Phil Collins

Philip Eugene Collins
(Fidgety Phil)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 175 lb.
• High School Bowen High School
• Debut October 7, 1923
• Final Game September 23, 1935
• Born August 27, 1901 in Chicago, IL USA
• Died August 14, 1948 in Chicago, IL USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Right-hander Phil Collins pitched for the Rockford Rox of the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League in 1923, going 17-8 while pitching 211 innings. On October 7, he was invited to Wrigley Field by the Chicago Cubs, pitched five innings and won his first game in the major leagues. Phil would not be back in the majors until 1929, going 30-25 in the next two years in the Three-I League. He was out of baseball altogether in 1926 due to arm problems but came back in 1927 with the Terre Haute Tots and finished 8-9 with a 4.71 ERA. Collins spent 1928 with the New Orleans Pelicans of the Southern Association, going 16-14 with a 3.44 ERA while pitching 243 innings. Phil could feel the big leagues coming in the air tonight, finishing his minor league career with a 71-56 record and 2.90 ERA in 1,077 innings.

Against all odds, on October 3, 1928, the Philadelphia Phillies took a look at him now, selecting him from the Pelicans in the 1928 Rule V Draft. He spent the next seven seasons with the fabulous Baker Bowl Boys. "Fidgety Phil" pitched well his first two seasons, going 9-7 in 1929 and then 16-11 with a 4.78 ERA in "The Year of the Pitcher", 1930. In 1932, he was 14-12, leading the NL in saves the following year with 6 en route to an 8-13, 4.11 record in 42 games. Collins was 13-18 in 1934 Phillies with a 4.18 ERA. He was 0-2 for the Phils on May 7, 1935 when he was sold to the St. Louis Cardinals for an undisclosed amount. He closed the year at 7-6 for the Cardinals, taking his career home with an 80-85 record and a 4.66 ERA in 1,324 innings.

Phil returned to his native Illinois where he died of cancer on August 14, 1948 in Chicago at the age of 46.

Notable Achievements

• 1933 - NL - Led League In Saves (6)