Memorable at-bats for Phillies pitchers
When the National League adopted the designated hitter in 2022, it meant the end of seeing pitchers in a batter’s box. That brings us to summarizing some of the most memorable at-bats in Phillies history by their pitchers.
No better place to start than Larry Andersen, who experienced the thrill of pitching and the agony of batting. Most of his career was spent in the National League, which didn’t use the DH. Pitching in relief meant he faced a lot more hitters from the mound than pitchers from the batter’s box. He only had 45 career plate appearances. Somehow “LA” amassed 5 singles for a .132 average. The rest of his career numbers: 4 runs scored, 3 walks, 15 strikeouts, 4 sacrifice bunts, 0 sac flies, 0 hit by pitches. While WAR didn’t exist back then, his offensive WAR has been calculated as 0.00 by Baseball Reference.
“And all that with bruised knees from shaking against each other every time I stepped in the box,” he proclaims.
Some of LA’s most memorable at-bats:
• July 30, 1983, Game 1. His first game with the Phillies; vs. Cubs; at Veterans Stadium; grounded out to the first baseman in his very first at-bat (Chuck Rainey).
• April 18, 1993. His last at-bat and hit; at Wrigley Field; singled to right field (Dan Plesac).
But wait!
His most memorable at-bat also took place at Wrigley Field, on September 28, 1983, in the 8th inning against Warren Brusstar.
“It was a cool and windy day. Jody Davis was behind the dish for the Cubs, and Joe West, my buddy from winter ball in the late 70’s, was the home-plate umpire. As I walked to the plate with my heavy winter jacket on, the only thing on my mind was, ‘Can the fans see my knees shaking?’ Able to get over that fear, I gingerly got to the batter’s box and immediately heard two grown men laughing. I calmly stepped out, looked back at Joe and asked, ‘Would you two mind telling me what’s so funny?’ Joe leaned forward, ‘I’ve just never seen anyone get in the box with a heavy jacket on!’ I looked down in dismay, took a short and terribly embarrassing walk to the on-deck circle, took off my jacket and handed it to the bat boy, who wasn’t laughing. Maybe the most embarrassing moment of my career, but when you have so many it’s hard to keep track.
“We clinched the division that day. Pope [manager Paul Owens] allowed me to fly home to Seattle that night while the team went back to Philly. My daughter, Angie, was born the next day and I was there. How about that?”
Now the real world, in alphabetical order.
RHP Grover Cleveland Alexander
October 8, 1915. First World Series hit in Phillies history; Game 1; Red Sox; Baker Bowl; 3rd inning; infield single, according to the official scorer; off Ernie Shore.
RHP Jeff Bittiger
September 22, 1986. Hit a home run in second Major League AB; at Pittsburgh; Three Rivers Stadium; 3rd inning (Bob Kipper); 1st ML win, 8-4.
RHP Joe Blanton
October 26, 2008. First and only World Series home run by a pitcher in franchise history; Tampa Bay Rays; Citizens Bank Park; 5th inning (Edwin Jackson). In 261 career regular season plate appearances, Blanton had 0 extra base hits.
LHP Ken Brett
June 9, 13, 18, 23, 1973. Only pitcher in AL/NL history to hit a home run in four consecutive starts; Padres, Dodgers, Mets at the Vet; Expos in Montreal at Parc Jarry.
LHP Don Carman
May 16, 1987. First career hit, breaking an 0-for-49; at the Vet; 7th inning; single (Storm Davis). Hitless streak of 28 games was the longest hitless streak for a Phillies pitcher to that date.
RHP/RF/1B John Coleman
May 2, 1883. 20-year-old; making his second Major League start; first hit ever by a Phillies pitcher. His first start was the day before. Those two losses were part of his 12-48 season record.
RHP Bill Duggleby
April 21, 1898. In his first Major League AB, he got his first hit in grand style -- a grand slam against the visiting New York Giants. Bedlam at Baker Bowl.
LHP Bailey Falter
October 3, 2021. 2nd inning; strikeout (Pablo López ); in Miami. Last AB for a Phillies pitcher before the DH is implemented in the NL.
