By Steven Glassman
Meeting began around 2:00 p.m. with 16 people in attendance.
The following topics were discussed:
· Matt asked about the chapter’s opinion on the Andrew McCutchen’s base running on Matt Joyce’s ground ball to second in the 7th inning versus the Mets on May 1.
– The chapter discussed about the umpires’ bad calls on McCutchen and Joyce.
· Matt was asked about will baseball endure in the future from a chapter member.
– He responded by talking about the effects of improving upon more balls in play and the moving and lowering the pitcher’s mound.
· Allen Abel did a presentation about his book, The Short Life of Hughie McLoon. Ed Morton assisted with pictures of McLoon and other mascots. It was also recorded.
– Abel also discussed and answered questions about McLoon and other Philadelphia and Major League Baseball human mascots.
– Abel also mentioned The Baseball History Daily web site. The address is https://baseballhistorydaily.com/
· Meeting concluded around 4:00 p.m.
On May 2 in Philadelphia Baseball History (according to the Broad and Pattison web site):
· 1895: The rebuilt grandstand at Philadelphia Park (replacing one that burnt down the previous August) opens to the public as the Phillies lose a 9-4 decision to New York.
· 1933: In honor of the team’s 50th anniversary, the Phillies held a short Old Timers’ game before their scheduled meeting against Pittsburgh. Former major leaguers participating included Chief Bender, Hans Lobert, Honus Wagner, Johnny Evers, and Red Dooin.
· 1943: Pitcher Schoolboy Rowe hits a pinch-hit grand slam during a 6-5 win over Boston, the first Phillies pitcher to do so.
· 1957: Robin Roberts fans 13 in a 4-2 win over the Cubs, tying a club record. Roberts also recorded the team’s only assist on a 9th inning ground out. The two teams set a league record with only 6 assists between them.
· 1968: While warming up between innings in New York, umpire Ed Vargo rules that Phillies pitcher John Boozer had violated the new spitball rule by going to his mouth while on the mound. Phillies skipper Gene Mauch argued that the ruling was ridiculous, because the umpire gave the batter a one-ball count before he even came to the plate. Mauch ordered Boozer to do it again, and both were ejected.
· 1970: Catcher Tim McCarver left the game in San Francisco after breaking his hand on a foul tip. Three batters later, his replacement, Mike Ryan, has to leave when he breaks his hand after being spiked on a play at the plate. Jim Hutto finished the game.
· 1977: Greg Luzinski hits his first home run in Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, giving him at least one in every National League park. The Phillies lose, though, 4-3.
· 1981: Keith Moreland hits back-to-back home runs on his 27th birthday, helping the Phils to a 3-1 win over San Francisco.
· 1989: Mike Schmidt hits his 548th, and final, home run vs. Houston’s Jim Deshaies, but the Phillies lost 12-4
· 2007: The Phillies lost to Atlanta 4-3, but it would have been worse if Shane Victorino had not cut down Jarrod Saltalamacchia at the plate. Saltalamacchia debuted in the game as the player with the longest name in major-league history.
· 2018: Dylan Cozens hit 3 HR at AAA-Lehigh Valley, the first 3-HR game in Iron Pigs history. Cozens drove in half of the team’s runs in an 8-6 win.
Born on May 2 (according to Broad and Pattison and Baseball-Reference web sites):
· 1886: Larry Cheney, RHP (1919 Philadelphia Phillies).
· 1887: Eddie Collins, 2B (1906-1913, 1927-1930 Philadelphia Athletics).
· 1899: Oran “Skinny” O’Neal, RHP (1925, 1927 Phillies).
· 1915: Ken Richardson, UTIL (1942 Athletics, 1946 Phillies).
· 1954: Keith Moreland, C (1978-1981 Phillies).
Some the notable Phillies’ May 2 Major League debuts (according to Broad and Pattison):
· 1896: Billy Hulen. Hulen was a left-handed throwing shortstop. He played professionally from 1892 through 1909.
· 1898: Future Hall of Fame right fielder (1963 Veterans Committee) Elmer Flick. Flick played for the Phillies (1898-1901) and Athletics (1902).
· 1919: Second baseman Lou Raymond. It was his only Major League game.
Notable Athletics’ and Phillies’ May 2 Transactions (according to Broad Pattison and Retrosheet):
· 1924: Athletics signed CF Amos Strunk as a free agent.
· 1946: Athletics sold LHP Porter Vaughan to New York (AL).
· 1946: Phillies traded 2B Danny Murtaugh to Pittsburgh for cash.
· 1951: Athletics sold 2B Ed Samcoff to Chicago (AL) and traded RHP Bubba Harris to Cleveland for minor league 2B Ronald Gifford.
· 1973: Phillies traded 1B Deron Johnson to Oakland Athletics in exchange for minor league 3B Jack Bastable
Shortstop Roy Smalley made his Phillies debut on May 2, 1955. His son, Roy III, also a shortstop, played from 1975 through 1987.
Philly SABR 