1961 Philadelphia Phillies season

The 1961 Philadelphia Phillies season was the 79th in franchise history. The Phillies finished the season in last place in the National League at 47–107, 46 games behind the NL Champion Cincinnati Reds. The team also lost 23 games in a row, the most in the majors since 1900.

Offseason November 28, 1960: Choo-Choo Coleman was drafted by the Phillies from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1960 rule 5 draft.

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions May 4, 1961: Turk Farrell and Joe Koppe were traded by the Phillies to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Charley Smith and Don Demeter. June 1, 1961: Warren Hacker was purchased from the Phillies by the Chicago White Sox. July 2, 1961: Bobby Del Greco was traded by the Phillies to the Kansas City Athletics for Wes Covington.

1961 Game log Legend Phillies win Phillies loss Phillies tie  PostponementBoldPhillies team member

|- style="background:#fbb" | 1 || April 11 || @ Dodgers || 2–6 || Don Drysdale (1–0) || Robin Roberts (0–1) || Larry Sherry (1) || 50,927 || 0–1 |- style="background:#fbb" | 2 || April 12 || @ Dodgers || 2–3 || Johnny Podres (1–0) || Frank Sullivan (0–1) || Larry Sherry (2) || 10,694 || 0–2 |- style="background:#bfb" | 3 || April 13 || @ Dodgers || 8–7 || Turk Farrell (1–0) || Ed Palmquist (0–1) || None || 10,312 || 1–2 |- style="background:#fbb" | 4 || April 14 || @ Giants || 0–2 || Mike McCormick (1–1) || Art Mahaffey (0–1) || None || 19,989 || 1–3 |- style="background:#bfb" | 5 || April 15 || @ Giants || 2–0 || Dallas Green (1–0) || Juan Marichal (0–1) || None || 18,755 || 2–3 |- style="background:#fbb" | 6 || April 16 || @ Giants || 2–5 || Sam Jones (1–0) || Robin Roberts (0–2) || Billy O'Dell (1) || 23,594 || 2–4 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || April 18 || Braves || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 19 as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#bbb" | – || April 19 || Braves || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain and cold weather); Makeup: August 25 as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#fbb" | 7 || April 20 || Braves || 6–7 (11) || Ron Piché (1–0) || John Buzhardt (0–1) || None || 9,531 || 2–5 |- style="background:#fbb" | 8 || April 21 || Cubs || 2–3 || Don Cardwell (1–0) || Robin Roberts (0–3) || Don Elston (1) || 5,738 || 2–6 |- style="background:#fbb" | 9 || April 22 || Cubs || 4–6 (11) || Don Elston (3–0) || Turk Farrell (1–1) || None || 3,996 || 2–7 |- style="background:#bfb" | 10 || April 23 (1) || Cubs || 1–0 || Frank Sullivan (1–1) || Dick Ellsworth (0–1) || None || see 2nd game || 3–7 |- style="background:#bfb" | 11 || April 23 (2) || Cubs || 6–0 || Art Mahaffey (1–1) || Bob Anderson (0–2) || None || 16,027 || 4–7 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || April 25 || @ Pirates || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain and wet grounds); Makeup: June 25 as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#fbb" | 12 || April 26 || @ Pirates || 2–3 || Vinegar Bend Mizell (2–0) || Dallas Green (1–1) || None || 9,420 || 4–8 |- style="background:#fbb" | 13 || April 28 || @ Cardinals || 9–10 (11) || Al Cicotte (1–2) || Dallas Green (1–2) || None || 5,620 || 4–9 |- style="background:#bfb" | 14 || April 29 || @ Cardinals || 3–2 || Art Mahaffey (2–1) || Ray Sadecki (1–1) || None || 6,175 || 5–9 |- style="background:#bfb" | 15 || April 30 || @ Cardinals || 11–7 (10) || Turk Farrell (2–1) || Larry Jackson (0–2) || None || 8,194 || 6–9

