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Showing posts with the label George McQuillan

Sunday School: History Lesson 48

George "Dode" Paskert was an outfielder with the Phillies from 1911-1917. The speedy Paskert's career in the Majors began with Cincinnati in 1907, but following a superb season in 1910, when he batted .300 while stealing 51 bases, Paskert was traded to the Phillies in an 8-player trade in which George McQuillan was the key piece on the other side of the deal. In just his second game with Philadelphia, "Dode" displayed a big dose of what could be expected from him in the field. Facing the NY Giants at the oddly shaped Polo Grounds, Paskert tracked down a long fly ball in the outfield gap off the bat of Fred Snodgrass. The ball appeared to be a sure extra base hit, until the swift Paskert closed in quickly, dove parallel to the ground and speared the ball with his bare hand. Teammate Sherry Magee, playing Left field that day, would later call it the greatest catch he had ever seen on a ball field. Paskert's efforts at the plate were generally on pace with hi...

Sunday School: History Lesson 23

George McQuillan was a pitcher with our Phillies from 1907-1910, and again from 1915-1916. McQuillan is best known for the record he set as a rookie that stood for over 100 years. McQuillan joined the Phillies in the final month of the 1907 season, after winning 13 games in the minors for Providence. He quickly won four of his first 5 starts, which included back to back shut outs of the Reds and Cubs. McQuillan's record of 25 consecutive scoreless innings to start a career was his main claim to fame. The record stood till 2008 when Athletics reliever Brad Ziegler eclipsed the mark. The next season, McQuillan got off to another hot start, as he won 11 of his first 14 starts. His terrific performances were, at times, hampered by the Phillies' weak offensive outputs. In his first six losses that season, the Phillies scored just 1 total run. In mid-June, he lost 3 straight starts by identical scores of 1-0. McQuillan's sudden success may have played a role in his impending alco...