The Phil Marchildon story is one of Triumph, both on and off the playing fields of rural Ontario,Toronto and Philadelphia. Born on October 25, 1913, the fourth of seven children in the tiny Georgian Bay community of Penetanguishene, Marchildon's march to the Major leagues was an unlikely one.

He didn't begin to play organized ball until he was in high school and bounced around semi-pro leagues in Ontario for a number of years before latching on with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1940, where the sidearm delivering righty won 10 games in 1941 and 17 in 1942.

Somehow, the 5 foot 11, 170 pound Marchildon managed to throw the ball in his highly unorthodox style up to 95 mph. Marchildon developed his fastball and nasty curve with endless hours of practice behind the Penetang barber shop.

In 1942, Marchildon's career was cut short when he joined the RAF as a tail gunner and was shot down over the English Channel. He was later captured by the Germans. "I ended up in Stalag 13, you know, the one they made the film 'The Great Escape' about" said Marchildon, after being inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983. Arriving back in Canada in 1945, Marchildon's future in the majors appeared to be bleak, having lost a lot of weight and strength from his time as a POW.

"I spent the winter trying to strengthen my legs by skiing" said Marchildon, who rejoined Philadelphia for the 1946 season, becoming strong enough to win 13 games and pitch 226 innings. The following season he won 19 and lost only 9. It was his best season. His lifetime record for the A's is 68-75, with a 3.93 earned run average.