
The following season, in 1937, Passeau would fast become the work horse of the Phils' staff. His 34 starts and 292 1/3 innings pitched led the National League. Passeau's win-loss record was not outstanding at 14-18, but he completed 18 games including a shutout of the Giants.
Passeau, a Mississippi native, experienced success thanks to the speed of his pitches. After his playing days were over, he recalled, "I never learned to throw a curveball. I'd throw a fastball and it would sail. That's what I got by on. I was one who would start you off with a fastball. They knew what I was throwing. I would throw for the middle of the plate and it would sail one way or the other. They didn't take very many pitches on me."
Passeau developed a reputation for intimidating hitters. He told stories of intentionally hitting Leo Durocher for trying to bunt, to speed up a game. Passeau said, "I let him have it. I guarantee you, right in the chest."
Through three full seasons with the Phillies, Passeau put together a 36-51 record. After starting the 1939 season with a 2-4 record through 8 starts, Passeau was traded to the Cubs for Ray Harrell, Kirby Higbe and Joe Marty. This would prove to be a poor trade for the Phillies as Harrell only pitched that one year with the Phils, Higbe pitched 1 1/2 seasons with the Phils, and Marty, an outfielder, was never a star in his 2 1/2 seasons with the team.
With the Cubs, Passeau excelled. During his first full season with Chicago, Passeau won 20 games and posted a 2.50 ERA, which was 2nd lowest in the league. Passeau also went on to become a 4-time All-star for the Cubs. The highlight of his career came in game 3 of the 1945 World Series, when he threw a complete game one-hit shutout in one of his two starts against the eventual champion Detroit Tigers.
The Passeau to Chicago deal was just one on a long list of poor deals the Phillies have made over their long history.
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