Curt Simmons facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Curt Simmons |
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: May 19, 1929 Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| Died: December 13, 2022 (aged 93) Ambler, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 28, 1947, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 1, 1967, for the California Angels | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 193–183 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.54 | ||
| Strikeouts | 1,697 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Curt Simmons (born May 19, 1929 – died December 13, 2022) was an American professional baseball player. He was a left-handed pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB). His career lasted from 1947 to 1967, with a break for military service.
Simmons was a key player for the "Whiz Kids," the 1950 Philadelphia Phillies team. This team won the National League (NL) championship. He was also a three-time MLB All-Star. Besides the Phillies, he played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, and California Angels.
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Early Life and Baseball Beginnings
Curt Simmons was born in Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania. This area is in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. He went to Whitehall High School.
While in high school, he helped his team win three league titles. He also led the Coplay American Legion team to two state championships in Pennsylvania.
Playing in Major League Baseball
Joining the Phillies
In 1947, the owner of the Philadelphia Phillies, Bob Carpenter, set up a special game. It was between his Phillies team and a group of all-star high school players from the Lehigh Valley. The game happened on June 2, 1947, at Egypt Memorial Park.
Simmons was the starting pitcher for the high school team. He was amazing, striking out eleven Phillies players. The game ended in a 4–4 tie. Soon after, the Phillies signed Simmons to a contract. He received a large signing bonus of $65,000, which was a lot of money back then.
The "Whiz Kids" and the Korean War
In 1950, Simmons had a great season, winning 17 games. He helped the Phillies win their second National League championship of the 20th century. This team was known as the "Whiz Kids."
However, the Korean War started, and Simmons was called to serve in the military. This happened in September 1950, with only a month left in the baseball season. The Phillies managed to win the NL championship without him.
Simmons was given a special leave to attend the World Series. The Phillies played against the New York Yankees. Even though Simmons was there to support his team, he could not play. The Phillies lost the Series in four games without him.
Return to Baseball and Later Career
Simmons missed the entire 1951 season while serving in the military. He returned to baseball in 1952 and continued to play well. He won 14 games that year and led Major League Baseball with six shutouts.
In 1960, the Phillies released him, but he quickly signed with the St. Louis Cardinals. This started a great comeback for him. He had winning seasons in 1963 and 1964. In 1964, he played in the World Series with the Cardinals. They won the championship against the New York Yankees.
Simmons finished his career playing for the Chicago Cubs and the California Angels. He retired in 1967.
Career Highlights and Legacy
Over his 20-year career, Curt Simmons won 193 games and had 182 losses. He pitched in 569 games and recorded 1,697 strikeouts. He also had 36 shutouts.
Many famous hitters, like Hank Aaron and Stan Musial, said that Simmons was one of the toughest pitchers they ever faced. He was also one of the last players to retire who had played in MLB in the 1940s.
Personal Life and Death
Curt Simmons passed away on December 13, 2022, at the age of 93. At the time of his death, he was the last living member of the 1950 Phillies team that won the National League pennant.
See also
In Spanish: Curt Simmons para niños