|- style="background:#fbb" | 16 || May 1 || @ Reds || 2–3 || Jim O'Toole (2–2) || Robin Roberts (0–4) || None || 2,089 || 6–10 |- style="background:#fbb" | 17 || May 2 || @ Reds || 2–3 || Ken Hunt (2–1) || Dallas Green (1–3) || Jim Brosnan (3) || 3,026 || 6–11 |- style="background:#fbb" | 18 || May 3 || @ Reds || 3–9 || Jim Maloney (1–1) || John Buzhardt (0–2) || Bill Henry (1) || 4,018 || 6–12 |- style="background:#fbb" | 19 || May 4 || @ Reds || 0–4 || Joey Jay (1–3) || Art Mahaffey (2–2) || None || 3,087 || 6–13 |- style="background:#fbb" | 20 || May 5 || Giants || 2–4 || Juan Marichal (2–1) || Frank Sullivan (1–2) || None || 15,674 || 6–14 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || May 6 || Giants || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 28 as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#fbb" | 21 || May 7 || Giants || 0–7 || Billy Loes (3–1) || Robin Roberts (0–5) || None || 9,985 || 6–15 |- style="background:#fbb" | 22 || May 8 || Dodgers || 3–4 (10) || Turk Farrell (3–1) || Chris Short (0–1) || None || 8,529 || 6–16 |- style="background:#fbb" | 23 || May 9 || Dodgers || 2–5 (6) || Don Drysdale (3–2) || Art Mahaffey (2–3) || None || 11,483 || 6–17 |- style="background:#fbb" | 24 || May 10 || Dodgers || 0–6 || Johnny Podres (5–0) || Frank Sullivan (1–3) || None || 8,170 || 6–18 |- style="background:#fbb" | 25 || May 12 || Cardinals || 1–5 || Ernie Broglio (3–3) || John Buzhardt (0–3) || None || 5,463 || 6–19 |- style="background:#bfb" | 26 || May 13 || Cardinals || 3–1 || Art Mahaffey (3–3) || Ray Sadecki (2–2) || None || 5,827 || 7–19 |- style="background:#bfb" | 27 || May 14 || Cardinals || 6–4 || Chris Short (1–1) || Lindy McDaniel (2–2) || None || 4,276 || 8–19 |- style="background:#fbb" | 28 || May 16 || Reds || 2–4 || Joey Jay (3–3) || Frank Sullivan (1–4) || None || 5,428 || 8–20 |- style="background:#fbb" | 29 || May 17 || Reds || 1–2 || Bob Purkey (4–1) || John Buzhardt (0–4) || None || 4,641 || 8–21 |- style="background:#bfb" | 30 || May 19 || Pirates || 4–1 || Art Mahaffey (4–3) || Bob Friend (4–4) || None || 16,035 || 9–21 |- style="background:#fbb" | 31 || May 20 || Pirates || 3–4 || Joe Gibbon (3–2) || Robin Roberts (0–6) || Roy Face (6) || 12,547 || 9–22 |- style="background:#fbb" | 32 || May 21 || Pirates || 11–13 || Bob Friend (5–4) || Don Ferrarese (0–1) || None || 9,291 || 9–23 |- style="background:#bfb" | 33 || May 23 || @ Cubs || 2–1 (10) || Frank Sullivan (2–4) || Glen Hobbie (2–5) || Chris Short (1) || 2,179 || 10–23 |- style="background:#bfb" | 34 || May 24 || @ Braves || 7–1 || Art Mahaffey (5–3) || Don Nottebart (2–3) || None || 9,120 || 11–23 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || May 25 || @ Braves || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 5 as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#bbb" | – || May 26 || @ Reds || colspan=6 | Postponed (cold); Makeup: August 2 as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#fbb" | 35 || May 27 || @ Reds || 4–5 || Joey Jay (5–3) || John Buzhardt (0–5) || Jim Brosnan (5) || 7,690 || 11–24 |- style="background:#fbb" | 36 || May 28 || @ Reds || 2–4 || Bob Purkey (5–2) || Frank Sullivan (2–5) || None || 6,632 || 11–25 |- style="background:#fbb" | 37 || May 30 (1) || Braves || 1–3 || Bob Buhl (2–4) || Don Ferrarese (0–2) || None || see 2nd game || 11–26 |- style="background:#bfb" | 38 || May 30 (2) || Braves || 11–4 || Art Mahaffey (6–3) || Carl Willey (2–1) || None || 28,783 || 12–26 |- style="background:#fbb" | 39 || May 31 || Cubs || 4–5 || Bob Anderson (2–3) || Robin Roberts (0–7) || Don Elston (5) || 4,213 || 12–27

