The Press of Atlantic City - October 22, 1980

When The World Series Is Over, The Championship Ring Remains

By Pete Wickham, Press Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA — The ring is the thing.

Ask anybody who has played in a World Series what they treasure most, or what they want most, and they start tching the third finger and playing with a World Series ring, either real or imagined.

I usually wear one of the two I got with the Reds (1975-76)," said Phils' first baseman Pete Rose. "I've two got from the years we lost (1970 and 1972) but they stay in the drawer. And if we win one this year, I replace this ring for the one from 1976. I could never put the '75 ring away. I waited 12 years to get that."

Whether you wait 12 years or one year, the gold college-style ring, usually set with one or more diamonds, is the one thing that sets you apart from the crowd long after the cheers died away.

"I didn't realize it until 20 years after I got out of pro ball." said St. Louis broadcaster Joe Garagiola, fingering the ring he got as a rookie on the 1946 championship St. Louis Cardinals.

"I was a rookie, just out of army and I didn't know what it meant, until I started bouncing around and knew I would never get another.

"I talked with Joey Amalfitano (the Chicago Cubs' current manager) in 1954 after he and the New York Giants won the Series that year. He said he figured it was first of many, and I told him not to be so sure. Now he knows.”

Many, like Garagiola, got just one ring in their lifetime. Others, like his partner in the booth, Tony Kubek, didn't know what to do with all the loot he got in seven years with the New York Yankees.

"Fortunately, after a while they gave us a choice as to what we could get," said Kubek, the Yankee shortstop in the late 50s and early 60s. "My wife has a diamond bracelet, my daughters a charm bracelet with diamonds and gold, and I have a couple of rings I guess my sons will eventually wear. Me, I don't wear jewelery so they stay in the drawer right now."

Some longtime Yankee hands are walking pawnshops.

"Frank Crosetti (for years the New York third base coach) got hand-tooled shotguns, sterling silver sets and things like that," Kubek said. "Given the price of gold I'm not sure he wouldn't have wanted it the other way now.

"But Pete Sheehy (the Yankee clubhouse man) is another not story. Lou Gehrig saw him wandering around the gate and brought him in to shine shoes one day and he's been there ever since. He's got all 22 Yankee championship rings. Can you imagine that?"

Kubek figures the most expensive ring he ever got cost about $300, "and in 1969 I helped design a ring for the 1969 New York Mets that cost $4,000-5.000 back then!

"Whatever they cost they are what the players really value. The biggest share I ever got was $8,000, and this year the winners get over $35,000. But this lasts.”

Garagiola put it in blunter terms. "Sure the rings cost pocket change to some of these guys. But while they can afford one, they can't buy one. They have to earn it.”

Tug McGraw earned one of those Mets' rings in his first Series. His older brother Hank, a career minor league outfielder, got one the same year as a member of the Pacific Coast League champion Hawaii Islanders.

"Believe it or not, my ring was bigger than his was and he was a bit envious,” said Hank, who now makes briefcases in County, Calif., wears hair to his waist, a moustach to his Adam's apple and a star in his right ear.

We’d had a super year, attendance wise. Drew something like 600,000, and the owners really went overboard with this big, gaudy ring. But still it wasn't Series ring.

"Jim Coates (an ex-Yankee) finished his career in Hawaii, and he would trot out nine Series and make our eyes bug out," said Hank, who drove out with their father, Frank, for the final weeks of the season. "It's a status symbol, especially if you won the thing and had a diamond in the setting. Tug gave his 1973 Series ring (from when the Mets lost in seven to Oakland) to my dad, and he takes it off."

Mike Schmidt is already practicing how he'll t balance himself with the eight or so ounces of 10-karat gold and the rock on his hand.

"That's what I'm playing for right now," he said. "You can say you know the game and can show all the stats you want to prove you're a good player. But if you haven't been to a Series, or won Series nobody really listens. And maybe they shouldn't have to. You haven't proven yourself against the best."

One thing is reasonably certain. Win or lose, the 1980 Phillies will get some type of ring from Ruly Carpenter to commemorate the team's first National League pennant in 30 years. And they will probably get "it more promptly than did the last pennant winners in this town.

