Camden Courier Post - November 1980

As readers see it

The Phillies:  McGraw only said what many feel about New York

Re: Pete Finley's column (C-P 1026) criticizing Tug McGraw's remarks at the victory parade.

Some day the members of the press will learn they cannot speak from both sides of the mouth. You did not object to printing Dick Young's degrading thoughts on the Phillies and Philadelphia in particular, so why object to Tug's thoughts on New York? I think he expressed what many of us feel. Hats off to the Tugger!

SHIRLEY IVINS

Cherry Hill

Don't blow it, Tug

Being from a different area, I found it difficult to become excited about the World Series. But, now that it is over, congratulations Phillies for a job well done! You've certainly proved yourselves and even I felt a spark of happiness for you.

But there's always one in every crowd who makes that certain dig to bring my opinions back down to earth. I am speaking of none other than Tug McGraw. I was a little surprised by his comment about New York. He said that all through baseball history Philadelphia has had to take a back seat to New York and now New York can take this World Championship and stick it.

Hey Tug, you know what they say? May the better team win. You're where you want to be – so what's your problem? I can understand it if you've been in the playoffs with New York every year and they managed to knock you out. But that's not the case. You won. You did your job. You've built up a great reputation. I think you even managed to pick up a few extra fans. So don't blow it.

If it's the media that bother you, putting down Philadelphia for so long, no need to worry – they're making up for it now.

As you, Mr. McGraw, felt it necessary to voice your opinion and stand up for your team, well, so did I. I've tried to be objective, but my heart still does belong to New York, whether they win, or lost.

TERI MESSINGER

Lindenwold

Sour gripe

Look who's talking about "sour notes" and "no class"! The master himself.

Rather than praise Tug McGraw for his heroic efforts throughout the season, not to mention winning the World Series, all Mr. Finley can do is put Mr. McGraw down by criticizing a simple, down-to-earth statement he happened to make. If Mr. Finley likes New York so much, why is he here in New Jersey?

ESTRELLA E. RODGERS

Clementon

Yankee fan perhaps?

The Philadelphia Phillies have finally had ther moment of glory and some New York-loving crybaby has to find something to rave about. If Tug hadn't made that final statement I wonder what Pete Finley would have complained about?

It is plain to see that, you, Pete Finley, would have been in seventh heaven had the Yankees won the series. I guess the day the Flyers got a bad break and lost the cup to the Islanders you celebrated to the hilt. You probably even thought it was a fair game. One Howard Cosell is enough, Philly doesn't need two, Pete.

PAT HAGAN

Maple Shade

Short on ideas?

How dare Pete Finley say that Tug McGraw has no class or taste! Mr. McGraw is the epitome of grace under pressure, and he has more class and taste than Mr. Finley ever will.

Whenever Mr. Finley starts attacking certain individuals, you know he's either running out of ideas or hungry for publicity. When he printed those tasteless columns about Barry Manilow, his face and name were in the editorial column for weeks as Barry's fans wrote letters condemning flr. Finley. Barry Manilow and Tug McGraw both have many fans in this area. Mr. Finley got his publicity from Barry, now he's after Tug.

As for Bob Kenney's story (C-P  10/23) I feel it was Very unfair to Steve Carlton. It made him seem like an unfeeling statue.

It said that Mr. Carlton never smiled! Mr. Kenney should look more closely at the television footage of the parade. When Lefty was introduced, he waved to the crowd, gave the No. 1 sign, and flashed the widest, happiest, most sincere smile I've ever seen. Lefty is human.

Your writers have made him out to be a brooding, mixed-up, unfeeling recluse. Steve Carlton is a shy, quiet man whose job is to be a pitcher, not an open book to the press. The press shouldn't print lies about him just because he refuses to talk to them.

NORA NAHF

Haddon Heights

A fabulous feeling

As a long-time Phillies fan I rejoice, on their long awaited triumph. I can recall the teams which languished in last place with such players as Al Brongcotto, Doft Camilli and Vince Dimaggio. But that is now all in the past.

My thanks to the Phillies for the most exciting league finish, playoffs, and World Series that I can ever remember.

ROD LEE

Gibbstown

Touching finale

The photograph ("Savoring the triumph") by Curt Hudson, showing Warren "Mickey" Parker, a Philadelphia Phillies fan, deep in thought at Veterans Stadium long after the others are in the streets, was in my opinion the most touching of anything published during this World Series.

This man symbolizes years of devotion to the game of baseball and the Philadelphia Phillies, His face- tells me we all have our dreams, and we all can relate to being winners and champions. Come to think of it, maybe we all are in our own way.

BARRY P. SKALER

Turnersville

Phillies’ fans want to sup immortality

By Msgr. S. J. Adamo For the Courier-Post

What's in a name? A game by any other name is still a game. The World Series is only a game. The Super Bowl is another game. The Stanley Cup playoff is a game. So too is Wimbledon.

