Camden Courier Post - December 1980

Dodgers’ Howe selected top rookie

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Lefthander Steve Howe, latest of sports' baby-faced assassins, came up to the Los Angeles Dodgers not even listed on their roster and proceeded to become the National League's Rookie of the Year yesterday.

He was cool, calm and collected during the baseball season yet even his wife, Cindy, said she didn't expect her 22-year-old husband to be in the big leagues this season.

Injuries to Terry Forster and Don Stanhouse left an opening in the Dodgers' bullpen and Howe filled the bill to an extent that second baseman Davey Lopes said, "I think he was the most valuable player on the Dodger team. He was our bullpen."

Howe, from the University of Michigan, posted a relatively unimposing 5-7 record but he had 17 saves and that was most imposing.

"I'm not going out to the mound and be in a we of anyone," Howe said at a news conference celebrating his selection by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Howe gained 80 points in the BBWAA voting to top Montreal's Bill Gullickson, 53, and the Phillies' Lonnie Smith, 49.

He admitted to being surprised that he was mentioned in a possible trade package to the Boston Red Sox for outfielder Fred Lynn in the event the Dodgers' Dusty Baker became a free agent.

"I got on the phone and told Dusty he'd better sign because it had taken me a long time to get out of the cold country," Howe said with a smile.

Baker did sign and the trade talk stopped.

Almost everybody had expected Howe to be with the Dodgers' farm club at Albuquerque after he was 6-2 at San Antonio in 1979, his first year in organized baseball.

He went to the Dodgers' spring camp and with Forster on the disabled list, Howe won a job. Before his stint at San Antonio, his credentials included being the all-time winningest pitcher at Michigan with a 27-8 record.

"I depended mainly on my fast ball," he said. "I changed up on a few people but mainly it was learning where to throw the fast ball. I hadn't relieved before, so I really didn't know what to expect."

Howe became the second straight Dodgers pitcher to win the rookie honors – Rick Sutcliffe being the top NL rookie in 1979.

"I never expected at the beginning of the year to be with the team at all," Howe said. "But all the people worked with me and helped me and kind of carried me through."

He said he was happy to be returning to the Dodgers and "I'm not thinking about whether I will be starting or relieving. "With all the rumors going around, I'm just happy to be a Dodger."

He said the biggest influence to his success were his fellow players, and "I learned a lot in the course of the season."

Lopes would come in from second base with frequent advice.

"Davey was always at the mound to help," Howe said. "If he spotted something I was doing wrong, he'd tell me. One day after Joe Morgan hit a home run for Houston, Davey told me I had thrown a pitch he would hit. That time it was too late."

Lopes pointed out, "He has a tremendous aptitude and didn't make the same mistake twice. Had it not been for Steve Howe, we'd have been third instead of in a playoff for the West title. To me, he was our most valuable player."

The Dodgers, who tied Houston for the West title, lost in a single game playoff.

Phillies’ Tug McGraw does another relief job

MEDIA, Pa. (AP) – Autographs from Tug McGraw were free, but it was "a buck for a liplock" with the' World Champion Phillies ace reliever.

McGraw stayed here nearly three hours yesterday to help collect money, food and clothing to be sent to earthquake victims in Italy.

The crowds lined up for a chance to smooch McGraw and the kisses alone generated $369.51 for survivors of the Nov. 23 earthquake that killed almost 3,000 people and left an estimated 265,000 homeless.

The Phillies donated six autographed baseballs, which brought $148 on the auction block, from $20 to $27 each, purchased mostly as Christmas gifts for grandchildren.

"If there's an earthquake here, they’ll send us some autographed meatballs," McGraw quipped.

McGraw was invited by Media publisher Carl Mau, who organized the relief effort and hired a moving van which will be parked outside the Delaware County Courthouse until 6 p.m, tonight to collect goods.

A constant stream of cars delivered bags containing clothing, some food and medical supplies for the past two days. The van was practically full by late Tuesday.

A team of volunteers, headed by Helen Passaro of Media, packed the goods into boxes for shipment overseas. "People have come to deliver things and stayed and worked an hour or two," she said.

Athletes Speak Out rally listed Dec. 11

DEVON, Pa. – Top players from the Phillies, Eagles and 76ers will take part in the second annual Athletes Speak Out Rally here Dec. 11, 7:15 p.m., in the Valley Forge Music Fair.

The rally is being sponsored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Tickets and other information are available by telephoning 215-XXX-XXXX.

Eagles players scheduled to appear include Randy Logan, Charlie Smith, Keith Krepfle, Wilbert Montgomery, Harold Carmichael, Max Runager, Rob Hertel, Richard Blackmore, Roynell Young, Brenard Wilson and Herman Edwards. The Phillies are expected to be represented by Bob Boone and Garry Maddox and the 76ers by Bobby Jones, Doug Collins and Julius Erving.

Phillies given pay deadline by McGraw

PHILADELPHIA – Tug McGraw, whose relief pitching helped the Phillies win the 1980 World Series, says his contract negotiations have reached a critical stage.

"I'm going to wait until the end of next week and then it'll be the Tug McGraw Traveling Show," McGraw said Friday. ''But my preference would be to sign with the Phillies as soon as possible."

McGraw said the Phillies haven't met his salary demands, although he has lowered them "several times."

McGraw was not picked in the free agent re-entry draft, partially because he made it known he wanted to stay here.

Initially, he reportedly wanted a $2 million four-year contract. Although he has revised that figure, McGraw hinted other clubs seem agreeable to it.

McGraw signs contract to remain with Phillies

By Bob Kenney, Courier-Post Sports Editor

DALLAS – Tug McGraw is a showman in the truest Hollywood tradition.

The hero of the Phillies' late drive to the world championship stole the spotlight here yesterday as baseball opened its 79th , winter meetings.

McGraw, as flamboyant off the field as he is relieving pressure packed games, interrupted an informal press gathering with a long distance, phone call to accept his contract.

"I've been at the race track all afternoon," McGraw told Paul Owens, director of player of personnel for the Phillies. "I need some fast cash so I can agree to terms."

THE 36-YEAR OLD McGraw was unhittable after Labor Day as he pitched almost daily for Manager Dallas Green down the stretch. He saved both showdown games in Montreal that clinched the Eastern Division title, appeared in all five playoff games as the Phillies defeated Houston, then wrapped up the World Series with some dramatic strikeouts against the Kansas City Royals. He was 1-1 in the Series with two saves.

After returning from a bout with tendinitis, McGraw was 5-1 over the last 33 games where he allowed just three runs in 52 innings, saving 13 of those games.

When the veteran lefthander indicated he wanted to become a free agent last month, the Phillies gave him their blessing. But no other major league team was willing to take a chance on him and his $2 million price tag.

Yesterday, the Phillies rewarded their flaky meal ticket, welcoming him back into the fold with a contract estimated at $1.6 million.

"IT'S FOR three years and a half," said Owens. "He gets a guarantee for three years. It gives Tug what he deserves and gives Dallas a pretty damn good bullpen.

"He wanted to sign with us and we wanted to keep him. It just took some time."

McGraw appeared in 57 games with the Phillies during the season, finishing with a 5-4 record with 20 saves. Lifetime, he is 87-84 with 152 saves, the most by any National League pitcher.

"Right now I feel on top of the world," said McGraw. "I called a few clubs and asked how much interest they had in me, but I told them I didn't want to get into playing one team against the other. I went across the top of the table."

McGRAW'S signing and the conf irmation of terms between the St. Louis Cardinals and free agent Darrell Porter, the former Kansas City Royal All-Star, were the only items of business as baseball's brass began arriving for the official start of the meetings this morning.

The signing of Porter, who has played at least 117 games the past eight years, should be a catalyst which opens up a predicted rash of major trades.

St. Louis, which was talking trade because it could not play two star catchers – Ted Simmons and Junior Kennedy – now has three to work with.

Obviously General Manager Whitey Herzog did not sign Porter without having something in mind for field Manager Whitey Herzog. The Cardinals are ready to deal.

THE SAN DIEGO Padres, who almost completed the trade at the World Series, have offered Rollie Fingers, Bob Shirley and Gene Tenace to St. Louis for a deal involving Kennedy.

