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The Phillies hung on to win last night. Andrew Painter pitched possibly his best outing of the season, and thankfully he did with the bullpen being thin. It was also the first win with the fifth starter going in months. They’re back at it tonight with their ace on the mound.
August 11 has seen a huge Eagles upset, Jim Bunning make history, and a huge day at the plate for a Phillies pitcher.
Defending Champs Lose
On this day in 1950, the defending champion Eagles lost to the College All-Stars in the Chicago Charities All-Star Game, 17–7. Charlie “Choo Choo” Justice won the MVP, rushing for 133 yards and catching a touchdown pass.
The game was played every year from 1934–1976, except during the 1974 players’ strike. It was created by Arch Ward, who was the sports editor of the Chicago Tribune and also helped create the MLB All-Star Game.
Played at Chicago’s Soldier Field, the game pitted the defending NFL champion against a team of college All-Stars. At the time of the game’s creation, college was king, so in addition to raising money for charity, the game also helped grow the NFL’s popularity
Bunning Joins Elite Company
On this day in 1970, Jim Bunning was cruising into the ninth inning of the Phillies’ game against the Astros in Houston with a 6–1 lead when the wheels fell off. Bunning gave up four runs before Dick Selma came in to save it for the Phillies, giving them the 6–5 win.
For Bunning, it was his 100th win in the National League, making him the first pitcher since Cy Young to win 100 games in both leagues.
Trivia – To date, Bunning is one of ten pitchers to have 100 wins in both leagues. Who are the other nine? (answer below)
And Still National League Champions…
On this day in 1994, the Phillies and Mets played at the Vet. Ricky Jordan singled in Billy Hatcher in the bottom of the 15th inning for the walk-off win.
The celebration was short-lived, as this was the final game of the 1994 season. The next day, MLB players went on strike. The strike lasted into spring training of the 1995 season.
For the moment, the Phillies were still the defending National League champions.
Phillies Slugger, Randy Wolf?
On this day in 2004, the Phillies hit six home runs and pounded the Rockies 15–4 at Citizens Bank Park. Randy Wolf pitched seven innings and went 3-for-3 at the plate, belting two home runs.
Wolf became the seventh Phillies pitcher to hit two home runs in a game and the first to do it at Citizens Bank Park. It remains the only time a Phillies pitcher has hit two home runs in a game at the ballpark.
Wolf joined Jack Knight, Phil Collins, Rick Wise, Larry Christenson, Randy Lerch and Robert Person as Phillies pitchers to hit two homers in a game. Wise accomplished the feat twice.
In this game, Jim Thome also hit two homers, while Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley also went deep.
Trivia Answer – Al Orth, Cy Young, Bunning, Gaylord Perry, Ferguson Jenkins, Nolan Ryan, Dennis Martinez, Kevin Brown, Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez have won 100 games in both leagues.
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