Allentown Morning Call - October 15, 1980
Phillie survive battle of bats 7-6
Game 2 at 8:15 tonight on Channels 3, 4, 17 and 28
Some hot bats warmed a cool night for 65.791 Veterans Stadium faithful... a three-run home run by, Bake McBride and two run-producing doubles by Bob Boone offset two Royals' homers by Willie Mays Aikens and one by Amos Otis.
It was the Phils' first World Series victory since Oct. 8r 1915.
It'll be the Phils' Steve Carlton (24-9 during the regular season) against Larry Gura (18-10) in Game 2 tonight.
Boone, McBride keys to 7-6 win
McGraw saves another
By Gordon Smith, Associate Sports Editor
It dips and it dives
It darts and it slides
It roars and it soars
It slams heavy doors
It belongs to a man
who acts like a fan
They call him McGraw
But he's really much more
To a man they agree
He's as big as Ali
Yet it's a screwball he uses
To administer the bruises
A dozen years, sports medicine people say, should erode an elbow and wrist of a man contorting an arm like a corkscrew at the high speeds it takes to throw pitches major league baseball players cannot hit. But don't try to convince Tug McGraw with that theory.
'Little League Elbow" and bursitis and tendonitis are words missing in this frolicsome Irishman's dictionary. Rest is for the wicked; tiredness is a state of mind.
"I don’t want to hear anymore of that Howard Cosell stuff." McGraw barked after extinguishing the Kansas City Royals bats last night and saving a 7-6 World Series opening victory for the Philadelphia Phillies.
"I wanted to prove him wrong tonight, said wis amazingly durable relief pitcher. "He said we went to the well once too often using me in the playoffs every game. Howard doesn't know enough baseball to talk about it."
With this gnawing at his mind, McGraw came flying emotionally out of the bullpen to face six batters and record six outs.
Because of his sixth remarkable performance in as many postseason games, the Phillies 1-up, and the oddsmakers have reversed their field and thrown out the pre-Series line that installed Kansas City as the 6-to-5 favorite.
"That’s one in the bank!" shouted Larrv Bowa in an unusually comfortable and excited Phillies dressing room. “And we ve got ‘Lefty’ (Steve Carlton) going tomorrow (tonight)."
McGraw's suffocating performance was but one of many thrilling parts of the first World Series victory since 1915 for the Phillies. It will be justifiably recorded as the key performance, because it provided such stark finality.
But before he was called upon to bail out rookie starter Bob Walk in the eighth inning, there had been more than enough thrills to satisfy the deliciously delirious partisan crowd of 65,791, largest baseball crowd in Pennsylvania history.
There was KC's Willie Mays Aikens celebrating his birthday with a two-run home run in the third, then hitting another two-run four-bagger in the eighth. Unfortunately, tor the Royals, that second circuit clout by Aikens ushered Walk to the showers and brought on McGraw.
Bake McBride had crashed a three-run home run in the five-run third, which the Phils had entered down 4-0.
Leftfielder Lonnie Smith had unleashed a throw that nailed KC's Darrell Porter at the plate in the third, ending what loomed as a much bigger outburst than KC recorded.
There was Pete Rose being hit hv a pitch and going out of his way to scream something at KC starting pitcher Dennis Leonard on his way to first base. It excited the crowd, and, as Phillies manager Dallas Green would say later, "That incident provided the emotional lift we needed."
There was Garry Maddox making a well-timed Swan Lake of a leap to rob George Brett of an extra-base hit in the fifth inning. And, there was Bob Boone igniting the five-run third with a run-scoring double, then doubling Manny Trillo home for the sixth run in the fourth.
And, innocent as it seemed at the time, there was Mike Schmidt scoring the seventh run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Maddox.
It was a baseball game that had all the same exciting ingredients as the National League playoff games which left countless thousands mentally drained last week.
The Rose-Leonard incident was one of the most talked about. Leonard implied that he thought Rose ran into the pitch on purpose. Actually, Rose stood motionless and let it hit his lead leg.
"Dennis should know better than that," Rose said. "That's illegal. I never do anything illegal." He didn't say anything about shading the rules, though.
