#43 Rick Wise #44 Rick Wise In Action

Good pitcher with extra positives.....effective starter, good hitter, and fielder.....But labeled the lesser in a trade with St Louis in a direct swap for Steve Carlton prior to 1972....Performed par or better work for the Cards but Steve turns in a historic season in 1972 and eventually is ushered on to the HOF...but again was engaged in contract negotiations and was the Phillie player representative....a perfect storm to be trade bait....Wise was raised in the Phillies system and was one of the few prospects to make a significant mark with the Big Club at the time.....wunderkind MLB debut at 18, his first win was in a finale of doubleheader coming on the heels of Jim Bunning’s perfect game in 1964.....around 1967 gradually tallied up innings and wins in alternating years, gaining ground as the Phillies staff ace....220 innings were turned into 15 wins in 1969....improved to 17-14 in 1971 over 272 innings....season’s zenith was a no hitter in which he hit two home runs vs Reds, only player to do that ....Wise repeated the twin home run effort on 8/27/71 also the only pitcher to do so....A feat that Ohtani has yet to achieve....1974 St. Louis flips Wise to Bosox....an injury shatters his first AL season but returns like a Phoenix in 1975 with a career high 19 wins....a major contributor to a capture of the AL East crown....Winner of game 3 in ALCS.....rocked in a game 3 loss but bounced back with a 12^th inning relief win in the historic game 6.....Wise stays in Beantown for two more years with solid years but rouge hose are eclipsed by the NY Yankees ...took flight to the second division Cleveland Indians in 1978....leads the league in losses but lowers his ERA from year prior.....bounces back for his last significant season in 1979, taking 15 favorable decisions for the Erie Warriors at age 33.....buoyed by sudden youth takes flight via free agency.....results were highly diminished managing 10 win and 16 losses over mostly two seasons...1982 only pitched in one game for 2 innings....kept getting a paycheck through 1984....Long time coach after playing....Started and won for the NL 1973 All star game....grand totals were 188 victories over 455 starts....sometimes wore glasses.