John Callison was born on this date in 1939 in Qualls, Oklahoma.
He signed his first professional contract with the Chicago White Sox in 1957 and made his MLB debut in 1958.
Callison was best known for his time with the Philadelphia Phillies, where he was a three-time All-Star (1962, 1964, 1965) and came in second in the MVP voting in 1964. He famously hit a walk-off home run in the 1964 All-Star Game and led the National League in triples in 1965. Callison was also known for his strong arm in the outfield, racking up assists and putting fear into baserunners.
After retiring in 1973, he worked as a car salesman and bartender. For many years he attended Phillies’ fantasy camps in Florida to the delight of both the fans in attendance and his former teammates.
Happy birthday to John Callison!
|