[Nick Soulis]

Series #186



1953 Philadelphia Phillies
Record: 83-71
Finish: 3rd in NL
Manager: Steve O'Neill
Ball Park: Connie Mack Stadium
WAR Leader: Robin Roberts (9.9)
Franchise Record: 3-15
1953 Season Record: 3-0
Hall of Famers: (2)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PHI/1953.shtml

1947 Philadelphia Athletics
Record: 78-76
Finish: 5th in AL
Manager: Connie Mack
Ball Park: Shibe Park
WAR Leader: Ferris Fain (4.2)
Franchise Record: 6-16
1947 Season Record: 1-3
Hall of Famers: (1)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PHA/1947.shtml
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Phillies Stake Claim To City Superiority
Ennis Incredible As Phillies Finish Job In Four



Game 1
At Connie Mack Stadium
1947 Philadelphia Athletics 1
1953 Philadelphia Phillies 2
WP: R. Roberts (1-0) LP: P. Marchildon (0-1)
HR: D. Ennis (1)
POG: Robin Roberts (9 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 101 P)
1953 Phillies Lead Series 1-0

In the opening clash of the Field of Dreams Series #186 at Connie Mack Stadium on October 1, 1953, the Philadelphia Phillies edged out their crosstown rivals, the 1947 Philadelphia Athletics, 2-1, behind a stellar complete-game effort from Robin Roberts. The right-hander dazzled over 9 innings, surrendering just 3 hits and an unearned run—thanks to a Granny Hamner error—while striking out 3 and walking 2, earning a Game Score of 80 to kick off the best-of-seven series with a 1-0 Phillies lead. Del Ennis provided the decisive blow, launching a solo homer in the sixth off Phil Marchildon to tie it at 1-1, before scoring the go-ahead run in the eighth on a wild pitch after Hamner’s double. Marchildon battled valiantly for the A’s, allowing 7 hits over 8 innings, but Ferris Fain’s fourth-inning triple and subsequent score on an error wasn’t enough to overcome Roberts’ dominance. “No shortage of effort,” Phillies manager Steve O'Neill praised, as the teams gear up for Game 2 tomorrow at the same historic venue.

Game 2
At Connie Mack Stadium
1947 Philadelphia Athletics 1
1953 Philadelphia Phillies 12
WP: C. Simmons (1-0) LP: B. Savage (0-1)
HR: D. Ennis (2)
POG: Del Ennis (4-4, HR, 2 RBI, 4 R, 1 SB)
1953 Phillies Lead Series 2-0

In Game 2 of the Field of Dreams Series #186 at Connie Mack Stadium on October 2, 1953, the Philadelphia Phillies overwhelmed the 1947 Philadelphia Athletics 12-1, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series behind Del Ennis’s spectacular 4-for-4 day, including a home run, three singles, a walk, 4 runs scored, and 2 RBIs. Curt Simmons delivered 8 strong innings, allowing just an unearned run on 8 hits with 6 strikeouts, while the Phillies’ offense erupted with 16 hits, sparked by Smoky Burgess’s tie-breaking double in the fourth and a four-run fifth capped by Granny Hamner’s two-run triple. The A’s lone run came in the third on Elmer Valo’s two-out single scoring Barney McCosky, but their pitching crumbled as Bob Savage surrendered 6 runs in 4.1 innings, and relievers Joe Coleman and Lou Brissie were tagged for 6 more, including Ennis’s seventh-inning homer. “The at-bats, obviously, needed to be better,” A’s manager Jim Smith lamented, as the Phillies head to Shibe Park for Game 3 on October 4 with momentum firmly in their favor.

Game 3
At Shibe Park
1953 Philadelphia Phillies 7
1947 Philadelphia Athletics 3
WP: B. Miller (1-0) LP: D. Fowler (0-1)
HR: None
POG: Del Ennis (3-4, 2B, 3 RBI, R)
1953 Phillies Lead Series 3-0

In Game 3 of the Field of Dreams Series #186 at Shibe Park on October 4, 1953, the Philadelphia Phillies surged to a 7-3 victory over the 1947 Philadelphia Athletics, pushing their series lead to a commanding 3-0 behind Del Ennis’s standout 3-for-4 performance, including a double, 2 singles, 3 RBIs, and a run scored. The Phillies struck early, with Ennis’s first-inning double plating Richie Ashburn and Earl Torgeson for a 3-0 lead off Dick Fowler, who faltered through 6.1 innings, allowing 7 runs (5 earned) on 9 hits. The A’s chipped away with Barney McCosky scoring in the first and third, but Bob Miller steadied the Phillies with 8 innings of 3-run ball on 10 hits, and a four-run seventh—capped by Miller’s own two-run single—put it out of reach. Despite McCosky’s 4-for-5 day, the A’s stranded 7 and hit into three double plays, prompting manager Connie Mack to lament, “We’re going to have to play flawless baseball from here on out,” as the Phillies stand one win from sweeping the series in Game 4 tomorrow.

Game 4
At Shibe Park
1953 Philadelphia Phillies 2
1947 Philadelphia Athletics 1
WP: S. Ridzik (1-0) LP: B. McCahan (0-1)
HR> E. Valo (1)
POG: Steve Ridzik (9 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 96 P)

In a decisive Game 4 of the Field of Dreams Series #186 at Shibe Park on October 5, 1953, the Philadelphia Phillies clinched a 2-1 victory over the 1947 Philadelphia Athletics, completing a stunning sweep of the best-of-seven series to claim their first title in this imagined playoff saga. Steve Ridzik delivered a gem, tossing a complete game with 5 hits and 1 earned run—a sixth-inning solo homer by Elmer Valo—while striking out 3 and walking 2 to stifle the A’s offense. The Phillies scratched out their runs in the fifth, when Connie Ryan singled and scored on Willie Jones’s sacrifice fly, and in the sixth, when Del Ennis (3-for-4) scored on Smoky Burgess’s two-out single off Bill McCahan, who allowed just 1 earned run over 7 innings but took the loss. Despite out-hitting the Phillies 5-7, the A’s couldn’t capitalize, stranding 6 runners, as the Phillies’ pitching and timely hitting sealed a 4-0 series triumph under clear 64-degree skies, cementing their dominance in this crosstown clash.

1953 Philadelphia Phillies Win Series 4 Games To 0

Series MVP:

(11/16, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 1SB, 8 R, .765 OBP, 1.200 OPS)