|- style="background:#fbb" | 40 || June 1 || Cubs || 3–10 || Glen Hobbie (3–5) || Frank Sullivan (2–6) || None || 3,785 || 12–28 |- style="background:#bfb" | 41 || June 2 || @ Pirates || 6–0 || John Buzhardt (1–5) || Bob Friend (5–7) || None || 14,344 || 13–28 |- style="background:#fbb" | 42 || June 3 || @ Pirates || 1–5 || Bobby Shantz (2–1) || Art Mahaffey (6–4) || Roy Face (7) || 11,153 || 13–29 |- style="background:#bfb" | 43 || June 4 || @ Pirates || 5–0 || Don Ferrarese (1–2) || Vinegar Bend Mizell (4–3) || None || 27,352 || 14–29 |- style="background:#bfb" | 44 || June 5 || @ Giants || 3–2 || Robin Roberts (1–7) || Mike McCormick (5–5) || None || 4,881 || 15–29 |- style="background:#bfb" | 45 || June 6 || @ Giants || 13–9 || Dallas Green (2–3) || Billy O'Dell (1–3) || Ken Lehman (1) || 10,533 || 16–29 |- style="background:#fbb" | 46 || June 7 || @ Giants || 3–4 (11) || Stu Miller (5–0) || Chris Short (1–2) || None || 6,048 || 16–30 |- style="background:#bfb" | 47 || June 8 || @ Giants || 5–2 || John Buzhardt (2–5) || Sam Jones (5–5) || None || 5,703 || 17–30 |- style="background:#fbb" | 48 || June 9 || @ Dodgers || 1–3 || Don Drysdale (4–3) || Frank Sullivan (2–7) || None || 19,110 || 17–31 |- style="background:#fbb" | 49 || June 10 || @ Dodgers || 4–5 || Larry Sherry (2–2) || John Buzhardt (2–6) || None || 18,908 || 17–32 |- style="background:#fbb" | 50 || June 11 || @ Dodgers || 3–6 || Sandy Koufax (9–2) || Art Mahaffey (6–5) || None || 18,833 || 17–33 |- style="background:#bfb" | 51 || June 13 || Cardinals || 3–2 || Frank Sullivan (3–7) || Larry Jackson (2–6) || None || 7,327 || 18–33 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || June 14 || Cardinals || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 29 as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#fbb" | 52 || June 15 || Cardinals || 3–6 || Ray Sadecki (5–4) || Art Mahaffey (6–6) || Bob Miller (2) || 6,789 || 18–34 |- style="background:#fbb" | 53 || June 16 || Reds || 1–4 || Ken Hunt (7–3) || John Buzhardt (2–7) || Jim Brosnan (10) || 10,508 || 18–35 |- style="background:#fbb" | 54 || June 17 || Reds || 5–10 || Bob Purkey (8–3) || Robin Roberts (1–8) || None || 5,205 || 18–36 |- style="background:#fbb" | 55 || June 18 (1) || Reds || 2–7 || Howie Nunn (2–0) || Don Ferrarese (1–3) || None || see 2nd game || 18–37 |- style="background:#fbb" | 56 || June 18 (2) || Reds || 0–10 || Jim O'Toole (6–6) || Chris Short (1–3) || None || 16,369 || 18–38 |- style="background:#fbb" | 57 || June 20 || Pirates || 2–6 || Harvey Haddix (5–2) || Art Mahaffey (6–7) || Roy Face (10) || 10,649 || 18–39 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || June 21 || Pirates || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 8 as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#fbb" | 58 || June 22 || Pirates || 1–5 || Bob Friend (8–7) || John Buzhardt (2–8) || None || 9,126 || 18–40 |- style="background:#bfb" | 59 || June 23 || @ Pirates || 12–11 || Ken Lehman (1–0) || Earl Francis (0–2) || Frank Sullivan (1) || 16,170 || 19–40 |- style="background:#bfb" | 60 || June 24 || @ Pirates || 6–2 || Chris Short (2–3) || Vinegar Bend Mizell (4–6) || Frank Sullivan (2) || 9,546 || 20–40 |- style="background:#fbb" | 61 || June 25 (1) || @ Pirates || 5–10 || Roy Face (3–3) || Jack Baldschun (0–1) || None || see 2nd game || 20–41 |- style="background:#bfb" | 62 || June 25 (2) || @ Pirates || 4–3 || Art Mahaffey (7–7) || Harvey Haddix (5–3) || Frank Sullivan (3) || 10,951 || 21–41 |- style="background:#bfb" | 63 || June 26 || Giants || 1–0 || Jim Owens (1–0) || Jack Sanford (3–5) || Dallas Green (1) || 7,872 || 22–41 |- style="background:#fbb" | 64 || June 27 || Giants || 5–12 || Juan Marichal (5–4) || John Buzhardt (2–9) || Stu Miller (7) || 10,728 || 22–42 |- style="background:#fffdd0" | 65 || June 28 || Giants || 7–7 (15) || None || None || None || 11,597 || 22–42–1 |- style="background:#fbb" | 66 || June 29 (1) || Giants || 7–8 (10) || Juan Marichal (6–4) || Frank Sullivan (3–8) || None || see 2nd game || 22–43–1 |- style="background:#fbb" | 67 || June 29 (2) || Giants || 1–4 || Billy Loes (5–5) || Art Mahaffey (7–8) || None || 14,997 || 22–44–1 |- style="background:#fbb" | 68 || June 30 || Dodgers || 6–10 || Stan Williams (7–7) || Jim Owens (1–1) || Turk Farrell (3) || 17,518 || 22–45–1

|- style="background:#fbb" | 69 || July 1 || Dodgers || 2–5 || Johnny Podres (8–1) || John Buzhardt (2–10) || Larry Sherry (11) || 19,064 || 22–46–1 |- style="background:#fbb" | 70 || July 2 || Dodgers || 1–2 || Don Drysdale (6–5) || Art Mahaffey (7–9) || Turk Farrell (4) || 15,039 || 22–47–1 |- style="background:#fbb" | 71 || July 4 (1) || @ Cardinals || 7–10 || Curt Simmons (3–7) || Don Ferrarese (1–4) || Mickey McDermott (4) || see 2nd game || 22–48–1 |- style="background:#bfb" | 72 || July 4 (2) || @ Cardinals || 10–6 || Jack Baldschun (1–1) || Craig Anderson (1–1) || Frank Sullivan (4) || 14,653 || 23–48–1 |- style="background:#fbb"