“I guess Ruly's father (Bob Carpenter) got disgusted after we lost the Series in four to the Yankees," said Richie Ashburn, the center fielder on the 1950 Whiz Kids. "But we didn't our rings until they held a reunion in 1975.

"They were nice rings, mind you. But they were 25 get years late."

After 3 Playoff Frustrations, Phils Finally Find Charisma

By Dave Bontempo, Press Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA — The Comeback Kids were World champions. Not the power-laden unit frustrated during three prior playoff series, but the team that didn't die.

"We always had to come from behind, plug away, plug away," said World Series MVP Mike Schmidt after the 4-1 win over the Royals which clinched the Phillies' first world championship, "That is what makes a great team, finding a way to win. It is charisma."

It is the long-sought pot of gold for Phillie General Manager Paul Owens. He has spent 25 years into the organization, 15 as general manager.

"The best move I made was putting Dallas down to manage," Owens said. "We may not have been the best team in baseball over the first five half months, but after that, Dallas brought it out of them."

The Phillies were down and verbally out of the league race in mid-August. Out of the ashes came a five-game sweep over the New York Mets and a gradual ascent to a challenging position. The Phillie comeback was typified by weekend series in Montreal and Houston (for the NL Pennant) where they won two games on the road each time.

"If you had gone to Las Vegas around July 1," said Schmidt who was eight-for-21 in the series for a .381 batting average, "it would've looked like you had a darn slim chance if you bet on the Phillies. But we learned that the other team has to beat you. If you go up and get hits you don't lose."

Schmidt delivered the game-winning double game two, homered and walked in the third game and hoisted a sacrifice fly to temporarily tie game four. He completed his act, blasting a two homer in the fifth game, then ignited the game-winning rally with a single.

Tuesday night, he stroked what became the game-winning hit in the third inning. After a walk, infield error and "bunt single loaded the bases, Schmidt delivered a two-run single to right off losing pitcher Rich Gale."

"It was the only fast ball he threw in on me," Schmidt said. "I fouled the first pitch off. When that pitch came inside, I just just inside-outed to right field."

The Phillies, riding a magic carpet of momentum, waved off Kansas City's final threat with the bases loaded when McGraw slipped in the third strike to Willie Wilson, the celebration started.

"This hasn't really sunken it yet," Schmidt said. "In about two weeks, when I got home and think back to where this team has come, I'll appreciate it.

"If I'm going to be called MVP. I would like it broken up into about 25 pieces. There are a handful of guys like the Del Unsers who got the hits that got us to the Series."

Green brandished the championship trophy in the dressing room, a monstrous item containing flags of the major league clubs.

"Hey Schmitty," he hollered. "Look at this. We won't drop it. We haven't dropped anything all year."

Then reliever Ron Reed embraced Owens, telling him he deserved the championship most, Phillie owner Ruly Carpenter was tearful and shortstop Larry Bowa said the club showed character.

John Vukovich Has Become Phillies’ Resident Cheerleader

By Pete Wickham, Press Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA — Mike Schmidt has given his all with the bat be a World Series. Manny Trillo has done the same with his glove and Steve Carlton with his arm. Tug McGraw almost gave up the ghost Sunday afternoon when Hal McRae launched a long foul to left with two on and a one-run lead to protect.

But when they talk about the World (?) Champion Philadelphia Phillies of 1980, John Vukovich will be remembered for his mouth.

Vukovich, the journeyman infielder who caught on with the Phillies a second time as a non-roster player this spring, has yet to play i in the playoffs or the World Series. But he has literally been heard from throughout the club's march to the brink.

"He's the guy who keeps things humming on the bench," said Larry Bowa. "A hit, or something happens and he's going. Then soon everyone's going.”

Especially now, Phils have shown a tendency to give their opponents a head start before finishing with a kick.

The vocal 32-year-old infielder doesn't wait for an invitation. The Phils get a scratch hit, a walk or even make some noise with a line drive, and he starts making like Billy Sunday the weekend before the mortgage on the church is due.

"I got a feelin!" he'll start shouting. "I've got THE feeling!" And if the rest of the Phillies he don't join in, starts screaming all the more.

