Site News - 2020

December 2020 Update:  Got a bit of Energy in December!  Managed to finish the World Series articles in the Philadelphia Daily News.  Now I’m just trying to wrap up the post-season articles to wrap up the PDN and get ready for the next step.

 

Happy Holidays!:  I’d like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.  May you and your family be enveloped in the peace, love and harmony of the season.  Maybe the Phils will give us all a nice Christmas present…

   

Still On the Lookout For:

  • Pictures from the 1980 season.  Looking for digital copies of pictures that can be posted on the site.
  • Articles from the Philadelphia Bulletin.  Richie Ashburn used to do a weekly article in that newspaper.  Online, scanned, clipped… most importantly free!

 

Future Updates:   Now that I’m just about done with the Philadelphia Daily News, I am planning on taking a small break from Philly area newspapers, to post on the World Series from the Kansas City perspective a bit.  After that, I’ll shift to the newspapers outside the city limits.  Top contenders are the Camden Courier Post, Wilmington Morning News, Wilmington News Journal or (Allentown) Morning Call.

November 2020 Update:  November was where the momentum was slowed greatly.  Only managed to get through the second game of the 1980 World Series in the articles from the Philadelphia Daily News.  A combination of work, family, and holidays proved too difficult!

 

Rudderless:  The Phillies fired general manager Matt Klentak, who proved unable to field a winning team after five years at the helm.  And, to this point… they have not replaced him.  That, along with the signals coming that the team will not be willing to spend the money necessary, seems likely to point toward J.T. Realmuto leaving for greener pastures.  That loss, as well as the dire cost to acquire the star catcher in the first place, will be a bitter pill to swallow for Phils fans.

   

Still On the Lookout For:

  • Pictures from the 1980 season.  Looking for digital copies of pictures that can be posted on the site.
  • Articles from the Philadelphia Bulletin.  Richie Ashburn used to do a weekly article in that newspaper.  Online, scanned, clipped… most importantly free!

 

Future Updates:   Even though it’s slowed way down, I am still working on finishing the Daily News.  With the approaching holidays, the hope that I will finish those before the end of the year seems to be dimming a bit.  I am planning on shifting gears for a few months to put in some articles from the Kansas City perspective on the World Series.  After that, I’ll head out to Camden to work on articles from the Courier-Post.

October 2020 Update:  And the train finally slowed down a little.  I managed to get half-way through the October editions of the Philadelphia Daily News – through Game 1 of the World Series.  Those postseason editions just have way too many articles!

 

Where Does The Time Go?  This month marks the 40th Anniversary of the 1980 World Series.  It’s hard to believe how fast time can travel.  I first started working on this site on AOL back in the 1990s, and it felt them like it was a long time ago.  Now?  I think it was Bruce Springsteen that sang, “In the wink of a young girl’s eye.”  Instead of a nine-year-old jumping excitedly as his team wins for the first time, I am now a middle-aged guy that remembers that day with a contented sigh.

  

Still On the Lookout For:

  • Pictures from the 1980 season.  Looking for digital copies of pictures that can be posted on the site.
  • Articles from the Philadelphia Bulletin.  Richie Ashburn used to do a weekly article in that newspaper.  Online, scanned, clipped… most importantly free!

 

Future Updates:   I am still working on the Daily News.  Of course, each day during the World Series had as many articles in each edition as there were in the entire week’s editions during the regular season, so it’s going much more slowly.  I am hoping to finish either in November or December.  I am planning on shifting gears for a few months to put in some articles from the Kansas City perspective on the World Series.  After that, I’ll head out to Camden to work on articles from the Courier-Post.

 

September 2020 Update:  Like the Energizer Bunny… still going.  Another month ticked off the 2020 Demolition Derby calendar, another month of the Philadelphia Daily News logged into the site library.

 

R-O-L-A-I-D-S: Unfortunately, the Phils just don’t seem to be able to get any relief.  This bullpen is not just bad… it’s historically bad.  Nevertheless, the Phils somehow manage to be haning in the NL East race with the Braves and the upstart Marlins.  The Phils hope that new acquisitions Brandon Workman, Heath Hembree and David Phelps can help solidify the one glaring weakness on the club.

 

Still On the Lookout For:

  • Pictures from the 1980 season.  Looking for digital copies of pictures that can be posted on the site.
  • Articles from the Philadelphia Bulletin.  Richie Ashburn used to do a weekly article in that newspaper.  Online, scanned, clipped… most importantly free!

 

Future Updates:   To this point I’ve been able to keep up the month-to-month pace.  I don’t know how much longer I can keep that up with the work schedule picking up in earnest, but I shall continue to do my best to add articles.  The Daily News articles are getting into the most interesting parts of the year, so my interest shall be piqued!

August 2020 Update:  I was able to keep up with the month-to-month pace, completing the July 1980 editions of the Philadelphia Daily News.  I also went through some of my media pages to verify that the videos and files still worked.

 

2020 Season!...?: There was a tenuous beginning to the 2020 major league baseball season.  And then… the Phils had to shut down because of a COVID scare following its initial series with the Marlins.  Though the Phils are scheduled to begin again in early August, doubts are beginning to creep in about the ability to complete a season without a bubble.  Even though the Phils did not play well, they were playing.  Hopefully they can get back to that, with safety of the players and employees of the teams obviously a priority.

  

Still On the Lookout For:

  • Pictures from the 1980 season.  Looking for digital copies of pictures that can be posted on the site.
  • Articles from the Philadelphia Bulletin.  Richie Ashburn used to do a weekly article in that newspaper.  Online, scanned, clipped… most importantly free!

 

Future Updates:   For now, to put in a phrase circa 1980, Keep on Truckin’! I have been able to keep pace with the articles, completing them in a month-to-month ratio.  That will become harder to do as school gets ready to begin again, especially with anticipated increase of responsibilities coming with dividing instruction between in-person and distance learning.  But I hope to keep on truckin’ with the articles to fill up the database.  I also hope to get some articles in from rival news sources (I have access to several Pittsburgh newspapers, as well as other rivals) put in once the Daily News is complete.   

July 2020 Update:  The Philadelphia Daily News is now completed through June of 1980.  One of the things that has piqued my interest through this is the difference in styles between the Inquirer and the Daily News.  The Inquirer, while there were the humorous commentaries by Bill Lyon, was more straight-ahead news, while the Daily News was colored by the brash humor of Bill Conlin.

 

2020 Season?: After shooting itself in the foot for the last several months in the public squabbling between owners and players, the MLB seems finally on track to begin a season as we enter this month.  A 60-game season could be to the Phils’ advantage, as they can perhaps better mask the lack of rotation depth with the shorter season.  Assuming, of course, that the progress of Covid allows the season to begin.

  

Still On the Lookout For:

  • Pictures from the 1980 season.  Looking for digital copies of pictures that can be posted on the site.
  • Articles from the Philadelphia Bulletin.  Richie Ashburn used to do a weekly article in that newspaper.  Online, scanned, clipped… most importantly free!

 

Future Updates:   I was able to complete two months’ worth of the Philadelphia Daily News in June.  That will slow down as work begins to force its way back into my consciousness!  Hopefully, I can maintain a month-to-month entry of the Daily News into the database.  As time allows, I still plan on throwing in some articles from a few Missouri newspapers from the 1980 World Series to get their point of view as well. 

June 2020 Update:  Got started with the articles from the Philadelphia Daily News this month.  Managed to complete all the articles through the end of Spring Training.  Interesting to see the doubt about whether there would even be a season.

 

Life Without Baseball?: It’s been a surreal experience to have spring – even Memorial Day – without baseball.  Or any other sports, for that matter!  And now, as the NHL and NBA seems to be preparing to get on with their playoffs, the MLB and the Player’s Association seem to be bent on playing some kind of game of financial chicken.  Hopefully they can get some sort of compromise worked out – I’m ready for some baseball!  Otherwise, they run the risk of doing some real damage to the game.

  

Still On the Lookout For:

  • Pictures from the 1980 season.  Looking for digital copies of pictures that can be posted on the site.
  • Articles from the Philadelphia Bulletin.  Richie Ashburn used to do a weekly article in that newspaper.  Online, scanned, clipped… most importantly free!

 

Future Updates:   Now that we’ve got the Daily News started, it’s time to continue on to the regular season.  Hopefully I can keep up the month-to-month (or maybe even better in the summer) ratio.  As time allows, I still plan on throwing in some articles from a few Missouri newspapers from the 1980 World Series to get their point of view as well. 

May 2020 Update:  The articles from the Philadelphia Inquirer are complete!  The story of the 1980 Phillies, from Spring Training through the Championship Parade, is now documents from the viewpoints of Jayson Stark, Frank Dolson, Bill Lyon, and the rest of the Philadelphia Inquirer staff.

 

Conoravirus: It’s kind of depressing to have reached May and not seen a single live baseball game.  I’ve done a little diving into the past to attempt to get my Phillies fix, but it’s just not the same.  While rumors of a June or July start are currently rampant, nothing official has been said by major league baseball, and I suppose we’ll just have to keep waiting.

  

Still On the Lookout For:

  • Pictures from the 1980 season.  Looking for digital copies of pictures that can be posted on the site.
  • Articles from the Philadelphia Bulletin.  Richie Ashburn used to do a weekly article in that newspaper.  Online, scanned, clipped… most importantly free!

 

Future Updates:   Now that the Inquirer articles are complete, it’s time to begin with another Philadelphia newspaper.  On with the Daily News!  I am also going to throw some articles from a few Missouri newspapers from the 1980 World Series to get their point of view as well.  

April 2020 Update:  I managed (barely!) to finish the articles on the World Series in the Philadelphia Inquirer.  There were a lot of articles every day, which was fascinating… and time consuming!   I am close to wrapping up the Inquirer!

 

Conoravirus: Each and every one of us is affected in some way by Covid-19.  And baseball is no different, with the beginning of the 2020 season delayed by the pandemic.  For one, I am thankful for the technology to be able to watch games from both of the Phils’ World Series runs.  My prayer for you all is to stay healthy, and that we all come out on the other side of this better humans.

  

Still On the Lookout For:

  • Pictures from the 1980 season.  Looking for digital copies of pictures that can be posted on the site.
  • Articles from the Philadelphia Bulletin.  Richie Ashburn used to do a weekly article in that newspaper.  Online, scanned, clipped… most importantly free!

 

Future Updates:   I should be able to complete the Philadelphia Inquirer this month, wrapping up the season’s worth of articles.  Then it will be back to spring training to repeat the process with the Philadelphia Daily News!  I may take a quick detour before that to throw in a look from the other side, as I have found some Missouri articles from the World Series.  They were so confident… heh heh heh!

March 2020 Update:  Though I did not finish the entire month of October, I am still steadily adding articles from the Philadelphia Inquirer.  Of course, in the playoffs the amount of articles per day was more than double what it had been during the regular season.  To this point, I have finished the articles from the Inquirer through the NLCS against Houston, as well as the World Series special dated October 14, 1980.  If I can keep up the pace, I should finish the World Series this month.

 

Boys of Spring: One of the surest signs that winter is winding down is the beginning of Spring Training in Clearwater.  Well, the team has arrived and is practicing under the warm Florida sun! Questions remain to be answered before the season starts… but at least there is baseball!

  

Still On the Lookout For:

  • Pictures from the 1980 season.  Looking for digital copies of pictures that can be posted on the site.
  • Articles from the Philadelphia Bulletin.  Richie Ashburn used to do a weekly article in that newspaper.  Online, scanned, clipped… most importantly free!

 

Future Updates:   If I can keep up my present pace, I should be able to complete the season in the Inquirer either in the coming month.  Once that is finished, I will begin the same process with the Philadelphia Daily News, beginning with spring training.

February 2020 Update:  The momentum continues… for now!  I have completed the Philadelphia Inquirer articles through September of 1980.  The pennant race tightens to the Phillies and Expos going into the final week of the season.  I must admit that it is a lot of fun strolling down memory lane.  It’s almost like I’m nine years old again!  In addition, I found and linked a YouTube video from September 28, 1980, which was an ABC national broadcast of the Phillies and Expos from Veterans Stadium.  Unfortunately a loss, it is still neat to see the Phils in what seemed to be such an important game with Keith Jackson and Don Drysdale announcing.

 

Getting Ready for Spring Training: I must admit to being a bit more wary this year than I was last year.  The Phils seemed to close the purse strings after the Zach Wheeler signing, and there seems to be some glaring holes in both the lineup and the pitching staff.  It will still be good to see some baseball coming in the next few months!

  

Still On the Lookout For:

  • Pictures from the 1980 season.  Looking for digital copies of pictures that can be posted on the site.
  • Articles from the Philadelphia Bulletin.  Richie Ashburn used to do a weekly article in that newspaper.  Online, scanned, clipped… most importantly free!

 

Future Updates:   If I can keep up my present pace, I should be able to complete the season in the Inquirer either in February or March.  Since the playoff newspapers have more articles, it may be difficult to keep up the current pace, but I shall try to persevere!

January 2020 Update:  I hope that everyone had a Happy Holiday season!  I was able to complete the August 1980 articles from the Philadelphia Inquirer before heading to visit family over the Christmas week.  I felt a bit of a knot in my stomach when doing the four-game debacle in Pittsburgh!  At that point, it must have felt like the 1980 season would collapse much as 1979 had.  However, this team proved to be much more resilient!

 

Raiding New York Free Agents: Former Met Zach Wheeler signed a five-year, $118 million contract with the Phillies in early December.  Wheeler was 11-8 with a 3.96 ERA with New York in 2019.  It is hoped that Wheeler will fully blossom into his full potential with the Phils’ rotation.  In addition, former Yankee infielder Didi Gregorius was signed to a one-year contract to shore up the Phils’ infield and lineup.  Gregosius came back from injury in 2019 to bat .238 with 16 home runs and 61 RBI in 82 games played.  Now… let’s get one more quality starting pitcher.

  

Still On the Lookout For:

  • Pictures from the 1980 season.  Looking for digital copies of pictures that can be posted on the site.
  • Articles from the Philadelphia Bulletin.  Richie Ashburn used to do a weekly article in that newspaper.  Online, scanned, clipped… most importantly free!

 

Future Updates:   January may be a tough month to keep up the current rate, as it is looking to be busy with both work and family.  But I will continue to do my best!