Phil Marchildon, World War II POW

Phil Marchildon was a very very good pitcher in the forties with the Philadelphia A's. As was more the norm then, he walked quite a few, but he didn't let too many of them score.

A quick glance of his Baseball Reference page shows a pitcher who received MVP votes in 1942, 1946 and 1947. He won 19 games for the A's at one point, after serving honorably (or, honourably) in the RCAF in World War II.

In 1948, his pitching went south in a big way. He walked 131 opposite just 66 strikeouts, and his wildness continued into a shortened 1949 Athletics season for him, 16 innings, 19 walks, 2 K's and a WHIP of 2.688.

The Baseball Reference page has the A's releasing him at the start of the next season, but this article from the Daytona Beach Morning Journal of April 6, 1950 says otherwise:

“Phil Marchildon, who two years ago was one of the American League’s top pitchers, was sold out of the major leagues yesterday..

Owner-manager Connie Mack of the Philadelphia Athletics sent Marchildon to Buffalo for an undisclosed sum. Marchildon suffered from a sore arm and “war nerves” during the past two seasons.”

“In 1949 the resident of Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada, lost three decisions while winning none. He complained continually of a sore arm, saw little action.

Many blamed his poor showing on “war nerves”-the result of spending 10 months in a German prison camp. He had been shot down over Germany while flying with the Royal Canadian Air Force.”

So there were thoughts of a sort of PTSD type of problem with Marchildon, but of course there wasn't the type of recognization and treatment of that in the forties that we thankfully have today.

His sale to Buffalo didn't pay dividends for the Bisons. He went 0-4 with a 7+ ERA in 5 starts, walking 24 in 23 innings and a WHIP over 2 once again.  From the Montreal Gazette of June 6, 1950...

"Buffalo, NY June 5 (AP) Phil Marchildon, who won 19 games for Philadelphia Athletics in 1947, was granted his outright release today by the International League Buffalo Bisons."

"Phil, a rear-gunner in an RCAF Halifax Bomber, was shot down in August, 1944, 20 miles off the Kiel Canal. He spent 10 months in a prison camp. Psychiatrists say Marchildon can’t control his nervous tension. In addition, he contracted amoebic dysentery in camp."

“I wish I knew the answer,” (Buffalo manager Frank) Skaff said. “Phil doesn’t seem to be suffering from any aches or pains. It may be he thinks in his own mind there is something wrong with his arm.”

Sadly, it appeared, at least from the reports, that Marchildon was having all sorts of problems adjusting, though he had early success upon his return form the war.

The Red Sox signed him for a try but dropped him after a single relief appearance.

Marchildon wasn't quite through yet. He gave it another try in 1951 with Toronto. From the Stanstead Journal of March 1, 1951...

"Toronto Maple Leafs have signed 36-year-old Phil Marchildon, the one-time pitching ace of the Philadelphia Athletics, and believe he’s still a top-notch hurler.”

The  St. Petersburg Times of Feb. 17, 1951 put the signing date as Feb. 16, 1951. Marchildon wasn't to play a game for Toronto, however. From the Abilene Reporter-News of Tuesday, May 1, 1951...

“Marchildon Released TORONTO, April 30 -- Phil Marchildon, veteran righthand pitcher, was given his unconditional release by Toronto Monday. He was a free agent at the end of last season, having been released first by the Philadephia Athletics and later by Buffalo.”

One would hope that if Marchildon was suffering from PTSD or "war nerves" today he would have been able to get help and recover what had been a solid major league career. We can still honor him for his service, and admire the pretty darn good baseball career he DID have.

Baseball Phil from cooperstownersincanada.com

Phil in RCAF from philadelphiaathletics.org

 

Toronto Bounces Ed McGhee After One At-Bat

Ed McGhee was an outfielder for the White Sox, Philadelphia A's and the ChiSox again in the early fifties, He was pretty solid in the minors but never could quite land a regular job up top.

He came up first with the Sox in 1950 then was back in the minors for awhile. Trips to other teams' organizations were loans and he stayed in control of Chicago.

His last major league action was with the White Sox in 1955, and he was sent to AA Memphis early in the season. His Baseball Reference minor league page has him with one at-bat for independent Toronto in 1956, followed by the rest of the season in Charleston, Detroit's AAA team.

How did he get to Toronto? The Terre Haute Tribune of Oct. 9, 1955 has the deal...

"MEMPHIS CHICKS SELL ED McGHEE TO TORONTO - MEMPHIS, Tenn., Oct. 8.- The Memphis Chicks today announced the sale of centerfielder Ed McGhee to Toronto of the International League.  McGhee, who had trials with the Chicago White Sox and the old Philadelphia Athletics, hit .263 for the Chicks last season."

Whatever the Toronto team plans were for McGhee, they were awfully quick to bounce him out of town. He got exactly one pinch-hit at-bat for the Maple Leafs before he was sent to the Tigers' Charleston squad...from the Ottawa Citizen of Tuesday May 15, 1956...

“Toronto Maple Leafs of the International Baseball League Monday night announced the sale of outfielder Ed McGhee to Charleston of the American Association.”

McGhee would stay in Detroit's minors thru the end of his career.

What did Charleston see, or Toronto NOT see, in that one pinch-hit appearance?

McGhee pic swiped from

marketplace.beckett.com

 

 
 

Loren Babe Was a Toronto Mainstay

Loren Babe was primarily a third baseman during his short major league career in the early fifties with the Yankees and A's, but like many players, had a long career in the AAA ranks.

After playing 103 games for Philadelphia in 1953, he was a part of a large deal between the A's and Yankees that sent him back to New York's system. He didn't play for the Yankees OR their minor leagues, as he was sent straight to independent Toronto.

The Lethbridge (Alberta) Herald of Jan. 5, 1954 explains...

"TORONTO (CP) Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League Monday night, announced the purchase for $15,000 of infielder Loren Babe from New York Yankees of the American League. Babe will be used at second base. He played third base for Syracuse Chiefs of the International League in 1951 and 1952. In those seasons he hit .272 and .305 playing under manager Bruno Betzel. He was purchased by the Leafs on the. recommendation of Betzel, signed recently as Toronto coach, , Babe, sold to Philadelphia Athletics last, season for $25,000 after playing in five games for the Yankees, batted .230 in 103 games for the A's. The Yankees bought him back at their original selling price to complete the recent. 11-player deal they made with the A's."

Babe stayed with the independent Maple Leafs until 1958, when he went to Seattle in the PCL.

From the Spokane Daily Chronicle of Apr. 8, 1958...

“Former New York Yankee infielder Loren Babe was purchased yesterday from Toronto by the Seattle Rainiers of the Pacific Coast Baseball league, Dewey Soriano, the club’s general manager, announced.”

His stay in Seattle was a short, injury-plagued one, and he was soon in a Rochester uniform.

From the Terre Haute Star of May 21, 1958...

"ROCHESTER, N. Y., May 20.— (5)—Infielder Loren Babe today was signed by the Rochester Red Wings in a move to add batting power to the club. Babe, who played with Seattle earlier this year, had been a free agent after suffering an ankle injury. Red Wing General Manager George Sisler said Babe's contract was conditioned on his ability to play and to produce. Babe, a left-handed hitter, batted .262 last year with Toronto. He hit five homers and drove in 54 runs. He was sold to Seattle at the end of the season. He injured his ankle in Spring training and was batting .220 when he left the club."

The wonderful collection of work at "On A Silver Diamond"  mentions that it was a free agent signing.

Other than one at-bat in 1961, Babe finished his career in Rochester.

Babe from 1952toppsbaseballcards.com