Curt Simmons was the only member of the 1950 Philadelphia Phillies Whiz Kids team who was still alive when he passed away. He was 93. The Phillies said he died on Tuesday at his home in Ambler, Pennsylvania, but they didn’t say why.
The lefty was one of the best pitchers in the team’s history. In 13 seasons, he played 325 games (263 starts) and had a 3.66 ERA with 109 complete games, 18 shutouts and 115 wins.
Simmons tied for the lead in the major league with six shutouts in 1952 and 1954 was the best year of his career, with 21 complete games.
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He is fifth in team history for wins and innings pitched (1,939 2/3), sixth for games started, tied for sixth for shutouts, and ninth for strikeouts (1,052). He was picked for the Phillies’ All-Star teams in 1952, 1953, and 1957. He was the starter for the All-Star games in 1952 and 1957.
Simmons was on the “Whiz Kids” team that won the pennant. He missed part of the 1950 season and the World Series because he was in the National Guard during the Korean War. He also missed the whole 1951 season because he had to serve in the military.
We are saddened to learn of the passing of former Cardinals pitcher Curt Simmons.
Simmons appeared in 194 games with the club from 1960-66, highlighted by an 18-win season during the 1964 World Championship season.
Our condolences go out to the Simmons family and his friends. pic.twitter.com/ktVMmIwq98
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) December 13, 2022
The 1950 Whiz Kids lost the World Series to the New York Yankees. Simmons had a career record of 193-183, 163 complete games, 36 shutouts, and an earned run average of 3.54 in 569 big league games (462 starts) with four teams over 20 years. In 1964, he helped the Cardinals win the World Series.
In 1993, he was added to the Phillies’ Wall of Fame. Simmons has two sons, Timothy and Thomas, and a daughter, Susan, who will carry on after him. Dorothy, his wife of more than 60 years, died before he did in 2012… Follow us only on Lee Daily for more news like this.
