Kansas City Star - October 16, 1980
Beleaguered team met by the devoted
By Bill Turque and Tom Shatel, Staff Writers
It should have been their night, a radiant, incandescent night that would have lit up a city swept away by a kid's game.
Instead, it was a bunch of tired ballplayers limping through the airport and into a rainstorm, lugging the baggage of a riches-to-rags week.
Just a week ago tonight, the Royals left Kansas City with numbers that inspired delirium: 2 and 0. That was their margin of victory over the soon to be swept New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series. As they landed at Kansas City International Airport at 3 a.m. today, the numbers were the same but dismally transposed: a big 0 and 2 at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies.
About 500 bleary-eyed faithful showed up at Gate 28 in the Trans World Airlines terminal in the predawn today to cheer their team's arrival. And they did their best to make it count, offering thundering ovations as each player emerged from the charter jet’s flight ramp.
But most of the Royals, similarly redeyed and fatigued, seemed only dazed by the tribute. Only a couple shook any hands as they walked to buses waiting outside.
"I’m too tired to think about anything,” said pitcher Ken Brett, when asked about greeting the team received.
His brother, George, suffering from hemorrhoids that forced his departure Wednesday night from the 6-4 loss, was asleep when the jet touched down. To the chagrin of many of those waiting in the terminal, he chose to leave the jet through the mechanics’ entrance to the flight ramp, according to one TWA employee who asked not to be identified.
The employee said Brett, looking pale, asked how many people were waiting outside.
"He just stood there and leaned against the wall. I think he owed it to the fans (to come out),” the employee said.
"If he’s really injured, he has nothing to be embarrassed about," said Ms. Jane Jamis of Claycomo.
"Don’t you think we should have all brought little boxes of Preparation H with us?” asked one celebrant.
Clearly the time for luminous celebrating had passed its prime. Friday night the Royals owned this town, but a variety of circumstances kept them in New York. The hurt this caused some of their fans, combined with the events of the last two days in Philadelphia, may have driven the winds from some sails.
Although the odd hour of their homecoming probably would liave kept the turnout down, team officials were actively discouraging fans from coming out to KCI by playing coy about the exact arrival time.
Indeed, if it were not for cooperation from TWA and a few loose-lipped disc jockeys, the only fans greeting the Royals early today might have been the custodial personnel cleaning the ashtrays the waiting areas.
"They call it the people's team Of Kansas City,” said Steve Long of Independence, "yet they’re (the Royals) discouraging the public from coming out.”
Royals general manager Joe Burke, the first off the plane explained: "We didn't say anything because we didn’t know what time we would be coining in. We didn’t want anybody out here at 3 or 4 in the morning."
But Burke's explanation doesn’t wash with hard-core fans like Kirby Cohen of Overland Park.
"We are obligated to support the Royals," Cohen said. "This is a true test of fan loyalty.”
Seriesbeams
By William D. Tammeus, Staff Writer
GEORGE BRETT'S traditional thumb injury not only would have been less painful, but also easier for us to explain to our kids.
AMYOTROPHIC lateral sclerosis became known as Lou Gehrig's disease. No doubt George Brett is hoping to avoid a similar honor.
STILL, THINK how educational baseball is. Until Wednesday thousands of sportswriters had no idea how to spell Brett's ailment.
IT’S NICE to have the lead in a World Series game, but we’ve about decided we'd prefer to have it at the end of the game.
A FRIEND in need may be a friend indeed, but more likely he's just one more guy trying to scare up some Series tickets.
Brett might be able to play despite undergoing surgery
By The Star’s Staff
George Brett underwent hemorrhoidal surgery at St Luke’s Hospital today, and club officials are optimistic he will be able to play Friday night in the third game of the World Series.
Dean Vogelaar, Royals' public relations director, said Dr. John Heryer, a proctologist, performed the operation. Dr. Paul Meyer, the Royals' team physician, said Dr Heryer lanced the hemorrhoids that have hobbled Brett.
Dr. Meyer said the operation should have relieved the pain which forced Brett to leave the Royals' lineup Wednesday night in the sixth inning of Kansas City 's 6-4 loss to Philadelphia. Brett was able to bat in the game, collecting two hits and walking once, but he said he was unable to run, which adversely affected his fielding.
Dr. Meyer said the prognosis for Brett was good. "We hope he will be able to play tomorrow night," said Meyer.
