Facebook buddy John Roberts posted birthday wishes to Robin Roberts back on September 30 – no relation. At least I’m pretty sure. Robbie would’ve been 90.

John’s post instantly triggered two memories from 1952:

1. Robin Roberts won 28 games for the Phillies.
2. Bobby Shantz won 24 games for the A’s. Not the Oakland A’s. Not the Kansas City A’s. Talking about the Philadelphia A’s.

The Phillies and A’s shared Shibe Park. One year before the name of the ballpark changed to Connie Mack Stadium. So in addition to seeing National Leaguers like:

1. Stan Musial
2. Jackie Robinson
3. Duke Snider
4. Warren Spahn
5. Red Schoendienst

We also got to see American Leaguers like:

1. Ted Williams.
2. Mickey Mantle
3. Yogi Berra
4. Minnie Minoso
5. Satchel Paige

Some of the best players in MLB history. But it was Roberts and Shantz who captured my attention and heart that season.

1952 Stats

Robbie went 28-7. Shantzie went 24-7. And both racked up amazing stats.

Robin Roberts:

• Started 37 games.
• Completed 30.
• Tossed 3 shutouts.
• Made 2 saves. In those days, managers used their starters in relief when needed. Or as pinch-runners and pinch-hitters.
• Pitched 330 innings and never missed a turn.
• Complied a 2.59 ERA.

Bobby Shantz:

• Started 33 games.
• Completed 27.
• Tossed 5 shutouts.
• Pitched 279 innings.
• Complied a 2.59 ERA.

And both pitchers each played in games I’ll never forget.

Robin Roberts

Roberts was 25 years old, 6-feet tall and 190 pounds.

On September 6, the Phillies played a night game against the Braves. Not in Atlanta, not even in Milwaukee. In Boston. And I was lying on the floor in the den, listening on the radio because the game wasn’t televised.

The Phils beat the Braves 7-6 that night. In 17 innings. And Roberts pitched all 17 innings to up his record to 23-7. Gave up five earned runs in 17 innings. That’s an ERA of 2.65 for the outing. Nobody knew how many pitches he threw. Or cared. Because nobody gave a shit about pitch-counts.

He didn’t allow that 17-inning performance to negatively effect his effectiveness going forward.

Prior to those 17 innings, he took his regular turn four days earlier. September 2. Robbie pitched an 8-2 complete-game win over the Brooklyn Dodgers on three days’ rest. Then five days after those 17 innings, on September 11, he picked up a complete game 3-2 win over the St. Louis Cards on four days’ rest. Apparently those 35 innings in nine days caused no ill-effects. Or sore arm.

From there, he pitched four consecutive complete-game wins over the last 17 days of the season:

1. September 16 – Beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-2.
2. September 20 – Beat the New York Giants 3-2.
3. September 24 – Beat the Dodgers again, this time 9-7.
4. September 28 – Beat the Giants again, this time 7-4.

Looking deeper:

The Dodgers (96-57) finished first and went to the World Series. But lost in seven games to the Yankees.

The Giants (92-62) finished second.

So Robbie wasn’t picking up garbage wins. He was beating teams that finished higher than the Phils (87-67).

Bobby Shantz

Bobby Shantz with our gal Sally Starr

Shantz was 26 years old and often termed “The Diminutive Bobby Shantz” because he stood 5-6 and weighed 139 pounds.

His 24 wins aside, a high note in the season took place at the All-Star game. By chance, they played the game at Shibe Park. On July 8. In front of a full house of 37,785 baseball fans.

Setting the stage:

Shantz came in to pitch the bottom of the fifth. His American Leaguers trailed 3-2. And the top of the order was scheduled to hit – Whitey Lockman, Jackie Robinson, and Hank Sauer.

His mission: keep it a one-run game.

Here’s how he handled the situation:

1. Whitey Lockman was batting .307 coming into the game, with a .390 OBP. He was 0-2 in the All-Star game and due for a hit. But Shantz struck him out.
2. The dangerous Jackie Robinson stepped in next. Batting .315 on the season, with a .471 OBP. Already hit a solo shot in his first at-bat. Shantz got him on strikes for the second out.
3. Slugger Hank Sauer followed Robinson. He owned a .290 average at the All-Star break, with a .372 OBP. His big bat produced 23 HRs and 69 RBIs. And his two-run home run off Bob Lemon put the National League on top 3-2. But Shantz struck out the slugger as well.

Three up. Three down. Three strikeouts.

Carl Hubbell held the All-Star record of five consecutive strike outs. If for no other reason, fans stay tuned to see if Shantzie could tie or break that mark in the sixth. But he never got the chance. Rain came and the umpires called the game after five innings. With the NL leading 3-2, it was an official game.

Awards

Both pitchers made their respective All-Star teams. As just reported, Shantz played for the Americans. But Roberts did not for Nationals. If they game went the full nine innings, Roberts would’ve gotten the chance to appear in front of the home-town fans. But the rains came.

By the way, Phils Curt Simmons started for the Nationals and threw three shutout innings. Giving up one hit while striking out three. Left with his team on top 1-0, but wound up with a no-decision. The Cubs Bob Rush relieved Simmons. Rush was far less effective, giving up two runs on four hits and losing the lead. But he got the win thanks to Hank Sauer’s two-run homer off of Bob Lemon.

Simmons finished the season 14-8 with a 2.82 ERA, 15 complete games in 28 starts, and six shutouts.

I saved the best for last. Neither Roberts nor Simmons won the Cy Young Award that year. The Cy Young didn’t come into existence until four year later. In 1956.

However, Bobby Shantz won MVP honors in the American League. Great accomplishment. Made even greater because he pitched for the fourth-place A’s who finished 79-75.

Great to be baseball fan in Philly in 1952.

Thanks for the memories.

In addition to being the official Eagles Outsider for BlameMyFather.com – Barry Bowe is also the author of:

• Born to Be Wild
• 1964 – The Year the Phillies Blew the Pennant
• 12 Best Eagles QBs
• Birth of the Birds
• Soon-to-be-published sexy, police procedural Caribbean Queen
• Soon-to-be-published novel Stosh Wadzinski
• Soon-to-be-published novel Polish Widow
• Work-in-Progress A Fuckin All-American