A game is a game is a game.

Yet games in the United States have assumed an importance seldom achieved anywhere since the Romans held their gladiatorial contests in the Coliseum and other amphitheaters of their Empire.

Those ancient games of life and death provided amusement for a cruder culture. Still, it must be said that football and hockey at times approach the mayhem of that earlier age.

In baseball the club is swung at a pitched ball rather than an opponent's head. Likewise the ball is pitched at a strike zone. Only by accident is it hurled at the batter, like David unleashing his sling shot at Goliath. At least the rules forbid the use of bat or ball as weapons. Thereby baseball became an athletic contest of magnificent skills rather than a violent encounter among gladiators.

We are more civilized – at least, in our sporting contests, where the emphasis is on skill not violence.

ATHLETIC CONTESTS now provide a saner outlet for man's aggressive spirit. Maybe someday differences between nations will be settled on the athletic fields instead of the battlefields. If Carter had more imaginations he would have challenged Russia in the Olympics to settle the issue of their presence or withdrawal from Afghanistan. Then the U.S. athletes would have been heralds of peace striving to restore the rights of others through their athletic prowess. Granted it's not as rational as diplomacy but it's far more rational than a bloody war.

Anyway, sports has become a saner outlet for human pugnaciousness. Such sublimation spills over into the fans, that nameless multitude that identifies itself so enthusiastically with its athletic heroes. All through the playoffs and World Series I would bet that violent crimes tumbled down. Everyone's energies were involved in the Phillies' spectacular triumph.

That is the mystery of empathy, whereby all Philadelphia and environs identified with its champion baseball team. The newspaper's headline said it best: "We Win." Not they but we became the world champions on the glorious Tuesday night of October 22, 1980. For the first time in nearly a century we were the best, Number One in the whole wide world.

Success is sweet. But the road toward it was bitter.

The heart-stopping games – the extra innings, the strikeouts, the homers, the double-plays, the roaring crowds that seemed loud enough to drown out a volcano, the close calls with defeat all such episodes tested the nerve as well as the skill of the Phillies, our Phillies. Each of us fans lived those moments with them. As one interviewer said on TV during the celebration, "Thank God, it's over. I'll have to rest for a few days to recover my strength. I'm worn out."

At the end of the long road was the glory of triumph. All the pain, all the misunderstanding, all the bickering, all the racial and ethnic tensions, all the booing, all the anger, all the frustrations – all was forgotten as the wine cup of victory was drained to the dregs. Everyone loved every-one; everyone was Number One.

Number One team, Number One fans, Number One city, Number One region.

ISNT THAT what life is all about? The endless struggle to succeed in time will be crowned hopefully with a triumphant eternity. That is the dream and hope of the world's greatest religions. That is the human goal which we cherish as soon as we begin meditating on life.

Last week in the city of brotherly love we had a foretaste of that grand and glorious dream. And we all understood that life is beautiful.

Grass no greener than in Philly for top athletes

By Rusty Pray of the Courier-Post

PHILADELPHIA – It was force of habit more than anything else. The committee needed a main attraction for its annual banquet and almost automatically began discussing the sports stars in other towns.

On and on went the discussion, until it suddenly dawned on the men sitting around the table that they were overlooking the obvious. In the entire history of this area, there probably has never been a more "golden time" for sports fans.

It's not just the fact that the Phillies are now world champions, the Flyers and Sixers came within the final inches of winning their respective crowns and the Eagles are steadily moving op the playoff ladder toward a date in the Super Bowl.

The success of the local teams is delightful, if only for the fact that it seems to be driving a number of residents of that rather smug, wormy Big Apple to the north into a fit of sarcastic jealousy.

But, what's even more noteworthy is the quality of the people who are busy setting examples as well as records in this town.

When you think about it, what better hero could an impressionable young man shooting jumpshots on a schoolyard basketball court have than Julius Erving, for example?

The good Dr. J. is not only the most wondrous player in the NBA, but he is also the league leader when it comes to class. If you wanted to build a bionic hero for kids in the ghetto to emulate, you couldn't produce someone like Erving.

The nicest part of all is that he's not the exception,.

Professional hockey is filled with outstanding people. But, you'd have to look long and hard to find an athlete who has had a more positive impact on the overall community than Flyer Bobby Clarke.

Like Pete Rose, Clarke is living proof that the race isn't always to the swiftest, that you don't have to be blessed with the greatest of physical skills to be a winner and that, in the end, the road to the Hall of Fame is paved with practice, sweat and desire.

The Phillies, for all their fussin', have done much to disprove the notion that athletes are just a bunch of jerks who simply play a game well.

Mike Schmidt presents a private and public image that is not only commendable, but should be classified as a community service.

