World Series Phlashback: 1950 World Series – Game One

The 1950 Phillies, affectionately nicknamed the Whiz Kids due to their youthful age, clinched the National League pennant on the final day of the regular season. Lead by the likes of Robin Roberts and Richie Ashburn the Phillies would make their second trip to the World Series.

Their opponents would be the defending world champion New York Yankees, who were looking to add their 13th title to their historic franchise history. The experienced Yankees would sweep the Whiz Kids, although all but one was a one run game.

This is part one of the four part series and focuses on game one of the 1950 World Series.

1950 World Series

Philadelphia Phillies (91-63) vs. New York Yankees (98-56)
Game One: Yankees Win 1-0, Take 1-0 Series Lead

Right from the start of the World Series the Phillies appeared to be at a disadvantage. Robin Roberts, the ace of the team, had pitched three games in five days to help the Phillies clinch the National League pennant and was unavailable to pitch the World Series opener in front of the Phillies fans at Shibe Park.

To further put the Whiz Kids at a disadvantage because Curt Simmons, who had earned 17 wins that season, was called to duty in the Army late in the season. The Phillies also were dealing with injuries to rookie pitchers Bubba Church and Bob Miller.

Enter Jim Konstanty, the thirty-three year old right handed pitcher who would make his first start of the season. Konstanty was the top reliever on the team and picked up 16 wins in 1950 coming out of the bullpen. Manager Eddie Sawyer felt Konstanty was the best option for the first game.

Konstanty would face a vaunted Yankees lineup made up of players like Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto, Hank Bauer and of course Joe DiMaggio. Taking the mound for the Yankees was 21 game winner Vic Raschi.

As good as Konstanty was, Raschi was better. The Phillies’ top relief pitcher turned starter pitched eight very solid innings and scattered four hits over that time. Yankees third baseman Bobby Brown lead off the fourth inning with a double to left field.

Baur followed that up with a deep fly ball to center field for an out, but Brown was able to advance to third base on the play. Brown would score on a sacrifice fly from Yankees second baseman Jerry Coleman for the first, and ultimately only run of the game.

The Yankees’ Rashci pitched a complete game, allowing zero runs to score for the Phillies and just two hits. Andy Seminick and Willie Jones were the only Phillies to record a hit and both singles came in the fifth inning.

The Yankees would take game one of the 1950 World Series in front of a sold out Shibe Park in Philadelphia. Many thought that the Yankees would sweep the World Series against the youthful Phillies, and they accomplished the first part of that task.