By Russ Walsh
This month marks the 60th anniversary of events that scarred Phillies fans of a certain age for life. After years as a cellar dweller, the Phillies caught fire in 1964. They had a young, innovative manager in former Major League utility infielder Gene Mauch. They had the consensus Rookie of the Year, Dick Allen, pummeling the ball to all fields at third base. They had MVP candidate and matinee idol Johnny Callison, with the lightning quick bat and cannon of an arm, in right field. Veteran Jim Bunning, over from the Detroit Tigers, had steadied the mound core. Lefty Chris Short had emerged as an All-Star-caliber starter. Versatile Cookie Rojas, hustling Tony Taylor, reliable Tony Gonzalez, slick-fielding Ruben Amaro, and slugging Wes Covington filled out the lineup. Jack Baldschun and Ed Roebuck were dependable arms in the bullpen.
The 1964 summer was full of highlights. Bunning pitched the first perfect game in the National League in 84 years. The father of five did it on Father’s Day, no less, and thousands of Phillies fans gathered around the TV that night to see Bunning congratulated on The Ed Sullivan Show. Two weeks later, fan favorite Callison won the All-Star Game with a walk-off three-run home run off the Boston Red Sox’s fearsome reliever Dick Radatz and was congratulated at home plate by the greats of the game, including Willie Mays, Ernie Banks, and Henry Aaron.