Damn Yankees by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

Damn Yankees

Page 36

The Phillies of the new decade were the youngest in the National League, and their potential would resonate through the 1950s. Although such impact hardly translated into a dynasty, the Phillies’ sudden burst of success in 1950 would take everyone by surprise.

Among those representing the new way at Philadelphia would be a pair of young outfielders paving an early road to outstanding and consistent careers. Local product Del Ennis had developed as the prime power source in the Phillies’ lineup, and in 1950 he set career highs with 31 home runs and a league leading 126 runs

batted in. Richie Ashburn, meanwhile, hit .303 at age 23 and patrolled center field with authority, though overall he was just warming up his Hall of Fame credentials.

Another 23-year old on the verge of superstardom gave the Phillies a breakout performance on the mound. Right hander Robin Roberts matured into the team workhorse with 20 wins and a 3.02 earned run average over 300 innings, only mildly setting his own standard for a string of monster campaigns that lay ahead of him. Roberts became the Phillies’ first 20 game winner since Grover Cleveland Alexander in 1917.

But the absolute true glue of the 1950 Phillies came not from the everyday lineup or the starting rotation but, instead, from