Herzog, though, is in no hurry. He came here with some excess talent such as 1979 co-MVP Keith Hernandez and slick fielding third baseman Ken Reitz.

With the right moves, the hitting heavy Cardinals could close the gap on the Phillies in the Naitonal League East.

"We're listening, we're listening," said Herzog, who is dealing from strength. Good hitting catchers are a rare item in baseball today.

The lobby of the Anatole Hotel is alive with rumors and baseball's wheeler-dealers are holding meetings everywhere.

The Houston Astros traded third baseman Enos Cabell and a player to be named later to the San Fran-cisco Giants this morning in exchange for left-handed pitcher Bob Knepper and minor league outfielder Chris Bourjos.

Knepper, 26, had a 9-16 record with a 4.10 earned run average for the Giants in 1980 and adds a lefthander to the pitching-rich Astros' staff, which added free-agent righthander Don Sutton last Wednesday.

Cabell hit .276 with two home runs and 55 runs batted in for Houston.

General Manager Al Rosen of the Astros said that Art Howe, who played first base for Houston's National League West champions last season, would switch to third to replace Cabell. The Astros also said Howe had signed a three-year contract. In another move, Houston said it would not sign veteran second baseman Joe Morgan for 1981. Morgan, 37, signed as a free agent with Houston last winter after a brilliant career with the Cincinnati Reds. He batted .243 with 11 homers and 49 RBI and was a sparkplug in the final weeks of the season as the Astros drove for their first division title.

Phils could trade familiar faces

By Bob Kenney, Courier-Post Sports Editor

DALLAS – Don't be surprised if the Phillies come home from baseball winter meetings without some very familiar faces.

Although the world champions insist they have nothing in mind, the meetings this week could mark the end of some long careers in the Philadelphia pin stripes.

"We're not peddling players," insisted Paul Owens, the guy who built his championship team starting with some heavy trading in 1972. "But we don't want get into another 1950 situation."

If that sounds like a warning of things to come, it should. After the Phillies won the pennant in 1950, owner Bob Carpenter felt obligated to keep his players. He let his veterans grow old and worthless and never saw his team finish first again.

Branch Rickey, the crafty old baseball genius who invented the farm system, always felt it was better, to unload a player a year too early. It is exactly what Owens has in mind.

"It is an organizational problem," Owens said yesterday as he dis cussed his team's future. "You have to do what is best for the organization."

That means veterans like Greg Luzinski, slipping at 29, and Larry Bowa, a step slower at 35, could be wearing different uniforms next spring. Bowa will only go if the Phillies manage to steal Ivan DeJesus away from the Chicago Cubs.

Luzinski is more likely to go.

"We know what Bull has done for the organization," said Owens. "He's always been a big part of any success I've had since taking over. But we've got to decide if movement can better the organization."

Translated, that means Owens is willing to talk and willing to trade.

Manager Dallas Green was even more emphatic.

"We didn't have him last year," said Green. "He only gave us a month and a half. He hit 15 home runs in six weeks and four after that.”

It is Green's contention that Luzinski has to get in shape and stay in shape if he is to help the Phillies.

"Last year should have shown him what he can do," said Green, who doesn't see eye-to-eye with the Bull and doesn't hide it. "If he is not willing to work hard, he can't help us, really."

Translated, that means Green is anxious to talk and anxious to trade.

In Brief:  Coaches rehired

The world champion Phillies have rehired coaches Billy DeMars, Bobby Wine, Herm Starrette, Mike Ryan, Lee Elia and Reuben Amaro... Czechoslovakia completed a 4-1 victory over Italy in the final of the 1980 Davis Cup series... Wendy Turnbull of Australia won the New South Wales Building Society Women's Tennis Open in Australia, fighting off seven match points and outlasting young American Pam Shriver 3-6, 6-4, 7-6... Steve Molnar, running the Jersey Shore Marathon in Asbury Park for the third time, won the race with a time of 2 hours, 17 minutes and 29 seconds. Maddy Harmeling was the women's champion... Arnold Palmer sank a seven-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole to defeat Paul Harney and win the 42nd PGA National Seniors Championship in North Miami... Doug Scovil, offensive coordinator at Brigham Young University, arrived in San Diego and all but confirmed that he will replace Claude Gilbert as head football coach of the San Diego State Aztecs.

Phils’ trades may shake up outfield

By Ray W. Kelly of the Courier-Post

PHILADELPHIA – Phillies General Manager Paul Owens is doing his Christmas shopping early. And, before he's finished, a new look for the Phils' outfield may be coming down the chimney.

Two separate trades are on the fire. If the first one, which is "close," is made, it would trigger a second deal that would probably send left fielder Greg Luzinski to the American League.

After shopping around here yesterday at the winter meetings, Owens, Manager Dallas Green and Phillies super-scout Hugh Alexander came away from a session with the Milwaukee Brewers with a look of expectation in their eyes.

The Brewers have two outfielders, Sixto Lezcano and Gorman Thomas, both of whom would fit into current speculation that the Phils want to add throwing power to right field.

Lezcano is the man the Phils like better. And, if he's obtained in a swap that would send Randy Lerch and Dickie Noles to the bullpen-hungry Brewers, the Phils would shift Bake McBride to left, there to be platooned with young Lonnie Smith.

Some additional names are dropping into the conversation between the two clubs. But, the bottom line is that it would ultimately leave Luzinski out in the cold with no position to play.

Luzinski causes mixed emotions among the Phillies' hierarchy. Some folks think it would be a mistake to let his powerful bat get out of town, while others feel additional speed and defense will continue the successful trend the team demonstrated last season.

One thing is certain. A trade with the Brewers would add the offensive punch the Phils hoped to find when they came here. Plus, the market value of The Bull would enable the Phils to pick up the extra starting pitcher they have been seeking.

One National League club and three teams in the American League have made tempting offers of pitching help in exchange for Luzinski.

"I'm picking and choosing for the first time in my life," said the much-sought-after Owens. "It's like I'm hand-picking my Christmas gifts.”

Winning the world championship does wonders for the value of players, a fact that gives Owens the air of a man convinced that he's going to do something big. And it's going to be on his terms.

The Brewers would probably prefer to include Thomas rather than Lezcano even though Thomas' 1980 season of a .239 batting average with 38 homers and 105 RBIs surpassed Lezcano's disappointing season of a .229 average with 55 RBIs and 18 homers.

Thomas, you see, is a big swinger who struck out 170 times last season. Lezcano is a more consistent hitter, who simply got into trouble last year by trying to swing for the fences.

Both are outstanding outfielders, one of whom, if the Phils have their way, would be combined in a package deal with either outfielder Dick Davis or infielder Jim Gantner, a lefty swinger. The Phils feel either player would help their bench offensively and may be willing to throw infielder Jay Loviglio into the deal to make it complete.

The Brewers, who are determined to get help for their staggering relief corps, are also getting some interesting inquiries from the Houston Astros, who also want Lezcano and are willing to give up pitcher Bob Forsch to get him.

It is expected the Phils will move on the deal within the next two days, if they are to do it at all. And part of the delay is the realization that the added competition in the outfield will cause Manager Green added headaches.

Neither McBride. nor Smith will be thrilled with the prospects of being platooned, but they would have to learn to live with it, because Owens made it clear that Bake isn't going anywhere.

"We never even talked about Bake, and we won't," said the Pope, "Bake may be longer with the Phillies than me."

The idea of sharing the left field duties becomes even more complicated when you realize that if Luzinski ends up with the club next year, there was an understanding that catcher Keith Moreland was going to see some action in the outfield.

Moreland, who doesn't want to , leave the Phils but is having trouble with the prospect of another year backing up Bob Boone, was hoping to get into about 120 games simply by spotting both Boone and Luzinski.

If we get an abundance of outfielders, I'm right, back where I started with Keith's problems,.'' Owens said. "Sure, I could move (trade) him, but I don't want to do that. Dallas is going to have a problem keeping people happy."

One person the Phils are worried about keeping happy is lefthander Lerch, whose 97 mph fastball still interests a number of clubs.

"I'm not surprised by that," said Green. "He's got the physical talent. And, people (in baseball) realize that he has worn out his welcome in Philadelphia.

"A trade involving Lerch would : not be contingent upon any trade for Bull, but it would allow us to do it."

