1951 Philadelphia Phillies season

1951 Philadelphia Phillies
League	National League
Ballpark	Shibe Park
City	Philadelphia
Owners	R. R. M. Carpenter, Jr.
General managers	R. R. M. Carpenter, Jr.
Managers	Eddie Sawyer
Television	WPTZ WCAU WFIL
Radio	WPEN (Gene Kelly, Bill Brundige)
Seasons

The 1951 Philadelphia Phillies season was the 69th season in the history of the franchise.

The Phillies finished in fifth place. The team had won the 1950 National League pennant but in the United Press' annual preseason poll of sportswriters, only 18 out of 168 writers picked the team to repeat as pennant winners; the Giants received 81 votes and the Dodgers 55. Those two teams wound up tied, with the Phillies 23 games behind.

Offseason

• Prior to 1951 season: Ray Semproch was signed as an amateur free agent by the Phillies.

Preseason

The Phillies held spring training in Clearwater, Florida, stayed at the Fort Harrison Hotel, and played at Clearwater Athletic Field. It was the team's fifth successive year training in Clearwater.

Regular season

Season standings

National League

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
New York Giants	98	59	.624	—	50‍–‍28	48‍–‍31
Brooklyn Dodgers	97	60	.618	1	49‍–‍29	48‍–‍31
St. Louis Cardinals	81	73	.526	15½	44‍–‍34	37‍–‍39
Boston Braves	76	78	.494	20½	42‍–‍35	34‍–‍43
Philadelphia Phillies	73	81	.474	23½	38‍–‍39	35‍–‍42
Cincinnati Reds	68	86	.442	28½	35‍–‍42	33‍–‍44
Pittsburgh Pirates	64	90	.416	32½	32‍–‍45	32‍–‍45
Chicago Cubs	62	92	.403	34½	32‍–‍45	30‍–‍47

Record vs. opponents

1951 National League record Sources:
Team	BSN	BRO	CHC	CIN	NYG	PHI	PIT	STL
Boston	—	10–12–1	10–12	10–12	8–14	12–10	13–9	13–9
Brooklyn	12–10–1	—	14–8	14–8	14–11	15–7	10–12	18–4
Chicago	12–10	8–14	—	10–12	7–15	7–15	9–13	9–13–1
Cincinnati	12–10	8–14	12–10	—	5–17	11–11	12–10–1	8–14
New York	14–8	11–14	15–7	17–5	—	16–6	14–8	11–11
Philadelphia	10–12	7–15	15–7	11–11	6–16	—	15–7	9–13
Pittsburgh	9–13	12–10	13–9	10–12–1	8–14	7–15	—	5–17
St. Louis	9–13	4–18	13–9–1	14–8	11–11	13–9	17–5	—

Notable transactions

• June 11, 1951: Ted Kazanski was signed as an amateur free agent by the Phillies.

All-Star Game

The 1951 All-Star Game was originally awarded to the Philadelphia Phillies. The City of Detroit was celebrating the 250th anniversary of its founding in 1701 and requested to host the year's All-Star Game. Although the National League was scheduled to host the game in '51, the game was moved to Detroit's Briggs Stadium to coincide with the city's celebration. The Phillies instead hosted the 1952 All-Star Game at Shibe Park.

