Here is a look back at events – some memorable, some not – that occurred on September 26th throughout Phillies history.

  • In 1998, Curt Schilling reached 300 strikeouts for the second consecutive season. He became one of only five pitchers in MLB history to record back-to-back 300-strikeout seasons. This milestone came during a game against the Florida Marlins.
  • On September 26, 2005, Jimmy Rollins appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated. At the time, he was in the midst of a strong season, batting .290 with 12 home runs and helping lead the Phillies’ playoff push.
  • On this date in 2021, Hans Crouse made his major league debut for the Phillies. He joined infielder Ron Clark, who also debuted on September 26 back in 1975. Clark’s debut came in a 3–2 loss.
  • September 26, 1964 marked the Phillies’ sixth straight loss during their infamous late-season collapse. Despite an early 4–0 lead against the Milwaukee Braves, the Phillies surrendered the game in dramatic fashion, with ninth-inning fireworks and bullpen struggles contributing to the defeat.

A Deeper Dive

On September 26, 1964, the Phillies suffered a crushing 6–4 loss to the Milwaukee Braves at Connie Mack Stadium, marking their sixth straight defeat during one of the most infamous collapses in baseball history.

The game began with promise. The Phillies jumped out to a 4–0 lead in the first two innings. Cookie Rojas led off with a single, and Dick Allen followed with a triple to drive him in. Alex Johnson then hit a two-run homer. Johnny Callison added a sacrifice fly in the second to extend the lead.

Art Mahaffey started for Philadelphia and held the Braves scoreless through four innings. But in the fifth, Dennis Menke homered to put Milwaukee on the board. Felipe Alou and Lee May followed with back-to-back doubles, cutting the lead to 4–2.

Mahaffey escaped a bases-loaded jam in the sixth and pitched a clean seventh, but trouble returned in the eighth. Joe Torre and Rico Carty singled, prompting manager Gene Mauch to bring in Jack Baldschun. After a failed bunt attempt and a single by Mike de la Hoz, Bobby Shantz was summoned. A passed ball allowed Carty to score, and although Shantz struck out Ed Bailey and escaped further damage, the Braves weren’t done.

In the ninth, Shantz unraveled. He allowed three runs on three hits and a walk, including a triple by Carty and a clutch RBI single by Menke. Warren Spahn closed the game for Milwaukee, earning the save.

The loss dropped the Phillies’ lead in the National League to just one game. What had been a 6.5-game cushion earlier that week was now nearly gone, and the collapse was in full swing.