In other words, the entire outfield realignment will come in two parts and be made separately, even though they are Interwoven.

The interest in Philly players was a much needed lift for the Phillies' , brass, which was upset by losing four minor leaguers earlier in the day during the draft.

The loss of top outfield prospect - Jorge Bell to the Toronto Blue Jays hurt the most. In 1979, before hurting his back, the 21-year-old led the Western League in triples (15) and RBIs (102), while he finished third in the league with a .305 batting average.

Righthander Jim Wright will be continuing his comeback as a member of the Kansas City organization. The 6-6, 220-pounder is about a year away from returning to his dazzling form on the mound.

'The St Louis Cardinals plucked catcher Orlando Sanchez out Of the draft. And, the Chicago White Sox took pitcher Carlo Arroyo to complete the four-player, first-round plunder of the Oklahoma City team.

"That hurt all of us," said Green. "But we all felt better when the Pope stood up and said, "Boys, I can make a deal right now, just by picking up the phone."

He can. And chances are, he will.

Anxious Blue Jays covet Phils’ talent

By Ray W. Kelly of the Courier-Post

If nothing else, the Phillies have to admire the Toronto Blue Jays' delegation to these winter baseball meetings. They've got guts.

One day, they're giving the Phils a hotfoot by abducting one of the finest prospects in the world champions' organization. And the next, they're knocking on the door and asking if the Phils would like to give up people like Keith Moreland, Marty Bystrom and Luis Aguayo.

“I’m beginning to get the feeling that Toronto knows our organization as well as we do," said General Manager Paul Owens, who is waiting to hear from the Milwaukee Brewers about the trade involving Randy Lerch and Dickie Noles in exchange for rightfielder Sixto Lezcano.

“We don't make the other deal (Greg Luzinski for a starting pitcher) until the Brewers finish listening to other teams and decide," he said.

In the meantime, the Blue Jays provided some interesting diversions. They have a pair of front-line pitchers who interest the Phils. There are righthanders Jim Clancy (13-16) and Dave Stieb (12-15), both of , whom are desired as power-pitchers who could win consistently with the Phils.

Toronto has embarked on a total youth movement and is well aware of which team is loaded with prospects. Naturally, they wanted to talk about the Phillies' best.

It was not exactly music to the ears of Manager Dallas Green. When asked if a trade might be in the making, he just shook his head and said, "Not so far, not with the people they're mentioning."

Owens just smiles. He knows what it's like to be ambitious and hustling for an edge in the player market. Which is why he was both upset and ready to tip his cap to the Blue Jays following what can best be described as the Jorge Bell caper.

Bell is a young outfield sensation who hit over .300 for three years running before straining his back in the middle of Oklahoma City's 1980 season. With no room to hide him on their 40-man roster, the Phils decided to do the next best thing. They would try to make the 21-year-old invisible.

He was sent to his native Dominican Republic to rest, with strict orders being issued to the scout running a baseball team down there that under no circumstance was Jorge to play baseball in public.

As an added thought, word was leaked into the grapevine just prior to the minor league draft (held at these meetings) that the kid was going to have to return to Philly for further medical examination and possible treatment.

Phils breathed a sigh of relief when a certain National League club stopped its threatening inquiries about Bell and filled its 40-man roster prior to the draft. But, Toronto was sneaking around to the back door.

They sent a scout to find Jorge, but all they wanted to know was how healthy he looked. Well, he looked fine.

The rest became history, Monday afternoon. The stunned and hurting Phils came away from the draft admitting the Blue Jays certainly didn't lack initiative.

They obviously aren't lacking for gall, either. At a meeting yesterday, they threw out several names: Bystrom, the best young arm in the Phils' system; Julio Franco, the kid expected to replace Larry Bowa in 1982 and perhaps surpass him as a shortstop; outfielder Wil Culmer, a 6-4 powerhouse with world-class speed who is converting from softball to baseball; and infielder Jay Loviglio and outfielder Bob Dernier, both speedy blue chippers as well as established future stars like Moreland and Aguayo.

The Phils, of course, aren't buying any of it. Although you can almost guess the satisfaction Owens would get out of eventually hustling the Blue Jays or another club out of a solid, starting pitcher in exchange for some of the prospects who don't figure in Jhe future plans of the Phillies.

"We talked to three or four other clubs today... preliminary stuff," said Owens, who expects the San Francisco Giants to renew their interest in Greg Luzinski.

So much at this point, however, centers on whether other teams outbid the Phils in their negotiations with Milwaukee. For example, Houston is after Lezcano and the Mets are after the other Brewer outfielder, Gorman Thomas.

"In the meantime, Toronto keeps asking about young infielders and Moreland. They want Keith badly. A lot of clubs do, including the Reds. But, it's difficult to think of giving him up."

What it's all coming down to, however, is the realization by the Phillies that a steady influx of young talent is the key to being a pennant contender in the future. A logjam at the top cannot be allowed.

An overflow of youngsters was allowed to take place while the Phillies system was producing the current crop of quality rookies. One of the reasons Howie Bedell, an assistant to Green, was fired after the World Series is that system had become bloated with almost 50 extra players. Some ' screening, judging of talent and eventual trimming should have been done.

"You've got to skim the cream off the top for yourself," explained Owens. "And, you've got to keep making room for that cream."

Shuffling Cards keep Phils holding pat hand

By Ray W. Kelly of the Courier-Post

DALLAS – Having established themselves as trading kingpins of the winter baseball meetings, the St. Louis Cardinals are now in the process of dashing the hopes of the Phillies.

Talks with the Milwaukee Brewers have come to a screeching halt as a result of yet another blockbuster offer by the Cards, who appear willing to cure the pitching and catching woes of the Brewers by giving them all-star catcher Ted Simmons, ace reliever Rollie Fingers and starter Pete Vukovich in exchange for Sixto Lezcano, Larry Sor-renson and Jim Gantner.

The Phils, who had hoped to make Lezcano their rightfielder and Gantner their extra infielder in exchange for pitchers Randy Lerch and Dickie Noles, can forget it if the rumors are true.

Already the rather glum Phils are looking elsewhere for a deal. And, ironically, their next move, may be dictated by free agent outfielder Dave Winfield.

Both the Mets and Yankees are eager to open their cash registers to Winfield just for the privilege of putting him in a New York uniform. Considering the relative talent of the two teams, one would think the Mets don't stand a chance.

But the Mets seem to think they have the inside track, having offered Winfield not only the financial moon, but also a promise that they would surround him with some top talent.

That's where Greg Luzinski and the Phillies come into the picture. A trade involving the Bull would most likely be expanded – the Phils adding Lerch to the transaction while the Mets would be required to make hard-throwing reliever Neil Allen the clincher in the deal that would include outfielder Joel Youngblood.

Winfield is the key because he knows that if he is simply added to the Mets' batting order next year, opposing pitchers will surely "pitch around him," thereby making it impossible for him to have a good year at the plate and help the Mets.

Thus, the promise of management to acquire hitters who would bat in front and behind Winfield in the batting order and pose enough of a threat to force the opposition to pitch Winfield honestly.

Luzinski is one of the few sluggers in baseball who not only fits the bill, but is also available at the reasonable price.

"Right now, we're just in the preliminary stages of talks with the Mets," said Owens, who has obviously made up his mind to trade Luzinski if at all possible.

"The Mets have interest in Ball and Lerch," he added. "Yes, we've always liked Youngblood, who could play for us and give us a strong throwing arm in right field. Bake (McBride), of course, would be move to left field, if such a deal was made."

All dealings have just about come to a halt as a result of the Cardinals' efforts to complete the restructuring of their team. And the lull will probably continue until St. Louis makes its move and frees the other clubs to seek the "second best" offers for their players.

Not that talks aren't continuing. The Phils, for example, had a rather sobering chat with the Toronto Blue Jays, who insist they'd require both Marty Bystrom and top relief prospect Mark Davis before parting with one of their best starting pitchers.

"We turned down the idea of two for one," said Owens. "We felt it was too heavy a price. We told them to get back to us if they had any other thoughts.

"I don't blame them for asking, but I don't think I'd be improving myself with that trade. Bystrom could start for them this year. And I don't think Davis is that far away from the majors. From what out scouts say, Bystrom is as good as anything they've got."

