59 Years Ago... Robert Redford Played for the Phillies?

It's been a few months since this page has seen some action, so what better way to get in the swing than on the eve of the Phillies 2nd World Series in a row. Hard to believe from the world's (that's right, the WORLD's) losingest sports franchise ever. But that's all in the past right? Phillies fans aren't still bitter about that, are they?

So, it's the Phillies and the Yankees in the Fall Classic in 2009. The losingest vs. the winningest (in the American league, at least). Yes, I am aware that I just made up two words, but for the sake of this blog, let's just go with it, ok?.

Obviously it's not the first time these teams have met in October. 59 years ago the two storied franchises clashed for the Series. It didn't turn out so well for the Whiz Kids. But that fall classic did have some quirks that you might find interesting.

The biggest one... the Phils had Roy Hobbs starting at first base. I know what you are thinking... Robert Redford was only 14 in 1950. He couldn't have started for the Fightins. But wait sportsfans, depsite Bobby's stellar performance in what might be the best baseball movie ever, he wasn't a major league baseball player. No, Roy Hobbs wasn't an actual baseball player either. Hobbs was a character in the novel "The Natural" by Bernard Malamud (another interesting note.. Malamud was not a baseball fan).

But Hobbs was inspired by an actual player, Eddie Waitkus. See, Eddie was pretty good in his day. Apparently his coaches had always said he was a natural at the game. That was until an obsessed woman shot him in a hotel room in Chicago in 1949. Yeah, that actually happened. By October of 1950, Eddie was still feeling the effects of the gunshot to the chest (who wouldn't), but he still started the series. No, he did not hit a homerun to win the game and as far as I know he did not have a bat made out of a lightning-struck tree nor did any stadium lights explode. And trust me, the real story and the movie end much better than the book.

Other points of interest from that series. The Phils struggled a little bit down the stretch but were able to beat out the Dodgers (I sense a theme, here) to win the National League Pennant. There was not a week layoff before the start of the series. There weren't any off days either. It started on October 4th, by the way. Just in case you are keeping score, that was the day that the regular season ended this year.

Robin Roberts won 20 games in 1950 but he did not start game 1 of the World Series. Why? Oh, only because he had pitched 4 out of the last 8 games the Phillies played in the regular season and his arm was feeling a little bit like jello at that point. But don't worry, he pitched Game 2.. all 10 innings of it and got the loss despite only giving up 2 runs.

How about the Phillies starting catcher, Andy Seminick who played in the World Series despite having a broken ankle or the Phils number 2 starter Curt Simmons who wasn't on the roster because he was called to National Guard Service.

Now, I am not making excuses for the Phillies back in 1950. The Yankees were the dominant team of that era. Names like DiMaggio, Berra, Ford and Mize wore Yankee pinstripes that year and they went on to win five straight World Series.

Big thanks to Philly.com for their article that outlined all of this information. There is much more in there than I can get into, but read it, for some great info. http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/20091027_A_look_back_at_Yanks_vs__Phils_in_1950.html

Now, for the present. Things are much different 59 years later, but they are still Bombing it in the Bronx. But the way the Phils are playing right now anything can happen. All I know is that I was estatic for the win last year. So beating the Yankees is just gravy on the cake.