The 1980 edition of the Phillies may not have been the best team, talent-wise, in Phillies history. Both the 1976 and 1977 Phils won more games. The Phillies also won pennants in 1915, 1950, 1983, and 1993. In fact, it took a near miracle (and a six-game winning streak at the end of the year) for the Phillies to even win the division crown over the powerhouse Expos in 1980. Then the Phillies looked at baseball's version of the Grim Reaper against Houston, coming back in the 8th inning of games 4 and 5, winning both in extra innings to go to the World Series. And against the Royals, the Phillies just would not be denied, winning the FIRST World Championship in Phillies history in six games. Yes, other Phillies teams may have had more talent. Other Phillies teams may have won more games. But the 1980 Phillies won, with grit and determination, what no other Phillies team could achieve until 2008: The right to call themselves WORLD CHAMPIONS.

January 2025 Update:  Happy New Year!  As expected during the holidays, worked slowed a bit on the site as I enjoyed family, faith, friends and food for a few weeks. However, I was able to complete the 1980 articles from the Press of Atlantic City and select the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal as the next newspaper to enter into the site database.  I also continued some formatting cleanup on the site.

Lukewarm Stove League:  The Phillies were largely an observer during the free agent signing period after the season.  The big names went to the Yankees, Mets and especially the Dodgers, while the Phillies did some minor fine-tuning to the roster, much to the chagrin of the fans.  There were, however, a few additions to the team that should have major league roster implications:

Jordan Romano:  The Phillies are gambling that Romano can regain his all-star form of 2022-2023, when he was one of the top closers in the American League for the Toronto Blue Jays.  Last year, injuries and ineffectiveness combined to saddle Romano with eight saves and a 6.59 ERA over just 13⅔ innings. 

Max Kepler:    The long-time Minnesota Twin was signed by the Phils, with the apparent intent of him starting in left field next year. Basically, he’s replacing Austin Hays. Kepler has some up and down power and a pretty good glove. 

Joe Ross:  A middling swing pitcher who can start or be a long reliever, and did decently in that role in Milwaukee.  However, last year was also the first he had pitched in the majors since 2021 due to an elbow injury requiring Tommy John surgery.

Jesus Luzardo: Acquired in a trade with Miami along with minor league catcher Paul McIntosh for minor league prospects Emaarion Boyd and Starlyn Caba, the Phils are hoping that Luzardo can be penciled into the rotation in 2025.  Luzardo had shown promise in Miami before suffering a back injury last year that sidelined him for much of the season.  Some say that Luzardo could be a number 3 or 4 in the rotation for the Phils, and that there are enough arms to give him the rest he needs to remain effective.

Still On the Lookout For:

• Digital pictures from the 1980 season.  I’ve been putting in a lot of clips from the newspaper I get the articles from, but the quality is often less than optimal.
• Articles from the Philadelphia Bulletin.  Richie Ashburn used to do a weekly article in that newspaper, but to this point I cannot find it online.  Online, scanned, clipped… most importantly free!

Future Updates:  I have (barely) begun to enter articles from the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal, and will continue that process.  I will also continue to fix the formatting errors in the articles as time allows.  Then I will choose the next newspaper to include in the site library.  Future possibilities for article include the Asbury Park (NJ) Press, the Lancaster (PA) New Era, and the Lebanon (PA) Daily News.  Condensing of article pages will also continue to allow for further growth of the site library within the limits my Jimdo account.