Deacon Phillippe

Charles Deacon Phillippe
Birthdate 5/23/1872
Death Date 3/30/1952
Debut Year 1899
Year of Induction
Teams Colonels, Pirates
Position Pitcher
Deacon Phillippe has the best walk per 9 innings rate of any pitcher from 60’6” & holds the single-season World Series records in wins, CG, & IP.
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Six-time 20-game winner Deacon Phillippe won the first game in World Series history

Six-time 20-game winner Deacon Phillippe won the first game in World Series history

Deacon Phillippe is one of the forgotten stars of the Deadball Era. Though he retired more than a century ago, Phillippe’s 1.25 walks per nine innings is the lowest all time at 60’6″. A six-time 20-game winner, Phillippe was the winner in the first World Series game in baseball his
Deacon Phillippe mailed this from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on December 31st, 1948

Deacon Phillippe mailed this from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on December 31st, 1948

Shown here is the reverse of the postcard signed by Charles Deacon Phillippe. Notice the US postmark from December 31, 1948 in Pittsburgh. Government postcards such as these give provenance to the signature by giving the context of the date location and date. Phillippe was 76 years old when he dropp
Deacon Philiippe played in the first World Series in 1903 - this ball is signed by both teammates and opponents

Deacon Philiippe played in the first World Series in 1903 - this ball is signed by both teammates and opponents

When the Pirates reached baseball’s first World Series in 1903, skipper Fred Clarke tabbed Deacon Phillippe as the Game 1 starter. Clarke’s faith in the right-hander paid off. Phillippe threw a complete-game 6 hitter. He also struck out 10 in the victory over Cy Young. His 44 innings an
Bill Dinneen and Cy Young won 5 games in the '03 Series to beat Phillippe's Pirates

Bill Dinneen and Cy Young won 5 games in the '03 Series to beat Phillippe's Pirates

Deacon Phillippe did everything possible to help his Pittsburgh Pirates baseball’s first World Series crown in 1903. Winner of 25 regular-season games, Phillippe got the start in Game 1. In a complete game 6-hitter, Phillippe struck out ten to beat 511-game winner Cy Young. Phillippe went on t

A Story about Deacon Phillippe

Living on America’s frontier cost Deadball Era star Charles “Deacon” Phillippe a chance at Cooperstown

March 29th, 2021 Leave a comment

Pitcher Deacon Phillippe

A career worthy of Cooperstown review Deadball Era star Charles “Deacon” Phillippe pitched in more than 450 professional games in a career that almost never happened. Born less than a decade after the end of the US Civil War, Phillippe grew up on the outskirts of the American frontier, beyond the reach of pro baseball. His big league talent undiscovered, Phillippe had to wait until just before his 27th birthday to throw his first pitch in the majors. Once he reached baseball’s highest level, Phillippe made an immediate impact, topping the 20-win plateau in each of his first five seasons. A control artist, Phillippe’s career walk-per-nine-innings rate is the lowest since the pitching distance moved to 60’6″. Phillippe’s glove work was also top-tier. His career fielding percentage was 23 points above the league average. As a hitter, he topped the .200 mark 8 of his 13 seasons. In 1910 the 39-year old Phillippe became the first pitcher to hit an inside-the-park grand slam. More than a century later Mel Stottlemeyre is the only moundsman to match the feat. The forgotten Deadball Era star also has an impressive postseason pedigree. The winner of baseball’s first World Series game, his performance in […]

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2 responses to “Deacon Phillippe”

  1. Martin Tibruo says:

    Love this page about Pirates legend Deacon Phillippe!

  2. His World Series records will never be broken

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"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball…"

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