Game log

Legend
	Phillies win
	Phillies loss
	Postponement
Bold	Phillies team member

1951 Game Log Overall Record: 73–81
April (7–6) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 1 April 17 @ Dodgers 5–2 Robin Roberts (1–0) Carl Erskine (0–1) None 19,217 1–0 2 April 18 @ Dodgers 3–4 Preacher Roe (1–0) Jim Konstanty (0–1) None 15,415 1–1 – April 19 @ Dodgers Postponed (rain); Makeup: May 31 3 April 20 Braves 1–2 Max Surkont (1–0) Ken Heintzelman (0–1) None 17,423 1–2 4 April 21 Braves 6–8 Vern Bickford (1–1) Robin Roberts (1–1) George Estock (1) 10,945 1–3 5 April 22 Braves 6–5 Bubba Church (1–0) Johnny Sain (0–1) None 11,261 2–3 6 April 23 Giants 8–4 Jocko Thompson (1–0) Jim Hearn (1–1) None 17,283 3–3 7 April 24 Giants 6–4 Bob Miller (1–0) Roger Bowman (0–1) Jim Konstanty (1) 16,274 4–3 8 April 25 Giants 2–1 Ken Heintzelman (1–1) Larry Jansen (1–2) None 5,257 5–3 9 April 26 Dodgers 2–0 Robin Roberts (2–1) Chris Van Cuyk (0–1) None 30,161 6–3 10 April 27 Dodgers 5–11 Joe Hatten (1–0) Bubba Church (1–1) Carl Erskine (1) 9,267 6–4 11 April 28 @ Braves 0–3 Max Surkont (3–0) Russ Meyer (0–1) None 7,848 6–5 12 April 29 (1) @ Braves 0–1 Vern Bickford (3–1) Jocko Thompson (1–1) None see 2nd game 6–6 13 April 29 (2) @ Braves 10–9 Leo Cristante (1–0) Blix Donnelly (0–1) Jim Konstanty (2) 18,518 7–6
May (10–18) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 14 May 1 Reds 6–5 Robin Roberts (3–1) Willie Ramsdell (0–3) None 13,749 8–6 15 May 2 Reds 4–6 Ewell Blackwell (3–2) Ken Heintzelman (1–2) Frank Smith (2) 3,417 8–7 16 May 3 Cardinals 4–8 Joe Presko (1–0) Jim Konstanty (0–2) None 14,289 8–8 17 May 4 Cardinals 6–4 Russ Meyer (1–1) Howie Pollet (0–1) None 14,232 9–8 18 May 5 Cardinals 3–4 (11) Gerry Staley (3–1) Jim Konstanty (0–3) None 13,895 9–9 19 May 6 (1) Cubs 5–4 Bubba Church (2–1) Frank Hiller (2–2) None see 2nd game 10–9 20 May 6 (2) Cubs 7–9 (10) Johnny Klippstein (1–0) Robin Roberts (3–2) None 20,998 10–10 21 May 8 Pirates 3–9 Mel Queen (2–1) Ken Heintzelman (1–3) Bill Werle (5) 13,700 10–11 22 May 9 Pirates 6–5 (10) Jim Konstanty (1–3) Joe Muir (0–2) None 14,134 11–11 23 May 10 Pirates 0–2 Murry Dickson (4–1) Bubba Church (2–2) None 3,562 11–12 – May 11 @ Giants Postponed (rain); Makeup: May 13 as a traditional double-header 24 May 12 @ Giants 6–5 (10) Jim Konstanty (2–3) Dave Koslo (1–2) None 12,856 12–12 25 May 13 (1) @ Giants 2–11 Larry Jansen (3–3) Jocko Thompson (1–2) None see 2nd game 12–13 26 May 13 (2) @ Giants 2–4 Sal Maglie (4–2) Ken Heintzelman (1–4) None 26,740 12–14 27 May 15 @ Cardinals 5–4 Russ Meyer (2–1) Tom Poholsky (2–3) Robin Roberts (1) 13,837 13–14 28 May 16 @ Cardinals 3–5 Gerry Staley (5–3) Bubba Church (2–3) Al Brazle (1) 9,117 13–15 29 May 17 @ Cardinals 1–2 Joe Presko (2–2) Robin Roberts (3–3) None 9,754 13–16 30 May 18 @ Cubs 9–18 Dutch Leonard (1–0) Leo Cristante (1–1) None 7,564 13–17 31 May 19 @ Cubs 2–1 Bubba Church (3–3) Johnny Klippstein (2–1) Jim Konstanty (3) 20,811 14–17 32 May 20 (1) @ Pirates 17–0 Russ Meyer (3–1) Murry Dickson (5–3) None see 2nd game 15–17 33 May 20 (2) @ Pirates 12–4 Robin Roberts (4–3) Erv Dusak (0–1) None 36,166 16–17 – May 22 @ Reds Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 30 34 May 23 @ Reds 3–4 (10) Willie Ramsdell (3–4) Jim Konstanty (2–4) None 2,647 16–18 35 May 25 Giants 5–8 