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Johnny Callison, 1964 All-Star Game MVP, Dies at 67

Valadius Oct 13 2006 04:15 PM

Johnny Callison, former Phillies All-Star, dies at 67 PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Johnny Callison, the strong-armed outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies who won the 1964 All-Star game with a ninth-inning homer, died at 67. He died Thursday at Abington Hospital following an illness, Phillies spokesman Larry Shenk said Friday. He lived in Glenside, a Philadelphia suburb. Callison was born in Oklahoma and went on to become a three-time All-Star during his 16-year career. A left-handed hitter with a smooth swing, Callison started with the Chicago White Sox in 1958 and established himself as one of the top players in the National League after being traded to Philadelphia two years later. "He can run, throw, field and hit with power," the late Gene Mauch, who managed Callison on the Phillies, once said. "There's nothing he can't do well on the ball field." Callison had a rocket of an arm in right field, and runners tested him at their peril. He led the league in assists four straight years. He was the MVP of the 1964 All-Star game in New York, hitting a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning off hard-throwing Red Sox reliever Dick Radatz to give the National League a 7-4 victory at Shea Stadium. Kentucky Sen. Jim Bunning, a Hall of Fame pitcher, said Friday he and Callison became close friends when they roomed together during the 1964 season. The two were teammates from 1964-67. "He had all the tools that a great player needs," Bunning said. The Kentucky Republican said the last time he saw Callison was during a reunion before Veterans Stadium closed. "He did an unbelievable job playing right field and knocking in a lot of key runs," Bunning said. Callison was part of the 1964 Phillies team that infamously wasted a 6 1/2 -game lead with 12 games left in the season by losing 10 straight. During the seventh loss in that streak, Callison played despite a bad case of flu and hit three homers against Milwaukee. Callison played in every game that season. Callison was a fan favorite during his 10 seasons with the Phillies and finished second in MVP voting behind St. Louis third baseman Ken Boyer in 1964. Callison also played two seasons with the Chicago Cubs and two more with the New York Yankees before retiring following the 1973 season. Callison hit .264 with 226 homers for his career. He batted .274 with 31 homers and 104 RBIs in 1964 and hit .262 with 31 homers and 102 RBIs the following year. Callison made the NL All-Star team in 1962, 1964 and 1965. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Zvon Oct 13 2006 04:29 PM

Bummer. I guess the way things are gonna work out that will end up being the only MLB all star game ever hosted at Shea. Thats a bit of a bummer too.

cooby Oct 13 2006 05:01 PM

I wonder why that is. RIP Johnny

Valadius Oct 13 2006 06:15 PM

You know they'll bring the All-Star Game to the new stadium though. At some point. Hopefully before the Yankees do.

Zvon Oct 13 2006 06:21 PM

Valadius wrote: You know they'll bring the All-Star Game to the new stadium though. At some point. Hopefully before the Yankees do. That dont make it right that Shea only got one. Thats a crime. We was ripped off. (we talked about this before in another thread- there are reasons, some touching on front office lack of desire)

Yancy Street Gang Oct 13 2006 07:02 PM

The Mets never wanted to host the game. Given that, it's hard to argue that they were robbed.

Zvon Oct 13 2006 07:13 PM

Yancy Street Gang wrote: The Mets never wanted to host the game. Given that, it's hard to argue that they were robbed. Its the fans who were robbed, if anyone. And I guess robbed is the wrong word. Got the shaft? I dunno. Its just not right thats the way things ended up. Thats all Im sayin.

Valadius Oct 13 2006 07:28 PM

Just checked the ASG locations. A whole bunch of teams got 2, even 3 All-Star Games after we got ours.

Yancy Street Gang Oct 13 2006 07:43 PM

It doesn't matter at all to me. The All-Star game is a farce anyway.

Gwreck Oct 14 2006 01:34 AM

Yancy Street Gang wrote: It doesn't matter at all to me. The All-Star game is a farce anyway. Maybe, but there are many that still enjoy it quite a bit. Also, I'd like to see the Mets lobbying for it on behalf of their season ticket holders.