Ranking the Top 5 greatest starting pitchers in Phillies franchise history
By Matt Grazel
No. 4: Curt Simmons
Curt Simmons was with the Phillies from 1947 to 1950 and again from 1952 to 1960. He was a member of the 1950 Phillies "Whiz Kids" team that went 91-63 and finished first in the National League but lost in four straight games to the New York Yankees in the World Series.
Simmons had an auspicious start to his MLB career when he debuted with the Phillies in 1947, he threw a nine-inning, nine-strikeout, one-run game, picking up the win in his only appearance of the season.
Simmons was a three-time All-Star with the Phillies and is sixth among Philadelphia pitchers with 109 complete games and a 3.66 ERA in 325 appearances, including 263 starts.
Simmons finished among the best Phillies pitchers in several categories. He is fifth all-time with 115 wins and 1,939 2/3 innings pitched. The left-hander is seventh with 109 complete games, ninth with 1,052 strikeouts, and tied with Sparks for sixth with 18 shutouts.
Measuring velocity, 1950.
— Matt Breen (@matt_breen) May 2, 2020
Phillies Whiz Kid Curt Simmons has his fastball clocked by the Blue Cross Pitchometer (Temple’s Urban Archives, Philadelphia Bulletin) pic.twitter.com/dUpP5IREQg
Simmons missed part of the 1950 season, including the World Series, and all of the 1951 league year while serving in the National Guard during the Korean War. The Egypt, Pennsylvania, native also played with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1960 to 1966, the Cubs from 1966 to 1967, and the California Angels in 1967. He won a World Series with St. Louis in 1964.
Simmons played in a much different era compared to the modern-day pitchers based on the number of complete games he threw, making him one of the best Phillies starting pitchers of all time. He was inducted into the Phillies Wall of Fame in 1993.