RIP - Curt Simmons

 

Curt Simmons, the Phillies left-handed ace during the 1950s, passed away on December 13, 2022 at age 93. He was the last living member of the 1950 NL Champion Phillies.

Simmons made his major-league debut with the Phillies in September 1947 (and was one of the last 2 players from the 1940s still active in 1967). 

 

Although the Phillies played in the 1950 World Series, Simmons missed the 1950 post-season and all of 1951 due to military service. He returned to Philly in 1952, and remained in the starting rotation through the 1958 season, making 3 All-Star teams during tht time. Curt saw limited action in 1959 due to a sore arm, and was released in May 1960. 

 

He found new life with the Cardinals, pitching 6 1/2 seasons for St. Louis, including 2 starts in the 1964 World Series. Simmons also played for the Cubs and Angels in his last 2 years, retiring after the 1967 season.  

 

New York Times obituary 

 

1955 Curt Simmons Red Man Tobacco card

Here's an unusual find - not from the 1960s, but the player was still active in the 1960s.

Last weekend I was out and about to several flea markets and antique stores in my area, and I found this Curt Simmons card. This is a 1955 Red Man Tobacco card, which appears to be cut out of a box, similar to the early-1960s Post and Jell-O cards. The bottom edge is a little rough, which I have cropped in the photo of the card front.

I had no idea these cards even existed, but this vendor had the Simmons card, along with a 1955 Granny Hamner and a 1953 Robin Roberts (both Red Man cards).

In the same display case were other assorted Topps baseball cards from the 1950s - 1970s. The only one that jumped out at me was a 1973 Roberto Clemente card, issued in the year after his untimely death.

At that point in my day, I only had enough money left for one of these cards, so the vintage Simmons card (from a set that I had no other cards from) won out over the '73 Clemente. Maybe next time, Roberto.