Pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies
Age: 28 (May 18)
Bats – Right,
Throws – Right
Height: 6’0” Weight: 190
Prior to 1957:
A Massachusetts
native, Sanford pitched for Wellesley High School, hurling a no-hitter in his
last game. Signed by the Phillies in 1947, he played for two Class D teams in
1948 and posted a combined record of 3-15 with 134 walks. Sanford spent another
year in Class D in 1949 with Americus of the Georgia-Florida League. His record
improved to 15-9 with a 4.39 ERA and 143 strikeouts and 135 walks over the
course of 207 innings pitched. Moving up to Wilmington of the Class B
Interstate League in 1950, he went 12-4 with a 3.71 ERA. It was on to
Schenectady of the Class A Eastern League in 1951 where Sanford posted a 15-11
mark and a 3.58 ERA while walking 125 batters in 211 innings as he continued to
struggle with his control. He also struggled with his temper and would lose his
focus if an umpire’s call went against him. Back with Schenectady in 1952
Sanford’s record improved to 16-8 with a 2.94 ERA and only 91 walks over 205
innings. Promoted to Baltimore of the Class AAA International League in 1953 he
produced a 14-13 tally with a 3.96 ERA and 128 strikeouts with 110 walks in 200
innings. He stayed in the International League at Syracuse in 1954 and went
8-14 with a 3.86 ERA, 100 strikeouts, and 84 walks over 154 innings. He was
suspended for insubordination at one point for refusing to come out of a game
as his temper continued to be an issue. After the season he entered the Army
and played service baseball. He also injured his right hand in a fight which
led to chronic numbness. Having missed the 1956 season due to his military
service, Sanford was given a shot with the Phillies in September and won his
lone start. Impressing pitching coach Whit Wyatt with his improved fastball. Wyatt’s
coaching also improved his curve as Sanford became part of the rotation in
1957.
1957 Season Summary
Appeared in 33
games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]
Pitching
Games – 33
Games Started –
33 [4, tied with Lew Burdette & Moe Drabowsky]
Complete Games
– 15 [4]
Wins – 19 [2]
Losses – 8
PCT - .704 [2]
Saves – 0
Shutouts – 3
[5, tied with four others]
Innings Pitched
– 236.2 [8]
Hits – 194 [19,
tied with Bob Purkey]
Runs – 94 [13,
tied with Warren Spahn]
Earned Runs – 81
[14, tied with Warren Spahn, Curt Simmons & Larry Jackson]
Home Runs – 22
[12, tied with Moe Drabowsky & Dick Drott]
Bases on Balls
– 94 [3, tied with Moe Drabowsky]
Strikeouts – 188
[1]
ERA – 3.08 [6]
Hit Batters – 3
Balks – 1 [2,
tied with twelve others]
Wild Pitches – 12
[1]
League-leading strikeouts
were +18 ahead of runners-up Dick Drott & Moe Drabowsky]
League-leading wild
pitches were +3 ahead of nine runner-up Lindy McDaniel
Midseason
Snapshot: 10-2, ERA - 3.20, SO – 96 in 104 IP
Most
strikeouts, game – 13 (in 9 IP) vs. Chi. Cubs 6/7
10+ strikeout
games – 4
Fewest hits
allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 2 (in 9 IP) vs. Brooklyn 6/1, (in 7 IP) vs. NY
Giants 4/28
Batting
PA – 93, AB – 89,
R – 3, H – 15, 2B – 4, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 6, BB – 0, SO – 30, SB – 0, CS – 0,
AVG - .169, GDP – 2, HBP – 0, SH – 4, SF – 0
Fielding
Chances – 47
Put Outs – 15
Assists – 30
Errors – 2
DP – 2
Pct. - .957
Awards & Honors:
NL Rookie of
the Year: BBWAA
All-Star
10th
in NL MVP voting (39 points, 12% share)
NL ROY Voting
(Top 5):
Jack Sanford,
Phila.: 16 of 24 votes, 67% share
Ed Bouchee,
Phila.: 4 votes, 17% share
Dick Drott,
ChiC.: 3 votes, 13% share
Bob Hazle, Mil.:
1 vote – 7% share
---
Phillies went 77-77
to finish fifth in the NL, 18 games behind the
pennant-winning Milwaukee Braves. The pitching staff led the league in fewest
bases on balls surrendered (412). Fueled by the addition of new talent that included
Sanford and hard-throwing reliever Dick Farrell, the Phillies had a strong
first half before settling back into the middle of the pack.
Aftermath of ‘57:
The Phillies
dropped into the NL cellar in 1958 and Sanford’s record fell to 10-13 with a
4.44 ERA and 106 strikeouts. In the offseason he was traded to the San
Francisco Giants for RHP Ruben Gomez and catcher Valmy Thomas. Sanford’s tally
improved to 15-12 in 1959 with a 3.16 ERA and 132 strikeouts. He declined in
1960 to 12-14 and a 3.82 ERA with 125 strikeouts. His 1961 mark was 13-9 and a
4.22 ERA with 112 strikeouts. Known for his grim demeanor on the mound, he added
a slider to his repertoire and put together his finest season in 1962,
producing a 24-7 record with a 3.43 ERA and 147 strikeouts for the
pennant-winning Giants. Along the way he posted a 16-game winning streak.
Sanford was also 1-2 with a 1.93 ERA and 19 strikeouts over 23.1 innings in the
seven-game World Series loss to the Yankees. He also placed second in major
league Cy Young Award voting. In 1963 Sanford pitched a career-high 284.1
innings and went 16-13 with a 3.51 ERA and 158 strikeouts. During the 1964
season numbness in his right arm required surgery and his record was just 5-7
with a 3.30 ERA. Sanford began the 1965 season in the starting rotation but was
4-5 with a 3.96 ERA when sold to the Angels in August. He finished the year as
a starter/reliever. Primarily used as a middle reliever in 1966 Sanford
accumulated 108 innings over 50 games and posted a 13-7 record with a 3.83 ERA.
He split 1967 between the Angels and Kansas City A’s in what was his final
season which was completed with a 4-4 tally and 5.12 ERA. Overall for his major
league career, Sanford went 137-101 with a 3.69 ERA, 76 complete games, 14
shutouts, and 1182 strikeouts over 2049.1 innings pitched. With the Phillies he
was 30-21 with a 3.61 ERA and 300 strikeouts in 436 innings. A one-time
All-Star, he received MVP votes after three seasons. He went on to become
pitching coach of the Cleveland Indians for two years and later managed a golf
course in Florida. Sanford died in 2000 at age 70.
--
Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were recipients of
the Rookie of the Year Award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America
(1947 to present). The award was presented to a single major league winner from
its inception through 1948 and from 1949 on to one recipient from each major
league.
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