Phillies who hold 'Moonlight Graham' status
PHILADELPHIA -- “Field of Dreams” made Moonlight Graham famous because he appeared in one game for the 1905 New York Giants and never played again. But what made Graham’s story truly special is that he never hit. He entered the game as a late-inning defensive replacement and finished it standing in the on-deck circle.
So close.
“You know, we just don’t recognize the most significant moments of our lives while they’re happening,” Graham’s character said in the film. “Back then I thought, 'Well, there’ll be other days.' I didn’t realize that that was the only day.”
Sixty-one players played their first and only big league game with the Phillies, according to Baseball Reference. It is a group that started in 1883 with Alonzo Breitenstein and ended in 2012 with Tyson Brummett.
The 'Moonlight' Grahams
The Phillies have four position players with “Moonlight” Graham careers: one game, no plate appearances.
1. Mickey Harrington
Harrington joined the Phillies in late June 1963 after they sold Jim Lemon to the White Sox. He debuted July 10 against the Giants at Connie Mack Stadium, pinch-running for Roy Sievers in the eighth.
Frank Torre replaced Harrington at first base in the ninth.
The Phillies optioned Harrington to Triple-A Arkansas on July 13 to make room for former Penn State star Cal Emery. He never returned. Frustrated with the Phillies, Harrington, now 29, asked for a trade in February 1964. In fact, he said he hoped to rejoin the Los Angeles Angels. He played for their Triple-A Hawaii affiliate in '63 before he joined the Phillies.
“I would like to go back to Hawaii,” Harrington told the Hattiesburg (Miss.) American. “And I definitely don’t want to go to Little Rock.”
Harrington played for the Yankees’ Triple-A Richmond club in 1964. He played two more years before his career ended.
2. Terry Lyons
Lyons replaced Don Hurst at first base in the eighth inning of an April 19, 1929, game against the Giants at Baker Bowl. Hurst got ejected after he charged a player in the Giants’ dugout. Apparently, the player kept yelling at Hurst, who lost it. Punches were thrown. Police broke up the melee.
Lyons made a couple of plays in the field, but he never came close to stepping into the batter’s box.
3. Joe Bennett
Bennett replaced Frank Parkinson at third base in the seventh inning of a July 5, 1923, game against the Cardinals at Baker Bowl because Parkinson “quit the combat,” according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. Bennett made a play in the field, but Russ Wrightstone pinch-hit for him in the bottom of the frame with two runners on base.
4. Frank Mahar
Mahar started in left field in an Aug. 29, 1902, game against the Giants at Baker Bowl but still never hit. How? According to the Society for American Baseball Research, a ball during warmups struck Mahar on the head and badly cut his face and lip. He insisted that he start, but he could not continue and went to the hospital.
Some early records suggest that Mahar received an at-bat, but further research discovered that Mahar got confused with Tom Maher, who also played for the Phillies that year.
The 'Moonlight' Grahams on the mound
Is there a pitching equivalent to Graham’s career? How about pitchers who did not record an out in their only appearance? The Phillies have two like that.
1. Marty Walker
Walker started a Sept. 30, 1928, game against Brooklyn at Ebbets Field. He faced five batters, allowing two hits, three walks and four runs before John Milligan replaced him and pitched the rest of the game.
2. Art Gardiner
Gardiner appeared in a Sept. 25, 1923, game against the Pirates at Forbes Field. He replaced Whitey Glazner, who was getting roughed up in the first inning. Gardiner fared no better. He allowed one hit and one walk before Jim Bishop replaced him.
The anti-Grahams
How about the guys who appeared in only one game and experienced success? For a pitcher, that would be a perfect inning. For a player, it would be a batter who reached base in his only plate appearance.
1. Erksine Thomason
Thomason pitched a perfect ninth inning against the Cubs in a Sept. 18, 1974, game at Veterans Stadium. He struck out one batter.
2. Fred Van Dusen
Success is a relative term in the case of Van Dusen. He pinch-hit for Lynn Lovenguth with one out in the ninth inning in the second game of a Sept. 11, 1955, doubleheader against the Braves at County Stadium. Braves pitcher Humberto Robinson hit Van Dusen with a pitch. He stayed in the game, but Stan Lopata and Richie Ashburn were retired to end it.
3. Al Verdel
Verdel pitched a perfect ninth against Brooklyn on April 20, 1944, at Connie Mack Stadium. He got future Phillies manager Gene Mauch to ground out to end the inning.
4. Bill Peterman
Peterman graduated from Olney High School in Philadelphia, and he made his debut in the second game of a doubleheader against Brooklyn on April 26, 1942, at what was then known as Shibe Park (later Connie Mack Stadium). He replaced catcher Mickey Livingston in the top of the ninth. He singled to center off Dodgers pitcher Ed Head in the bottom of the inning.
5. Ty Pickup
The Giants were on their way to a 15-0 victory over the Phillies at Baker Bowl on April 30, 1918. Phils manager Pat Moran had seen enough and started making substitutions. Pickup replaced right fielder Gavvy Cravath in the top of the eighth. Pickup singled to right against Red Causey in the bottom of the inning.