And his bench jockeying does not stop with the opposition. Yesterday, I he got on a sulking Greg Luzinski after the left fielder complained over his lack of use in the Series — and lived to tell the story.

He may have hit 217 fewer big league homers than the Bull, but he has never doubted the major league quality of his vocal chords.

"I've always been that type of player, and if people want to accept it and go along, wonderful. But either way, I'm just being me. There's nothing different about the way I approach this than when the Phils signed me in 1966," said Vukovich, who spent parts of two seasons (1971-72) with the Phils before he and his .161 career batting average were sent to Milwaukee.

He came back to the Phils through a minor league trade in 1975, but two more years of light hitting (in only six games with the parent club) and he found himself permanently optioned to Oklahoma City.

"I thought I'd never get another chance at the big leagues," said Vukovich, who like Larry Bowa from comes the Sacramento, Cal. area. "Then I had a good year with Okie City last year (.294, 12 homers) and Paul Owens gave me the chance to try it one more time. I think that's why I'm enjoying it so much right now."

Vukovich, a strong defensive third baseman, never had an illusion as to his role on the Phils this season.

"The only way I play now is if Mike Schmidt gets hurt, and there's no way in the world I want that to happen," said Vukovich, who batted his career average this season, but drove in five runs. "If you want to know the truth, the thing that makes me proudest is that around the All-Star break I started 11 games for Schmidt, whom I think is the best player in the game today, and we won seven of them. If there is a are 25 guys here doing 25 jobs, and if I can add something extra when I'm not paying, that makes it so much better.”

Phillies' manager Dallas Green knows the feeling. During the Phils futile pennant chase of 1964, he got bombed in the first game of an August doubleheader, and was banished to the minors by Gene Mauch before the nightcap got started.

He understands, and appreciates, what Vukovich is going through, and he said the organization will, too.

"This is an organization that remembers the things a player does to help the cause and what John has done is significant," Green said. "'He hasn't gotten much glory but he's done more to promote the type of feeling we've wanted on this club all year. In that way he's one of the big reasons we've gotten where we have.”

Yeah, but what do you do, send his voice box in a jar to the Hall of Fame?

Cardenal Tries To Help Royals

By Dave Bontempo, Press Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA — Game five ended with a Tug McGraw "'Cutty Sark" fastball. It sailed, Jose Cardenal flailed in vain, and the Royals died Sunday night with the runners on.

Game six started with Cardenal in right field. He received a better chance to deliver here than with the bases loaded cold off the bench Sunday.

Sentiment did not persuade Royal Manager Jim Frey to start Cardenal over Clint Hurdle with a 3-2 deficit and elimination hovering over the American League champions.

It was a righty-lefty flop in a sequence of cat and mouse moves between Frey and Phillie Manager Dallas Green.

"It just comes down to where we think we have a better chance with a right-hand hitter," Frey said. "We know Steve Carlton's (Philly starting pitcher) reputation for having the excellent breaking ball. We thought a right-handed hitter could get a better drive off against him."

Especially Cardenal. The oft-travelled outfielder has been in Cleveland, California, New York, Chicago and Philadelphia before here. He is highball hitter in a high-strike zone league.

Frey also received criticism for last night's selection of right-hand pitcher Rich Gale over veteran left-handed Paul Splittorff. The move was made against the Phillie lineup with Mike Schmidt and Greg Luzinski among seven righties.

Percentages have not worked for Cardenal, so far. He is 0 for 6 in the series. Schmidt said after Sunday's game that when the scoreboard indicated Cardenal's average, it might have been a bad omen for the Phillies. Cardenal was the perfect unlikely hero to steal the game. He didn't make matters easier, fouling off four pitches before being tied in a corkscrew on strike three.

"What happened Sunday could happen to anybody," said Cardenal. "You do it or you don't do it. And Sunday, I couldn't do it.

"This is just an opportunity to come back and do something different. A lot of people are asking me if I'm still able to play."

Cardenal had not faced Carlton under extenuating circumstances before this series. Neither the Cubs or Mets contended late in the season.

