The Press of Atlantic City - December 1980

Dodgers Edge By Phils In N.L. Rookie Voting

NEW YORK (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies already won the Cy Young Award (Steve Carlton), the National League M.V.P. (Mike Schmidt) and the World Series, but when it came time to vote for the National League Rookie of the Year, the best the Phils could do was third.

Left-hander Steve Howe, who became the long-sought stopper in the Los Angeles Dodgers' bullpen last season, Rookie of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America Monday.

Howe received 12 first -place ballots from the 24-man BBWAA panel and totaled 80 points. It was the first time since the award began in 1947 that the panel has voted on a 5-3-1 basis.

Montreal pitcher Bill Gullickson finished second with 53 points including five first-place ballots and outfielder Lonnie Smith of the world champion Philadelphia Phillies was third with 49 points and four first-place votes.

Cincinnati infielder Ron Oester finished fourth with 16 points including one first vote and reliever Dave Smith of the Houston Astros was fifth with 13 points and two firsts.

Others receiving votes were pitcher Jeff Reardon of the New York Mets, pitcher Al Holland of the San Francisco Giants, outfielder Leon Durham of the St. Louis Cardinals and pitcher Bob Walk of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Howe, signed off the campus of the University of Michigan, became the ninth Dodger player to capture the rookie award since the BBWAA introduced it in 1947. No team in either league comes close to that figure.

The southpaw reliever was a surprise for the Dodgers. His only professional experience before 1980 was 15 games with San Antonio of the Texas League. But Howe won a job in spring training and went on to post a 7-9 record with 17 saves and a 2.65 earned run average for Los Angeles.

Phillies to Attend Luncheon

NORTHFIELD — Twp popular Phillies team members will be guests of honor at a Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Thursday in the Atlantic City Country Club.

Gary Maddox and Larry Bowa will attend the event which is open to the public. Proceeds of the $25-a-plate luncheon will benefit the clinic which serves children in the southern New Jersey area. Chris Wheeler of the Phillies will emcee the affair.

McGraw Signs 4-Year Contract With Phils

DALLAS (AP) — Relief pitcher Tug McGraw, one of the stars for the world champion Philadelphia Phillies in both the National League playoffs and the World Series, agreed to a four-year contract with the Phillies Sunday, the club announced at the major league baseball winter meetings.

McGraw, who had become a free agent following last season, telephoned his acceptance of a pact estimated at $1.6 million from a racetrack near Harrisburg, Pa. He called Phillies personnel director Paul Owens to confirm he would sign the contract worked out over the past month.

McGraw, 36, said the first three years of the contract were guaranteed, while the fourth year was partially guaranteed.

McGraw pitched in all five games of the NL championship series against Houston, posting an 0-1 record but saving two games as the Phillies beat the Western Division champion Astros 3-2 in the best-of-five set.

The left-hander was 1-1 with two saves in the six-game triumph over the American League champion Kansas City Royals in the World Series.

McGraw, a 14-year major league veteran who came to the Phillies from the New York Mets in 1974, has a 1980 season record of 5-4 with 20 saves and a 1.47 earned run average.

Owens said the agreement actually was finalized Saturday morning, and he was merely waiting for McGraw's acceptance to make the announcement.

In the free agent, reentry draft, McGraw had not been selected by any team. He said Sunday, however, that he could have pursued feelers from five or six clubs if he had not come to terms with the Phillies.

McGraw, who originally sought a four-year, $2 million contract, said he and the Phillies closed the gap over the last several days.

“It just seemed to happen overnight," McGraw said by telephone from Penn National racetrack. "I am extremely pleased to be able to stay in Philadelphia. The most important point is that I can play the rest of my career with the Phillies."

"The contract is as good as I ever hoped for."

McGraw said his deal was hammered out within the Phillies' desired salary structure. "It didn't go against the (financial) policy they have worked out over recent years," he said.

Owens said the key to the settlement was deferment money McGraw wanted down the line for his children's education.

"He wanted to stay in Philadelphia and we wanted him, and we found a mutual ground for agreement," said Owens, who confirmed that the pitcher also would receive a signing bonus.

McGraw came off the disabled list July 17, and from there to the end of the season he compiled a 5-1 record with 13 saves in 33 games, pitching 521-3 innings and giving up just three earned runs. His ERA for that time was 0.52. He also was instrumental in helping the Phillies win two out of three in the final series of the season against Montreal to wrap up the NL East title.

Phils Announce Price Increases

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The better seats in Veterans Stadium will cost 50 cents more this coming baseball season, the Philadelphia Phillies announced Monday.

Ticket prices will increase in the 200, 300, 500 and 600 levels, the National League club said. The 200 level box seats will go from $6.50 to $7, the 300 and 500 level boxes from $5.50 to $6, and the reserved seats on the 600 level from $4.50 to $5.

General admission seats for adults, $2.50, and children under 14, 50 cents, and 700 level reserved seats, $4, will not be affected.

The World Champion Phillies will meet the Reds Cincinnati April 8 in the traditional first game of in the National League.

The Phillies will help the Cardinals open St. Louis April 11 and then will open their season in own home season April 13 against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first of a three-game set.

Tug McGraw Day, Phils Week Set in January by Atlantic City (excerpt)

S.J. Side Lines

Atlantic City has declared the week of Jan. 12 as Phillies week in honor of the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies. Jan. 14 has been declared Tug McGraw Day.

A celebrity roast for McGraw will be held at Resorts International Hotel Casino Jan.14. The event, which is open to the public, will be attended by McGraw's current and former teammates as well as radio and television sportscasters.

Proceeds from the Phillies will benefit the New Jersey Arthritis Foundation. For tickets, call 344-XXXX.

Semi-Pro Scheduled

The 15th Bridgeton Invitational Semi-Pro Baseball Tournament has been scheduled for Aug. 7-22. Games will be held at Alden Field, Burt Ave., Bridgeton.

Tug McGraw, Lonnie Smith and Sparky Lyle were discussed as possible celebrities to be invited. It was also decided Phillies Manager Dallas Green and General Manager Paul Owens would be honored at this time.

Unser Signs With Phillies

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Veteran outfielder and pinch-hitter Del Unser has signed a two-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, the National League team announced Monday.

Unser, 36, was a key player in the Phillies' battle for the World Championship last season. He batted .400 with two key hits in the NL Championship Series against the Houston Astros and then went 3-for-6 with two RBI in the World Series against Kansas City.

A veteran of 13 major league seasons, Unser has been the team's top pinch hitter during the last two years, totaling 26 hits, a .310 batting average and 20 RBI.

Unser had opted for free agency for the second time following the 1980 season, during which he hit .264.

He had been a free agent following a 1978 season with Montreal. The Phillies signed Unser during spring training the following year.