Panorama Community Magazine
Curt Simmons: The Last of the 1950 Whiz Kids by Rev. Connell A. McHugh
The first baseball game I recall listening to was one of the 1950 World Series between the Yankees and the Phillies in which the Bombers swept the Phils in a very low scoring World Series in which the Yanks only tallied 11 runs and the Phils but 5. Vic Raschi beat National League MVP and the top relief pitcher Jim Kostanty, who was a surprise starter in Game 1. The score was 1-0. My all-time favorite pitcher, Allie Reynolds defeated Robin Roberts 2-1 in a 10 inning game. One of the best Phillies pitchers, Curt Simmons, a 21 year old who was 17-8 for the Phils, got the call to report to Army Reserves and missed the month of September and the entire World Series. Curtis Thomas Simmons was born May 19, 1929 and pitched in the Majors from 1947-1950 and 1952-1967 winning 193 games and losing 183 with a 3.54 ERA. He struck out 1,697 and issued 1063 walks. Simmons hurled 3,348 and 1/3 innings. He was the youngest of the Whiz Kids and as of this writing the only living one. During the 1950s teammate and friend Robin Roberts were the 7th best all-time right and left handed pitching duo. Roberts was right handed and Simmons left. Simmons attended Whitehall High School and led the team to 3 straight District titles. He also led his American Legion team to 2 State titles. Originally, Simmons was an outfielder and batted over .400. In 1947, Bob Carpenter arranged an exhibition game between the Phillies and the Lehigh Valley All-Stars. 4,500 attended the game which ended in a 4-4 tie.
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Simmons fanned 11 Phils and would have won the game save for some shoddy defense by his teammates. Carpenter quickly made Simmons one of the socalled “Bonus Babies” for $65,000 (one of the highest paid signings at the time). Later the New York Giants offered $125,000 but Simmons would not go back on his word that he would sign with the Phils. At that time, big time “Bonus Babies” had to be brought up to the Majors after one year in the Minors. I remember Tommy Carroll and Frank Leja of the Yankees. Carroll had more pinch running appearances than at bats. His career average was .300. He had 3 hits in 10 career at bats. Poor Frank Leja who was going to be the Yankees next great power hitter. He couldn’t hit his hat size going 1 for 25 for his career. Johnny Antonelli was another “Bonus Baby” for the Boston Braves who became a star pitcher for the Giants. The Braves helped the New York Giants greatly by also trading 1948 Rookie of the Year, Al Dark a fine shortstop, who was a much better athlete and hitter than Pee Wee Reese or Phil Rizzuto even though both are in the Hall of Fame and Dark is not. Curt Simmons missed the entire 1951 Season in military service but returned in 1952 to go 14-8 with a National League leading ERA. He also led the Majors in shutouts with 6. Throughout the 1950s, Simmons had many good years with the Phillies but was released on May 17, 1960 because of a sore arm. The St. Louis Cardinals signed him 3 days later and Simmons resurrected his career. IN 1963, he won 15 games and 18 in 1964 when the Cardinals defeated the Yankees 4 games to 3 to win the World Series. Simmons pitched very well in 2 starts with a 2.51 ERA but had a loss and a no decision. 1964 was Was the last good year for Simmons. Later he pitched for the Cubs and Angels before retiring to operate a Golf Course he coowned with his close friend, Robin Roberts. Over his career, Simmons had 163 complete games including 36 shutouts.
FEBRUARY 2022
