Philadelphia Phillies: 50 greatest players of all-time

Curt Simmons began his Phillies career in 1947, making his first major impact in 1950. In 31 games, the 21-year-old Simmons posted a 17-8 record, 3.40 ERA, 118 ERA+ and 1.239 WHIP. He finished 16th in MVP voting, one of nine Phillies to receive a vote that year.

Simmons didn’t pitch at the end of the 1950 season, as he was called into military service during the Korean War. He missed the entire 1951 season on active duty. Simmons returned and had an All-Star performance in 1952, leading the league with six shutouts as he had a 2.82 ERA, 14-8 record, 15 complete games, 2.76 fielding-independent pitching and 1.192 WHIP.

Simmons was an All-Star again in 1953, finishing the year with a 16-13 record, 3.21 ERA, 3.43 FIP, 1.231 WHIP, 19 complete games and four shutouts. He earned his third and final career All-Star appearance in 1957, leading the league in home runs per nine innings.

In 13 years with the Phillies, Simmons had a 115-110 record, 3.66 ERA, 109 complete games, 18 shutouts, 1,052 strikeouts and 1.332 WHIP. He finished his overall career with a 193-183 record, 3.54 ERA, 163 complete games, 36 shutouts, 1,697 strikeouts and a 1.307 WHIP.

Simmons ranks fifth in wins and innings pitched, sixth in starts and shutouts, eighth in strikeouts and 10th in pitching wins above replacement in franchise history.

Simmons appeared on the National Baseball Hall of Fame ballot in 1973 and 1974, but only received five and three votes in each year, respectively.