The 1959 Philadelphia Phillies season was the 77th season in the history of the franchise. During spring training, manager Eddie Sawyer told the press, "We're definitely not a last place club... I think the biggest thing we've accomplished is getting rid of the losing complex. That alone makes us not a last place club." The Phillies finished in last place in 1959, seven games behind seventh-place St. Louis and 23 games behind the pennant and World Series winning Dodgers. They attracted 802,515 fans to Connie Mack Stadium, seventh in the eight-team league.
Offseason In early 1959, Phillies owner Bob Carpenter proposed building a new ballpark for the Phillies on adjacent to the Garden State Park Racetrack in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Connie Mack Stadium was 50 years old, did not have sufficient parking, and the sale of alcohol was banned at sports venues in Pennsylvania. Beer sales were legal in New Jersey. The proposed ballpark would have seated 45,000 fans, been expandable to 60,000, and would have had 15,000 parking spaces. The Phillies would eventually move to the South Philadelphia Sports Complex in 1971. On January 13, Carpenter also changed general_managers, replacing Roy Hamey with John J. Quinn, recruited from the defending two-time National League champion Milwaukee Braves. Quinn would run the Phils' front office for almost 14 full seasons.
Notable transactions December 1, 1958: Johnny O'Brien was drafted by the Phillies from the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1958 rule 5 draft.Johnny O'Brien at Baseball Reference December 2, 1958: John Herrnstein was signed as an amateur free agent by the Phillies.John Herrnstein at Baseball Reference December 3, 1958: Chuck Essegian was traded by the Phillies to the St. Louis Cardinals for Rubén Amaro.Rubén Amaro at Baseball Reference December 3, 1958: Jack Sanford was traded by the Phillies to the San Francisco Giants for Rubén Gómez and Valmy Thomas.Rubén Gómez at Baseball Reference December 23, 1958: Rip Repulski, Jim Golden and Gene Snyder were traded by the Phillies to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Sparky Anderson.Rip Repulski at Baseball Reference March 31, 1959: Johnny O'Brien, Ted Kazanski and Stan Lopata were traded by the Phillies to the Milwaukee Braves for Gene Conley, Harry Hanebrink and Joe Koppe. Prior to 1959 season: John Anderson was returned by the Phillies to the Miami Marlins after expiration of their minor league working agreement.John Anderson at Baseball Reference
Regular season On April 11, coach Benny Bengough was removed from the coaching staff and reassigned to the front office where he worked in team public relations.
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Notable transactions April 13, 1959: Bobby Del Greco was purchased by the Phillies from the New York Yankees.Bobby Del Greco at Baseball Reference June 5, 1959: Gary Kroll was signed as an amateur free agent by the Phillies.Gary Kroll at Baseball Reference June 6, 1959: Willie Jones was traded by the Phillies to the Cleveland Indians for Jim Bolger and cash.Jim Bolger at Baseball Reference
Game log
|- style="background:#bfb" | 1 || April 10 || Reds || 2–1 || Robin Roberts (1–0) || Don Newcombe (0–1) || None || 22,189 || 1–0 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || April 11 || Reds || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); |- style="background:#bbb" | – || April 12 || Reds || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); |- style="background:#bbb" | – || April 12 || Reds || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); |- style="background:#fbb" | 2 || April 14 || @ Braves || 3–4 || Don McMahon (1–0) || Turk Farrell (0–1) || None || 42,081 || 1–1 |- style="background:#fbb" | 3 || April 16 || @ Braves || 3–7 || Lew Burdette (2–0) || Jack Meyer (0–1) || None || 11,186 || 1–2 |- style="background:#bfb" | 4 || April 17 || @ Reds || 5–1 || Ray Semproch (1–0) || Brooks Lawrence (0–1) || None || 8,376 || 2–2 |- style="background:#bfb" | 5 || April 18 || @ Reds || 14–9 || Al Schroll (1–0) || Don Newcombe (0–2) || None || 2,890 || 3–2 |- style="background:#fbb" | 6 || April 19 || @ Reds || 5–12 || Bob Mabe (1–0) || Jim Owens (0–1) || None || 8,091 || 3–3 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || April 20 || @ Pirates || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain, wet grounds); |- style="background:#fbb" | 7 || April 22 || Braves || 0–2 || Lew Burdette (3–0) || Robin Roberts (1–1) || None || 14,228 || 3–4 |- style="background:#bfb" | 8 || April 23 || Braves || 4–3 || Ray Semproch (2–0) || Juan Pizarro (0–1) || None || 8,689 || 4–4 |- style="background:#fbb" | 9 || April 24 || Pirates || 5–8 || Roy Face (2–0) || Al Schroll (1–1) || None || 15,675 || 4–5 |- style="background:#fbb" | 10 || April 25 || Pirates || 2–4 || Harvey Haddix (1–0) || Seth Morehead (0–1) || None || 6,678 || 4–6 |- style="background:#fbb" | 11 || April 26 || Pirates || 2–9 || Vern Law (2–1) || Don Cardwell (0–1) || None || || 4–7 |- style="background:#bfb" | 12 || April 26 || Pirates || 10–5 || Jack Meyer (1–1) || Bob Friend (0–3) || None || 19,266 || 5–7 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || April 27 || Giants || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); |- style="background:#bbb" | – || April 28 || Giants || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain, cold weather); |- style="background:#bfb" | 13 || April 29 || Dodgers || 5–4 || Jack Meyer (2–1) || Johnny Podres (2–2) || None || 13,775 || 6–7 |- style="background:#fbb" | 14 || April 30 || Dodgers || 4–6 || Johnny Klippstein (3–0) || Ray Semproch (2–1) || Art Fowler (1) || 11,547 || 6–8
|- style="background:#bfb" | 15 || May 1 || Cubs || 4–2 || Jim Owens (1–1) || Glen Hobbie (2–2) || None || 9,054 || 7–8 |- style="background:#fbb" | 16 || May 2 || Cubs || 3–4 || Joe Schaffernoth (1–0) || Seth Morehead (0–2) || Don Elston (5) || 4,171 || 7–9 |- style="background:#fbb" | 17 || May 3 || Cubs || 3–4 || John Buzhardt (1–2) || Turk Farrell (0–2) || Don Elston (6) || || 7–10 |- style="background:#bfb" | 18 || May 3 || Cubs || 5–4 || Jack Meyer (3–1) || Bill Henry (2–1) || None || 13,660 || 8–10 |- style="background:#bfb" | 19 || May 5 || Cardinals || 8–7 || Turk Farrell (1–2) || Larry Jackson (0–4) || None || 12,023 || 9–10 |- style="background:#fbb" | 20 || May 6 || Cardinals || 7–8 || Howie Nunn (1–1) || Jack Meyer (3–2) || Jim Brosnan (2) || 12,005 || 9–11 |- style="background:#fbb" | 21 || May 7 || @ Pirates || 4–5 || Roy Face (4–0) || Jim Owens (1–2) || None || 10,358 || 9–12 |- style="background:#bfb" | 22 || May 8 || @ Pirates || 8–1 || Gene Conley (1–0) || Red Witt (0–4) || Turk Farrell (1) || 17,691 || 10–12 |- style="background:#fbb" | 23 || May 9 || @ Pirates || 1–9 || Ron Kline (3–1) || Rubén Gómez (0–1) || None || 9,633 || 10–13 |- style="background:#bfb" | 24 || May 10 || @ Pirates || 6–3 || Robin Roberts (2–1) || Bob Friend (0–6) || Turk Farrell (2) || || 11–13 |- style="background:#fbb" | 25 || May 10 || @ Pirates || 6–7 || Harvey Haddix (3–1) || Jim Hearn (0–1) || Roy Face (2) || 23,549 || 11–14 |- style="background:#fbb" | 26 || May 11 || @ Dodgers || 10–11 || Art Fowler (3–2) || Jim Hearn (0–2) || None || 13,524 || 11–15 |- style="background:#fbb" | 27 || May 12 || @ Dodgers || 1–3 || Danny McDevitt (2–1) || Gene Conley (1–1) || None || 12,562 || 11–16 |- style="background:#fbb" | 28 || May 13 || @ Giants || 0–6 || Sam Jones (3–4) || Rubén Gómez (0–2) || None || 5,128 || 11–17 |- style="background:#fbb" | 29 || May 14 || @ Giants || 0–8 || Mike McCormick (1–2) || Ray Semproch (2–2) || None || 6,235 || 11–18 |- style="background:#fbb" | 30 || May 15 || @ Cardinals || 2–8 || Vinegar Bend Mizell (4–1) || Robin Roberts (2–2) || None || 6,003 || 11–19 |- style="background:#fbb" | 31 || May 16 || @ Cardinals || 2–8 || Gary Blaylock (3–1) || Jim Owens (1–3) || None || 6,609 || 11–20 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || May 17 || @ Cardinals || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); |- style="background:#bbb" | – || May 17 || @ Cardinals || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); |- style="background:#fbb" | 