Clay Dalrymple
Catcher
1960-1968
Career w/Phillies: .233 AVG / 50 HR / 312 RBI / 3 SB
The catcher for the 1964 Phillies, Dalrymple led the National League in sacrifice flies that season. Really, though, Dalrymple was an ace defensive player. He led National League catchers in assists three times, threw out 49 percent of baserunners for his career and set a league-record 99-game errorless streak between 1966 and ’67. After nine seasons as the Phils’ primary pitching handler, Dalrymple helped the Orioles become a stout pitching team from 1969 to ’71. A simple player with astute defensive skills, he sort of reminds one of a current Phillie backstop.
Comment: Highly underrated in Phils’ history, Dalrymple was one of the main reasons that ’64 team was so good — he handled that pitching staff to a 3.36 ERA. Sure he wasn’t a big-time offensive player, but catchers have to be position players first, and he certainly was a good one.
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