That may not be exactly the case since both Dave Stieb and Jim Clancy of the Brewers have 94 mph fastballs that accounted for 108 and 152 strikeouts, respectively, last season.

So, it's on to the Chicago White Sox, who have some available pitching and a distinct interest in the corps of Phillies' prospects,

And maybe something will work out while the Phillies sit around and talk about how the art of trading baseball players used to be so different.

Like the time former Phillies General Manager John Quinn went to the hotel room of Dodger executive Buzzie Bavasi to talk trade over breakfast.

Pretty soon, it was lunchtime. So, they called room service again and continued to talk and eat. And. when it became dinnertime, they had a third meal sent up.

They talked and talked. Room service was still sending up drinks when a weary Bavasi declared it was 2 a.m., and he didn't care when Quinn did, but he was going to bed.

So, he went into the other room, put on his pajamas and slipped beneath the covers. He was totally exhausted by the marathon talks.

Just as he was about to fall asleep, he heard a noise. Looking up, he saw the equally exhausted Quinn, kicking off his trousers and preparing to climb into the bed.

"All right, John," screamed Bavasi. "You can have the S.O.B.!"

Tug McGraw collects Series bet from Dole

WASHINGTON (AP) – Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Tug McGraw collected a World Series wager on Capitol Hill yesterday and kidded Senator Bob Dole about the ' superiority of Pennsylvania professional sports teams.

The bet was between Dole of Kansas and Senator John Heinz of Pennsylvania, both Republicans. Dole wagered 25 pounds of Kansas steaks against beer and a giant 50-pound soft pretzel from Philadelphia. Heinz, who won when the Phillies beat the Kansas City Royals, four games to two, designated McGraw to pick up the winnings.

"You're going to have to wait many more years to taste one of those pretzels," McGraw joked to Dole.

The Kansas senator told the ace relief pitcher he was happier to see him in person than coming in from the bullpen to snuff out a Kansas City rally.

"We had a great team. You had a better team," Dole said.

McGraw, who has helped raise money to fight multiple sclerosis, said the steaks would be donated to needy children in Philadelphia.

Heinz said the Phillies gave the nation a lesson in overcoming adversity. "If we can work together, we can do the same thing for the country," he said.

McGraw presented Dole and Heinz with official World Series baseballs, Phillies caps and record albums of him narrating "Casey at the Bat."

Boone’s name comes up in trade talks

By Ray W. Kelly of the Courier-Post

DALLAS – While everyone else at these baseball winter meetings thought the Phillies were holding their breath in anticipation of getting outfielder Sixto Lezcano out of the jigsaw trade being hatched between the Cardinals and Brewers, a new name was cropping up – Bob Boone.

It was not the Phils' intention to market their All-Star catcher. At least not when they arrived here. Boone's backup, Keith Moreland, was the obvious target of catcher-hungry clubs.

But, the Cardinals insistence in trying to make what some folks think is a bad trade with Milwaukee keeps altering the picture at what seems like a moment-to-moment clip.

As late as dinnertime last evening, the Phils were still anticipating the opening of a crack in the St. Louis-Milwaukee negotiations. One big enough to allow Lezcano to slip through.

Backup talks with the California Angels, however, suddenly began developing into something quite interesting.

The Angels want a catcher. Moreland seemed the logical choice until California upped the ante, indicating they would give the Phils left fielder Don Baylor, the American League's 1979 Most Valuable Player, if General Manager Paul Owens would agree to make Boone the catcher in the deal.

If there is a hangup to such a trade, it would be Boone's contract, which reportedly includes a loan or loans made to him by the Phillies at low interest rates.

These loans, made in all probability to finance Boone's highly successful racquetball and Nautilus centers in South Jersey, would probably have to be assumed by the Angels or some sort of settlement reached between the two clubs before such a trade could be made.

In all likelihood, the Phils will wait until the Brewers and Cardinals sort out their differences today and decide if Ted Simmons. Is going to be a part of the multi-player package they're hatching.

Simmons wants it all – a cool $1 million for agreeing to go to Milwaukee, plus an agreement that he'll be permitted to catch approximately 100 games rather than simply be a designated hitter.

His insistence at being in the catcher's position for so many games is reportedly the reason the Baltimore Orioles withdrew an offer for Simmons in which they would have given up pitchers Dave Ford and Sammy Stewart, plus outfielder Gary Roenicke.

That left St. Louis with reportedly two different deals with the Brewers. The first one would include Simmons, reliever Rollie Fingers and pitcher Pete Vuckovich. They would go to the Brewers in exchange for right fielder Lezcano, starting pitcher Lary Sorenson, number one pitching prospect David Green and another minor league hopeful.

If the Simmons part of the deal is made even more complicated by his contract, the second deal would come into play – Simmons would come out of the negotiations and Lezcano's name would also be withdrawn.

That's what the Phillies are anticipating because they really aren't thrilled with the idea of losing Boone, even though there is every reason to expect that Baylor will come back from his injury-riddled season and regain his stature as a home run hitter to be feared.

Lezcano, who is not in Baylor's league as a power hitter, but is twice the defensive player, was prized enough by the Phils far them to offer the Brewers pitchers Randy Lerch, Dickie Noles, Ron Reed and Scott Munninghoff if they would give him up.

"That's a good deal for the Brewers, who are hurting for pitching,” said Owens. "But, if the Brewers can get a top reliever, like Fingers and also acquire a hitter like; Simmons... well, we can't compete with that offer."

The general consensus here is that the Brewers should make the Cardinal deal and leave town before the Cardinals change their minds. Unfortunately, the quality of the St. Louis offer has Milwaukee officials thinking teams like the Phils will follow suit.

For example, in their negotiations with Owens they've consistently demanded one of the two top pitching prospects in the National League, Marty Bystrom or Mark Davis, be made available by the Phils in order to obtain Lezcano.

The Phillies, of course, aren't about to go that far. They want to get a first-rate throwing arm for right field, thereby allowing them to platoon Bake McBride and Lonnie Smith in left field. But, if the price is too high, they'll settle for a slugger like Baylor, who can bat behind Mike Schmidt, thereby freeing the Phils to trade Greg Luzinski.

Word is that the Chicago Cubs are interested in putting together a package trade. They'd send pitcher Rick Reuschel (11-13) and outfielder Jerry Martin to the Phils in exchange for Luzinski, Luis Aguayo and Jay Loviglio.

Out on the fringes of the major talks, the Atlanta Braves are making faint noises like they wouldn't mind sending outfielder Garry Matthews to Philly in exchange for Larry Christenson or Bob Walk.

Meanwhile, the Mets continue to push for Randy Lerch and the Blue Jays continue to pray that Owens will suddenly take leave of all his senses and give them either Moreland, Bystrom or Davis in a trade for either Jim Clancy or Dave Stieb, both hotshot, strikeout pitchers.

Lots of teams, lots of possibilities, lots of waiting and lots of names. But, the name that raised eyebrows late last night was a new one – Bob Boone.

Pace slows at meetings

By Bob Kenney, Courier-Post Sports Editor

DALLAS – There was neither quality nor quantity at the major league baseball meetings here yesterday.

After three days of major trades featuring all-star players, the meetings produced only minor moves involving such well traveled veterans as catcher Cliff Johnson and pitcher John D'Acquisto.

The owners' finished the business portion of the week-long convention and talent-swapping by vetoing the proposed sale of the Chicago White Sox, extending the contract of National League President Charles Feeney and changing the American League's designated hitter rule.

FEENEY'S CONTRACT was extended three years through the 1983 season and the long-time National League boss was given a substantial raise and a bonus.

The change in the baseball rules was a slap at some late season strategy employed by Baltimore Manager Earl Weaver. The Orioles were listing a pitcher as the designated hitter to permit Weaver the luxury of making a choice of batters when the DH was finally due to hit.

The move gave Weaver a few extra innings to make a decision, but it was driving the record keepers crazy. "More than anything else, it fouled up the statistics," said Vince Neuss of the Commissioner's Office.

It won't be a problem any longer. From now on, the starting DH must bat.

"UNLESS THE starting pitcher has been removed, the starting designated hitter must bat at least once," the new rule says.

Subject to approval' by the players, the rule will be instituted this spring and Weaver's little strategy ploy has been foiled.

