One of the National League's best pitchers during the 1950s- 1960s, Curt Simmons collected 193 wins and posted a career ERA of 3.54 in 569 games despite losing parts of two seasons in the Army Reserves. One of the baseball's first bonus babies, the left-handed Simmons created sensational headline news when at age 21 in 1950 for the Philadelphia Phillies he helped lead them to their first pennant in 35 years by going 17-8, 3.40 ERA. However, with only a few weeks left in the season he was called into the Army Reserves and missed the World Series.

Returning to the Phillies after serving in the reserves - In '52, the hard-throwing curve ball specialist went 14-8, 2.82 ERA... in '53 he was 16-13, 3.21 ERA... in '54, he was 14-15, 281 ERA... suffered arm problems in '55 but bounced back with 15-10, 3.36 ERA in '56. In May of 1960, plagued by a sore arm, the three-time All-Star, was unconditionally released by the Phillies. He then signed with the St. Louis Cardinals and by 1963 was one of the team's mainstays. In '63, Simmons posted a 15-9, 2.48 ERA and helped the Cardinals win the NL pennant in '64 with a 18-9, 3.43 ERA. In a career spanning 21 years, Curt Simmons was 193-183, ERA of 3.54, Started 461 Games, 163 GC, only 3313 hits in 3348.3 innings, 1697 strikeouts, 1063 walks, an .259 op/bat/average. baseballhistorian.com