European Stars and Stripes - October 24, 1980

Philadelphia flips over Phils

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — It was Philadelphia Phillies mania in this usually staid city Wednesday.

After 98 years the Phillies had won a World Series, and the natives celebrated with a parade that rattled William Penn's statue atop City Hall.

According to Police Commissioner Morton Solomon, at least 500,000 lined a parade route through the center of the city, down the main North-South artery to John F. Kennedy Stadium where 85,000 inside the vast site of many Army-Navy games acclaimed the team.

There appeared to be as many outside, who got in their cheering as the motorcade slowly moved into the stadium.

Phillies' owner Ruly Carpenter, General Manager Paul Owens and Manager Dallas Green headed the contingent of players, coaches and club officials riding on flatbed trucks.

A high school band led the parade, which rivaled the celebration accorded the Philadelphia Flyers in 1974, when they won the National Hockey League s Stanley Cup.

Banks were closed, and many schools also must have given pupils the day off, or there were a lot of truants, as the crowd predominantly featured the younger generation.

People lined the sidewalks four and five deep. In some areas they pushed into the street, almost brushing the trucks as they passed. Police, however, quickly moved the people back before someone was injured.

It was a big day for sellers of pennants — thousands waved under coolish, sunny skies. Homemade signs, praising the team and individual players, were everywhere.

The most popular was Tug McGraw, the relief pitcher who many times in both the National League Playoffs and the World Series, sauntered in to close out an opposing rally. It was McGraw who got the last out of the final game Tuesday night, striking out Kansas City's Willie Wilson with the bases loaded and the Phillies leading 4-1.

The fans took pictures. Fathers hoisted little children on their shoulders. Intersections were blocked. Workers on scaffolds of unfinished buildings tipped their hard hats for a job well done.

There were few incidents as the police, with the experience of the Flyers' parade, kept the thousands of cheering fans in line.

A police spokesman said there were no major incidents or arrests. There was some bottle throwing after the parade at a South Philadelphia High School, but police quickly dispersed the troublemakers.

"Everything just went real smooth," the spokesman said.

Among the signs most prevalent were hand warmers with. "Phillies, 1980 Champions" emblazoned on the front. The usual paper and ticker tape floated from skyscrapers, where occupants watched the proceedings.

At various times along the route firecrackers exploded in the background.

In the Phillies' truck, Carpenter, Owens and Green clasped hands. They waved to the crowd. They flashed the No. 1 sign.

McGraw beamed and waved as he saw signs, "McGraw for President," and "Tugadelphia."

At the stadium, Gov. Dick Thornburgh told the excited throng, "Nobody competes with the Phillies today. Philadelphia today is the baseball capital of the world."

"All Pennsylvania is proud of you," the governor told the team.

Mayor Bill Green said, "This is the greatest baseball team in the world and you are the greatest fans in the world . . . We're No. I and nobody does it better."

Ironically, the only negative note was interjected by Carpenter, who often has complained of a negative media.

"There are a few people here who didn't think we could do it," he said Carpenter.

"But we're here."