Atlantic City Press - April 16, 1980
Oberkfell’s Triple Chops Up Phillies
St. Louis 7, Philadelphia 2
ST LOUIS (AP) – Ken Oberkfell’s two-run triple capped a three-run uprising in the sixth inning that broke open a tight game Tuesday night and powered the St Louis Cardinals to a 7-2 triumph over the Philadelphia Phillies behind Pete Vuckovich’s five-hitter.
Garry Templeton doubled and singled in a 12-hit St Louis attack, and Keith Hernandez delivered two singles. Vuckovich, 2-0, protected a shutout until Manny Trillo and pitcher Randy Lerch doubled to start the Philadelphia sixth. Vuckovich aided his own cause in the eighth when he doubled in two runs.
Lerch, making his first start of the season, faced the minimum nine St Louis batters before Templeton’s double off the wall in left center to open the Cards fourth.
Templeton scored one out later on a single by Hernandez. An inning later, St Louis increased its lead to 2-0 on singles by Ken Reitz, Templeton, and Tony Scott.
Vuckovich struck out three and walked one, surrendering a second Phillies run when Larry Bowa and Trillo singled in the eighth and pinch hitter George Vukovich grounded out.
Reitz drove in a run with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly before Oberkfell tripled in the sixth.
Gold Glove Phillie Maddox Signs And Hauls in Silver
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Gold Glove outfielder Garry Maddox has signed a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, his agent Jerry Kapstein said Tuesday.
Kapstein, in a call from St. Louis where the Phillies met the Cardinals Tuesday night, confirmed an earlier Associated Press report that Maddox had signed.
A Phillies’ spokesman, Larry Shenk, had no comment on Maddox’ signing, but indicated an announcement could be forthcoming later Tuesday.
Kapstein would not comment on the figures of the contract, but it was believed to be about $700,000 a year. Originally, Maddox reportedly had asked for a five-year, $1 million per year contract. But it was believed he settled for a lesser figure over a longer period.
Maddox’ contract has been sent to the National League office in New York for approval, Kapstein said. Maddox has been negotiating with the Phillies since January 1979.
During the recent spring training, the player and the club announced that they had reached an impasse and that he would play out his option and become a free agent at the end of this season.
Paul Owens, Phillies’ personnel director, said at that time he might have to trade Maddox.
"I'm not going to lose him for nothing,” Owens said, referring to the amateur draft choice the Phillies would receive if they lost Maddox in the re-entry draft.
However, Maddox, who has settled in the Philadelphia area and has said he does not want to move, had Kapstein reopen negotiations in Florida with Phillies’ owner Ruly Carpenter.
At the time of the announced negotiating impasse, Maddox reportedly was asking for $1 million a year for five years. He denied that figure.
Maddox did say, however, that the Phillies told him he was worth what he was asking but that they weren't going to pay it.
Only last week, Owens said that he expected to get permission from Carpenter to make a serious effort to trade Maddox, indicating that they were still too far apart to reach an agreement.
Both sides obviously compromised their position to reach the agreement.
There are believed to be a number of incentive clauses involved in the contract, which apparently require league approval before the signing can be announced.
Maddox said Saturday that Carpenter had told him to forget the contract negotiations and to just concentrate on playing baseball.
In the first three games of the season, the outfielder hit .364 with one home run and three runs batted in. He played his usual impeccable center field.
Maddox, 30, was acquired by the Phillies by the San Francisco Giants for Willie Montanez May 4, 1975. He has a major league career batting average of .293 and has won five Gold Gloves for his fielding. Last season, he hit .281 with 13 homers and 61 RBI.