillies' bullpen in left field. “I thought it bounced. Then Carroll Beringer [bullpen coach] called and said he thought it was a home run.”

“’Tom Gorman [home-plate umpire] said it bounced out of the park and so did Billy Williams, the first-base umpire. I thought it bounced, too, so how could I argue?’”

Giants reserve catcher Dave Rader was in their bullpen. “We had the best angle of all. It cleared the fence pretty easy and took a big bounce into the ironworks that support the football stands,” he was quoted in the same article.

Replay reviews didn’t exist back then.

“Garry Maddox was the Giants’ center fielder,” Wheeler said. “We got him in a trade a couple years later. I asked Garry about that play. He admitted it went over the fence on the fly.

“Another thing I remembered about that game … the Giants won it in the bottom of the ninth on a two-run homer off Billy Wilson. Mr. Maddox.”

Brett batted .250 that season, with 16 RBIs and five doubles to go along with his four homers. For his career, he hit .262 with 10 homers.

Career

Originally, Brett was a first-round selection of the Red Sox (1966). ... He pitched 14 years in the Majors, 10 different clubs (83-85, 3.93 ERA). ... Following a bad 1972 Phillies season and needing pitchers, GM Paul Owens sent RHP Bill Champion, SS Don Money and 3B John Vukovich to the Brewers for four pitchers: RHPs Jim Lonborg and Ken Sanders and LHPs Brett and Earl Stephenson. ... After the 1973 season, Owens traded Brett to the Pirates for 2B Dave Cash. ... Brett’s last season in the Majors was in 1981 with the Royals (1-1). ... He died on Nov. 18, 2003, at age 55 because of brain cancer, the same disease that took his father’s life. ... His younger brother, George, is a Hall of Famer.