By keeping winning and losing in the proper perspective, Schmidt is teaching both young and old alike that defeat isn't the same thing as disgrace and that victory is something to be shared instead of flaunted.

Schmitty may be a low-key guy, but when youngsters read his words or watch him talk on television, they see that although he is rich and famous, he remains a man who believes in a good family life, who thanks The Lord for his blessings and who knows that everyone fails on occasion and that the most important thing is to simply do your best.

There are dozens of other local athletes giving off the same positive vibrations.

Maybe it is time we all took a break and put aside all the petty acts of selfishness that always seem so important when they involve local athletes and think for a moment about how fortunate we are to have leaders like Dick Vermeil and Dallas Green on the scene.

It is a magical time, indeed.

You go to a baseball game and you get to see one of the greatest lefthanders of all time, Steve Carlton, pitch. Among All-Stars like Bob Boone, Manny Trillo and Larry Bowa, you also see a legend named Rose and a third baseman who is on his way to becoming one of the best athletes this town ever saw.

History-makers like Carmichael, Bergey, Erving, Clarke and Bernie Parent abound. Yet, you have to wonder whether their finest contributions to the enrichment of our lives haven't come when they've been out of uniform.

The memory of Barry Ashbee... the affection that has passed between the people here and a special lady named Kate Smith... the children helped by the Flyers for Leukemia and the Child Guidance Clinic... the wives raising funds for retarded children... and a thousand other times when a Philly jock took the time to do a good deed.

It would seem the grass isn't always greener in other pastures. No, not at all.

Green remains Phils’ manager

By Rusty Pray of the Courier-Post

PHILADELPHIA – Dallas Green is back. Now the question is: Who is leaving?

That Green agreed, albeit some what reluctantly, to return for another season as manager of the Phillies is no real surprise. Both owner Ruly Carpenter and General Manager Paul Owens made it clear two weeks ago Green was their man.

But even then, in the first blush of the Phillies' World Series triumph, Green held out the hope he would be returned to the quiet sanity of the front office.

"I STATED my preference. It's still there," Green said amid a raucous club house celebration after the Phils' clinching sixth-game win.

Since then, however, Carpenter and Owens have managed to convince Green that there are degrees of preference. In effect, what they did was give Green an offer he couldn't refuse.

Green's ultimate goal is to succeed Owens. It is a move Green would like to have made this winter. But Owens has no intention of stepping down, not after the team he built just won a world championship.

With his old job as director of minor-league systems filled and Owens going nowhere, Green's options were limited. He could have taken a front-office position to simply wait for Owens to retire. But that is not Green's style.

SO MANAGING – especially with a hefty raise - seemed infinitely preferable to shuffling papers.

"The timing just doesn't seem right for a move," Green said yesterday after confirming he would return as manager for the 1981 season. "I hate to become a slave of money, but if I can put the kids through school by managing a couple of years, it won't be too bad. The money is right, three-and-a-half to four times what I can make normally. It's difficult to turn down."

With the issue of Green managing settled, attention now will focus on the makeup of the team Green will guide. Green is not anxious to break up a world champion. But he knows his club is getting long of tooth, and that there are a couple of areas in need of strengthening. Moves are all but inevitable.

Green is not about to trade first baseman Pete Rose, second baseman Manny Trillo or third baseman Mike Schmidt. It is no secret Green and shortstop Larry Bowa have had their differences. Yet, Green admires Bowa's competitiveness. There is, then, every reason to believe Green will return his infield intact.

THERE ALSO are valid reasons why catcher Bob Boone – despite the presence of Keith Moreland – and rightfielder Bake McBride – despite McBride's statements to the contrary – will be part of the Phils' spring training gathering. Center-fielder Garry Maddox, another member of the Dislike Dallas Club, has a no-trade clause in his contract.

Most likely, whatever moves Green and Owens make will involve leftfielder Greg Luzinski and the pitching staff. Luzinski spent much of the year injured, or trying to play through injuries. His offense suffered because of it. But perhaps the clearest handwriting on the wall for the Bull was rookie Lonnie Smith, who is the face of the future Phillies.

Green would like another starter for his rotation. That does not necessarily mean the Phillies will have to make a deal. Barring injury, Steve Carlton, Dick Ruthven and Marty Bystrom will make up the core of the rotation next year. That leaves two spots for sore-armed Nino Espinosa, Randy Lerch, Larry Christenson and a host of others to fight over.

Lerch probably will not be around and Christenson is likely to test his value in the free-agent draft. Espinosa is unsigned, but the Phils have so many young, strong arms in their system, they will have the luxury of turning down all but the most lucrative of offers from other teams.

THE PHILLIES bullpen is aged. Lefthanders Tug McGraw, who likely will become a free agent, and Sparky Lyle are well into their thirties. Ron Reed is closing in on 40. Indeed, if the Phils have a pressing need, it is for a righthanded late reliever, a guy capable of putting away a game.