Green really shook up his batting order for this Series opener. He batted Smith first (using Greg Luzinski as the designated hitter in the fifth spot), behind McBride, who was surprised to be batting fourth. It left Maddox, Trillo, Bowa and Boone in the sixth through ninth spots.
"It was a good lineup," Rose said. "There's no doubt about it. When guys like Bowa and Boonie get on, it just creates so much pressure on the other team. We're extra strong with the DH, and when our seven, eight and nine men are what we had tonight, we are that much tougher. I think we proved we don't have to rely on Mike (Schmidt) and Greg (Luzinski) to win ballgames."
It was Boone who, as well as igniting the five-run third, kept it alive with some fortuitous base-running.
He was on second base when Smith singled to left. The throw came to third-baseman Brett in short left as Boone pulled up at third.
Brett gave a quick glance at Boone, then ran toward Smith, trapped in no-man's land between bases. Before throwing, he gave another glance at Boone. As soon as Brett threw to Frank White at second, Boone was off toward the plate.
Smith was finally put-out after by first-baseman Aikens to end the rundown, but Boone was safely across the plate.
"I was in great position," Boone said of the critical play. I knew U.L. Washington (shortstop) wasn't with me at third covering… At least I didn't think he was. I had a lot of room to play with. If Brett looks back, I can go back. If he commits himself to throw to White, I can go in."
The Royals' took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a walk to Darrell Porter and Amos Otis' home run.
The two third-inning runs, boosting the lead to 4-0, came on a one-out single by Hal McRae and a two-out Aikens homer.
The Phillies' five-run third came on a Bowa single; Boone's run-scoring double; Smith's single that resulted in Boone scoring on that strange play; Rose being hip by a pitch; Schmidt walking, and McBride's cannon shot over the right-field fence.
Trillo scored the sixth run in the fourth. He singled, went to second on a wild pickoff attempt by Leonard, and was chased home by Boone's second double.
Schmidt scored the seventh run after being walked; taking second on a McBride single; going to third when Luzinski was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and scoring on the sacrifice fly by Maddox.
DH rule adds fuel to fire for 2nd-guessers
By John Kunda, Executive Sports Editor
PHILADELPHIA – Dallas Green and three of the Phillies' scouts who trailed the Royals for the better part of September were among the early arrivals at Veterans Stadium yesterday afternoon.
They were like railbirds at Keystone. Scratch this name, add this one. They did it over and over again, toying with all kinds of lineup possibilities.
Let's see, Lonnie Smith would fit nicely; how about Del Unser? How about Greg Gross? Or Greg Luzinski? At least Luzinski wouldn't get hit by a flyball out in leftfield.
The possibilities were many, just as they are for the Keystone railbirds handicapping the first part of the daily double.
So, you think DH stands for Designated Hitter? How about DH for Damn Headache?
It's no luxury, it's a liability. Green's in a much too familiar situation – he's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.
The DH, for the talent-heavy Phillies, anyway, just adds fuel to the fire for the second-guessers.
Green, who is against the DH in the first place, picked the most logical man for the chores... Greg Luzinski.
There are some who say Luzinski may be doing some designated hitting next year in the American League. Isn't the Bull's name mentioned the most when trade talks pop up?
Anyway, Luzinski was in there swinging last night. Before the game, he didn't seem all that concerned about his new role.
"The big thing," he said as he waited his turn in the batting cage, "is to stay in the game mentally... be aware of what's happening."
Just how did he plan to do that?
"I'll probably go upstairs (meaning the lockerroom)," he said. "I can stay loose in there."
There's more of a problem than appears on the surface. I remember Cincinnati's Dan Driessen and how tight he was during his first crack at the new role.
Driessen spent most of the time in the Cincinnati lockerroom drinking coffee and watching the game on TV. He drank 16 cups that night.
You might have heard what Pete Rose said about Luzinski and the DH role. "We'll give him a bucket of chicken and some beer and put him in the sauna," was Rose's comment.
The role isn't entirely new to Luzinski. He did some designated hitting in the spring games. But that was long ago, and those were fun games.
Green had to get in his shot against the DH. "I never did like it," he said. "But those are the rules and we play by the rules. It hasn't been changed, yet."
