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Charles Louis "Deacon" Phillippe (originally Phillippi) (May 23, 1872 – March 30, 1952) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Louisville Colonels and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
In 1903, Phillippe earned the honor of starting the first World Series game for the Pirates against the Boston Americans in 1903. In a complete game victory, Phillippe struck out 10 batters and earned the win against Cy Young to start the best-of-nine series. He single-handedly guided the Pirates to a 3–1 series lead, earning the wins in each game, but when his arm wore down due to overuse, the Americans came back to win the series 5 games to 3, with Phillippe losing the last two. His five decisions in the World Series are still a record for a pitcher. To show their appreciation, Pirates' fans presented him with a diamond horseshoe stickpin and team owner Barney Dreyfuss rewarded him ten shares of stock in the club.
Phillippe missed half of the 1904 season due to a sore arm, before winning 20 games for the sixth time in 1905. However his years as an ace ended in 1908, when he suffered from another sore arm and missed nearly the entire season. Phillippe returned in 1909 to play a bit role on a Pirate team which went 110–42, en route to their first World Series title. In 1910, he was primarily used as a relief pitcher and had a 14–2 record. He retired after the 1911 season after making only three appearances that year.
Deacon is a distant relative of actor Ryan Phillippe, who named his first son Deacon (born in 2003) in honor of the pitcher.
The spring that supplies Rural Retreat, Virginia with water is called Phillippe Springs, after the pitcher.
Phillippe was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1982.
Pittsburgh Filipinos
In 1912, he managed the Pittsburgh Filipinos, which were named after him, and began play in the United States Baseball League. The Filipinos finished in first place during the league's inaugural season, which lasted only one month, with a 19–7 record. The team then moved to the new Federal League in 1913 and, for a short time, was later renamed the Pittsburgh Stogies.
Legacy
Phillippe was widely renowned for his control. No pitcher who has debuted since 1893 (when the pitching mound was moved to its present distance of 60 feet and 6 inches away from home plate) has averaged fewer walks per nine innings than Phillippe.
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Categories: 1872 Births, 1952 Deaths, Major League Baseball Pitchers, 19th-century Baseball Players, 19th-century American Sportsmen, Louisville Colonels Players, Pittsburgh Pirates Players, Baseball Players From Wythe County, Virginia, Minor League Baseball Managers, Fargo Divorcees Players, Minneapolis Millers Players, Pittsburgh Filipinos Players, People From Rural Retreat, Virginia, Baseball Coaches From Virginia
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