"I think we proved as much as anybody that a team has to have a stopper, a guy who can go out there and put the game away," Green said.

Schmidt, Carlton tops

ST. LOUIS – The 1980 baseball awards were announced yesterday by The Sporting News and the world champion Phillies were the big winners. Third baseman Mike Schmidt was selected as the National League's player of the year, while Steve Carlton was named the league's top pitcher by the St. Louis-based publication.

A third Phillie, second baseman Manny Trillo, was also named to the National League squad.

George Brett of the Kansas City Royals and Steve Stone of the Baltimore Orioles were selected as the player and pitcher of the year in the American League. The selections were made through a poll of the players in each league with 244 AL players and 168 NL players participating.

Schmidt led the NL with 48 home runs and 121 runs batted in and also scored 104 times. He received 81 votes, more than twice as many as runner-up George Hendrick of the St. Louis Cardinals, who batted .302 and drove in 109.

Carlton, who had a record of 24 victories, 304 innings pitched and 286 strikeouts while turning in 13 complete games last season, was selected as the top pitcher for the third time, having been accorded top hurling honors in 1972 and 1977. Jim Bibby of the Pittsburgh Pirates finished a distant second to Carlton.

Brett, who led the league in batting with a .390 average, drilling 24 homers and batting in 118 runs, received 136 votes to 77 for his nearest rival, Cecil Cooper of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Stone, who led the league in victories with 25, losing seven, and who posted a 3.23 ERA, garnered 139 votes to 77 for Mike Norris, the Oakland A's righthander.

The offensive-minded St. Louis Cardinals placed three players on the National League squad – first baseman Keith Hernandez, shortstop Garry Templeton and Hendrick. Rounding out the NL squad were left fielder Dusty Baker of Los Angeles, center fielder Cesar Cedano of Houston and catcher Gary Carter of Montreal.

The New York Yankees claimed five spots on the American League All-Star team with Reggie Jackson being named in right field and as designated hitter. It was the fourth time Jackson had been selected to the squad.

Other Yankees named included second basemen Willie Randolph, catcher Rick Cerone and lefthanded pitcher Tommy John. Besides Cooper, the Milwaukee Brewers placed shortstop Robin Yount and left-fielder Ben Oglivie on the all-star team. Baltimore center fielder Al Bumbry was also named to the squad.

Wealthy owners shop thin free agent market

First in a two part series previewing major league baseball’s free agent draft.

By Bob Kenney, Courier-Post Sports Editor

Although there are precious few gold nuggets available, the upcoming free agent draft has major league baseball owners drooling.

What could be the last open draft is scheduled for Nov. 13, and baseball's big spenders are making plans.

The new Basic Agreement recently signed by the players and the owners calls for compensation in the future. Hence, this may be the last chance for wealthy owners like Ted Turner, Gene Autry and George Steinbrenner to buy a world championship.

A COMMITTEE of players and owners will decide what constitutes "just compensation" in the future, but the current crop of free agents will not cost the purchasing team any playing personnel.

This fifth annual auction has the least amount of quality merchandise available but the possibility of buying a title already has some of the owners fidgety.

Three of baseball's four major league divisions enjoyed exciting races this summer and that has several teams contemplating solutions to their near-misses.

"We're in a position to catch the leaders in our division with one or two key additions," said Atlanta Braves' Manager Bobby Cox at the World Series. "That's what makes the draft so important.

"THERE ARE not a lot of quality guys available, but we'll make an honest effort to sign the players we draft."

There are at least a handful of players capable of turning a contender into a champion – if the price is right.

Dave Winfield, Darrell Porter, Dusty Baker and Ron LeFlore all represent instant offensive improvement. Don Sutton, Geoff Zahn, Dick Tidrow and Larry Christenson all could supply instant pitching help.

"Most of those available represent expansion-type talent," said a member of the Phillies front office. "But there are some blue chips available."

THREE COULD come from the world champions, although free agents can sign contracts right up to the last minute. If the draft were held today, the Phillies would lose Tug McGraw, their relief ace; Del Unser, the clutch pinch-hitter, and Christenson, a solid starter when healthy.

The American League champions from Kansas City also stand to lose. In addition to Porter, their starting catcher, the Royals have relief pitcher Marty Pattin, reserve first baseman Pete LaCock and back-up third baseman Dave Chalk on the list.

Up to 13 teams may draft a free agent, then join his old club in bidding for his services.

Winlield is the top name available. A better than average outfielder, he hit only 20 home runs and had 87 RBIs last season while engaging in a running feud with Padres' owner Ray Kroc.