Notice the word "yet." There could be a hidden meaning. Green, who says he might call his one-year managing stint a career after the World Series, is ticketed for a front office job with the Phillies.
Perhaps in that executive position, he'll do his best to keep the DH out of the National League.
With Luzinski in the DH spot, rookie Lonnie Smith started in leftfield and was the leadoff hitter.
"Bull gives us the power," said Green, "and Lonnie the speed. I think that's a good combination. "
Some figured that Del Unser would be getting the DH call. Percentages favor Unser, Mr. Clutch with a capital "C" in the emotional series with the Astros.
Again, the second-guessing.
Green apparently has other ideas for Unser, like the kind of emergency situation he was faced with in Houston. Remember, Kansas City has a guy by the name of Dan Quisenberry in the bullpen. He's a righthander.
Greg Gross' name comes up, too. So does Smith's.
Smith has been a favorite of Green's. Green loves the kid's speed, not to mention his timely hitting in September.
"The thing about putting Lonnie in the lineup is that you've got that speed working for you for four at-bats," said Green.
Smith, whom Green said would be very effective in leftfield when the series moves to K.C. with its wider outfield alleys, was sensational when Luzinski was injured. As the leadoff hitter for 39 of the 45 games the Phillies played without Luzinski, Smith hit a fancy .335 with 55 hits and 38 runs scored. He also stole 19 bases in that stretch.
Green likes Smith's base-running. For a little guy, Smith is very adept at dumping the second baseman or the shortstop on double-play attempts.
"I've never seen anybody take a guy out at second like Lonnie, " said Tim McCarver. "And that's rare for a young player."
Smith was excited about his first World Series start. "Yeah, I'm excited," he said. "But this is what it's all about. I came here to play."
The least likely DH candidate is . Keith Moreland, the rugged redhead who has been another of the young players who has produced so well in this championship season.
Moreland has to stand by for catching purposes. Bob Boone went into last night's game with an ankle that was severely bruised in the Houston series.
One player who knows about the DH role is veteran Hal McRae, the Royals' regular DH.
"The biggest thing you have to do is deal with failure." said McRae. "If you go 0-for-4 it can drive you crazy, because you feel you didn't contribute defensively. But if you keep an even keel, you might do something on your next bat."
Colorful? You bet!
Festive? You bet!
Satisfied? You bet!
By John Kunda, Executive Sports Editor
PHILADELPHIA – This is what this baseball-crazy territory waited for for 30 years.
Thirty years? That's only 10 years short of Rip Van Winkle's sleeping record.
Ah, the World Series.
It came to Philadelphia last night in all its glory. Colorful? You bet. Festive? You bet. Appreciated? You bet.
It should have been here long before this, but who cares now? Better late than never.
This crowd was on its feet from the start. Oh, it was set down, all right, when Willie Aikens and Amos Otis hit two-run home runs in back-to-back innings.
It was as if the Royals were going to rain on Philadelphia's parade. The crowd became so quiet you could almost hear the purr of the Goodyear blimp that floated over Veterans Stadium.
Did the Phillies come this far to go out so quickly? Was this going to be Montreal and Houston all over again? Could the Faithful stand more of it?
Comebacks seem to be a part of this Phillies team. It rarely wins routinely.
Exciting, for sure, but never routine.
It's almost impossible to describe the emotion that ran through the 65,791 when Bake McBride drilled a " home run in the third inning that highlighted a five-run third that erased Kansas City's four-run lead.
It was like leaving a wake for a New Year's Eve party. On a scale of 1-to-10, the noise level reached 15. Honest, the concrete stadium shook.
Tug McGraw had 'em going, too, in the ninth when the Phillies needed three outs to notch their first World Series victory in 65 years.
McGraw's exciting anytime. He outdid himself in this World Series atmosphere.
When McGraw struck out Willie Wilson for the final out, the crowd wasn't heading for the exits. It stayed to savor this almost historical moment. It was a full 15 minutes after the game when it finally settled down.
In the locker room, McGraw was hardly settled. He was his usual quick-witted self, but he was somewhat in a serious mood. He had something to tell the press of the world.
