Shenk: 11 arms who made Phillies' debut as teenagers, including Davis, Simmons, Wise
March 21, 2023
A Real Rarity
By Larry Shenk
Philadelphia Phillies
Only a handful of Philadelphia Phillies pitchers have made their debuts as teenagers. It last happened in 1980.
With the help of baseball-reference.com what follows is a journey through the franchise’s last 80 seasons. A few familiar names among 10 young arms. Of the 10, only two won their debut.
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1980 LH Mark Davis (19 years of age)
Made debut in the first game of a Sept. 12 doubleheader against St. Louis at Veteran’s Stadium pitching the sixth and seventh innings in relief. He walked walk one and struck out one. That K was the first batter he faced, Tony Scott. Made first start, no decision, in last game of the season, Oct. 5, in Montreal. Turned 20 on Oct. 19. Phillies first-round selection, June 1979, out of Chabot (CA) College.
Career: 15 seasons, six different teams, 51-84, 4.17 ERA, 96 saves. 1989 Cy Young winner with Padres when he led NL with 44 saves.
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1973, RH Larry Christenson (19)
Won his major league debut, 7-1, facing the New York Mets, April 13 (Yes, Friday, the 13th), a complete game five-hitter at the Vet, walking six and fanning three. Struck out the first batter he faced, Bud Harrelson. Turned 20 on Nov. 10. “LC”, a 1972 grad of Marysville (WA) High School, was the Phillies No. 1 selection that summer. Joined Curt Simmons (1947) as the lone Phillies teenager to win his debut. He’s also the last to make the team out of spring training.
Career: 88-71, 3.79 ERA for 11 seasons, all with the Phillies.
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1964, RH Rick Wise (18)
Wearing No. 18, he made debut, April 18, in a 7-0 loss at Wrigley Field, pitching three innings in relief, allowing three hits, one run, while walking two and fanning five. He gave up a double to the first batter he faced, Ernie Banks. Spent the following year in triple-A at age 19. Received a $12,000 signing bonus at age 17 after graduating from Madison HS, Portland, OR. in 1963. At the time, there was a rule first-year players who signed for $8,000 or more had to spend a full season in the majors or be subject to being drafted before they could be sent to the minors. Wise and OF John Briggs were in the majors in 1964.
Career: 18 seasons, 5 teams, 188-181, 3.69 ERA.
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1963, LH Marcelino Lopez (19)
His debut came as a starter, second game of an April 14 doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals in Busch Stadium. He faced only four batters, pitching 1/3 of an inning, allowing one hit and three runs (two earned) and walking two. He walked the first two batters and gave up a one-out, two-run double to Ken Boyer, who wound up scoring on an error. Six days later, Lopez picked up his first win in a relief outing against the Cardinals at Connie Mack Stadium. Born in Cuba, the Phillies signed him as an international free agent in the fall of 1959 just 10 days after his 16th birthday.
Career: Eight seasons, 5 teams, 31-40, 3.62 ERA.
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1959, RH Ed Keegan (19)
Debut came as a starter against the Los Angeles Dodgers (Sandy Koufax) at Connie Mack Stadium, on Aug. 24. Faced seven batters in taking a loss, working 1/3 of an inning, giving up four runs on two hits, four walks and a wild pitch. Graduate of Haddonfield (NJ) Memorial High School. Signed following graduation in 1957.
Career: Three seasons, two teams, 0-3, 9.00 ERA.
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1953, RH Tom Qualters (18)
Gave up a home run to Steve Bilko, the first batter he faced in his debut, Sept. 13, in a 17-3 loss to the Cardinals in St. Louis. Relieving in the bottom of the eighth, he was charged with six runs on four hits and a walk in 1/3 of an inning. Signed to a $40,000 bonus after graduation from McKeesport (PA) high school.
Career: Three seasons, two teams, 0-0, 5.64 ERA.
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1948, RH Charlie Bicknell (19)
Made major league debut at Shibe Park, pitching the ninth inning in a 10-4 loss to the Boston Braves, April 22, pitching one inning and walking one. Signed out of Seton Hall University prior to the 1947 season. Curt Simmons, 19, was in the starting rotation all season.
Career: Two seasons with Phils, 0-1, 6.83 ERA.
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1947, LH Curt Simmons (18)
Youngest player in the majors when he made his debut, which was game 2 of a Sept. 28 doubleheader, a 3-1 complete-game win over the Giants at Shibe Park, the last game of the season. Received a $60,000 signing bonus following graduation from Whitehall (PA) high school. Reported to the Class-B Wilmington Blue Rocks, 13-5 in 18 games (197 strikeouts, 147 innings). Promoted to the majors in September at which time he received another $5,000 which was part of his signing contract. He never pitched in the minor leagues again, except for a 1959 rehab assignment at Williamsport.
Career: 20 seasons, four teams, 193-183, 3.54 ERA.
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1943, RH George Eyrich (18)
Signed May 28 following graduation from Reading (PA) High School. Made his debut the next month (June 13) in the first game of a doubleheader against the San Francisco Giants at the Polo Grounds, working the final two innings in a 6-2 loss, giving up four hits and two walks. Also pitched in two games for triple-A Toronto that season and was called in the military (Navy). Returned from war in 1946 and spent 9 years in the minor leagues.
Career: 0-0, 3.18 ERA for nine Phillies games, his only big-league experience.
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1943, LHP Roger McKee (16)
Youngest pitcher to appear in a Phillies game, Aug. 18, pitching three innings in relief, first game of a doubleheader facing the Cardinals at Shibe Park. Turned 17 on Sept. 16 of that year. Became youngest to win a game, 11-3, over the Pirates, second game of a season-ending doubleheader in Pittsburgh, Oct. 3, pitching nine innings, allowing three runs on five hits, and five walks, while striking out one. Lone complete game of five-game career that included one relief outing at age 17 in 1944. Native of Shelby, NC.
Career: 1-0, in parts of two Phillies seasons, 5.87 ERA.
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Who was the first?
Since the franchise’s first year was 1883, a quick look at that season’s roster. Bingo, we have a winner.
Charlie Hilsey, a native Philadelphian, made his debut at age 19, Sept. 27. B-R.com lists him as 5-foot-7, 180 pounds. Bats and throws: Unknown.
“Hilsey, of the West Philadelphia amateur Werntz nine, pitched for the home nine and he completely mystified the big hitters in the early stages of the game. The Chicagos made but two hits in the first four innings and five of their 10 hits were made in the last two innings. Hilsey has a very swift delivery, and a curve that is not perceptible to the batsman at all, almost all his balls curving within a few feet of the plate. He is cool-headed and not easily rattled.”
- Sporting Life, on Hilsey’s first major league game.
He was one of nine pitchers on the staff that initial season. Pitched at age 20 the following season with the Philadelphia Athletics of the American Association.
Career: Two seasons, two teams, 0-3, 5.50 ERA for three starts.