The 1962 Philadelphia Phillies season was the 80th season for the National League franchise. The Phillies finished the season in seventh place in the newly expanded National League with a record of 81–80, a dramatic improvement of games over the 47–107 mark of the previous season. Gene Mauch managed the Phillies, who played their home games at Connie Mack Stadium.
Offseason October 10, 1961: 1961 Major League Baseball expansion draft Choo-Choo Coleman was drafted from the Phillies by the New York Mets.Choo-Choo Coleman at Baseball-Reference Bob Smith was drafted from the Phillies by the New York Mets.Bob Smith at Baseball-Reference November 28, 1961: Charley Smith and John Buzhardt were traded by the Phillies to the Chicago White Sox for Roy Sievers.Charley Smith at Baseball Reference Prior to 1962 season: Rubén Gómez was acquired from the Phillies by the Cleveland Indians.Rubén Gómez at Baseball Reference
Preseason The Phillies held spring training in Clearwater, Florida where the team had trained since 1947, and played exhibition games at Jack Russell Stadium.
While the Phillies' White players and club officials had been welcome to stay at Clearwater's Jack Tar Harrison Hotel, the Hotel refused service to the team's Black players who boarded in private homes. On March 10, 1962, the Phillies moved their entire team including White and Black players into the Rocky Point Motel located between Clearwater and Tampa.
The Phillies had sold pitcher Robin Roberts to the New York Yankees shortly after the 1961 season. On February 6, 1962, the Phillies announced that Roberts' uniform number 36 would be retired by the team on March 21, 1962, when the Yankees would visit Clearwater to play the Phillies in a spring training game. It was the first uniform number to be retired by the organization and only the second time (after the Yankees retired Babe Ruth's number 3) that a uniform number was retired while the player was still active. Roberts started for the Yankees in the spring game, gave up four runs in three innings, and was the winning pitcher as the Yankees won 13–10.
Regular season 'Phillies Special' Rail Accident The Pennsylvania Railroad ran a line from Harrisburg to Philadelphia that often carried fans from central Pennsylvania to games at Connie Mack Stadium. It was advertised on Phillies radio broadcasts as the "Phillies Special". At 5:07 PM on July 28, 1962, en route to the Phillies 8:05 PM game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, four cars of Pennsylvania Railroad's Extra 4878 East derailed 3.7 miles east of Harrisburg in Steelton, Pennsylvania. Three of the cars toppled down a 30-foot embankment to the Susquehanna River. There were 19 fatalities and 119 were injured. The following day, on Sunday, July 29, 1962, at Connie Mack, the Phillies honored the victims with a moment of silence prior to the game's start. The Pennsylvania Railroad would later report the track was out of alignment.
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Opening Day lineup Tony Taylor, 2B Johnny Callison, RF Tony González, CF Roy Sievers, 1B Wes Covington, LF Don Demeter, 3B Clay Dalrymple, C Rubén Amaro, SS Art Mahaffey, P
Notable transactions September 12, 1962: Johnny Briggs was signed as an amateur free agent by the Phillies.Johnny Briggs at Baseball Reference
Game log Legend Phillies win Phillies loss PostponementBoldPhillies team member
|- style="background:#bfb" | 1 || April 9 || @ Reds || 12–4 || Art Mahaffey (1–0) || Joey Jay (0–1) || None || 28,506 || 1–0 |- style="background:#fbb" | 2 || April 10 || @ Pirates || 0–6 || Bob Friend (1–0) || Jim Owens (0–1) || None || 28,813 || 1–1 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || April 11 || @ Pirates || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 5 |- style="background:#bfb" | 3 || April 13 || Colt .45s || 3–2 || Jack Hamilton (1–0) || Turk Farrell (0–1) || None || 12,633 || 2–1 |- style="background:#bfb" | 4 || April 14 || Colt .45s || 3–0 || Art Mahaffey (2–0) || Ken Johnson (0–1) || None || 2,732 || 3–1 