HE HAD 34 homers and led the league with 118 RBIs a year ago, though, and is a four-time All-Star and a .300 hitter. Only his price tag, $13 million for 10 years, makes him questionable.

Kroc, who owns the McDonald's hamburger chain, has written off his star. That leaves the Yankees most likely to meet the payroll demands, though the New York Mets are expected to bid high.

Baker, if he doesn't sign with his Dodgers, might be a better investment. He hit .294 for Los Angeles and drove in 97 runs with 29 homers.

"He doesn't have the name," said one scout recently, "but he's averaged 25 home runs a year and is a solid player. He could be the best player for the price."

UNSER COULD be a sleeper. Despite his big pinch-hits in the post-season, the lefty probably won't command big bucks from the Phillies but he could help an American League team as a designated hitter.

Rusty Staub fits the same mold. He'll be 37 next summer, but hit .300 for the Texas Rangers and would be a real asset to an American League contender.

Another sleeper could be Roy Howell, the 27-year-old third baseman for Toronto. He has hit as high as .300, had as many as 15 home runs and has knocked in as many as 70 runs.

Pitchers are always a gamble and the free agents are no exception.

SUTTON, although 36, won 13 games for the Dodgers and had the lowest earned run average in the league, 2.21. Dan Spillner won 16 for the Cleveland Indians but was hit hard at times. Zahn was 14-18 for the Minnesota Twins, but five wins were shutouts.

Bullpen pitchers have even more highs and lows and some club might be willing to pay big bucks to McGraw, who carried the Phillies after the All-Star break. He had a 1.47 ERA and won all five of his games in September, but will be 37 next year.

Tidrow was 6-5 and had six saves for the Chicago Cubs, where he was overshadowed by Bruce Sutter. Pattin was. 4-0 with four saves for the Royals, who depended mostly on Dan Qusenberry.

Owners willing to gamble big money on tainted merchandise could select from LeFlore, Porter, Travers or Christenson. All have had problems which have kept them from reaching full potential.

CHRISTENSON has been on the disabled list five times in the past three seasons with various injuries ranging from a broken collarbone to a chronic back problem. He was written off twice this year but came back to win five of six decisions and is a solid starter when healthy.

Travers has the same background in Milwaukee. He, too, has spent plenty of time disabled but ranks with the best lefthanders in the game when healthy. He was 12-6 for the Brewers this year.

The 28-year-old Porter came back from alcohol and drug-related problems this spring, then suffered through his worst season, hitting only .249 and knocking in 51 runs. But he's capable of better, as his 20 home runs and 112 runs batted in a year ago indicate.

LeFlore stole 97 bases for the Expos but talked his way right out of Montreal with a midseason interview that blasted management, fans and teammates alike.

Vermeil battles for respect from opponents

By Ray W. Kelly of the Courier-Post

PHILADELPHIA – Eagles Coach Dick Vermeil is learning what Phillies Manager Dallas Green already knows. If you're from Philly, the rest of the country isn't about to give you the benefit of the doubt.

If you don't believe it, then you didn't get the opportunity to read what the outside world was saying about this area and its teams after the Phils won a world championship.

You see, what actually happened was that most people in general, and the national media in particular, looked at the World Series as just another opportunity to drag out all those time-worn cliches about people here booing funerals... and how the Liberty Bell isn't the only thing cracked around here... and how Washington crossed the Delaware because Philly was closed... and how first prize is a week is Philly and second prize is two weeks in this town.

It's easy work if you can get it. Just drag out the old W.C. Fields routines and let it rip. Only this time, the Phillies spoiled the fun by winning.

Instead of learning about what a grand experience it was for the people here, however, sports fans around the nation were fed a steady diet about how the Phils are just a bunch of jerks, how the fans (and I quote) are illiterate, how the brutal police force overreacted with their crowd control and how silly it was for folks here to be happy when they lived in a garbage can.

The sad part is that this general animosity isn't merely directed at the Phillies, but at this area as a whole. Philly has a tradition for losing and obviously some people would prefer to keep it that way even if the Eagles match the Phils' glory by going to the Super Bowl and the Sixers win the NBA.

The Phillies should be the darlings of baseball. They did it all. And that includes the manager, who incredibly finished fourth in the voting for manager of the year.

Yet, as those who listened and watched the descriptions of the team's history-making finish will attest, the Phils remained baseball's step children.

It is Vermeil's turn. His Eagles are the only team in the NFL with an 8-1 record, and he is still waiting to hear some type of outside praise for his people.

"Every time we beat someone," Vermeil said yesterday afternoon, "it's either a case of bad officiating... or we beat a weak team... or we're the most illegal team in football... or pass interference should have been called against us.

"No one gives the other guy credit. I don't care, but a thing like that has to irritate you."