Brett checked into St Luke's Hospital shortly after his arrival in Kansas City early this morning.
Brett's presence in the lineup appears critical for the Royals, who trail 2-0 in the best-of-seven Series. In 44 games which Brett missed this year because of injuries, the Royals, who finished the regular season with a 97-65 record were only 22-22. Brett led the major leagues with a .390 batting average, the highest mark since 1941, when Ted Williams batted .406.
If Brett is unable to play, Dave Chalk is expected to replace him in the starting lineup. Chalk replaced Brett at third base Wednesday night when Brett left the game. Chalk walked once and was hitless in one at-bat.
Royals join Brett at painful stage of Series
By Joe McGuff, Sports Editor
After a wait of 26 years, the World Series has come to Kansas City, but it has arrived in damaged condition.
George Brett, suffering from the world's most widely covered case of hemorrhoids, is in St Luke's Hospital for treatment. He rested on the charter flight home from Philadelphia by stretching out across three seats in the coach section Wednesday night. Brett was in pain on the trip and for that matter, so were the Royals.
Until Tuesday everything had seemed so easy for them. They won the American league West from here to Seattle. They won the American League Championship Series from the New York Yankees in three games and left a sulking George Steinbrenner working on a Yankee hit list.
Now, for the first time this season, the Royals are dealing with adversity. They trail the Phillies two games to none and if they lose Friday night at Royals Stadium the tournament to determine the best team in the world of Bowie Kuhn will be all but over.
In 76 years of World Series competition, no team ever has lost the first three games and come back to win. Only seven teams have lost the first two games and survived to bathe in champagne.
"It's nice to go home for three straight," declared Ewing Kauffman, owner of the Royals. “We’ll win 'em all.” Chuck Tanner couldn’t have said it better.
Who knows, maybe the Royals will come back to win. After all, the Yankees lost the first two games to the Dodgers in 1978 and then won four straight. But if the Royals are going to get back in this World Series, quite a few positive things must happen. Above all, the Royals will have to get better pitching.
"We've got to hold a lead," Hal McRae said. "We can score runs, but we’ve got to hold ’em when we get in front, The pressure is on as now, but if we win Friday the pressure will be on them because they won’t want to see us even it up.”
The Royals have had some baserunning problems and they botched a rundown play in the opening game, but to blame their 0-2 deficit on these lapses would be like blaming the energy crisis on Jimmy Carter because someone left the lights on in the White House.
The Royals had a 4-0 lead in the opening game, but Dennis Leonard, who pitched brilliantly against the Yankees in the playoffs, was unable to hold it. Wednesday night the Royals went into the last of the eighth with a 4-2 lead. Dan Quisenberry, who led both major leagues on the basis of victories and saves, wound up a 6-4 loser.
"I thought we had the game won," Willie Aikens said. "We get leads and can’t seem to hold them."
The Royals also need to get Brett back in the lineup. He left the game in the sixth inning Wednesday night after getting two hits and drawing a walk against Steve Carlton, the Phillies' best pitcher. His status for the third game probably will he in doubt until shortly before game time.
It is ironic that Brett, widely acclaimed as the best hitter in baseball, might be forced out of his first World Series by an ailment everyone jokes about except the sufferer. Brett said he is frustrated, but still hopes to play.
"I just want to get the damn things taken care of,” Brett said. “I’ve done everything they’ve asked me to do. I feel disgruntled. I keep saying, 'Why me? Why not Joe McGuff?’’’ Brett grinned wryly and added, "I’m going back to the same room I always have at the hospital. I’ve had it five years in a row."
If the pitching improves and Brett returns, the Royals still must find some way to cool off the Phillies. The Phillies are so hot now they would be banned if they tried to go to Las Vegas. The Phillies have won four consecutive come-from-behind games, including the playoffs. They are high rollers who can’t wait to get the dice.
"We keep coming back because these guys are good hitters,” Pete Rose explained. "They think they’re going to score some runs."
According to Mike Schmidt, the Phillies are full of confidence. "We just feel this is a good team," Schmidt said. “It’s just a feeling of confidence. That’s why teams are in the World Series. They do these types of things late in the year."
It is indicative of how well things are going for the Phillies, that they won the second game even though Carlton was not at his best and they made some mistakes. Carlton gave up 10 hits, six walks and threw a wild pitch. He also managed to log four double plays and induced the Royals to leave 10 men on base. They added an 11th in the ninth inning against Ron Reed.