"The other night (game 2) he wasn't throwing his best," Cardenal said of Carlton's 157-pitch marathon in a 6-4 Philadelphia triumph. "He was throwing hard, but not as well with the slider. The American League ump is going to call the highstrike. That means your low slider can be called a ball. And there's an American League umpire (Nick Bremigan) out there tonight."

*       *       *

Coming into the game, Kansas City had left 45 men on base, the Phillies 33... Amos Otis entered with a .550 average on 11-for-20 hitting. It put him within one hit of tying the World Series record over 6 games . for hits. Billy Martin had 12 1953 for the Yankees... Hal McRae is 18-for-40 (.450) in World Series competition and he, Otis and Larry Bowa have hit safely in all five games... The highest Philadelphia average among regulars is the .400 average shared by Bowa and Bob Boone.

Phillie Fans Celebrate Victory

By Glenn Duffy, Press Staff Writer

ATLANTIC CITY — "I don't believe it" - that was the unanimous sentiment here at the Irish Pub Tuesday night as the Phillies clinched their first world championship ever.

"I don't believe it" - you could drink enough beer to cover the beach and you'd still remain slightly unconvinced. The Phillies had won it - all of it.

"Fantastic!" said Pete Peterson. And that was an understatement.

"Dallas Green is a beautiful guy," Peterson said. "He's my buddy.”

Peterson, who says he -founded the Chelsea Little League some 12 years ago, said he knows Green through his sister-in-law who happens to be the Phillies manager's next door neighbor in a small community just outside Wilmington, Del.

"There's my man," Peterson said. "He used to have curly black hair - black hair, do you believe it? But after what he's been through this year, I'm surprised it's not all white.”

Peterson, who formerly owned the Liquor Mart in his home town of Ventnor, said "Dallas is an enormous guy. Enormous. I don't think he could get in here, not with the ceiling so low. He must be 6-6, 6-7. He's a giant of a man.”

And he was growing taller every minute as the Phillies reveled in a post-game celebration rivaled in intensity by the scene surrounding the small color television set in the corner of this bar on the beach block of St. James Place.

A young woman, who had buried her face in her hands just moments before as the Phillies put themselves in yet another late-inning jam, was now yelling and waving her arms over the Phillies jersey she wore.

"My husband bought it at the first series game," said Sharon Grabowski, a former Tacony resident who now lives here. "Tom (her husband) is at home. He's a Royals fan. I made him stay at home with the baby because we can't watch the game together."

Near Grabowski sat a man who did not even know the Phillies were in the World Series until they had won the first two games of the fall classic. "I was in London," said Bob Sorace, of Pomona, who had been out of the country on a business trip until last Sunday.

"When I found out about it in the (American) newspapers, I refused to believe it. I thought it might be a misprint. The Phillies in the World Series?"

The Phillies weren't just in the World Series, they'd won the World Series. As of about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday they had it wrapped up with a 4-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals.

But not everyone was ecstatic.

The bartender is a Yankee fan and the cook, well, he's from Ireland.

"This baseball is a little hard to get into," said Sean O'Sullivan, his brogue cutting through the cheers. "I watched some parts of games but I never got a chance to watch a whole one. I like Gaelic football.

"My team - County Kerry - won the All good to see these people have something to cheer Ireland Football championship this year, o now it's about, even if I'm not sure what the game's all about, O'Sullivan said."

Tug McGraw - Phillies relief pitcher who saved the game - appeared on the television to the cheers of the bar patrons. McGraw was saying the Phillies had been "reaching back and finding extra since Moby Dick was a guppy.”

"Tuggie!" yelled Bob McGettigan, of Secane, Pa., 1 who was in town for the anniversary celebration of a friend and ended up celebrating much more.

"Mother of God, you couldn't lose," McGettigan told the television image. "Not in this tap room Tuggie. In the Irish Pub you had destiny written all over you.”

They were breaking out the champagne now - granted they were only 8-ounce bottles - but these hardened beer drinkers were suddenly making a $3 concession to victory.

"We had it along!" shouted Jimmie Biddle, who had arrived at 4 p.m. Tuesday to secure his "box seat" in front of the television.

Ever since Moby Dick was a guppy.