During his early years here, Vermeil found himself constantly fighting with the NFL hierarchy about an attitude that prevailed in which there seemed a reluctance to call penalties against established winners. Vermeil was not the first Eagle coach to argue that point, but he was able to change it by simply becoming a winner.

This lack of appreciation of what the current Eagle team is accomplishing is another problem, however. Despite all the statistical achievements of the team and its individual players, one gets the feeling that even if the Eagles won the Super Bowl tomorrow, they would receive pretty much the same treatment the Phillies received.

"I think we've got a good football team," said Vermeil with a shake of his head. "How good depends on how well we do in the regular season and the playoffs.

"But the thing I've noticed in this league that's different from college is, well, when I was coaching in college it was not unusual for someone when they were beaten to tell the other guy he did a helluva job. You know, 'You outplayed us. See you next year.'

"In the pros, it's not that way. No one wants to give the Eagles credit. Me, I go the other way. This year, I walked into the St. Louis locker room with a lump in my throat (after losing) and congratulated them for their first win.

"I was just trying to show the kind of class that I'd like people to show us when we beat their butts."

Vermeil shouldn't hold his breath while waiting for that miracle to happen. One by one, the coaches he has defeated have done nothing but filled the air with excuses, sour grapes and negative opinions about the Eagles.

Now, it's the schedule. The Birds play the winless Saints next week in New Orleans and you would think it was some sort of crime.

Vermeil keeps trying to ignore all the negativism, but be doesn't like the way it has kept his players from receiving the credit they deserve.

He called Ron Jaworski's quarter-backing in Sunday's victory over the Seattle Seahawks an All-Pro performance. Despite having one of the most high-powered passing games in the league and almost a halftime of possession, Vermeil noted Seattle still couldn't generate a touchdown against the Bird defense in the first two periods.

He said people fail to look at the positive side'of things. For instance, the Eagles are not adept at causing opposition fumbles. That would be a costly statistic if not for the fact that it is offset by Jaworski's ability to avoid throwing interceptions.

"I can remember Ron being booed," he said. "But, if we hadn’t stuck with him, he wouldn't be performing the way he has. Without his performances, we'd be in trouble."

Maybe some day, the rest of the world will realize that Jaworski, like many other Eagles, has matured into an outstanding player. A winner. That's a very big maybe. Vermeil is finding that out.

"I don't care what they say about us," Vermeil said. "Every time we had to prove how good we are, we proved it. I don't know what we ha ve to do to prove ourselves to people."

Would you believe, move to New York or Los Angeles? Everyone and everything there is terrific. If you don't believe it, just ask them.

Carlton wins 3^rd Cy Young

By Rusty Pray of the Courier-Post

Steve Carlton was the landslide winner of the National League's Cy Young Award, taking the baseball election almost as impressively as that other conservative candidate, Ronald Reagan.

Carlton's response to sweeping the field for the third Cy Young Award of his 15-year major-league career was typically muted.

“---------------," said the Phillies' lefthander.

Unfortunately for those who would write about the man who led the Phils to the first world championship of their 98-year history, Carlton grants interviews about as often as Reagan confers with Ted Kennedy.

So the blanks were left to be filled in last night by Tim McCarver, Carlton's longtime friend and, until last season, ditcher.

"This year," McCarver laughed when contacted by telephone, "I was always a little reluctant to talk about him from a personal standpoint. I would answer questions concerning his performance, but I'm not a catchall for his encompassing personality, I always tried to guard against it, tried to maintain my dignity.

"I tried to call him once tonight, but his line was busy . I didn't want to congratulate him. I wanted to tell him, 'Please, don't win it again. If you do, get somebody else to talk for you."'

McCARVER FOR years was the silent Carlton's spokesman. If you wanted to know anything about Lefty, as Carlton is known, you went to McCarver.

But McCarver retired at the beginning of the season – rejoining the Phillies only for the month of September – and spent his summer as a member of the club's broadcast team.

The job of analyzing Carlton's performance fell to Bob Boone, who accepted it with good-humored reluctance.

Moving as he did from the field, to the booth, back to the field and back to the booth gave McCarver a unique view of Carlton. Always in the past, McCarver had seen Carlton only as a form delivering a murderous slider to the plate.

"I HAD A chance to watch him from several different perspectives, really, because I went back to the field," McCarver said. "I saw a calm, a peacefulness, in his off-the-field character that did not exist before... He was really boring, totally boring," McCarver chuckled.

As far as the Phillies were concerned, Carlton was like Crest. He could have bored them every time out and no one would have complained.

Carlton merely posted a record of 24-9 with a 2.34 earned run average during the regular season, leading the majors with 286 strikeouts. He was the winning pitcher in the opening game of the National League Championship Series against Houston and also won the second and sixth games of the World Series against Kansas City.

"I think I have the record for being turned down (for interviews) the most (by Carlton)," said McCarver. "I only interviewed him twice.

