allentown...yes, Tony Curry was long gone by the time I was following the Phillies closely but did find that he actually made the Topps All-Rookie team as an outfielder after the 1960. This was no small feat as the other two outfielders were stars Tommy Davis and Frank Howard, two guys I did see play.
Curry was the Eastern League MVP in 1959 at 20 years of age and likely would have had a successful career had the Phils not decided to force feed him to the big leagues in 1960. Still, I read that Mauch loved him, played him regularly through July and he was even in the Top 10 in hitting till mid July.
Tiggerhawk said he was a very good hitter but a poor fielder and it was obvious he needed more seasoning. Phils had him as their cleanup hitter early in the '61 season and when he struggled he was sent down and never came up with the Phils. He was traded after the 61 season and basically was finished as a major leaguer, though his minor league numbers were always good.
I read in Phillie Report and on Tony Curry's baseball obituary page that he might well have been a victim of the Phillies alleged racism [John Quinn was mentioned by name] that thankfully ended when Gene Mauch took firm control on the major league roster.
Anyways, TH was my eyes to the early 60's Phillies, an era [60-63] that always fascinated me for so many reasons...the hiring of Mauch, that all rookie outfield of Curry, Gonzalez and Callison, the 23 game losing streak in '61, the amazing 17-1 record against the Houston Colt 45's in '62, and impressive 87 win season in '63.
I became a full fledged phan in the Summer of '64.
