The 1964 Phillies: The Story of Baseball's Most Memorable Collapse

by John P. Rossi

In 1964, thousands of Philadelphia baseball fans were caught up in the Phillies' unexpected run at the National League pennant. Nearly a decade of continuous defeat had earned them little more than the reputation for an unprecedented record of consecutive losses. But in that '64 season the Phillies shocked the baseball world, taking over the National League in mid-July and holding on to first place for 73 consecutive days. And then, as the team's first pennant in a generation seemed within reach, the Phillies collapsed in the greatest meltdown in baseball history. This account traces the rise and fall of that year's Phillies team and attempts to disentangle the complex issues that ultimately cost them the pennant. The book sheds light on the influential events of the fifties and sixties that rendered the team first futile and then undefeated, beginning with an exploration of Philadelphia itself and its team in the 1950s. Early chapters discuss the acquisition of a new manager (Gene Mauch) and the dramatic additions of a dynamic new pitcher (Jim Bunning) and the first great African American player produced by the farm system (Richie Allen). Following chapters focus specifically on the 1964 season and its critical moments, from Jim Bunning's perfect game and Johnny Callison's winning home run in the All-Star game, to Chico Ruiz's steal of home that began the devastating 10-game losing streak at the end of the season. Final chapters analyze what went wrong during the season and discuss the Phillies' position in baseball today. Three useful appendices provide the statistics for the games of the '64 season and for the individual players on the team, and detailed statistics for the 10-game losing streak.

Genres: Nonfiction

196 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2005

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the Phillies team of 1964, but Rossi's retelling of the rise and demise of the team, along with the changes occurring in the city itself was really depressing. I think he could have tried to put more of a positive spin on the team and its players.

[Steve · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the Phillies, and I was super excited to read this book about a time period I did not know much about. However, it just ended up being a pure amalgamation of stats with little to no flavor or narrative push.

Fun fact: I actually borrowed the book from a friend who actually had the author as a professor in college.