"IT'S FUNNY. After we clinched the division (in Montreal), I went into the training room where Steve was and feigned getting on one knee to beg him for an interview.

"I said, 'Come on, come on, my career depends on it.' He kept shaking his head no. I gave him two minutes of my best stuff.

"Later, he said, 'You know, you made a couple good points there. Another 30 seconds and you would've had me."'

Carlton, who previously won the award in 1972 and 1977, was the Phillies' stopper, a man Manager Dallas Green always could depend on for a solid performance when his team needed it most.

"AS MANY sliders as he threw," said McCarver, "it was an incredibly grueling year for a man his age (35). A guy in his middle 30s usually begins nibbling, goes away from his success of earlier years.

"Steve was contrary to that, He took a much more forceful approach and he mastered things that made him great when he was 21, 22 years old.

"He's really gone full circle, from young power thrower, to a pitcher, to a power pitcher.

"It's remarkable more from that standpoint than any other. It's not that he won the Cy Young, but the way he went about winning it. It was truly an artistic accomplishment."

Carlton was voted the honor by a Baseball Writers Association of America panel and joined Tom Seaver and Sandy Koufax as the only three-time winners of the award which goes to the league's best pitcher.

Backlash will increase baseball trades

Second in a two-part series previewing major league baseball’s free agent draft.

By Bob Kenney, Courier-Post Sports Editor

What can best be described as free agent backlash will make this a most interesting winter for major league baseball fans.

For the first time since the basic agreement gave players the right to become free agents, there will be plenty of trades.

Teams such as the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins are willing to trade top players this winter, a year before they become free agents.

AFTER SIX YEARS with one club, a player may elect to become a free agent if he has not signed for that seventh season.

Long-term contracts, the owners have discovered, are not the answer. Trading away players before their option year is a better solution.

"I'm not interested in long-term contracts," said Calvin Griffith, president of the Minnesota Twins. "There is no protection for an owner in a long-term contract."

"There is a swing to trades and away from the free agent draft," said Haywood Sullivan, the co-owner general manager of the Boston Red Sox. "I think you are going to see a lot of teams take a guy for one year left on his contract and if he wants to go after that, move him again."

"THE ERA OF a player staying with a team more than two or three years is over for awhile," added Sullivan, who has placed Fred Lynn and Rick Burleson on the market. Both could become free agents after the next season.

Minnesota has placed All-Star catcher Butch Wynegar and hard-hitting shortstop Roy Smalley on the block for the same reason.

"Smalley and Wynegar are not going to play out their options in Minnesota," said Griffin. "If we can't sign them, we are going to trade them."

"If they are interested for a couple of years, we would like to have them," Griffith said.

HE HAS LOST more than his share of players through the free agent route. Relief ace Bill Campbell, Larry Hisle, Dave Goltz, Eric Soderholm, Tom Burgmeler and the late Lyman Bostock are among the top players signed away from the Twins.

Minnesota finally got something back when it traded Rod Carew before he became a free agent, and most teams feel that is the way to go – both as a buyer and a seller.

"Instead of going with free agents, we're trying to build by making a few trades," said Bob Lurie, owner of the San Francisco Giants.

"I spent $4 million last year. There is no restraint, no common sense.

"WE GOT caught up in a bidding war last year, and it is not going to happen again" said Lurie, who bought Rennie Stenett, Jim Wohlford and Milt May.

"I'm still mad at myself for what happened last year. I'm not going through that again."

The availability of players such as Lynn and Smalley should be the fuse that ignites the trading explosion. At least a half dozen other owners are just waiting for an excuse to unload players.

There have been very few trades the last three years, and management generally has taken a soft approach. This year, though, both sides have lowered the boom.

AND THE problems start at the top.

"I'm tired of baseball players popping off day in and day out," said Dallas Green, who pushed, pulled and dragged his sulking Philadelphia Phillies to a World Series championship. "Let's put the shoe on the other foot."

The Phillies are accepting offers on Greg Luzinski and Larry Bowa.

"Victor Cruz has a great arm, but he has a head like an egg beater," said Cleveland boss Gabe Paul of his ace relief pitcher.

"I'D RATHER QUIT baseball than play with the Rangers again," said Buddy Bell, who hit .329 with 17 home runs and 83 runs batted in for Texas. "I can't respect the way management handled Pat Corrales."

In San Francisco, manager Dave Bristol decided to stop talking and start swinging. He gave John Montefusco a black eye in midseason and you can bet the Count is available in a trade.

Lurie has plenty of Giants available. Right fielder Jack Clark dropped off to 22 home runs this year while feuding with Bristol all season. First baseman Mike Ivie retired once and was hurt several times in a season marred by spats with management.

