March 19

⚾ Richie Ashburn: Why The Hall Not? March 19

March 19, 2025

TODAY ON THE DAILY HIGHLIGHT

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Born March 19, 1927, Regarded by many as the finest defensive fielder this side of Tris Speaker, Richie Ashburn was a gritty competitor who threw out the Dodgers' Cal Abrams at home plate in the final game of the 1950 season to help the Phillies win the pennant. He twice won the batting title and was an All-Star in his final season, as a member of the 1962 Mets. After his playing career he was a popular announcer for the Phillies, becoming a legend to a new generation of fans.

Best Season, 1958Ashburn led the National League with a .350 batting average, 215 hits, 13 triples, 97 walks, and a .441 OBP. He also stole 16 bases in 20 attempts.

All-Star Selections

Post-Season Appearances1950 World Series

FactoidRichie Ashburn had more hits than any other player in baseball during the 1950s.

MilestonesAshburn collected his 2,000th career hit in 1958, and his 2,500th in 1962.

The 1950 Pennant RaceOn October 1, 1950, the Phillies played their most historic game to date. Leading Brooklyn by one game on the final day of the season, Phillie ace Robin Roberts and Dodger pitcher Don Newcombe battled into extra innings in a 1-1 tie. Phillies' outfielder Dick Sisler blasted a three-run homer in the top of the 10th to deliver the pennant to Philadelphia. In the play that set the stage for Sisler’s heroics, Ashburn, playing shallow, threw out Dodger runner Cal Abrams at the plate in the bottom of the ninth, eliminating the potential pennant-winning run. Abrams said later, "I think they should have held me at third," while Dodgers' skipper Burt Shotton, commenting on having Duke Snider hitting away, "I should have bunted. If you don't believe me, look in the newspapers."

FactoidRichie Ashburn was the first batter in the history of the New York Mets.

Sage AdviceAshburn served 35 years in the broadcast booth for the Phillies. Onetime partner and former catcher Tim McCarver remembered the advice Ashburn gave him just before they went on the air for their first game together: "If you don't have anything to say, don't say it."

Listen: Asburn on Winning

Game of the DayOctober 4, 1950 World Series Game 1 New York Yankees vs Philadelphia Philles

👉 Listen to the clip here!

Did you know?

March 19, 1957, In what is believed to be the largest offer for a player to date, Cleveland Indians general manager Hank Greenberg rejected a million-dollar offer for left-handed pitcher Herb Score from Boston Red Sox GM Joe Cronin.

Greenberg refuses, saying that Cleveland is interested in building for the future, not in selling its premier ballplayers. Score won 20 games in 1956 and led the American League with 263 strikeouts. Unfortunately, six weeks later, Score will be struck in the eye by a batted ball by Gil McDougald and will win only 19 more games over the rest of his career.

👉 Listen to more on Herb Score here!

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Trivia:

Richie Ashburn is one the best fly catchers in MLB history. He ranks 3rd in career putouts, who are the two centerfielders ahead of him?

Hint: The answer is below

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TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

March 19, 1927 --- Don Richard (Richie) Ashburn is born in Tilden, Nebraska. A five-time All-Star, Ashburn will be a solid center fielder and a solid hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies. He will hit over .300 during 9 of his 15 major league seasons, twice capturing the National League batting title and conclude his career with a .308 lifetime average. Following his playing career, he will call Phillies games for more than three decades. Ashburn will be elected to the Hall of Fame by the Special Veterans Committee in 1995.

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March 19, 1961, the Boston Red Sox announce that rookie Carl Yastrzemski will start the season in left field, succeeding the legendary Ted Williams. Yastrzemski will remain a fixture in the Red Sox’ lineup for the next 23 years and will gain election to the Hall of Fame in 1989.

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March 19, 1970 — In Arizona spring training, the Cleveland Indians lose Ken Harrelson when he fractured his leg sliding into second base.

“I knew right away it was bad” said the 28-year-old Harrelson who was obtained from Boston by Cleveland in April of last year “I heard it snap and I saw my foot pointing in the opposite direction,” he will miss most of the season.

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March 19, 1974, In a five-player, three-team deal involving the Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, and New York Yankees, unites Gaylord Perry with his brother, Jim. As part of the deal, the Cleveland Indians surrender outfielder Walt “No Neck” Williams and pitcher Rick Sawyer in exchange for Jim Perry, who will win 17 games for the Tribe. The 1974 season will mark the Perrys’ first season as teammates during their major league careers.

Detroit sends Perry to the Indians and Ed Farmer to the Yankees, who send Jerry Moses to Detroit, and Cleveland sends Rick Sawyer and Walt Williams to the Yankees.

March 19, 1998 –Rupert Murdoch purchased the Los Angeles Dodgers from Peter O’Malley for a reported $350 million, the highest price ever paid for a US sports franchise.

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Quote of the day:

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Ashburn was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Hall's Veterans Committee in 1995 after a long fan campaign to induct him, which included bumper stickers that read, "Richie Ashburn: Why The Hall Not?"