The trading situation trickled to almost nothing as owners and their field managers met in small groups to discuss 11th-hour deals. The winter inter-league trading deadline is midnight local time tonight.

"Like most other teams, we'd like to do a few things," said Jim Fregosi, the California Angels manager who acquired all-star shortstop Rick Burleson from the Red Sox Wednesday night. "I think there will be some more biggies."

THE PHILLIES were talking with the Milwaukee Brewers, Angels and Atlanta Braves. The St. Louis Cardinals were very near another major trade, this one involving all-star catcher Ted Simmons and the Brewers.

But the actual deals were at a much lower level.

D'Acquisto, who has been with four National League clubs, moved into the American League when the Angels signed him as a free agent. Although he was 2-5 with the Montreal Expos last year and 9-13 with San Diego the year before, D'Acquisto received a four-year contract from the Angels.

"He has an excellent arm," said Fregosi. "I like the way he-throws the fast ball."

"I'M GOING to a club I feel I can really help," D'Acquisto said. "That means a lot to me."

Oakland Manager Billy Martin reacquired Johnson by sending minor league pitcher Mike King to the Chicago Cubs.

"I hated to give up a young kid like King," said Martin. "But this gives us the added punch we need."

Johnson hit only .235 for the Chicago club but managed 10 home runs.

"We are delighted to get King," said a Cub spokesman. "He was selected No. 4 in the draft last year."

He also was 0-4 in five games for the Athletics' Ogden farm club.

Phillies’ role not all dark

By Ray W. Kelly of the Courier-Post

DALLAS – At the stroke of midnight last evening, baseball's glittering bandwagon turned back into a pumpkin and the curtain came down on the gala, mid-winter trading ball.

The Phillies, World Series Cinderellas just a short time ago, didn't even get asked to dance, the other trade-less wallflowers being the Mets, Dodgers and Orioles.

First reaction for the Phils would be to check their breath and deodorant, a good idea for a team that spent a week strolling down the primrose path listening to the heavy breathing of executives on the make, only to wind up going home with the newspaper.

It's not like Paul Owens & Co. walked in out of the rain wearing a sack dress with the potatoes still inside. They had enough to offer in the way of enticements: Greg Luzinski, Randy Lerch, Ron Reed, Dickie Knowles, an array of promising youngsters and, if the discussions got really hot and heavy, catcher Bob Boone.

But, they never figured the St. Louis Cardinals came on like Mae West and doing a roster strip-tease that had everyone waiting their turn to go up and see them sometime.

With player assets such as Ted Simmons' and Rollie Fingers to flaunt, small wonder the Cardinals looked like the Playmate of the Year in comparison to the competition.

Not that the Phillies didn't get anything accomplished. For, this is not the Last Tango in Dallas. Seeds of trades sown here may be able to blossom right up until the waning days of spring training, thanks to a readjustment of the inter-league trading period.

It would be surprising, for example, if Lerch and Reed aren't transplanted by then, if and when Toronto stops dreaming of grandeur, the Mets break their streak of talking trade like they were the Yankees and the White Sox escape the ownership tangle that has them tripping all over themselves.

The Mets are like the, guy wearing a checked suit, striped tie and white socks who sends a beer to Miss America's table and expects her to jump at the chance to spend the weekend at his dump.

They ask the Phils about Luzinski and Bake McBride. Then, in the same breath, insist that they couldn't possibly part with pitchers Neil Allen or Jeff Reardon.

Cincinnati rides around in the dented Big Red Machine hollering things like, "Heeeeey, what's happening? How about if we go for a ride and you give me Keith Moreland for nothing?"

And, while the big spenders are spending millions of dollars on "tens" like Dave Winfield and "fives" like John D'Acquistq, the Chicago Cubs keep rummaging through their pockets in search of last week's lunch money.

When the great Cardinal-Brewer romance made right fielder Sixto Lezcano something less than available, the Phillies took up with the California Angeles in hopes of getting slugger Don Baylor.

Boone was to be a part of that deal, but when the Angeles read the medical reports on their current catcher Brian Downing, they were so conflicting that it was decided to wait until spring training before anything was to be decided.

Which brings us to the question, would the Phillies have been better off staying home and watching Love Boat?

Not at all. The meetings probably gave them the extra shove they needed to sign reliever Tug McGraw. Plus, it gave the Phils an opportunity to prove to right fielder McBride that, for all his paranoia about always being traded, they have no intention of even mentioning his name in the trade market.

The same appears to be true about youngsters Bystrom and Davis, the pitching foundation of the next Phillies generation. They aren't going anyplace.

Now, Del Unser may be another matter, since the Phils used the occasion to give him a bit of a slap in the face. "If he doesn't want to play for us, the hell with him," said Owens, who may change his mind after being unable to pick up a replacement as part of several deals he had hoped to make.

What people should realize, however, is that even though the championship didn't boost the value of players as much as the Phils had hoped, this is a team that isn't going back to floor-scrubbing in the kitchen.

They remain number one, a distinction they reached by the slimmest of margins. The hope was that they could improve enough to win it all "walking away" next year. But, if they have to squeak by again, so be it.

If there is a bottom line to the Phillies' participation (or lack of it) at these meetings, it's this – the drop ping of player's names during last year's trade talks ruffled some feathers, but also created an atmosphere that discouraged complacency.

"We've got plenty of time," said Owens. "We're not the ones down here who had to make a trade. In the old days, the Phillies were the ones that had to do something, Not anymore."

Now, it's clubs like the Mets, who went pushing toward the midnight hour knowing that if they don't make a trade, the media and the fans will be giving them a rough time.

"Heck," one Met executive told The Pope, "if you don't make a trade, they'll probably hold a parade for you. If we don't, we'll probably have to land in Newark.”

Players and agents win as game loses

By Bob Kenney, Courier-Post Sports Editor

DALLAS – It wasn't supposed to be this way.

The major league baseball owners came to the annual winter meetings here this week fully expecting to whip the free-agent madness with a rash of major trades.

There have been several deals, but the inmates still are very much in control of the asylum. While owners and general managers walk around the hotel lobby looking perplexed, the agents run the show.

IN AN effort to solve the problem, many teams announced before the meetings their intention to trade potential free agents a year early.

Boston's Haywood Sullivan came here to unload All-Star shortstop Rick Burleson and all-star center, fielder Fred Lynn. Both said they would file as free agents after the 1981 season.

"We're not going to sit around and lose them," said Sullivan, who dealt Burleson to the California Angels in a five-player trade early in the week.

But moving Lynn has been a different matter.

Jerry Kapstein is his agent and he has his own idea how the system should work.

HE HAS Sullivan, the Red Sox general manager and executive vice president, between a rock and a hard place, and he is applying pressure.

On advice from Kapstein, Lynn is not willing to sign anything but a one-year contract with his new team, whichever one that might be. That news, of course, sent potential buyers for the coat racks.

The New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers had been bidding for Lynn, considered one of the top players in the game.

Actually. The Dodgers shook hands on a deal late Wednesday night.

"WE THOUGHT we had it," said Al Campanis, the LA. vice president. "We worked everything out and shook hands on it. Then we talked to Lynn."

Despite saying for weeks he wanted to play in California, he told the Dodgers he could sign for just one year, then would file as a free agent. That would enable Freddie to sign with the highest bidder and leave the Dodgers with absolutely nothing, including the three players they would have shipped to Boston.

"We have no interest in a one-year pact," Campanis said.

Since Lynn won't sign with the Red Sox and, by not signing a multi-year contract elsewhere, cannot be traded, he is a lame-duck performer in Boston.

WILL HE risk injury by diving for a sinking line drive?

Will he go into second base breaking up a double play quite as hard as he normally would?

It is a situation that can't help baseball. Just one more problem for the game already so tied up in red tape the season could come to a screeching halt once again this spring.

But there is more trouble.

THIS TIME it's agent LaRue Harcourt pulling the strings. He represents Ted Simmons, the superb hitter who earned All-Star catching honors for the St. Louis Cardinals last year.

The veteran hitter was very unhappy with his team, which signed free agent Darrell Porter of Kansas City a few days ago, then followed with a pair of trades that landed much-needed pitching help.