George Spencer (2–1) Bob Miller (1–1) Sheldon Jones (3) 21,082 16–19 36 May 26 Giants 0–2 Larry Jansen (4–4) Robin Roberts (4–4) None 26,491 16–20 37 May 27 Giants 0–2 Sal Maglie (7–2) Russ Meyer (3–2) None 9,090 16–21 38 May 28 Dodgers 3–4 Ralph Branca (2–1) Ken Heintzelman (1–5) None 20,387 16–22 39 May 30 (1) Dodgers 3–5 Don Newcombe (5–2) Robin Roberts (4–5) None see 2nd game 16–23 40 May 30 (2) Dodgers 9–5 Bubba Church (4–3) Clyde King (4–3) None 34,697 17–23 41 May 31 @ Dodgers 3–4 Carl Erskine (4–4) Russ Meyer (3–3) None 18,662 17–24
June (16–10) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 42 June 1 Cardinals 7–3 Jocko Thompson (2–2) Gerry Staley (7–4) Jim Konstanty (4) 16,372 18–24 43 June 2 Cardinals 5–2 Ken Heintzelman (2–5) Tom Poholsky (4–4) None 4,874 19–24 44 June 3 (1) Pirates 11–2 Robin Roberts (5–5) Mel Queen (3–5) None see 2nd game 20–24 45 June 3 (2) Pirates 8–3 Bubba Church (5–3) Murry Dickson (6–5) None 19,325 21–24 46 June 4 Pirates 4–12 Bob Friend (1–1) Russ Meyer (3–4) Murry Dickson (1) 2,343 21–25 47 June 5 Cubs 2–3 Bob Rush (3–2) Jim Konstanty (2–5) None 10,937 21–26 48 June 6 Cubs 9–1 Robin Roberts (6–5) Bob Schultz (3–4) None 10,048 22–26 49 June 7 Cubs 7–1 Bubba Church (6–3) Johnny Klippstein (3–2) None 3,257 23–26 – June 8 Reds Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 17 as a traditional double-header 50 June 9 Reds 4–5 Ewell Blackwell (7–4) Jocko Thompson (2–3) None 4,093 23–27 – June 10 (1) Reds Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 18 as a traditional double-header – June 10 (2) Reds Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 27 as a traditional double-header 51 June 12 @ Cubs 6–5 Milo Candini (1–0) Frank Hiller (4–5) Jim Konstanty (5) 9,289 24–27 52 June 13 @ Cubs 5–0 Robin Roberts (7–5) Johnny Klippstein (3–3) None 7,889 25–27 53 June 14 @ Cubs 11–3 Russ Meyer (4–4) Bob Rush (4–3) None 6,896 26–27 54 June 15 @ Cardinals 2–10 Max Lanier (3–5) Ken Heintzelman (2–6) Cloyd Boyer (1) 9,320 26–28 55 June 16 @ Cardinals 5–6 Al Brazle (1–0) Jocko Thompson (2–4) Tom Poholsky (1) 12,932 26–29 56 June 17 @ Cardinals 4–5 (10) Gerry Staley (8–6) Russ Meyer (4–5) None 22,751 26–30 57 June 19 @ Pirates 9–2 Russ Meyer (5–5) Murry Dickson (8–7) None 16,601 27–30 58 June 20 @ Pirates 1–0 Bubba Church (7–3) Bob Friend (1–4) None 12,751 28–30 59 June 21 @ Pirates 10–5 Robin Roberts (8–5) Paul LaPalme (1–4) None 5,682 29–30 60 June 22 @ Reds 2–3 Harry Perkowski (2–1) Jocko Thompson (2–5) Frank Smith (6) 8,973 29–31 61 June 23 @ Reds 1–8 Willie Ramsdell (5–7) Ken Heintzelman (2–7) Frank Smith (7) 4,343 29–32 62 June 24 (1) @ Reds 1–3 Ken Raffensberger (7–7) Robin Roberts (8–6) None see 2nd game 29–33 63 June 24 (2) @ Reds 4–2 Ken Heintzelman (3–7) Frank Smith (4–2) Jocko Thompson (1) 19,005 30–33 64 June 26 Braves 7–0 Bubba Church (8–3) Johnny Sain (4–8) None 18,802 31–33 – June 27 Braves Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 7 as a traditional double-header 65 June 28 Braves 3–2 (10) Jim Konstanty (3–5) Warren Spahn (8–6) None 5,119 32–33 66 June 29 @ Dodgers 3–2 Robin Roberts (9–6) Erv Palica (1–3) None 24,566 33–33 67 June 30 @ Dodgers 8–14 Carl Erskine (7–7) Bubba Church (8–4) None 8,096 33–34
