Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA — Johnny Callison, the strong-armed outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies who won the 1964 All-Star game with a ninth-inning homer, died at 67. (Official Phillies press release)
He died Thursday at Abington Hospital following an illness, Phillies spokesman Larry Shenk said Friday. He lived in Glenside, a Philadelphia suburb.
Callison was born in Oklahoma and went on to become a three-time All-Star during his 16-year career. A left-handed hitter with a smooth swing, Callison started with the Chicago White Sox in 1958 and established himself as one of the top players in the National League after being traded to Philadelphia two years later.
“He can run, throw, field and hit with power,� the late Gene Mauch, who managed Callison on the Phillies, once said. “There’s nothing he can’t do well on the ball field.�
Callison was a fan favorite during his 10 seasons with the Phillies and finished second in MVP voting behind St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Ken Boyer in 1964. Callison also played two seasons with the Chicago Cubs and two more with the New York Yankees before retiring following the 1973 season.
Callison had a rocket of an arm in right field, and runners tested him at their peril. He led the National League in assists four straight years.
He was the MVP of the 1964 All-Star game in New York, hitting a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning off hard-throwing Red Sox reliever Dick Radatz to give the National League a 7-4 win at Shea Stadium.
Later that year, Callison was part of the Phillies team that infamously wasted a 6½-game lead with 12 games left in the season by losing 10 straight. During the seventh loss in that streak, Callison played despite a bad case of flu and hit three homers against Milwaukee. Callison played in every game that season.
Callison hit .264 with 226 homers for his career. He batted .274 with 31 homers and 104 RBIs in 1964 and hit .262 with 31 homers and 102 RBIs the following year. Callison made the NL All-Star team in 1962, 1964 and 1965.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
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