Major League Baseball Player. Regarded by many as being one of the most reliable substitute-hitters in baseball history, he set a then Major League record of 24 pinch-hits for a single season while with the Baltimore Orioles in 1961. To date, he continues to hold the American League record in that category. For eighteen seasons (1941, 1946 to 1962), he played at the outfielder position with the Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia Athletics, Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants and Boston Red Sox. He attended East Texas State College, prior to being acquired by the White Sox from the East Texas League. He broke into the Majors on September 6, 1941 and appeared in 7 games recording 2 hits. Over the next three years he served with the United States Army during World War II and upon his return home, he posted a .353 batting in 17 games with the White Sox. During the next eight seasons (1947 to 1954), Philley earned the a starting outfielder spot while with the White Sox, Athletics and Indians, producing a career-high 188 hits as an Indian in 1953. The following year, he was a contributor to Cleveland's run at the American League Pennant and recorded 1 hit in 4 games during the 1954 World Series. As a pinch-hitter, Philley set a mark of 8 consecutive substitute hits (to date, tied with Rusty Staub of the New York Mets in 1983) while with the Phillies during the 1958 campaign. The streak went to 9, as it carried-over to the 1959 season and is to date a Major League record. In 1,904 regular season games, he compiled 1,700 hits with a .270 lifetime batting average. Philley totaled 93 career pinch-hits. Following his playing career, he went onto serve as a Minor League manager.
Major League Baseball Player. Regarded by many as being one of the most reliable substitute-hitters in baseball history, he set a then Major League record of 24 pinch-hits for a single season while with the Baltimore Orioles in 1961. To date, he continues to hold the American League record in that category. For eighteen seasons (1941, 1946 to 1962), he played at the outfielder position with the Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia Athletics, Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants and Boston Red Sox. He attended East Texas State College, prior to being acquired by the White Sox from the East Texas League. He broke into the Majors on September 6, 1941 and appeared in 7 games recording 2 hits. Over the next three years he served with the United States Army during World War II and upon his return home, he posted a .353 batting in 17 games with the White Sox. During the next eight seasons (1947 to 1954), Philley earned the a starting outfielder spot while with the White Sox, Athletics and Indians, producing a career-high 188 hits as an Indian in 1953. The following year, he was a contributor to Cleveland's run at the American League Pennant and recorded 1 hit in 4 games during the 1954 World Series. As a pinch-hitter, Philley set a mark of 8 consecutive substitute hits (to date, tied with Rusty Staub of the New York Mets in 1983) while with the Phillies during the 1958 campaign. The streak went to 9, as it carried-over to the 1959 season and is to date a Major League record. In 1,904 regular season games, he compiled 1,700 hits with a .270 lifetime batting average. Philley totaled 93 career pinch-hits. Following his playing career, he went onto serve as a Minor League manager.
Bio by: C.S.
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Married June 11, 1942
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