Phillies wish happy trails to longtime catcher Duke Sims
Apr 28, 2018 10:31:57 GMT -5
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Post by tadontask on Apr 28, 2018 10:31:57 GMT -5
The end to the Phillies season also marked the end of Duke Sims' career in Philadelphia. His contract has expired, and with Brian Downing having taken over the starting catcher duties over the past couple of seasons, and young Bruce Bochy ready to step in, Philly is not planning to bring back Sims.
He was the 14th overall pick in the 1959 draft, and after five seasons in the minors, made his Major League debut in 1964, knocking a double off Sandy Koufax for his first major league hit. 16 years later, his last hit as a Philly would come off another notable pitcher, Tom Seaver. In between he made four All-Star teams (1969, 1970, 1972 and 1973), and finished his Philadelphia career with 2,188 hits, 274 homeruns and 1,169 RBIs.
Once his bat started becoming All-Star caliber in the early 70s, pitchers worked him more carefully, and he developed a tremendous eye at the plate. Starting in 1971, he walked more than he struck out in every single season until 1980. In 1967, he struck out 172 times. Just a few years later, in the same number of at-bats, he would strike out only 22 times. His peak seasons were 1972 and 1973. In 1972 he found himself finishing second in the league in homeruns and fourth in RBIs. A year later, he would have top ten finishes in average, on-base percentage, slugging, OPS, hits and RBIs.
His one regret was that the Phillies rarely experienced success as a team. His only career postseason experience came in 1978, when he went hitless in eight at-bats, though he did knock in a run. He can still reach the postseason with another team as a free agent.
Duke Sims
Note: In ridding the team of all things Duke, the Phillies also won't be re-signing relief pitcher Tom Dukes. Dukes helped the Phillies make the 1978 playoffs with his 35 saves during the regular season, and then made sure their playoff run was short by "contributing" an ERA of 81.00 in the first round.
He was the 14th overall pick in the 1959 draft, and after five seasons in the minors, made his Major League debut in 1964, knocking a double off Sandy Koufax for his first major league hit. 16 years later, his last hit as a Philly would come off another notable pitcher, Tom Seaver. In between he made four All-Star teams (1969, 1970, 1972 and 1973), and finished his Philadelphia career with 2,188 hits, 274 homeruns and 1,169 RBIs.
Once his bat started becoming All-Star caliber in the early 70s, pitchers worked him more carefully, and he developed a tremendous eye at the plate. Starting in 1971, he walked more than he struck out in every single season until 1980. In 1967, he struck out 172 times. Just a few years later, in the same number of at-bats, he would strike out only 22 times. His peak seasons were 1972 and 1973. In 1972 he found himself finishing second in the league in homeruns and fourth in RBIs. A year later, he would have top ten finishes in average, on-base percentage, slugging, OPS, hits and RBIs.
His one regret was that the Phillies rarely experienced success as a team. His only career postseason experience came in 1978, when he went hitless in eight at-bats, though he did knock in a run. He can still reach the postseason with another team as a free agent.
Duke Sims
Note: In ridding the team of all things Duke, the Phillies also won't be re-signing relief pitcher Tom Dukes. Dukes helped the Phillies make the 1978 playoffs with his 35 saves during the regular season, and then made sure their playoff run was short by "contributing" an ERA of 81.00 in the first round.