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || April 15 (1) || Colt .45s || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); Makeup: June 26 as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#bbb" | – || April 15 (2) || Colt .45s || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 11 |- style="background:#fbb" | 5 || April 16 || Cardinals || 6–12 || Ernie Broglio (1–0) || Don Ferrarese (0–1) || None || 3,895 || 3–2 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || April 17 || Cardinals || colspan=6 | Postponed (cold); Makeup: June 22 as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#fbb" | 6 || April 18 || Pirates || 3–4 || Earl Francis (1–0) || Jack Hamilton (1–1) || None || 7,284 || 3–3 |- style="background:#fbb" | 7 || April 19 || Pirates || 3–6 || Al McBean (1–0) || Art Mahaffey (2–1) || Jack Lamabe (1) || 8,427 || 3–4 |- style="background:#bfb" | 8 || April 21 || @ Colt .45s || 3–1 || Cal McLish (1–0) || Ken Johnson (0–2) || Jack Baldschun (1) || 21,841 || 4–4 |- style="background:#bfb" | 9 || April 22 || @ Colt .45s || 4–3 || Jim Owens (1–1) || Dave Giusti (0–1) || Jack Baldschun (2) || 13,130 || 5–4 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || April 23 || @ Colt .45s || colspan=6 | Postponed (wet grounds); Makeup: July 17 as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#fbb" | 10 || April 24 || @ Braves || 1–2 || Warren Spahn (2–2) || Art Mahaffey (2–2) || None || 6,898 || 5–5 |- style="background:#fbb" | 11 || April 25 || @ Braves || 2–7 || Ron Piché (1–0) || Chris Short (0–1) || None || 7,306 || 5–6 |- style="background:#fbb" | 12 || April 26 || @ Braves || 4–10 || Bob Hendley (2–1) || Jack Hamilton (1–2) || Hank Fischer (1) || 6,007 || 5–7 |- style="background:#bfb" | 13 || April 27 || @ Mets || 11–9 || Cal McLish (2–0) || Roger Craig (0–3) || Jack Baldschun (3) || 9,043 || 6–7 |- style="background:#fbb" | 14 || April 28 || @ Mets || 6–8 || Roger Craig (1–3) || Frank Sullivan (0–1) || None || 10,492 || 6–8 |- style="background:#fbb" | 15 || April 29 (1) || @ Mets || 0–8 || Al Jackson (1–2) || Art Mahaffey (2–3) || None || see 2nd game || 6–9 |- style="background:#bfb" | 16 || April 29 (2) || @ Mets || 10–2 || Bobby Locke (1–0) || Sherman Jones (0–4) || Jack Baldschun (4) || 19,925 || 7–9 |- style="background:#bfb" | 17 || April 30 || Braves || 6–4 || Jack Hamilton (2–2) || Warren Spahn (2–3) || Jack Baldschun (5) || 3,931 || 8–9
|- style="background:#bbb" | – || May 1 || Braves || colspan=6 | Postponed (cold weather, wet grounds); Makeup: July 20 (22) as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#bbb" | – || May 2 || Braves || colspan=6 | Postponed (cold weather, rain); Makeup: July 22 (20) as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#bfb" | 18 || May 3 || Braves || 9–8 || Jack Baldschun (1–0) || Hank Fischer (0–1) || None || 9,983 || 9–9 |- style="background:#bfb" | 19 || May 4 || Mets || 6–5 || Dallas Green (1–0) || Ken MacKenzie (0–1) || None || 16,393 || 10–9 |- style="background:#bfb" | 20 || May 5 || Mets || 2–1 || Cal McLish (3–0) || Al Jackson (1–3) || Jack Baldschun (6) || 7,993 || 11–9 |- style="background:#fbb" | 21 || May 6 (1) || Mets || 5–7 (12) || Craig Anderson (1–1) || Jack Baldschun (1–1) || Roger Craig (1) || 28,215 || 11–10 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || May 6 (2) || Mets || colspan=6 | Postponed (Sunday curfew); Makeup: June 6 as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#bfb" | 22 || May 8 || @ Reds || 6–4 || Chris Short (1–1) || Jim O'Toole (2–4) || Jack Baldschun (7) || 5,134 || 12–10 |- style="background:#fbb" | 23 || May 9 || @ Reds || 4–7 || Bob Purkey (5–0) || Art Mahaffey (2–4) || None || 3,304 || 12–11 |- style="background:#bfb" | 24 || May 11 || @ Cubs || 12–2 || Jack Hamilton (3–2) || Dick Ellsworth (2–4) || None || 1,004 || 13–11 |- style="background:#fbb" | 25 || May 12 || @ Cubs || 8–9 || Don Elston (2–0) || Jack Baldschun (1–2) || None || 2,668 || 13–12 |- style="background:#fbb" | 26 || May 13 (1) || @ Cubs || 7–8 || Barney Schultz (2–1) || Jack