Richie Ashburn’s one-of-a-kind day

Phillies center fielder Richie Ashburn has only one five-hit game during his Hall of Fame career and that game comes 69 years ago today during Philadelphia’s 9-3 victory over St. Louis in the second game of a doubleheader before a Sunday afternoon crowd of 18,367 at old Busch Stadium.

After going 0-for-2 with two walks during the Phillies’ 2-1 loss in the first game of the doubleheader, Ashburn collects three singles and two doubles to raise his season batting average to .323.

Ashburn picks up four of his hits in the first six innings off Cardinals starter Lindy McDaniel before finishing his day with a ninth-inning double off reliever Tom Poholsky.

Ashburn finishes the 1956 season batting .303 in 154 games – five points below his career average of .308 from 1948-62.