Hey Joe, there was nothing like Phillies' 'Whiz Kids' in 1950

This column actually began the night of July 15 in the press box at Lyons Stadium, when former Daily Mail sports editor Joe Warren told me he had never heard of Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn.

You may not think it sounds unusual that Warren, who now is the sports editor of the Atchison (Kan.) Globe, had not heard of Ashburn, but it absolutely floored me.

Let me tell you this. It has been many, many years since I had found someone as obviously well-versed on baseball as Warren (despite his youth), who was willing to talk the game with me as I did for so many years with those of whom I was fond -- people who knew the intricacies and rules of the game.

Joe's only drawback is that he is a New York Mets fan. And yes, I know the reason for it, and little trumps family. But gosh, Ashburn completed his career as a New York Met in 1962 and hit, ahem, .306. Ashburn played 15 years in the majors, and was an integral part of the famed 1950 Whiz Kids, hitting .303 and playing a dizzying center field for the Philadelphia Phillies.

You see, pennants had not been on the Phillies agenda very often when they joined the National League in 1883 and finished in last place. This is, after all, the only professional team to have suffered 10,000 losses.

The Phillies won the pennant in 1915, which isn't much to say for 67 years. Then came the Whiz Kids of 1950 in the amazingly balanced National League.

Years ago, I used to go to Charlie Ferguson's store at 5l5 North Ash and talk baseball with him. We'd come up with the Whiz Kids and rip out their lineup, In parenthesis are the players ages at the start of the World Series. They were young for the most part. Thus, the Whiz Kids! 1B -- Eddie Waitkus (31), 2B -- Mike Goliat (24); SS -- Granny Hamner (23), 3B -- Willie "Puddin' Head" Jones (25), RF -- Del Ennis (25), CF -- Richie Ashburn (23), LF -- Dick Sisler (29), C -- Andy Seminick (20) and sometimes the guy who used to pinch hit a lot, Stan Lopata (25)."

The ace of the pitching staff was future Hall of Famer Robin Roberts (24), ably backed up by Curt Simmons (21) and Bob Miller (24). Out of the bullpen was the tall, lanky, bespectacled Jim Konstanty (33), the pioneer of today's relief specialist. He appeared in 74 games, winning 16 and leading the league in saves with what today would be a laughable 22.

Before I had time to chastise my compadre, I mentioned Goliat, on whose story the movie "The Natural" was based.

Goliat was a flashy first baseman who caused myriad female hearts to flutter with his good looks. As was reported in the book "Baseball's Natural" by John Theodore, Goliat was staying with the team at Chicago's Edgewater Beach Hotel when a bellboy handed him a note, which read: "June 14, 1949.

Dear Mr. Waitkus,

It's extremely important that I see you as soon as possible. We're not acquainted but I have something of importance to speak to you about. I think it would be to your advantage to let me explain it to you.

As I am leaving the hotel the day after tomorrow, I'd appreciate it greatly if you could see me as soon as possible.

My name is Ruth Anne Burns, and I'm in room 1297-A.

I realize that this is a little out of the ordinary, but as I said, it's rather important.

Please come soon. I won't take up much of your time."

Without going into further detail, Waitkus went to her room, knocked on the door and was greeted by an attractive young woman.

Waitkus seated himself on a chair beside a window as she walked into a closet and emerged with a rifle. When she pointed it at him, Waitkus, a World War II Pacific veteran asked, 'What goes on here?,' after she said to him, 'I have a surprise for you.' "

The blast struck him in the chest and knocked Waitkus to the floor. The woman, whose real last name was Steinhagen, sat down beside him and held his hand on her lap.

How is that for weird?

The shooter, Ruth Catherine Steinhagen, was diagnosed with schizophrenia and spent several years in a mental institution.

Unlike Roy Hobbs in "The Natural," Waitkus returned to baseball the next season and was an important cog in the Whiz Kids machinery.

The true star of the team was Ashburn, a lifetime .308 hitter, who won two batting titles for the Phillies. The flashy center fielder became one of my favorites when I read on the back of his 1955 Bauman baseball card that the greatest catch he ever saw was made by my personal hero, Duke Snider. Also, my brother had a MacGregor Richie Ashburn model glove.

Ashburn was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1995, two years prior to his death.

The other Hall of Famer on that team, Roberts, attended this year's Hall of Fame ceremony.

Another interesting sidelight about the Whiz Kids, who were swept by the Yankees by extremely close scores in the World Series, were without No. 2 starter Simmons, who was 17-8 before being drafted into the Army.

This forced Konstanty into a starting role in the opener. He pitched eight innings and gave up one run. He also made two relief appearances.

So, just think Joe, I could have bored you a long time with tales of the Whiz Kids before you uttered it was before you were born. To this, I would have replied that I was only 3 myself.