How did Carlton react to such an unusual performance? He was speechless. But then he always is since he refuses to give interviews.
The Phillies played far from a flawless game. Tne Royals got their first run in the sixth with the help of a throwing error by Manny Trillo. In the seventh, Willie Wilson walked after being struck out three consecutive times by Carlton. He was sacrificed to second and Dave Chalk, hitting in Brett's place walked. Carlton then picked Chalk off first, but Rose was so concerned about holding Wilson at third that Chalk escaped to second.
"I should have got him out at second," Rose said, "but 1 didn’t want to start throwing the ball around."
Hal McRae also walked and Amos Otis doubled down the third-base line, driving in Wilson and Chalk. Schmidt said he was not guarding the line because he was going by the scouting reports on Otis.
"I wasn’t looking for him to drive the ball down the line," Schmidt said. "I darn near killed myself diving for the ball."
McRae scored on a sacrifice fly by John Wathan, but Otis was retired in a rundown between second and third after the throw from the outfield was cut off. Otis said he wanted to make the Phillies cut off the ball so McRae would be sure to score, but he went too far in committing himself and the Royals lost an opportunity for a bigger inning.
Larry Gura started and pitched a strong six innings, giving up two runs and four hits. Quisenberry entered the game in the seventh.
"Larry felt he was running out of gas a little," Manager Jim Frey said. "I went to Larry and he said, ‘I don't feel I can use my fastball.'’’
Perhaps playing in the friendly setting of Royals Stadium will change the dynamics of the Series. Or maybe the Royals can con themselves into thinking they are playing guys named Reggie and Graig and Goose.
Paint Phillies fiery Green
New manager turns ho-hum attitude into aggressiveness
By Gib Twyman, Sports Writer
PHILADELPHIA – For years, the Philadelphia Phillies have been the Sleeping Beauties of the National League. A nice-looking team, but when it came to the playoffs, it just sort of lay there not bothering anybody.
Then, along came a fellow whom they were pretty sure might be a frog. If he wasn’t exactly Prince Charming, he knew his way to the throne room. He may not have kissed them, but he was known to give them a love tap or two. And he turned them into the men who would be kings of baseball.
Will Manager Dallas Green and the Phillies live happily ever after? Stay tuned, because the fairy tale took one step closer to reality Wednesday night when the Phillies beat the Royals 6-4 in game two and took a a 2-0 lead in the 77th World Series.
Before Green arrived, the Phils were known for their “wake-me-when-it’s-over” approach. Demonstrativeness. Enthusiasm. These were for less refined players. The Phils had the "not-a-hair-out-of-place” excitability of a bunch of businessmen waiting for a bus. They seemed to be waiting to be commuted around the bases.
But Green preached togetherness. He talked of feeling for one another. He was given to fiery clubhouse oratory. He stoked the emotional coals smoldering within his players. When the playoffs came, a new thing happened to the Inner Phillies. They came aflame with spirit.
"Confidence,” said Mike Schmidt after the Phils’ fifth straight come-from-be-hind victory. “It’s just a feeling of confidence that we’ll get the job done.”
Outfielder Del Unser has made six stops in his major-league career. He said, "This is a type of confidence I haven’t seen in my major-league career. It comes from the fact we are doing it, have done it and expect to do it again. We all now expect we will come through when we have to."
Keith Moreland, a rookie catcher, said, “We have our cheerleaders on the bench, guys like (John) Vukovich. When Boonie (catcher Bob Boone) went up to lead off the eighth (touching off a 4-run rally that erased a 4-2 deficit), we were all standing up screaming and hollering at the top of our lungs. The whole dugout just seemed to explode. It came alive just like it has been doing for some time now.”
Said Schmidt, "Nobody had any doubt we were gonna at least scare them to death. We knew we had the people on the bench. We knew there would be some people running around the bases before it was over.”
Green said, "I’ll tell you, this is a feelin' we’ve been hoping for and building on all year. We’ve done a lot of talking about getting the guys going on the bench. Now when someone comes up, you can see everyone else pulling for him."
It wasn’t easy getting his message across.
Reliever Tug McGraw said, “Dallas' platform of a 25-man team and unity is not in that great a favor in modern baseball. Most people don’t see it as the easiest way to go anymore. But Dallas E roved the worth of the method. He showed it isn’t outmoded. He didn’t alter his course. He stood on his conviction. How he knew he was right and we would all come around is fantastic.”