Whitey Herzog, who doubles as general manager and field manager of the Cardinals, was playing a hot hand. "I expect to see you every day," he told reporters. "We're going to do some more things."

That included a biggie with Milwaukee involving Simmons. The trade was viewed as a blockbluster by several teams and the hotel lobby here was alive with anticipation before it was, indeed, completed.

But wait:

As a 10-year player with at least five years with his present club, Simmons had the right to veto any trade.

"MY MAN has had his feelings hurt," Harcourt said in so many words. "Pay up and ease the pain."

St. Louis and the Chicago Cubs came up with $200,000 early in the week to convince third baseman Ken Reitz he would not mind moving from St. Louis to Chicago. Certainly the Cardinals could find some traveling money for Simmons.

They did...

"A million dollars," said Harcourt, who later admitted that demand could be "restructured."

Simmons got nearly that much for okaying the trade, and it could mean the end to player exchanges.

"I REMEMBER when we used to stand in the lobby, exchange names and make a deal," said Hugh Alexander, the super scout who learned his craft from Branch Rickey. "Now you need two lawyers just to read the contracts."

The players are richer.

The agents are richer.

But somebody has to pay the tab. The fan eventually shells out, and the entire game of baseball is quite a bit poorer.

Joseph Roman, 61, scout for Phillies

CHERRY HILL – Services for Joseph Roman, a local scout for the Philadelphia Phillies, will be 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Peter Celestine Church, 402 Kings Highway North, Cherry Hill.

Roman, 61, died yesterday at the Cherry Hill Medical Center.

A former scout for the Kansas City Royals, Mr. Roman conducted area training camps for the Phillies for several years. He also was a purchasing agent for Siemen's Corp, in Cherry Hill.

Before moving to Burlington County, he had lived in Camden for many years.

He is survived by his wife, Alice; a son, Joseph Jr. of Mount Laurel; a daughter, Barbara of Metuchen; and four grandchildren.

Friends may call Monday evening at the Cinoski Funeral Home, 4405 Westfield Ave., Pennsauken.

He will be buried Tuesday at St Joseph's Cemetery, Lower Landing Road, Chews Landing.

Brewers appear top winners in winter trades

By Bob Kenney, Courier-Post Sports Editor

DALLAS – It is far too early to pass judgment, but the Milwaukee Brewers appear to be the big winners as the teams head home from the annual winter baseball meetings.

With a handshake and a million dollars, General Manager Harry Dalton picked up three proven major leaguers and put his Brewers back into contention in the American League East.

Many clubs headed home with improved rosters, as club owners went on the biggest trading binge since 1973, exchanging 65 players in 17 trades,

"These things have to be proven between the foul lines next summer," said Phillies Manager Dallas Green. "But on paper, there were some pretty impressive deals made."

After solving his relief pitching problems, Cardinals' General Manager Whitey Herzog supplied the Brewers with seven-time All-Star catcher Ted Simmons, ace relief pitcher Rollie Fingers and veteran starter Pete Vuckovich.

"This made us a contender," said Dalton, who paid over $900,000 to get Simmons to approve the trade. The Brewers parted with pitcher Lary Sorensen, outfielder Sixto Lezcano and two minor leaguers to get the three Cardinals.

"That deal is a steal for next year," said an American League manager. "But over the long haul, the two kids could turn out to be a factor."

The kids, David Green (called the best player in the Eastern League last year) and David LaPoint, will not help St. Louis this year. But the Cardinals will be helped by the addition of Bruce Sutter, acquired from the Cubs.

Bob Shirley will join Sorenson in the starting rotation and veteran Gene Tenace will serve as catching insurance behind Darrell Porter, the former Kansas City All-Star signed as a free agent.

Other teams sporting new looks after the week-long meetings included the Cubs, Boston Red Sox, California Angels and San Francisco Giants.

Boston boss Haywood Sullivan dealt Rick Burleson, his unsigned All-Star, shortstop, and starting third baseman Butch Hobson to the Angels.

In return, the Red Sox got third baseman Carney Lansford, Rick Miller as outfield insurance and dependable reliever Mark Clear.

"It was quality for quality," said Jim Fregosi, the Angels' manager. "We had to give up a player like Lansford to get two solid infield "starters."

Fregosi also signed free-agent pitchers Geoff Zahn and John D'Acquisto.

Cleveland made the other major American League trade by sending four pitchers for Pittsburgh's pitcher Bert Blyleven and pinchhitter Manny Sanguillen.

The Indians unloaded pitchers Victor Cruz, Rafael Vasquez, Bob Owchinko and reserve catcher Gary Alexander to the Pirates.

The last official trade of the meetings came at 3 a.m. yesterday when the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners finally agreed on an nine-player deal that featured power-hitting Richie Zisk. The Rangers sent four young pitchers and Zisk to Seattle for a package that included starting pitcher Rick Honeycutt, starting shortstop Mario Mandoza, defensive ace Larry Cox, a backup catcher, and reserve outfielder Leon Roberts.

Both San Francisco and Chicago gambled to improve their status in the National League. The Cubs lowered their payroll considerably in a series of trades described as a youth movement by General Manager Bob Kennedy.

"The Cubs will keep losing," said one scout, "but it will be a lot cheaper."

San Francisco Manager Dave Bristol was axed by unemotional owner Bob Lurie the second day of the meetings. "We'll talk about a manager when we get home," said Lurie. Baseball veterans Gene Mauch, Frank Luchessi and Jim Davenport were mentioned as possible replacements.

The Cubs also traded grumbling center fielder Jerry Martin to the Giants. Martin, who hit 23 home runs, and is one of the best center fielders in the league. If he ever gets happy, he could settle down and really help a club.

Not all the clubs traded players. The Mets, Phillies, Dodgers, Yankees and Orioles elected to return with the same players.

"Sometimes you have to trade," said Paul Owens, the Phillies' General Manager. "Sometimes you don't. It is the teams in trouble that have to trade."

Troubled teams will get a second chance this spring. For the first time, teams will have a six-week open trading period going into the season.

"That's when you will see some of the results of this meeting," said Mike Port, the Angels' Player Personnel Director. "Teams put it on the line here. Now, they will go back and look things over in spring training."

Poor, dumb jocks ain’t got no culture

By Peggy Morgan of the Courier-Post

"Oh, that poor guy, he's playing with a abscess." I was making one of my periodic attempts to penetrate the sports mind. The attempts last maybe five minutes because I cannot locate the mind.

Abscesses, however, I can understand – that unfortunate fellow on TV in royal blue grabbing fearfully onto a stick as his abscess was draining.

"That's a plug of tobacco, not an abscess." Tobacco spit, in livid color, I did not comprehand. The only decent reason for spitting is an abscess, or possibly pneumonia.

"WHO'S THAT ANIMAL with the scraggly hair and the prognathus chin," I asked. "That's Tug McGraw," Carl said in a tone both appalled and aggrieved.

The cat and I turned on our heels and quit the television room. I felt sort of sick from the putrid brown spit.

So ended my most recent attempt at athletic understanding. I dislike sports like I dislike television. Luckily for me, that obliterates two animadversions at once. I'm closing my mind to them. They don't merit any more effort or time, which is running out and not to be wasted.

SPORTS AND GAMES and numbers, also known as scores, and competition make my mind pucker, as if it had bitten into an unripe persimmon. I think the idea of winning and losing is immoral, like war. The only books worthy of flushing, page by page, are ones with titles like. "How To Make Your Child A Winner."

Sports is why so many men are so very boring. And often violent. I know there are football heroes who write poetry – one, maybe two – but they are Elephant-Man freaks, not typical jocks. Philadelphia's winning streak does not prove the city is superior but that it is stuffed with thugs. Teams are licensed gangs. I see a correlation between wolf-packs and organized sports.

The best thing about South Jersey life is its relative teamlessness. Team spirit is fascism; the cheers of the audience are blood-red roars.

I HAVE BEEN examining my apprehension since (he Phillies first approached the World Series. And discussing it since they won as often as I could bear. No one, not even girls, shares my animus. "You'd better shut up, or you'll get knifed,” my daughter advised me at the height of Phillies fever.

The otherwise sensible reporter argued: "Would you extinguish this little light in the common man's life?"