RHP Kyle Gibson
September 24, 2021. 3rd inning; home run (Miguel Yajure); vs. Pirates; Citizens Bank Park. Last hit by a Phillies pitcher.
RHP Jack Knight
June 24, 1926, Game 1. First to hit two home runs in a game; 12-7 loss to the Giants at the Polo Grounds. Drove in 5 runs but allowed 6 in 6 2/3 innings of relief, including 2 home runs.
LHP Cliff Lee
November 2, 2009. Last World Series AB by a Phillies pitcher; 6th inning; strikeout; Game 5; vs. Yankees (Alfredo Aceves); Citizens Bank Park.
RHP Brett Myers had a .134 average for 557 plate appearances in his 12 years in the Majors. Yet he had two memorable postseason games:
• October 2, 2008; Game 2; NLDS vs. Milwaukee Brewers; Citizens Bank Park. 2nd inning; 1-1 game with 2 out, a runner on third base and CC Sabathia on the mound. Down 0-2 in the count, Myers manages to work it to 3-2, fouls off some tough pitches and finally draws a nine-pitch walk, earning a standing ovation. Jimmy Rollins follows, walking to load the bases, and Shane Victorino follows with a grand slam. Phillies 5, Brewers 2. First bedlam at the Bank.
• October 10, 2008; Game 2; NLCS vs. Los Angeles Dodgers; also at home. Myers collects 3 hits and 3 RBIs in 3 consecutive ABs (2nd inning, RBI single off Chad Billingsley; 3rd inning; 2-run single off Billingsley; 4th inning, single off James McDonald). More bedlam.
RHP Omar Olivares
July 24, 1995. Last to hit a pinch-hit home run; vs. Rockies (Bryan Rekar); at Veterans Stadium; batting for Tyler Green.
RHP Robert Person
June 2, 2002. Last to hit a grand slam; 1st inning; vs. Expos (Bruce Chen); at Veterans Stadium.
RHP Schoolboy Rowe
May 2, 1943, Game 2. Last with a pinch-hit grand slam; 6th inning; vs. Boston Braves (Al Javery); Shibe Park.
August 15, 1947. Only MLB pitcher to be walked intentionally TWICE in a game; 2nd and 4th innings; two out, runner on second base each time; vs. Dodgers (Joe Hatten); Shibe Park.
LHP Chris Short
September 9, 1962. A career .126 hitter, Short goes 4-for-4 at Milwaukee County Stadium off future Hall of Famer Warren Spahn.
LHP Curt Simmons
May 22, 1952. Last with an inside-the-park homer; vs. Pirates (Red Munger); at Shibe Park; 6th inning, 2 runners on base; Simmons’ lone career HR.
RHP Aaron Nola
July 29, 2021, Game 2. Last to pinch-hit; 8th inning; vs. Nationals at Citizens Bank Park; batting for Ranger Suárez; walks to load the bases (Sam Clay); scores on Brad Miller’s walk-off grand slam.
LHP Mitch Williams
July 2, 1993, Game 2. 10th-inning, walk-off single off rookie Trevor Hoffman at 4:40 a.m. that ended a 12-hour, 5-minute rain-filled doubleheader against the Padres at the Vet and sent everyone home for breakfast. It was “Mitchie-Poo’s” only AB of the season and the last of his career.
RHP Rick Wise
June 23, 1971. First and only pitcher to hit two home runs while pitching a no-hitter; 4-0 win; vs. Reds; at Riverfront Stadium; 5th inning (Ross Grimsley), 8th inning (Clay Carroll).
August 28, 1971, Game 2. Only Phillies pitcher to hit two home runs in a game twice in a season; 7-3 win; vs. Giants; at Veterans Stadium; 5th inning (John Cumberland), 7th inning (Don McMahon).
LHP Randy Wolf
August 11, 2004. Last Phillies pitcher to hit two home runs in a game; vs. Rockies; at Citizens Bank Park; 3rd inning (Jason Jennings), 6th inning (Adam Bernero).