Despite the emotional high, the Phils do not believe the Series is in the bag.
"Look,” said Schmidt, “this is a great team we’re facing Amos Otis, Hal McRae, George Brett some of the others — they put on a hitting clinic out there. They all stand back off the plate, get a longer look at the ball, lay off the slider down and in. We know they’re not going to quit. They’ve come back each game, too.”
Said Green. "Houston is the team I would most compare them to. They have good pitching, a lot of team speed, they swing the bats and they come at you.
“See, we also know how they feel right now. We know the feeling of going to Montreal and having everybody say they’re going to kick you. We know how it feels to play Houston and hear how you're blowing it.”
First baseman Pete Rose said, "Going to KC up 2-0 doesn’t mean much of anything except they can't win it there. They have to come back to Philly, even if they win three straight, which I might add I don’t think they can.”
Rose also spoke of the new spirit of the Phils. More than any other man, he personifies emotionalism in baseball. “I just always try to play my game,” he said. "You hope some of it might rub off on somebody."
Said Green, “Tonight it looked like instead of a 2-0, lead we were gong to take a loss. But we geared up got some hits and got into the flow in the late innings. That’s Philly baseball, the way we’ve been doing it in September and October."
Move over Groucho! Quisenberry has arrived
By Mike DeArmond, Sports Writer
Dan Quisenberry, the world is discovering, is a marvelous piece of mustachioed flim-flam. Groucho Marx without a cigar. W.C. Fields with red hair instead of a red nose.
Quisenberry, the Royals’ ace relief pitcher, brings new meaning to the traditional one-liner. Playing off reporters as if they were straight men in a burlesque house, Quisenberry is fast becoming a media star as the World Series turns to Kansas City for game three Friday night at Royals Stadium.
Royals’ fans have heard most of Quisenberry’s quips. They already knew that Quisenberry:
• “…always had underhanded tendencies but I came out of the closet in college.”
Kansas City fans already have heard Quisenberry s description of fellow pitcher Renie Martin:
• "Some people throw to spots. Some people throw to zones. Renie throws to continents.”
There’s the one about Quisenberry not liking to be compared with the New York Yankees’ Rich Gossage:
• “I don’t feel comfortable being compared to a guy who throws harder than God.”
Then there’s the one about the kind of house Quisenberry never dreamed of having.
“I’ve got no dreams of a palace. I will not get a moat. I can’t afford the alligators. I don’t like drawbridges. There’s always that wasted dungeon.”
Even in defeat, as Wednesday night in Philadelphia when the Phillies scored four runs off him and defeated the Royals 6-4, Quisenberry was a delight.
When a television reporter asked simply, “What happened?" Quisenberry deadpanned: We lost.”
Asked why, Quisenberry said: “They didn’t hit the ball at people.”
And finally, regarding Del Unser's eighth-inning double in the Phillies' winning rally against him, Quisenberry said: “He doesn’t know better. He’s supposed to ground out on a low and away sinker.”
Quisenberry, in victory or defeat, has style with a twist; class spelled with a K. Why?
"Ask my Mom,” Quisenberry said. "I grew up talking that way. Actually, she knows how I’m doing by what I say in the paper.”
Reporters have been driving themselves crazy trying to come up with unique descriptions of Quisenberry.
"One thing I didn’t like was when one guy said I was a left-hander caught in a right-hander’s body,” Quisenberry said. “I think I’m sane. I don’t want to be thought of as a left-hander.
“I think he (the writer) was a Harlequin romances writer caught in a sports writer’s body.”
Quisenberry is amused by the attention he has received, but purports to be concerned by his status as Media Star.
“I’m not prepared,” he said. “I want to do well, but I don’t want to be a national figurehead. I don’t want the pressure of being a national figurehead.
"I don't like to be praised all the time. I don’t know how to respond to that.”
Can the press of the media and his 33-save Rolaids Fireman of the Year season spoil Quisenberry?
"Please God,” Quisenberry said, "Don’t let me change.”
Frustration in Philly puts Royals in a hole
Loving fans and good-luck kisses weren’t enough to carry the Royals to victory in game two of the World Series Wednesday night. The team squandered early scoring opportunities and failed for a second consecutive night to hold what looked like a comfortable lead. Adding to the Royals’ troubles was the loss of George Brett midway through the game. It is not known whether Brett, the Royals starting third baseman who led major-league baseball with a .390 batting average this season, will be able to return to the lineup for game three Friday.
