No. 1964.09.21 · Expansion Era
The Phillies' 1964 Collapse
Philadelphia led the league by 6½ games with twelve to play. Gene Mauch kept running his aces out on short rest. The Phillies lost ten in a row.
On the morning of September 21, 1964, the Phillies were 90–60 and led the National League by 6½ games with twelve left. That night, at home against Cincinnati, Chico Ruiz stole home in the sixth with Frank Robinson at the plate. Art Mahaffey's pitch got away, Ruiz scored, and the Reds won, 1–0. Manager Gene Mauch could not believe anyone would steal home with Robinson batting. Ruiz was safe. The steal worked.
What followed is the managerial entry. The Phillies lost ten in a row. Mauch kept sending Jim Bunning and Chris Short back to the mound on short rest, sometimes on two days. Over the final twelve games Philadelphia went 2–10. The Cardinals went 9–3 and won the pennant on the last afternoon. The Phillies won their finale, 10–0, which was no longer relevant.
Ruiz's dash is the folk beginning of the slide. The repeated decision to empty the two best arms is the part a manager could control.
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