"Maybe he wouldn't be so common without sports. Maybe he could generate his own light." Maybe he could read John Cheever. Listen to Maria Callas or Edith Piaf. Mix, beat and bake a Sunday meal to the strains of the Bach unaccompanied cello suites. Pray to God for forgiveness of past spectator or participant sport sins. Shred a jogging suit. Tear an alligator from a breast to beat in repentance.

Life is grace under pressure. Why limit it to sports?

"SNOB," SAID THE reporter.

"No, I'm not" Sometimes I listen to rock and roll, read the front part of the Daily News and eat Big Macs, though not at one sitting.

I know my dislike has something to do with the kick my best friend gave me at camp when I fluffed a baseball catch. The fluff had something to do with being fat but more to do with the ball's not being a book.

The only time I saw my son, the football star, play was when I went to his first game. Tiny little cheerleaders and bitty baby jocks laden with helmets and false shoulders: I wept and went home. It looked like a perversion, like child pornography.

"We murdered them," my son says when he wins a game. My insides shudder. My otherwise exemplary daughter plays softball and tennis. I have failed as a mother.

Even books by my heros are not always pure. I tried but could not read Thomas McGuane's "The Sporting Club." I threw down "The Sun Also Rises" in disgust when I got to the bullfighting junk. Hemingway has done maybe more damage to poetic young men than he's worth. They miss the lesson of the shot in the head. Well, everyone has his failing.

From where I sit, the only exciting thing about sports is watching grown men cry and hug and kiss. Pity that their emotion is tapped only by victory and defeat.

Phils raise prices for 1981 season

PHILADELPHIA – The Phillies, who raised their ticket prices for the 1981 season, will meet the Pittsburgh Pirates as they begin their defense of their world championship at 7:35 p.m. April 13 at Veterans Stadium.

Ticket prices will be increasing in the 200, 300, 500 and 600 levels. The box seats at 200 level will be $7; 300 and 500 level boxes will be $6; and the reserved seats on the 600 level will be $5.

There has been no change in the 700 level reserved seats ($4), general admission seats for adults ($2.50) and the 50-cent general admission charge for children 14 and younger.

The Pirates, 1979 world champions, also will be in April 15 and 16.

The 1981 season will mark the 10th anniversary of Veterans Stadium.

The Phillies' schedule includes two Saturday afternoon games, one mid-week day game and one twi-night doubleheader.

Chicago will end the Phillies' home schedule with a three-game series, Oct. 2, 3 and 4.

The Phillies' April 13th opener with the Pirates will actually be their third opener next season. They meet the Reds in Cincinnati on April 8 in the traditional first game in the National League. Three days later, the Phillies help St. Louis open the season.

The home schedule:

APRIL

13, Mon., Pittsburgh, 7:35; 15, Wed., Pittsburgh, 7:35; 16, Thurs., Pittsburgh, 7:35; 17, Frl., Chicago, 8:05; 18, Sat., Chicago, 7:05; 19, Sun. Chicago, 1:35; 27, Mon., Montreal, 7:35; 28, Tues., Montreal, 7:35; Wed., Montreal, 7:35.

MAY

1, Frl., San Francisco, 11:05; 2, Sat., San Francisco, 7:05; 3, Sun., San Francisco, 1:35; 4, Mon., San Francisco, 7:35; 5, Tues., Los Angeles, 7:35; 6, Wed., Los Angeles, 7:35; 7, Thurs., Los Angeles, 7:35; 8, Frl., San Diego, 8:05; 9, Sat., San Diego, 7:05; 10, Sun., San Diego, 7:05; 29, Frl., St Louis, 8 05; 30, Sat, St. Louis, 7:05; 31, Sun., St. Louis, 1:35.

JUNE

1, Mon., New York, 7:35; 2, Tues., New York, 7:35; 3, Wed., New York, 7:35; 8, Mon., Houston, 7:35; 9, Tues., Houston, 7:35; 10, Wed., Houston, 7:35; 12, Fri., Atlanta, 8:05; 13, Sat., Atlanta; 7:05; 14, Sun., Atlanta, 1:35; 15, Mon. Cincinnati, 7:35; 16, Tues., Cincinnati, 7:35; 26, Frl., Pittsburgh, 8:05; 27, Sat., Pittsburgh, 1:45; 28, Sun., Pittsburgh, 1:35.

JULY

3, Fri., Montreal, 8:05; 4, Sat., Montreal, 7:05; 5, Sun., Montreal, 1:35; 10, Frl., New York, 8:05; 11, Sat., New York (2), 5:35; 12, Sun., New York, 1:35; 16, Thurs., San Francisco, 7:35; 17, Frl., San Francisco, 8:05; 18, Sat., Los Angeles, 7:05; 19, Sun., Los Angeles, 1:35; 20, Mon., Los Angeles, 7:35; 21, Tues., San Diego, 7:35; 23, Thurs., San Diego, 12:35.

AUGUST

4, Tues., Chicago, 7:35; 5, Wed., Chicago, 7:35; 6, Thurs., Chicago, 7:35; 10, Mon., St. Louis, 7:35; 11, Tues., St. Louis, 7:35; 12, Wed., St. Louis, 7:35, 13, Thurs., St. Louis, 7:35; 21, Fri., Houston, 8:05; 22, Sat., Houston, 1:15; 23, Sun., Houston, 7:05; 24, Mon., Atlanta, 7:35; 25, Tues., Atlanta, 7:35; 26, Wed., Atlanta, 7:35.

SEPTEMBER

3, Thurs., Cincinnati, 7:35; 4, Fri., Cincinnati, 8:05; 5, Sat., Cincinnati, 7:05; 6, Sun., Cincinnati, 1:35;, 7, Mon., Montreal, 7:05; 8, Tues., Montreal, 7,35; 9, Wed., Montreal, 7:35; 18, Fri., Pittsburgh, 8:05; 19, Sat., Pittsburgh, 7:05; 20, Sun., Pittsburgh, 1:35; 21, Mon., New York, 7:35; 29, Tues., New York, 7:35; 30, Wed., St. Louis, 7:35.

OCTOBER

1, Thurs., St. Louis, 7:35; 2, Fri., Chicago, 8:05; Sat., Chicago, 7:05; 4, Sun., Chicago, 1:35.

Unser agrees to remain with Phillies

By Bob Kenney, Courier-Post Sports Editor

PHILADELPHIA – Del Unser will be wearing the Phillies' pin stripes again next year.

The pinch-hitting hero of the playoffs and the World Series yesterday signed a two-year contract ending his free agent limbo.

"I'm very pleased, very much so," said the 36-year-old Unser. "I had always planned to be part of the Phillies next season. That always was the bottom line in my thinking."

IT ALMOST didn't work out that way. Unser decided to become a free agent in November and it appeared as late as last week the popular lefty would be swinging his bat elsewhere next season.

But Paul Owens, the director of player personnel, has always felt it best to take care of those who take care of you. He put that theory to use last Friday and increased his "final offer" to ( Unser."

Once before, in 1978, Owens retrieved Unser from the scrap heap and invited him to training camp where he earned a contract. Insiders indicated Owens felt snubbed by Unser's decision and it looked as if the outfielder-first baseman was finished as a Veterans Stadium favorite.

"I WAS a little nervous," Unser admitted from his California home last night. "But I realize I wasn't high up on their priority list. They had plenty of time.

"But you worry. You are never sure how much confidence the other side has in you. I knew they had a lot of young players ready to step in at half the price."

A veteran of 13 big league seasons, Unser hit .264 last year but came into his own in the post season. He batted .400 with two key hits in the League Championship Series against Houston, then went 3-for-6 with two runs batted in against Kansas City in the World Series.

UNSER WAS the team's best pinch-hitter the last two years, batting .310 with 26 hits and 20 RBIs. He set a major league record in '79 with three consecutive pinch-hit home runs.

The Phillies offered Unser a one-year contract. Del and agent Dick Moss wanted three years. "I'm realistic enough to know how old I am," said Unser, who settled for two.

"After the draft, I talked to several clubs. I had one solid offer, from the Pirates. A very good offer."

MOSS AND OWENS talked again last Friday and some minor issues were resolved. Bonus clauses were changed to enable Unser to fly his family to training camp and then to Philadelphia.