"I wanted this one for Howard Cosell," McGraw began. "I didn't appreciate the things he said in Houston about going to the well too often."
McGraw kept the serious mood.
"A relief pitcher has to condition himself," he said. "Just like an infielder taking infield practice or the hitters taking batting practice. I'm an athlete, a capable athlete. At this time of the year you reach back for that little extra. I can do that."
McGraw was miffed, all right. His Irish temper was obvious. He wasn't smiling like he normally does after a good night's work. He frowned, but did get his wit in order.
"Is relief pitching more mental than anything?" someone asked McGraw. In a way only McGraw could answer, he said:
"If that was the case I'd be in the trainer's room soaking my head in ice."
McGraw was fabulous. Shades of 1969 when he was the emotional leader of the Amazing Mets. "You can't say enough about the guy," said Pete Rose. "He's showing you just what kind of professional he really is."
The compliment is fine, but Rose can stand next to McGraw and take some bows, too. Even when he doesn't hit, he has a knack of pumping up anybody around him.
Dallas Green noticed it.
"The key to this game," said Green, he, too, somewhat miffed at the lack of respect his Phillies have gotten in the experts World Series polls, "was when Pete got hit in the knee. He juiced us up. Pete doesn't have to get hits to juice us up. Just the fact that he's here juices us up."
The excitement on his night was not Pete Rose alone. It was Bake McBride, Tug McGraw, Bob Boone. Even young, gutty Bob Walk.
To be honest, the Phillies are excitement, period.
It's the way they do things. Green doesn't like it that way. "I'd prefer to manage the other way," he said, in reference to the Phils habitual come-from-behind victories.
"The last 10 days," he said, "we geared up like no other team can get geared up. I'm convinced this team doesn't know what the word quit means. I'm damn proud of these guys."
Green couldn't say enough of how proud he was that his team is representing the National League. "You guys (the press) are writing us off already," he said, "but stick around, we can do things."
Green was excited that the Phillies were able to hang on for the home crowd. This city is accustomed to seeing its teams, the Phils, especially, fade when they are expected to shine.
"You heard those people out there," he said. "They cheer hard for us and we love it. I don't care what was written or said about how we look at our fans. We love them. Winning tonight was just great for them. They came here to see us win. They got what they came for."
Yes. Dallas Green, the record crowd got what it came for. After frustration after frustration, the victory was a welcome relief.
It was appreciated. Vet Stadium was shaking for nothing.
In brief
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – When Jim Frey of Kansas City and Dallas Green of Philadelphia took the field last night they became the first rookie managers to face each other in the World Series.
Their appearance also assured that there would be the first rookie winner since 1961, when Ralph Houk guided the New York Yankees. The last rookie winner in the National League was Eddie Dyer of St. Louis in 1946.
The last time a rookie managed in a World Series was 1977, when Tommy Lasorda guided the Los Angeles Dodgers.
* * *
Philadelphia Mayor William Green has bet an "equitable" amount of soft pretzels to Kansas City Mayor Richard Berkley's one dozen steaks that the Phillies will beat the Royals in the 1980 World Series, which began Tuesday.
When Green was asked what he considered an "equitable" amount of pretzels, he said he thought six was enough.
Inning-by-inning
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Play-by-play of the first game of the 1980 World Series between the Kansas City Royals and Philadelphia Phillies:
Royals First
Bob Walk's first pitch of the Series was a ball. Willie Wilson struck out. Hal McRae walked on a 3-2 pitch. George Brett popped up to Mike Schmidt at third. Willie Aikens flied to Garry Maddox in center.
No runs, no hits, no errors, one left.
Phillies First
Dennis Leonard's first pitch bounced in the dirt. Lonnie Smith grounded to Frank White at second. Pete Rose grounded to U.L. Washington at shortstop. Schmidt struck out.
No runs, no hits, no errors, none left.
Royals Second
Darrell Porter walked on a 3-2 Pitch. Amos Otis hit a home run over the left field fence, the 16th man to homer in his first World Series at-bat. Clint Hurdle flied to Smith in left. White flied to Bake McBride in right. Washington grounded to Rose, who flipped to Walk covering first.
Two runs, one hit, no errors, none left.