Going into that game, Kansas City faces a task that has proved difficult in the past. Only seven times in World Series history has a team lost the first two games and then won the Series. The New York Yankees were the last to accomplish the feat, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1978.
‘Team that wouldn’t die’ steps towards Series immortality
By Mike DeArmond, Sports Writer
As Butch Cassidy once said to The Sundance Kid: “Who are those guys?"
The Philadelphia Phillies, fond of calling themselves “The Team That Wouldn’t Die," came back from impending defeat again Wednesday night. Scoring four runs in the eighth inning, they rallied past the Royals 6-4 and took a 2-0 lead in the World Series. The best-of-seven Series now shifts from Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia to Royals Stadium for game three Friday night. Today is an off day.
Rallying is the name of the Phillies’ game. They don’t seem to feel comfortable unless they are staring into the maw of defeat.
Three times in downing the Houston Astros in the National League Championship Series, and now twice against the Royals in the World Series, the Phillies have made the City of Brotherly Love erupt into a cry of “Oh Brother.’
Tuesday night the Royals led 4-0, then saw the Phils scramble back and win 7-6. Wednesday night the Royals scored three runs in the seventh and took a 4-2 advantage against the Phils’ struggling pitcher, Steve Carlton.
But against the Royals’ ace reliever Dan Quisenberry, Philadelphia scored four times in the eighth inning.
And suddenly, the Royals are wondering, “Who are those guys?"
"They came back on us with our best reliever in there,” said left fielder Willie Wilson. "So you’ve gotta wonder, what can you do to beat ’em? You gotta wonder if maybe our crowd will help us out. Maybe we’ve gotta do some more stuff like hitting and running, stealing. Do something.
"You have your hopes up so high for a victory. Then all of a sudden, bam! There you go.”
The Phils’ eighth began with Quisenberry walking Bob Boone. Del Unser, batting for Lonnie Smith, doubled to left center, scoring Boone. Pete Rose moved Unser to third with a ground out, and Bake McBride bounced a single over the drawn-in infield, scoring Unser with the tying run. McBride scored on Mike Schmidt’s double off the right-field wall. Schmidt went to third when the Royals attempted to get McBride at the plate, and Schmidt made it 6-4 when Keith Moreland singled.
Wilson represented the extreme of frustration on the Royals. Across the locker room, Amos Otis and Hal McRae spoke with resolution as each noted that in 1978 the New York Yankees defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series despite losing the first two games.
"We’ve come back all year long,” Otis said. “I don’t see why we can't again. This isn’t no sandlot baseball. This is the big leagues."
McRae gave the Phillies, and Carlton credit.
"They’re a good ballclub," McRae said. "He seemed to always make a good pitch at the right time. He didn’t give in at all, always coming up with that heart-breaking pitch when he had to throw it.
“But," added McRae, "we were ahead 4-2 in the eighth inning. We were where we wanted to be. We're not going to lose any more leads.
"We feel their last charge was tonight. We’re gonna jump out on them and shut them down.”
Brave words. But words have come more easily in the first two games than victory for the Royals.
‘‘We’re a good ballclub," McRae said. “I just don’t think they’re going to do that to us again."
The Royals had 17 runners in eight innings against Carlton, who never did enjoy a 1-2-3 inning, and one against Ron Reed, who pitched the ninth.
Carlton, 24-9 in the regular season, was helped by three double plays in the first six innings.
Otis began the Kansas City sixth with a single. John Wathan walked and Otis scored when second baseman Manny Trillo threw Willie Aikens’ grounder past first baseman Pete Rose for an error.
That run cut in half a 2-0 Philadelphia lead built against Royals' starter Larry Gura in the fifth.
Gura retired the first 13 Phillies and said, "That's what happens when I’ve got all four of my pitches working. I felt relaxed. It was just like a regular-season game."
But Moreiand, subbing as the designated hitter because Greg Luzinski had diarrhea, beat out an infield hit to deep short with one out. Garry Maddox doubled, Moreland stopping at third. Moreland scored on Trillo’s sacrifice fly to right, and Maddox came in on Larry Bowa's single to left.
Carlton walked three in the seventh inning and the Royals took their 4-2 lead when Otis doubled down the left-field line with the bases loaded and Wathan delivered a sacrifice fly.