Baldschun (1–3) || None || see 2nd game || 13–13 |- style="background:#fbb" | 27 || May 13 (2) || @ Cubs || 5–8 || Barney Schultz (3–1) || Chris Short (1–2) || Dick Ellsworth (1) || 4,927 || 13–14 |- style="background:#fbb" | 28 || May 15 || Reds || 2–3 || Joey Jay (5–3) || Art Mahaffey (2–5) || Ted Wills (1) || 8,177 || 13–15 |- style="background:#fbb" | 29 || May 16 || Reds || 5–6 || Jim Brosnan (1–1) || Frank Sullivan (0–2) || None || 5,350 || 13–16 |- style="background:#bfb" | 30 || May 17 || Reds || 9–6 || Cal McLish (4–0) || Jim O'Toole (3–5) || Chris Short (1) || 8,674 || 14–16 |- style="background:#fbb" | 31 || May 18 || Cubs || 8–11 || Dick Ellsworth (3–4) || Jack Baldschun (1–4) || None || 8,425 || 14–17 |- style="background:#bfb" | 32 || May 19 || Cubs || 7–5 || Art Mahaffey (3–5) || Glen Hobbie (0–5) || None || 3,054 || 15–17 |- style="background:#fbb" | 33 || May 20 (1) || Cubs || 4–6 || Cal Koonce (2–0) || Jim Owens (1–2) || Bob Anderson (2) || see 2nd game || 15–18 |- style="background:#fbb" | 34 || May 20 (2) || Cubs || 2–11 || Bob Buhl (2–2) || Jack Hamilton (3–3) || None || 9,522 || 15–19 |- style="background:#fbb" | 35 || May 21 || @ Cardinals || 1–4 || Ray Washburn (3–0) || Dennis Bennett (0–1) || Bobby Shantz (1) || 6,956 || 15–20 |- style="background:#fbb" | 36 || May 22 || @ Cardinals || 2–6 || Bob Gibson (6–2) || Paul Brown (0–1) || None || 7,270 || 15–21 |- style="background:#bfb" | 37 || May 23 || @ Giants || 10–7 || Art Mahaffey (4–5) || Mike McCormick (1–2) || Jack Baldschun (8) || 7,314 || 16–21 |- style="background:#fbb" | 38 || May 24 || @ Giants || 4–7 || Stu Miller (2–1) || Cal McLish (4–1) || None || 5,680 || 16–22 |- style="background:#fbb" | 39 || May 25 || @ Giants || 7–10 || Billy Pierce (7–0) || Jack Hamilton (3–4) || Stu Miller (4) || 11,538 || 16–23 |- style="background:#fbb" | 40 || May 26 || @ Dodgers || 3–6 || Sandy Koufax (6–2) || Dallas Green (1–1) || None || 18,071 || 16–24 |- style="background:#fbb" | 41 || May 27 (1) || @ Dodgers || 2–5 || Stan Williams (4–1) || Paul Brown (0–2) || Ron Perranoski (3) || see 2nd game || 16–25 |- style="background:#fbb" | 42 || May 27 (2) || @ Dodgers || 1–2 || Don Drysdale (7–3) || Art Mahaffey (4–6) || None || 34,378 || 16–26 |- style="background:#fbb" | 43 || May 30 (1) || Giants || 3–4 (12) || Stu Miller (3–1) || Chris Short (1–3) || None || see 2nd game || 16–27 |- style="background:#fbb" | 44 || May 30 (2) || Giants || 2–5 || Mike McCormick (2–2) || Jack Hamilton (3–5) || Stu Miller (7) || 29,739 || 16–28 |- style="background:#bfb" | 45 || May 31 || Giants || 2–1 || Art Mahaffey (5–6) || Billy O'Dell (5–3) || None || 9,393 || 17–28
|- style="background:#fbb" | 46 || June 1 (1) || Dodgers || 4–11 || Stan Williams (5–1) || Paul Brown (0–3) || Ron Perranoski (5) || see 2nd game || 17–29 |- style="background:#fbb" | 47 || June 1 (2) || Dodgers || 5–8 || Don Drysdale (8–3) || Dallas Green (1–2) || Larry Sherry (3) || 24,799 || 17–30 |- style="background:#bfb" | 48 || June 2 || Dodgers || 7–0 || Dennis Bennett (1–1) || Phil Ortega (0–1) || None || 13,141 || 18–30 |- style="background:#bfb" | 49 || June 3 || Dodgers || 7–5 || Chris Short (2–3) || Johnny Podres (3–4) || Paul Brown (1) || 9,931 || 19–30 |- style="background:#fbb" | 50 || June 4 || Dodgers || 3–6 || Sandy Koufax (8–2) || Art Mahaffey (5–7) || None || 15,163 || 19–31 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || June 5 || Mets || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 28 as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#bfb" | 51 || June 6 (1) || Mets || 2–0 || Cal McLish (5–1) || Roger Craig (2–8) || None || see 2nd game || 20–31 |- style="background:#bfb" | 52 || June 6 (2) || Mets || 2–1 || Art Mahaffey (6–7) || Al Jackson (2–7) || None || 8,681 || 21–31 |- style="background:#bfb" | 53 || June 8 || @ Reds || 10–3 || Dennis Bennett (2–1) || Johnny Klippstein (1–1) || None || 16,991 || 22–31 |- style="background:#fbb" | 54 || June 9 || @ Reds || 1–5 || Bob Purkey (10–1) || Paul Brown (0–4) || Bill Henry (4) || 6,797 || 22–32