Phillies Second
McBride grounded to Washington. Greg Luzinski, the designated hitter, hit a long drive to left that Wilson caught near the fence. Maddox grounded to Brett.
No runs, no hits, no errors, none left.
Royals Third
Wilson grounded to Manny Trillo at second. McRae, the designated hitter, singled to center. Brett struck out, tipping the ball into catcher Bob Boone's glove. Aikens homered to right-center, giving the Royals a 4-0 lead. Porter walked. Otis beat out an infield hit although Schmidt made a fine barehand catch of the grounder. Hurdle singled to left and Porter was thrown out attempting to score, Smith to Boone.
Two runs, four hits, no errors, two left.
Phillies Third
Trillo grounded to Washington. Larry Bowa bounced a single to center. Bowa stole second. Boone doubled down the left field line, scoring Bowa. Smith singled to left, with Boone holding at third. While Smith was trapped in a rundown between first and second base, Boone scored and then Smith was tagged out. Rose was hit in the leg by a Leonard pitch. Schmidt walked on a 3-1 pitch. McBride lined a three-run homer over the right field fence, giving the Phillies a 5-4 lead. Luzinski struck out.
Five runs, four hits, no errors, none left.
Royals Fourth
While grounded to Rose, who flipped to Walk for the out. Washington grounded to Bowa at short. Wilson grounded to Schmidt at third.
No runs, no hits, no errors, none left.
Phillies Fourth
Maddox struck out. Trillo bounced an infield single up the middle. Trillo went to second when Leonard bounced a pickoff throw to first for an error. Bowa grounded to While, Trillo moving to third. Boone doubled down the right field line, scoring Trillo for a 6-4 Phillies lead. Renie Martin is the new pitcher lor Kansas City. Smith flied to Hurdle in right.
One run, two hits, one error, one left.
Royals Fifth
McRae flied to McBride against the right field fence. Brett flied to Maddox against the center field fence. Aikens struck out.
No runs, no hits, no errors, none left.
Phillies Fifth
Rose grounded to Washington. Schmidt walked on a 3-1 pitch. McBride singled to left, Schmidt stopping at second. Luzinski was hit in the back with a Martin pitch, loading the bases. Maddox hit a sacrifice fly to Wilson, scoring Schmidt and giving the Phillies a 7-4 lead. Trillo popped to Aikens at first.
One run, one hit, no errors, two left.
Royals Sixth
Porter popped to Schmidt in foul territory. Otis flied to McBride. Hurdle grounded to Bowa.
No runs, no hits, no errors, none left.
Phillies Sixth
Bowa fouled out to Porter, the catcher. Boone grounded to White. Smith bounced an infield single to third. Smith was thrown out attempting to steal, Porter to Washington.
No runs, one hit, no errors, none left.
Royals Seventh
White singled up the middle. Washington lined to Smith. White stole second. Wilson Hied to Smith. McRae grounded to Schmidt.
No runs, one hit, no errors, one left.
Phillies Seventh
Rose grounded to Washington. Schmidt hit a bouncer that Washington fielded at deep short, but the throw to first was too late. McBride singled to right, Schmidt stopping at second. Luzinski struck out. McBride popped to Otis in center.
No runs, two hits, no errors, two left.
Royals Eighth
Greg Gross replaced Smith in left field for Philadelphia. Brett lined a double to left-center. Brett moved to third on a wild pitch. Aikens slammed his second home run of the game over the right field wall, scoring Brett ahead of him to make it 7-6. Walk was replaced by Tug McGraw. Porter flew to Gross in left. Otis singled to left. John Wathan pinch hit for Hurdle and grounded into a double play, Bowa to Trillo to Rose.
Two runs, three hits, no errors, one left.
Phillies Eighth
Wathan stayed in the game in right field. Trillo flied out to Wathan. Bowa grounded to White. Boone singled to right for his third hit. Dan Quisenberry relieved Martin for Kansas City. Gross grounded to short.
No runs, one hit, no errors, one left.
Royals Ninth
White grounded to Schmidt. Washington looked at a third strike. Wilson struck out.
The Phillies won 7-6
No runs, no hits, no errors, none left.