July (17–15) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 68 July 1 @ Dodgers 0–2 Don Newcombe (11–4) Russ Meyer (5–6) None 18,074 33–35 69 July 2 @ Giants 3–4 Jim Hearn (7–5) Ken Heintzelman (3–8) George Spencer (2) 23,046 33–36 70 July 3 @ Giants 8–9 (13) Larry Jansen (11–6) Jocko Thompson (2–6) None 9,295 33–37 71 July 4 (1) @ Braves 4–1 Robin Roberts (10–6) Chet Nichols (3–3) None see 2nd game 34–37 72 July 4 (2) @ Braves 3–1 Bubba Church (9–4) Dave Cole (0–2) None 13,010 35–37 73 July 5 @ Braves 6–7 (11) Chet Nichols (4–3) Jim Konstanty (3–6) None 2,902 35–38 74 July 6 Dodgers 2–6 Carl Erskine (8–8) Russ Meyer (5–7) None 31,178 35–39 75 July 7 Dodgers 2–6 Ralph Branca (7–2) Robin Roberts (10–7) None 30,695 35–40 76 July 8 Dodgers 4–6 (10) Erv Palica (2–3) Jim Konstanty (3–7) Clyde King (3) 26,071 35–41 – July 10 1951 Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Briggs Stadium in Detroit 77 July 12 Pirates 11–6 Russ Meyer (6–7) Murry Dickson (10–10) None 10,618 36–41 78 July 13 Pirates 3–2 Robin Roberts (11–7) Howie Pollet (2–6) None 7,786 37–41 79 July 14 Pirates 2–0 Bubba Church (10–4) Vern Law (3–3) None 4,106 38–41 80 July 15 (1) Cardinals 4–7 Jack Crimian (1–0) Ken Johnson (0–1) Al Brazle (2) see 2nd game 38–42 81 July 15 (2) Cardinals 6–4 Ken Heintzelman (4–8) Tom Poholsky (4–7) Jim Konstanty (6) 25,551 39–42 82 July 16 Cardinals 5–2 Russ Meyer (7–7) Gerry Staley (12–9) Jim Konstanty (7) 11,502 40–42 83 July 17 (1) Reds 8–9 Howie Fox (6–4) Robin Roberts (11–8) Frank Smith (10) see 2nd game 40–43 84 July 17 (2) Reds 10–0 Jocko Thompson (3–6) Ken Raffensberger (9–10) None 18,081 41–43 85 July 18 (1) Reds 0–2 Willie Ramsdell (8–9) Bubba Church (10–5) None see 2nd game 41–44 86 July 18 (2) Reds 1–0 Ken Johnson (1–1) Herm Wehmeier (1–4) None 15,810 42–44 87 July 20 Cubs 4–3 (11) Jim Konstanty (4–7) Bob Rush (5–5) None 10,642 43–44 88 July 21 Cubs 5–0 Robin Roberts (12–8) Turk Lown (2–5) None 5,515 44–44 89 July 22 (1) Cubs 7–8 (14) Dutch Leonard (8–3) Jim Konstanty (4–8) None see 2nd game 44–45 90 July 22 (2) Cubs 3–2 (12)[a] Bubba Church (11–5) Monk Dubiel (0–1) None 13,877 45–45 91 July 24 @ Cardinals 5–9 Harry Brecheen (6–1) Russ Meyer (7–8) None 10,874 45–46 92 July 25 @ Cardinals 2–0 Robin Roberts (13–8) Cliff Chambers (6–9) None 10,239 46–46 93 July 26 @ Cardinals 7–0 Ken Johnson (2–1) Tom Poholsky (4–9) None 9,881 47–46 94 July 27 @ Cubs 2–0 Bubba Church (12–5) Frank Hiller (6–8) None 5,206 48–46 95 July 28 @ Cubs 1–0 Russ Meyer (8–8) Cal McLish (2–4) None 10,806 49–46 96 July 29 (1)[b] @ Cubs 4–5 Bob Kelly (2–0) Jim Konstanty (4–9) None see 2nd game 49–47 97 July 29 (2)[b] @ Cubs 6–8 Dutch Leonard (9–3) Bubba Church (12–6) Monk Dubiel (1) 25,840 49–48 98 July 30 @ Reds 5–6 Frank Smith (5–2) Jim Konstanty (4–10) None 4,034 49–49 99 July 31 @ Reds 7–5 Andy Hansen (1–0) Frank Smith (5–3) Ken Heintzelman (1) 13,135 50–49
August (13–17) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 100 August 1 @ Reds 0–1 Ken Raffensberger (11–11) Russ Meyer (8–9) None 2,289 50–50 101 August 2 @ Reds 7–5 Bob Miller (2–1) Ken Raffensberger (11–12) Ken Heintzelman (2) 2,428 51–50 102 August 3 @ Pirates 5–4 Robin Roberts (14–8) Vern Law (3–7) None 13,607 52–50 103 August 4 @ Pirates 3–7 Murry Dickson (14–10) Ken Johnson (2–2) None 7,206 52–51 104 August 5 (1) @ Pirates 5–1 Bubba Church (13–6) Bob Friend (4–8) None see 2nd game 53–51 105 August 5 (2) @ Pirates 12–7