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.