This Saturday, May 31st, is the annual Egypt Park Festival and Curt Simmons Day. Though the last of the early 1950s Philadelphia Phillies' “Whiz Kids” died at the age of 93 in 2022, the tiny town of Egypt, Pennsylvania continues its annual celebration of its biggest celebrity and the little ballpark that launched his All-Star career. On June 2nd, 1947, the Philadelphia Phillies came to Egypt to play an unusual mid-season exhibition game against a pick-up team of high school all-stars. The Phillies’ owner hoped to beat all his major league competition to sign up an18-year-old left-handed phenom named Curt Simmons. By the ninth inning, Simmons had pitched his team to a two-run lead when a Philly batter hit into center field. Two teenaged outfielders collided, and the Phils scored two runs to tie the game 4-4, which was then called on account of darkness on the unlit field. By mid-summer, Simmons was a Phillies starter. In 1950, the formerly cellar-dwelling Phillies won the National League pennant thanks to the “Whiz Kids:” Simmons, Robin Roberts, Richie Ashburn, and Del Ennis, who were all under 25. Simmons missed the 1950 World Series, where the Phillies lost to the New York Yankees, and the whole next season because of his military service. Returning in 1952, he was a three-time All Star and won 115 games and lost 110 over nine seasons. Simmons ranks fifth in wins of all Phillies pitchers. Simmons joined the St. Louis Cardinals in 1960 and won 18 games at the age of 35. He pitched in two games in the 1964 World Series. In his 20-year career, Simmons won 193 games and lost 183. Batters as powerful as Hank Aaron and Stan Musial described him as the hardest pitcher they ever faced. Simmons returned to Egypt every year for Curt Simmons Day. Tomorrow the whole town will be there. #WayBackWednesday #History #Lefties (fb)

This 14,000 ton hydraulic forging press was located in the Armor Forge at Bethlehem Steel (building no. 23 on the map in the second picture). It was used in forging armor plate, large cranks, shafts, field rings, turbine rims, and more. It was scrapped in 1954. #WayBackWednesday #BethlehemSteel #History (fb)