© Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
What Makes Wall of Famer Curt Simmons a Phillies Legend?
Born in Egypt, Pennsylvania in 1929, Curt Simmons was the talk of the town in his high school days. He led his high school (Whitehall High School) to three consecutive Lehigh Valley Championships and his Coplay American Legion team to two state championships. He pitched two no-hitters in high school and gained a ton of interest from major league teams.
Just prior to his high school graduation, Philadelphia Phillies scout Cy Morgan set up a scrimmage between the Phillies and Simmons' hometown team. Curt was the starting pitcher and struck out the first two batters he saw, striking out 11 total and giving up two earned runs on seven hits. The game ended in a 4-4 tie and was called for darkness.
After his high school graduation, Simmons signed with the Phillies for $65,000 and immediately went to play for the Wilmington Blue Rocks of the Interstate League in 1947. While playing for the Blue Rocks, he put together a solid 13-5 season and was promoted to the big leagues for the Phillies' last game of the season.
Simmons started that game and pitched all nine innings, giving up five hits and a run while striking out nine Giants batters and earning his first win at the major league level.
Simmons, a southpaw, had a unique delivery where his front foot would plant towards first base and his arm would follow through across his body. Phillies coaches worried his delivery would ruin his arm and career, so in 1948 and ‘49 they attempted to “fix” his delivery for longevity purposes. It did not go so well as Simmons had losing records both seasons going 7-13 and 4-10, respectively.
In the offseason prior to 1950, he returned to his old delivery, and it more than paid off. Simmons dominated that season alongside Phillies ace Robin Roberts. Curt went 17-8, completing 11 games, recording two shutouts, and finishing in 16th place for MVP votes.
Unfortunately for the Phillies, Simmons was activated into the Korean War in September and he was unable to complete the regular season with the team or pitch in the World Series. The result of the 1950s Whiz Kids season could have been very different if Simmons was available.
Simmons missed the entirety of the 1951 season serving in the military and even missed spring training in 1952. His return to the game saw little rust as he delivered a 14-8 record, started in the All-Star Game for the National League, and led the league with six shutouts.
In 1954, Simmons posted a 2.81 ERA which was the best of his career but his 14-15 record would show how much the Phillies as an organization had regressed in just four years. The Whiz Kids were basically no more and there were a lot of fixes to be made.
Simmons kept on pitching, but put together three average seasons that ended with his third and final All-Star appearance in 1957. In ‘58 it appeared that Simmons’ pitching delivery caught up to him and his arm was never quite the same. In 1960, he and Roberts were the last two remaining members of the 1950 NL Pennant team, but after four tough appearances in ‘60, the Phillies dropped Simmons and he joined the St. Louis Cardinals where he would pitch for seven more seasons.
Simmons pitched 13 of his 20 seasons as a member of the Phillies. In that span, he earned 115 wins, putting up a 3.66 ERA, completed 109 games (including 18 shutouts), and struck out 1,052 batters.
Simmons and Roberts were one of the best 1-2 pitching combos Phillies fans had ever seen. Curt was a major prospect as a teenager, and it's safe to say he lived up to the hype. His plaque is posted on the Phillies Wall of Fame where his greatness can forever be celebrated.
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