Richie Ashburn
| Birthdate | 3/19/1927 |
| Death Date | 9/9/1997 |
| Debut Year | 1948 |
| Year of Induction | 1995 |
| Teams | Cubs, Mets, Phillies |
| Positions | Announcer, Center Field |
Phillies leadoff man Richie Ashburn was a two-time batting champion and six-time All Star who finished with 2,574 hits and a .308 lifetime average.
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Richie Ashburn played 12 seasons for the Phillies then announced for them for 34 more years
Richie Ashburn played 12 seasons for the Phillies then announced for them for 34 more years
Richie Ashburn was a Phillie through and through. Signed by the team as an 18-year old in 1945, Ashburn made the big leagues three years later.
His stellar rookie year included an all-star appearance and a league-leading 32 stolen bases. Ashburn spent a dozen years playing for Philadelphia, hitting .311 with a .396 on-base percentage and averaging 191 base hits per season.
After his playing career ended, Ashburn made his way to the broadcast booth, calling Phillie games from 1963 until he died in 1997.
In the collection is a handwritten letter from Ashburn trying to sell group tickets. Take notice of the Veterans Stadium letterhead.
Richie Ashburn was one of the best players in Major League Baseball during the 1950s
Richie Ashburn was one of the best players in Major League Baseball during the 1950s
Shown here is a 1951 Bowman baseball card autographed by Richie Ashburn. Though that season was a major disappointment for the Phils, it was no fault of Ashburn’s.
An all star for the second time, Ashburn led led the National League with a career-high 221 hits while his .344 average was second only to Stan Musial in the National League.
Ashburn enjoyed a decade of outstanding production in the 1950s, hitting .313 with a .399 on-base percentage. His 1,875 base hits topped the majors.
Leadoff man Ashburn was a two-time batting champ with a .396 career on-base perentage
Leadoff man Ashburn was a two-time batting champ with a .396 career on-base perentage
As the leadoff man for the ’57 Phillies, Ashburn led the National League in games, at bats, and walks. The center fielder is shown here squaring to bunt in his autographed Topps card from that season.
The following year, Ashburn was the league’s batting champion when he career-high .350. He also led the league in on-base percentage, hits, triples, and walks.
From there his career began to decline. From 1959-1962, Ashburn played for the Phillies, Cubs and Mets, hitting .281 – twenty-seven points below his lifetime average.
Despite two batting championships, 2,574 hits, and a .308 batting average, Ashburn had to wait until 33 years after his retirement to gain induction to the Hall of Fame.
Richie Ashburn was the second member of the Phillies Hall of Fame
Richie Ashburn was the second member of the Phillies Hall of Fame
A sparkling 12-year stay in Philadelphia earned Richie Ashburn induction into the team’s Hall of Fame. The honor came in 1979, the second year of the Hall’s existence.
The only player selected before Ashburn was the centerfielder’s teammate, Robin Roberts. The pair suited up for the Phils from 1948-1959.
Roberts remains the franchise leader in pitcher’s WAR, appearances, innings, and complete games. He ranks 2nd in wins, and strikeouts and third in shutouts.
The letter above is signed by both Roberts and Commissioner Happy Chandler. In the correspondence dated three days after the 1950 Mid Summer Classic, the commissioner congratulates the 23-year old Roberts on the first All Star selection of his career.
fastest man in baseball & the best centerfielder in the majors during the 1950’s . not a homerun hitter but had more base hits than anyone (thats right ) anyone in the 1950’s
i feel anyone who collects over 2500 lifetime hits and has a lifetime batting average of .300 or better deserves to be in the hall of fame ! Richie Ashburn,according to his stats was also a good defender and a stolen base ,leadoff type player ! most hits in the 1950’s as a player! so for an additional requirement of a 10 year period of dominance ,i see no reason not to include him in the hall of fame ! though as you can see the hall must get larger if all those previously ignored but deserving to be in get in !so if it where me i would grade players on levels ,each level would be a floor or section of the hall of fame ! but hitters must have 3 qualifying , batting average over .300,homers over 400,rbi over 1500, mvp’s,allstar games, triple crowns ,stolen bases,hits, defense!must obtain any three to be qualified !i would also admit Pete Rose, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens,Richie Ashburn,to just name a few !steroids to me was like other drugs in the time before steroids were developed !alcohol drinking was big in the days of old and still today !but they all used them to perform !this is my mindset !
Rose, Bonds, Clemens have been left out for a different reason. Comparing apples and oranges.
Ashburn went out with a bang, hitting .306 for the hapless Mets in 1962. That stood as the club record until the miracle year of 1969.