The Main Event

George Sisler (born 1893) – Sisler pitched 15 seasons in the majors, 12 of them with the St. Louis Browns (1915-1927). Hit over .400 twice in his career and was the 1922 AL MVP with a line of: .420/.467/.594/1.061 for the Browns. He was the father of Dick Sisler, who played for the Phillies from 1948-1951.

George Sisler stands as one of the greatest hitters in early baseball history and a cornerstone figure of the dead-ball and early live-ball eras. A Hall of Fame first baseman, Sisler built his legacy primarily with the St. Louis Browns, where his combination of batting average, speed, and consistency made him a perennial star. He won two American League batting titles and famously hit .420 in 1922, which remains one of the highest single-season averages in modern baseball history. That same season, he collected 257 hits, a record that stood for decades until it was broken by Ichiro Suzuki in 2004.

Sisler was not just a hitter. He was also an excellent baserunner and defender, leading the league in stolen bases multiple times and earning a reputation as a complete player. His peak years placed him firmly among the elite of his generation, and he was widely admired for his smooth, effortless style of play.

However, his career took a dramatic turn after the 1922 season. Sisler developed a severe case of sinusitis (a sinus infection) that led to double vision, a frightening and debilitating condition for a hitter. The illness forced him to miss the entire 1923 season. When he returned in 1924, he was still productive but no longer the same dominant force. His batting average dipped, and while he remained a respected veteran presence, the lost season and lingering effects of his condition clearly altered the trajectory of his career. Even so, his body of work was more than enough to earn him a place in the Hall of Fame, where he remains one of the most celebrated hitters of his era.

Dick Sisler

Dick Sisler, George’s son, carved out his own place in baseball history, though in a very different way. While he never reached the sustained greatness of his father, Dick became known for delivering one of the most memorable hits in Philadelphia Phillies history. A left-handed hitter with power, he played for several teams, but his time with the Phillies in the late 1940s and early 1950s is what cemented his legacy.

The defining moment came on the final day of the 1950 season. The Phillies were locked in a tight pennant race with the Brooklyn Dodgers, and everything came down to a decisive game at Ebbets Field. With the score tied late, Sisler came to the plate and launched a dramatic three-run home run that clinched the National League pennant for Philadelphia. That swing sent the “Whiz Kids” to the World Series and instantly became one of the most iconic moments in franchise history.

What makes the story even richer is the family connection. George Sisler had once played in St. Louis against some of the same baseball figures who were now watching his son deliver a pennant-winning blow. It added a layer of generational continuity that baseball fans love to celebrate.

Beyond that moment, Dick Sisler was a solid contributor. He had a respectable major league career, showing flashes of power and versatility as both a first baseman and outfielder. While he moved between teams and never fully settled into stardom, his clutch performance in 1950 ensured that his name would always be remembered in Philadelphia.

Dave Sisler

Dave Sisler, another son of George, took a different path as a pitcher. He enjoyed a long career in the majors, working primarily as a reliever and occasional starter. While he did not achieve the same level of fame as his father or even the single iconic moment of his brother Dick, Dave was a dependable arm who found ways to contribute over many seasons.

He pitched for several teams, including Boston, Detroit, Washington, and Cincinnati from 1956-1962, and was known for his durability and adaptability. In an era when bullpen roles were less defined than they are today, Sisler often filled whatever role was needed, whether it was long relief or spot starts. That flexibility made him valuable, even if it did not always translate into headline recognition.

One of the more interesting aspects of Dave Sisler’s career is how it reflects the evolution of pitching roles in mid-20th century baseball. He was part of a generation that bridged the gap between traditional starters and the more specialized bullpen arms that would emerge later. His willingness to take the ball in any situation speaks to a different kind of reliability that teams depended on during that time.

Together, the Sisler family represents a fascinating baseball lineage. George set a Hall of Fame standard with brilliance and resilience, Dick delivered one of the most unforgettable moments in Phillies history, and Dave provided steady contributions on the mound. Each carved out a unique identity, yet all remained connected through the game that defined their family.

Philadelphia baseball events for March 24

  • March 24, 1943 – Purchased the contract of Schoolboy Rowe from Brooklyn and traded Bobby Bragan to Brooklyn for Jack Kraus and cash.
  • March 24, 1962 – Sent Lou Vassie and to Chicago (AL) for Cal McLish to complete the December, 1961 trade for Fred Barnes
  • March 24, 1962 – Third baseman Andy Carey, who was traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Philadelphia Phillies on December 15th, refuses to report to his new team and is sent to the Los Angeles Dodgers for two minor leaguers.
  • March 24, 1984 – The Phillies sent Alejandro Sanchez to the San Francisco Giants for Dave Bergman and then sent Bergman and relief pitcher Willie Hernandez to the Tigers for catcher John Wockenfuss and outfielder Glenn Wilson. Hernandez will win the American League MVP and Cy Young awards after saving 32 games with an 1.92 ERA and 140 1/3 innings in 80 pitching appearances. His brilliant pitching during the postseason will help Detroit to the World Championship.
  • March 24, 1995 – One day after three major league players (Curt Schilling, Tommy Greene and Dave Hollins) were seen by the press working out at the team’s Carpenter Complex, Phillies president Bill Giles announced that following instructions from the Office of the Commissioner, players would not be allowed to use team facilities during the baseball strike.
  • March 24, 2024 – Traded outfielder Jake Cave to Colorado for cash.

MLB baseball events for March 24

  • March 24, 1959 – In Havana, Cuba, the Cincinnati Redlegs and Los Angeles Dodgers play an exhibition game. For a pre-game photo, Reds outfielder Pete Whisenant swaps his glove for a Fidel Castro rebel’s machine gun.
  • March 24, 1961 – The New York State Senate approves $55 million in funding for a new stadium to be built at Flushing Meadows Park in Queens, NY. The park will be called Shea Stadium. After playing their first two seasons in the Polo Grounds, the Mets will move to Shea in 1964, playing there until the end of 2008.
  • March 24, 2012 –  Former Phillie Ryan Madson, signed as a free agent to be the Reds’ closer, will have to undergo Tommy John surgery and will not pitch this season. In other injury news, Braves 3B Chipper Jones, who has just announced that this season will be his last, will start the year on the disabled list, as he needs to undergo arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee.

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Philadelphia birthdays for March 24

  • Roy Thomas (born 1874) – A standout outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Thomas was known for his exceptional on-base skills and was one of the early pioneers of plate discipline. In all, he played 12 seasons in Philadelphia in two different stints.
  • Saul Rogovin (born 1922) – A right-handed pitcher who had a stint with the Philadelphia Phillies starting in 1955 after he was released by Baltimore. Also spent the 1956 season with the Phillies, but was released in May of 1957.
  • Robinson Tejada (born 1982) – A hard-throwing reliever who pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2005, his debut season. Went on to pitch for Texas and Kansas City over a seven year MLB career.
  • Andrew Baker (born 2000) – A minor league pitcher in the Philadelphia Phillies organization, Baker attended Chipola College and was drafted by the Phillies in the 11th round of the 2021 Draft. Baker has an interesting background story. Read about it and get a full scouting report.

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