32 || May 19 || @ Cubs || 7–8 || Don Elston (3–1) || Taylor Phillips (0–3) || None || 2,436 || 11–21 |- style="background:#fbb" | 33 || May 20 || @ Cubs || 5–7 || Moe Drabowsky (2–3) || Don Cardwell (0–2) || Don Elston (7) || 4,825 || 11–22 |- style="background:#bfb" | 34 || May 21 || @ Cubs || 3–0 || Rubén Gómez (1–2) || Bob Anderson (2–3) || None || 3,725 || 12–22 |- style="background:#fbb" | 35 || May 22 || Braves || 5–10 || Lew Burdette (7–2) || Robin Roberts (2–3) || None || 24,043 || 12–23 |- style="background:#bfb" | 36 || May 23 || Braves || 4–2 || Jim Owens (2–3) || Warren Spahn (5–5) || None || 8,346 || 13–23 |- style="background:#bfb" | 37 || May 24 || Braves || 6–0 || Gene Conley (2–1) || Joey Jay (2–2) || None || || 14–23 |- style="background:#fbb" | 38 || May 24 || Braves || 3–8 || Carl Willey (2–1) || Taylor Phillips (0–4) || None || 26,646 || 14–24 |- style="background:#bfb" | 39 || May 25 || Braves || 7–3 || Don Cardwell (1–2) || Bob Buhl (2–3) || Ray Semproch (1) || 16,681 || 15–24 |- style="background:#fbb" | 40 || May 26 || @ Reds || 1–2 || Don Newcombe (4–4) || Rubén Gómez (1–3) || None || 7,312 || 15–25 |- style="background:#fbb" | 41 || May 27 || @ Reds || 4–10 || Bob Purkey (5–5) || Robin Roberts (2–4) || None || 5,348 || 15–26 |- style="background:#bfb" | 42 || May 28 || @ Reds || 4–3 || Jim Owens (3–3) || Joe Nuxhall (2–3) || Ray Semproch (2) || 6,819 || 16–26 |- style="background:#fbb" | 43 || May 29 || @ Braves || 5–6 || Don McMahon (2–0) || Gene Conley (2–2) || None || 20,334 || 16–27 |- style="background:#fbb" | 44 || May 30 || @ Braves || 2–4 || Bob Buhl (3–3) || Don Cardwell (1–3) || None || 18,945 || 16–28 |- style="background:#bfb" | 45 || May 31 || @ Braves || 6–0 || Robin Roberts (3–4) || Lew Burdette (8–3) || None || || 17–28 |- style="background:#fbb" | 46 || May 31 || @ Braves || 1–2 || Warren Spahn (7–5) || Ray Semproch (2–3) || None || 28,590 || 17–29
|- style="background:#bbb" | – || June 2 || Cubs || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); |- style="background:#bfb" | 47 || June 3 || Cubs || 4–3 || Jim Owens (4–3) || Dave Hillman (3–4) || None || 7,883 || 18–29 |- style="background:#fbb" | 48 || June 4 || Cubs || 2–3 || Don Elston (4–1) || Gene Conley (2–3) || None || 7,445 || 18–30 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || June 5 || Cardinals || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); |- style="background:#bfb" | 49 || June 6 || Cardinals || 4–3 || Robin Roberts (4–4) || Lindy McDaniel (3–8) || None || 5,940 || 19–30 |- style="background:#bfb" | 50 || June 7 || Cardinals || 11–9 || Jack Meyer (4–2) || Ernie Broglio (0–5) || Gene Conley (1) || || 20–30 |- style="background:#fbb" | 51 || June 7 || Cardinals || 0–2 || Vinegar Bend Mizell (7–2) || Don Cardwell (1–4) || None || 15,742 || 20–31 |- style="background:#fbb" | 52 || June 9 || Dodgers || 2–3 || Stan Williams (3–1) || Ray Semproch (2–4) || Sandy Koufax (1) || 16,575 || 20–32 |- style="background:#bfb" | 53 || June 10 || Dodgers || 2–1 || Gene Conley (3–3) || Danny McDevitt (3–6) || None || 11,079 || 21–32 |- style="background:#fbb" | 54 || June 11 || Dodgers || 0–11 || Johnny Podres (7–2) || Robin Roberts (4–5) || None || 15,819 || 21–33 |- style="background:#fbb" | 55 || June 12 || Giants || 0–3 || Mike McCormick (4–5) || Jack Meyer (4–3) || None || 20,595 || 21–34 |- style="background:#fbb" | 56 || June 13 || Giants || 1–2 || Johnny Antonelli (9–3) || Ray Semproch (2–5) || None || 18,941 || 21–35 |- style="background:#bfb" | 57 || June 14 || Giants || 7–5 || Humberto Robinson (2–0) || Sam Jones (7–6) || None || || 22–35 |- style="background:#bfb" | 58 || June 14 || Giants || 6–3 || Robin Roberts (5–5) || Stu Miller (3–3) || None || 21,562 || 23–35 |- style="background:#fbb" | 59 || June 16 || @ Cardinals || 1–8 || Vinegar Bend Mizell (8–3) || Rubén Gómez (1–4) || None || || 23–36 |- style="background:#fbb" | 60 || June 16 || @ Cardinals || 2–5 || Ernie Broglio (1–5) || Jim Owens (4–4) || Lindy McDaniel (4) || 17,068 || 23–37 |- style="background:#fbb"