The lead didn’t last long, of course, as the Royals again experienced the kind of frustration previously dished out to them by the New York Yankees in the playoffs of 1976, '77 and ‘78.
Royals waiting to hear cheers
Baseball notes
PHILADELPHIA – Darrell Porter struck out leading off the ninth inning, walked bitterly back to the dugout, surveyed almost 66,000 screaming, ecstatic Philadelphia Phillie fans and had a profound thought.
“We've won a championship, we’ve done what our fans wanted more than anything in the world, and we haven't heard one cheer yet."
The Royals remained in New York after beating the Yankees in a third straight American League Championship Series game Friday night, then flew to Philadelphia Sunday for the opening two games of the 1980 World Series in Veterans Stadium.
"We should be so joyful going back home, but we aren’t," said Porter. “We need to hear some cheers from our side. We need that more than anything.”
• • •
Phillies’ Manager Dallas Green, when asked to compare Kansas City with a National League team, said the American League champions reminded him of Houston.
"They have good pitching and team speed, can get the base hit and come at you,” Green said.
• • •
They get marriage proposals, letters and pictures from adoring fans, jewelry, and they catch the eye of many a male at Veterans Stadium.
Meet the Phillies' ballgirls — Mary Sue Styles-Owens, 24 and Cathy Schnebierger, 23.
Both have been seen on network telecasts of the World Series here, perched on little stools, glove in hand, ready to shag foul balls — Mary Sue down the third-base line and Cathy at first.
The Philly Phanatic may be the undisputed ballpark celebrity, but the ballgirls run a close second, especially in the hearts of little girls who'd love to have their job someday.
“I once got a piece of fan mail from a little 7-year-old girl, and it was a picture she had drawn of a ballgirl with yellow hair," said blonde Mary Sue, who has been on the job seven years. "And it said, “You are my Greg Luzinski.’ "
• • •
After Royals third-base Coach Gordy MacKenzie sent Porter into an out at home Tuesday night, someone reminded MacKenzie what George Steinbrenner had said when his third base coach (Mike Ferraro) sent a runner who was caught at home in the playoffs. Headlines screamed Steinbrenner s message: “I never wanted Ferraro."
"I guess I'll call Ferraro and tell him Steinbrenner doesn’t want me either," MacKenzie said.
• • •
During the singing of the national anthem at Veterans Stadium Wednesday there were seven men on the field with dark blue coats. Six belonged there. The seventh was Barry Bremen, who gets his kicks by appearing in sporting events where he doesn't belong.
"It’s like a fantasy," Bremen said. “It’s one thing to pass for an umpire at a ballgame. But to do it at a World Series? And then be able to walk away without anything being said? That’s fun."
Nothing was said. He stood on the field in an American League umpire's uniform for the National anthem. He sang.. He chatted with other umpires and was around when the lineup cards were exchanged. Then he disappeared into the stands.
Bremen was the guy in 1979 who went onto the floor in a Kansas City Kings uniform during halftime of the NBA All-Star game in Detroit and took part in the second-half warmups. It was Bremen who posed for the team picture in 1979 at the baseball All-Star game in Seattle And Bremen played twice in the US Open.
Before Wednesday night Bremen considered his greatest feat an appearance last year in the NFL All-Pro game. He got onto the field for the warmups wearing uniform No. 20, which belonged to Lem Barney of the Detroit Lions.
• • •
Wouldn’t it be great to have a job that included free admission to baseball games, including the World Series? Guess again.
Dozens of workers at Philadelphia’s Veterans Stadium, close to the action yet isolated from it, have had to settle for stolen glimpses of the excitement. Some only know about a big play by the Phillies when the crowd roars.
Don't try to tag along to the game with Andy Clark, for example. Clark has been with the Phillies more than 46 years and something like 3600 games, yet he never has seen a complete Phillies' home game in that time.
"You never know when something’s going to happen,” said Clark, 65, assistant director of stadium operations.
Clark sat in his office Wednesday night, before the second game of the World Series.
"They could need baseballs during the game, and I have to stay here and get them. I have them locked up," Clark said.
Duty also keeps Debbie Nocito, 27, at her job running the press elevator. Despite being the envy of her relatives and friends, Ms. Nocito says she rarely gets a chance to step away from the elevator for a peek at the action.
“But in game six, if the series goes that far, this elevator is running itself," she said. "Cause I’m going out there and watch the game.”