"Just little things," said Del, obviously pleased with the contract. "But it gives me security. I have friends here.

"This means a lot to me," said Unser, who is taking some real estate courses and staying in shape playing golf. "I sincerely feel terrific."

What if we could return the things we regret?

By Ray W. Kelly of the Courier-Post

So it's back to the store for that shirt with the size 22 neck and the matching tie that glows in the dark. Returning gifts is as much a part of Christmas as canned snow, bows that won't stick and where the heck did all the extension cords go?

The sad part is there isn't a special exchange window out there – a place where you can take all past words, thoughts and deeds that you regret and say to the person in charge, "I can't find my sales slips, but here, I want you to take all of these back."

Step right up folks, the line forms at the rear:

BO BELINSKY: The case of former major league pitcher Bo Bellnsky is a good example. For years, he was needled in the press about being the great playboy of the Western World and how even marrying a Playmate of the Year couldn't stop his raucous style of living.

The problem is, now he can't give the image back to the people who gave it to him. Which is a shame because he is now working in baseball's drug and alcohol abuse program.

At the recent baseball winter meetings in Dallas, Bo made his presentation to a group of executives and managers, one of whom walked out muttering, "When I told him the same thing 15 years ago, he told me to go somewhere."

BILL GILES: The vice president of the Phillies, caught a lot of flak about Kite Man. And he'll surely hear his share of grumbles about the recent rise in ticket prices. But when Pete Rose turned into a human battering ram at the plate in Houston during the playoffs and when he caught that foul ball off the glove of catcher Bob Boone, no one thought to give him a pat on the back for being so instrumental in being the guy who got Rose to join the Phillies.

JOHN REAVES: The former quarterback for the Eagles used to be a pretty together guy. But, when he was taken into custody recently in Florida, he said his anti social behavior and problems with drugs were the direct result of the pressures he encountered while trying to play football in Philadelphia. It would be nice if we could take that back.

GARRY MADDOX: He got the kind of contract with the Phillies that even Santa Claus would love to receive. Yet, a lot of sarcastic things are said about the center-fielder's salary by people who fail to realize how many members of his family would still be facing hard times if not for that contract and Garry's generous nature.

JIM MURRAY: The West Philly kid who made good got more knives than pats on the back when he was first made general manager of the Eagles. His qualifications as a football executive haven't been questioned , since he helped bring Dick Vermeil to town. Since then, the people who work with Jimmmy say a day doesn't go by that he doesn't do someone a good turn. Like the former Eagle player who called just the other day. He was down and out. But within the hour he had the job he'd been trying to get for months.

DICK ALLEN: We couldn't find room enough under his Christmas tree to fit all the criticism he received during his stormy career with the Phillies. But maybe it's time some of that bitterness was exchanged for some sort of acknowledgement that his refusal to accept the status quo during the early 1960's gave the Phils the courage to defy segregation practices that were always a part of spring training. Because of that . showdown, Clearwater, Fla., was never the same and became a better place because of it

JIMMY GALLAGHER, LARRY SHENK: Two important people on the local sporting scene who the fans rarely hear about. They are the publicity directors for the Eagles and Phillies, respectively. How the two of them survived the "wars" that took place during the losing years is a tribute to their character. The fact that they are now considered MVPs in their trade is something to think about next time you see a athlete making an appearance for charity or doing a television spot for some other worthwhile effort.

DENNIS O'BRIEN: An Audubon attorney; who also serves as a sports agent, And you know what most fans would like to put in the stockings of agents. But all agents aren't the same. Some just happen to be as lucky as they are honest, Such was the case when Dennis negotiated the contract between Willie Montanez and Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner. Not wanting to play for the Braves, but obligated to at least meet with the owner, Willie told O'Brien to think of a diplomatic way out of the situation. O'Brien hit upon the idea of asking for a contract that was so high, Turner would have no alternative but to forget trying to sign Willie. You can guess the rest. O'Brien took a deep breath, spoke the numbers and waited for the explosion. But all he heard was a low whistle and Turner saying, "Well, OK." It makes you wonder what would have happened if Dennis had been able to take back the of fer and double it.

GREG LUZ1NSKI: He probably would love to turn in all the games he played for Danny Ozark while he was injured. All he got for his effort was a ton of bad batting habits he is still trying to shake and a complete breakdown of the fine status he once enjoyed as a member of the Phillies. Ozark got a bargain, but Bull is still making the payments.

HORACE FOGEL: Last but not least, belongs at the head of any exchange line. Who is Fogel? Why, he used to be a household word. That is, if you happened to have a household in 1910 that followed Horace's baseball team. His dream was to have people call his club the "Live Wires" and he pleaded with the local press to do so. They refused despite Horace's argument that the current name was too passive and denoted a peaceful group of athletes. The name? It was the Phillies.

For the top stories:  There’s the Phillies, casinos… and Bo

By Pete Finley of the Courier-Post

With this final column of the good year, 1980, I submit my wrap-up of top stories in South Jersey as well as observations on life in these parts. Thank you for waiting.

The top story has got to be the news that Bo Derek (may her numbers increase) has made another movie. This might be the top story in the country.

My own personal conflict with Bo concerns another woman (isn't that always the way?).

You see, Farrah Fawcett has been my dreamboat ever since Kay Francis retired. I wear Farrah's T-shirts, sometimes inside out.

And now I've been given a Bo Derek T-shirt. Of course, I'm still going to wear Farrah's but not on Saturday nights. They'll just have to learn to share me, that's all.

Another top news story for these parts is the newly opened thingamajig at the intersection of Haddon Avenue and Cnthbert Road (may its numbers decrease).

Two motorists have been known to grow a five o'clock shadow while waiting to get through from only 50 yards away. Some guys are running out of gas.

Mothers, heeding the hunger pains that their children develop while waiting for a light change, are packing lunches, and the Hardee's Restaurant nearby, is doing a landslide take-out business.

And what about pedestrians? How are they to cross now? Not to mention spiders.

I'm still sitting down to tables in most fast food restaurants that are dirty. Oh, the big litter, like trays and bags and soggy French fries are cleaned up, but the table remains strewn with grease spots and crumbs. Happily, I see more and more customers leaving their debris behind on the tables the same as I do. These tables get the soapy cloth before the next person sits down and that, of course, is the intent of our treasonable acts.

A top story in South Jersey was the winning of the World Series by the Phillies. Of course, they haven't played the Japanese champs yet and might not be entitled to the "world" title but what the beck, after waiting so long, Phillies fans will take what they can get. Some fans have been heard to say, "Hey, our boys earned their salaries this year." Well, we won't go into that one now.

The Philadelphia Eagles have ignited the enthusiasm of local sports fans despite losing three of their last four games. They won the National Football Conference, Eastern Division (whew!) title, their first in 20 years, by losing to Dallas. You figure that one out.

Now the Eagles will try for a Super Bowl title, but I won't have to opine on that until next year (another "whew!").

More gambling casinos have opened in Atlantic City and more people have been made homeless because of fires and condemnations of property. Happily for visitors that are bused to the gambling mecca, darkly tinted windows protect sensitive eyes of riders who might think twice about their day of fun and spending if they were to see the World War II bombing appearance of some parts of the city.

Joggers want a section of Camden County Park lighted so they can do their thing at night. Okay, put up a "Feed the Kitty" box so they can foot the bill. Place the box (or boxes) in convenient places and when the surri falls short of the monthly ' bill, turn off the juice until it's paid. There, I've said it and I'm glad!

Of great interest to representatives of my generation in South Jersey is the news of the continuing decline in sales of Barry Whatshisname's records and tapes (may their numbers be decimated). I knew it would be just a matter of time, Marcia.

Dunkin' Donuts continues to serve the best tasting coffee in South Jersey although the price is, well, it's starting to creep up, up...

Raisins (may their numbers be ZERO!) are still finding their way into too many buns and cakes and cookies here in South Jersey...

Warthogs, also know as Diagonal Parkers, still flaunt their impudence upon the rest of us on public parking lots…

Mrs. Greeney's second grade class displayed its usual fine taste in great literature by again electing me their favorite columnist...barely ahead of the daily weather report...

And nurses continue to be the poorest paid, most-overworked professional group in South Jersey... maybe in the country...

HAVE A HEALTHY, HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYBODY!