The Main Event
- May 17, 1979 – The Phillies and Cubs combined for 11 home runs and 50 hits in a 23-22, 10 inning Phillies victory at Wrigley Field. Mike Schmidt homered twice. Starting pitcher Randy Lerch also homered, but retired only one of the batters he faced on the mound.
- May 17, 1991 – The Phils and Cubs play 15 innings without either team scoring a run. In the 16th, Dickie Thon singles to drive in Dale Murphy for a 1-0 win. It was the longest shutout in the history of the Vet.
May 17, 1979 – Phillies 23, Cubs 22 in 10 Innings at Wrigley Field
On a sunny afternoon at Wrigley Field, the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs turned what would normally be a routine May game into one of the most unforgettable slugfests in baseball history. The two teams combined for a staggering 11 home runs and 50 hits in a contest that saw the Phillies emerge victorious, 23-22, after 10 innings. It was a game that seemed to rewrite the rules of pitching, hitting, and sheer endurance.
Mike Schmidt led the Phillies’ offensive onslaught, blasting two home runs. Schmidt’s power display set the tone for a team that refused to be contained. Larry Bowa contributed with five hits, including two doubles. He also scored four runs in the game for the Phillies. Even starting pitcher Randy Lerch homered in the first inning. Unfortunately for Lerch, his outing on the mound was rough and he allowed five earned runs while only getting one out in the first inning.
On the Cubs’ side, Bill Buckner had a memorable day at the plate, racking up four hits and driving in seven runs. Dave Kingman launched a towering home run in the first inning against Lerch. He would go on to hit two more home runs in the game and drive in seven runs while scoring four. The Cubs’ pitching staff was heavily tested, with starting pitcher Dennis Lamp allowing six runs in just one-third of an inning. Relief pitchers struggled to contain the Phillies’ relentless lineup, leading to one of the highest-scoring games in Major League history at that point.
The atmosphere in Wrigley Field was electric. Fans were treated to a game that showcased the extremes of baseball: record-breaking hitting, erratic pitching, and relentless scoring. Every inning seemed to bring a new twist, with the Phillies continuing to pile on runs and the Cubs working to keep pace and finally tying the game with a three-run bottom of the eighth. The Phillies finally regained the lead when Schmidt launched his second home run of the game with two outs in the top of the 10th inning.
May 17, 1991 – Phillies 1, Cubs 0 in 16 Innings at Veterans Stadium
In Philadelphia 12 years later, the Phillies and Cubs faced off in a dramatically different type of contest, one defined by pitching brilliance and defensive resilience. At Veterans Stadium, the two teams battled through 15 innings without a single run, a rare display of strategic patience and pitching dominance. The stalemate was finally broken in the 16th inning when Dickie Thon singled to drive in Dale Murphy, giving Philadelphia a 1-0 victory in the longest shutout game in the history of the Vet.
Starting pitcher Pat Combs for the Phillies delivered an incredible performance, pitching eight shutout innings and keeping the Cubs’ heavy hitters off balance. Combs allowed five hits and four walks, but was able to keep the Cubs off of the scoreboard. Relievers Roger McDowell, Joe Boever, and Tommy Greene carried the torch for Philadelphia, each tossing multiple scoreless innings to maintain the deadlock. On offense, although the Phillies’ bats were largely quiet, John Kruk had two singles and Thon’s game-winning hit was his third of the game.
The Cubs’ pitching staff was equally impressive. Greg Maddux pitched nine innings, surrendering four hits and walking two while striking out eight Phillies. The Cubs’ bullpen, featuring Paul Assenmacher, Chuck McElroy, and Heathcliff Slocumb threw four shutout innings and Les Lancaster added two more before running into trouble in the 16th inning and taking the loss. Mitch Williams and Steve Wilson, matched Philadelphia’s effort to keep the game scoreless through multiple extra innings. Chicago’s defense was sharp throughout, with critical plays from Shawon Dunston and Ryne Sandberg preventing potential Phillies runs in the late innings.
Fans witnessed a masterclass in pitching, patience, and tension. Each pitch and at-bat carried enormous weight, with both teams cautious not to make a mistake that could end the marathon. When Thon’s hit finally scored Murphy, it was the perfect climax to a game that contrasted sharply with the run-fest of 1979. This 1-0 battle highlighted the strategic depth of baseball. The game is often remembered as one of the most extraordinary defensive and pitching contests in Phillies history.
Philadelphia Baseball Events for May 17
- May 17, 1893 – Billy Hamilton hits the first pitch of a game against Washington out of the park for a home run. Later, with the score tied in the 10th inning, he hit the game’s last pitch out for walk-off homer.
- May 17, 1931 – The Athletics move into first place to stay with a 12-5 win over the Indians in Cleveland. Philadelphia scores nine runs in the last two innings to give the win to Lefty Grove.
- May 17, 1960 – Released pitcher Curt Simmons. (Curt Simmons 1960 release would affect the 1964 Phillies.)
- May 17, 1963 – The Phillies were no-hit by Don Nottebart of the Houston Colt .45s, but managed to score a run on a sacrifice fly in a 4-1 loss.
- May 17, 1975 – The Phillies score three in the bottom of the ninth to make a winner of reliever Gene Garber. It was his third win in three days, tying a major-league record.
ICYMI
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Philadelphia Baseball Birthdays for May 17
- Frank Mountain (born 1860) – Made eight starts for the 1882 Athletics with a 3.91 ERA. He pitched in the majors for seven seasons with six different teams.
- Hal Carlson (born 1892) – A right-hander who pitched for the Phillies from 1924-1927. In 99 starts and 20 relief appearances, Carlson went 42-48 with a 4.13 ERA. He pitched 14 innings in the majors for the Phillies, Pirates, and Cubs.
- Leo Norris (born 1908) – A middle infielder for the 1936 and 1937 Phillies, Norris hit .262 in what would be his only two major league seasons.
- Lou Chiozza (born 1910) – A versatile infielder/outfielder who played for the Phillies from 1934-1936 before being traded to the New York Giants. He hit .295 in 402 games with Philadelphia.
- Porfi Altamirano (born 1952) – Altamirano made 60 relief appearances with the Phillies over two seasons with a 3.92 ERA.
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