World Series joke making name for itself

By Julie Busby of the Courier-Post

WASHINGTON TWP. – First there were "Phillies Franks."

Then the "Tug" boat McGraw.

So how about Paul Owens, New Jersey?

This Gloucester County community of nearly 30,000 residents has been looking for a new name for the past decade. (New Jersey has six Washington Townships.)

And now that the Philadelphia Phillies have captured the 1980 World Series title, the town is tossing around ways of honoring its favorite local resident – Phillies general manager Paul (The Pope) Owens.

"I just threw it out kind of tongue-in-cheek and there were a couple of sick grins," said local carpet store owner and Phillies fan, Oscar Ostroff.

"But you never know, this town has been looking for another name for a long time."

Ostroff said the township committee has already agreed to support a celebration honoring Owens sometime in late November.

"There will be no exclusions, every baseball fan will be entitled to participate. We want to do it in an unusual way," said the 67-year-old Ostroff, who claims his "day is shot" when the Phillies lose a game.

Owens said he was flattered by talk of naming a town after him and felt honored that the local Phillies fans planned to hold a celebration for him.

"I haven't really heard anything of that order," he said, reacting to the name change proposal. "... I've lived in this area for 15 years, it's home to me. I love my home and I love the people here. I feel very honored."

Ostroff, who is a member of the local Rotary Club and chairman of the commercial-industrial committee, said he is seeking suggestions and assistance from baseball fans for the best way to bring frenzied Phillies fever to the festivities.

Gov. Brendan T. Byrne has been asked to serve as honorary chairman of the event and several Phillies players may participate.

Township committeeman and county freeholder Clifford Burtoft suggested jokingly that the town might consider having its mailing address Paul Owens, New Jersey, for about a month and then perhaps Mike Schmidtville for awhile.

"I think it would be a darling idea for about 30 days," he said with a laugh. "It's cute."

World Series Stars

The Sounding Board

Each week "The Sounding Board" will discuss a topic of current local, state, national or international interest and reader response on that topic is encouraged.

This week's topic: Whom would you name as the Phillies' "most valuable player" in the World Series?

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It's all over and by now things are settling down to normal. The Phillies have won their first world championship and many Phillies fans in South Jersey are still basking in the warm glow of victory.

But one nagging question remains: Who should have been named the Phillies' "most valuable player" for the Series?

Mike Schmidt was awarded that honor but many sports fans disagree.

How about you? Do you agree that Mike Schmidt deserved the honor? Although most fans readily agree that Schmidt's contribution to the winning cause was laudable, many point to other players who turned in excellent all-around performances.

Among those mentioned as possible nominees were relief pitcher Tug McGraw, who was 1-1 with two saves in the Series; Bob Boone, who not only was a consistent hitter when it counted but who won praise for his catching skill behind the plate; and Larry Bowa, who combined good hitting with several fielding plays that stopped more than one Royals drive cold.

If you had a ballot to cast for "most valuable player" on the Phillies squad for World Series play, who would receive your vote?

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WHAT IS YOUR OPINION? Readers are encouraged to air their views on this matter and The Sounding Board will offer concerned citizens an opportunity to get their opinions before their fellow citizens and before public officials.

Typewritten comments are preferred but not required. All comments must be signed and anonymous letters will not be considered. Letters must also include a legitimate address and, when possible, a telephone number.

Comments should be kept as brief as possible and the editors reserve the right to edit for length without changing the meaning of the message.

Comments on the topic discussed today must be received no later than Wednesday to be eligible for publication next week.

Mail comments to: The Sounding Board, Voice of the People, The Press, 1900 Atlantic Ave., Atlantic City, N.J. 08401.

Phillies Rake in Big Bucks

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies earned approximately $1.5 million in the National League Championship playoffs and the World Series, according to a club official.

William Giles, executive vice president, said Thursday the sum was a "rough guess" because exact figures won't be available for a month or so.

But he noted the postseason play enabled the club to earn a profit. Last year, for the first time, the club had no profit because its player payroll increased sharply, Giles said. He had said previously there also would have been no profit this year if the team had not won the NL Eastern Division.

The club took in $1.1 million 1 in ticket sales during the playoffs against Houston and $645,000 in the Series against Kansas City. It got $300,000 for television rights to the games and a 15 percent commission on all concession sales at the games.

Giles said that total revenues for the playoffs and Series were about $2 million.

Meanwhile, city Managing Director Wilson Goode said the Phillies' victory parade Wednesday will cost the city more than $500,000. Police estimated that 500,000 people had lined the parade route from downtown to JFK Stadium in south Philadelphia.

Council Miffed on Parade

By Frank McGrew

Members of City Council have expressed resentment that they were excluded from the Phillies's World Series victory parade. Council President Joseph Coleman said he received no invitation for any members, although Mayor William Green participated.

Philly executive Bill Giles said he thought the parade should be a Phillies parade and not a political parade.