Kansas City won the American League flag but there is trouble in Royalland. Deluxe second baseman Frank White feels he is being embarrassed at the salary window, and 14-game winner Paul Splittorff told the world what he thought of manager Jim Frey's use of personnel in the World Series.

CALIFORNIA has no Angels in pitchers Frank Tanana, Dave LaRoche and Ed Halecki. All have asked to be traded.

Bruce Sutter, the Chicago reliever, and Cub management never showed up at the same parties after a nasty bit of arbitration last winter, and a trade is almost certain.

The St. Louis Cardinals will trade anybody but Gary Templeton and that includes last year's co-MVP, Keith Hernandez, probably baseball's best first baseman.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are ready to dismantle and both the American League runners-up, Oakland and Baltimore, are shopping around.

"LET'S MAKE a deal," said Pat Gillick of the Toronto Blue Jays. "We have no untouchables."

It seems to be the general feeling. Look for plenty of action in the trade mart.

McGraw, Unser opt for draft

PHILADELPHIA – Tug McGraw and Del Unser, both of whom played pivotal roles in the Phillies' drive toward a world championship, yesterday declared for baseball's free agent re-entry draft.

Righthander Larry Christenson, another who could have declared, signed a one-year contract with the Phillies.

"I have entered the free agent draft as of this afternoon, Nov. 5," McGraw said in a statement. "My request to the Phillies was this: My contribution to the first world championship in 97 years was equal to that of any person or player on the team. I want to be in the norm with the salaries of these players. To date, the Phillies have declined to make me a proposal of salary comparable to those salary levels of the other key players of the team. I didn't want this, but at this point there was no other choice."

THE PHILLIES, according to General Manager Paul Owens, are still negotiating with McGraw, who figured in three of the Phils' four World Series victories over the Kansas City Royals. Owens said the Phillies can negotiate with McGraw until mid night Monday. All negotiations are then suspended until after the re-entry draft No. 13.

With that in mind, McGraw and his financial adviser, Phil McLaughlin, plan to meet with Owens again tomorrow and perhaps over the weekend, as well.

It's no secret that McGraw would like to stay in Philadelphia and, like Dusty Baker of the Dodgers, hopes the Phils will retain his negotiation rights. Teams routinely may retain such rights at the conclusion of the re-entry draft.

McGraw's regular season was nothing short of sensational. He was 5-4 (5-1 after July 17) with 20saves and a 1.47 earned run average. He appeared in all five National League playoff games against Houston.

UNSER HIT .264 during the regular season and delivered some crucial pinch hits during the playoffs and Series. The 35-year-old lefthander finished hitting .400 .against the Astros and .500 against the Royals.

Christenson struggled through an injury-marred season and underwent elbow surgery in May. He returned to the Phils in mid-August and finished the year 5-1 with a 4.01 ERA in 14 games.

In still another contractual matter, Manager Dallas Green reached a one-year agreement with the Phillies. Green and Owens were to formally announce the agreement at a press conference today.

The team's announcement of the pact yesterday confirmed a report Monday that said Green would return as manager in 1981.

GREEN HAS made no secret that he would prefer a job in the front office, where he worked until Aug. 31, 1979, when he replaced Danny Ozark as manager.

McGraw and Unser were joined in the free-agent pool by outfielder Steve Braun of the Toronto Blue Jays, pushing to 52 the number of players declaring for free agency with the deadline for filing at midnight last night.

Only one other player, Texas pitcher Charlie Hough, was eligible to join the free agent list, but the knuckleballer was reported close to signing a contract with the Rangers.

The midnight deadline – 15 days following the end of the World Series – was merely to declare for the draft. Players who filed still can sign with their teams until Monday.

OF THE 52 players eligible for the draft, only one – Montreal first baseman Willie Montanez – carries no amateur draft compensation requirement for the team signing him. That's because Montanez signed his current contract before Aug. 9, 1976 – when the current basic agreement including its free agent provisions took effect – and was in his option year in 1980.

Two other players not in next week's draft could wind up as free agents anyway. They are pitcher Doyle Alexander of the Atlanta Braves and infielder Jack Brohamer of the Cleveland Indians. Both have exercised their contract rights to demand trades and if they are not dealt by March 15, they can declare themselves free agents.

Opinion

Phillies:  Celebration turns sour

I am from Germany and have just come back from a lengthy stay in that country.

I was so proud to see the fabulous Phillies win the National League pennant and then the World Series. You see, my family in Germany follow the Phillies, too, and asked me to write to them about their victory.

So, I took a day off work to see the victory parade and celebration and see my idols. Although I live in New Jersey, I came to Philadelphia with pride and a beautiful feeling about our Phillies.

But then something happened. As I was standing before JFK Stadium, about four young people pushed me so that I fell and for a moment lost my grip on my handbag, I didn't know it then, but that is when they stole my wallet out of my bag. They made sure there was a disturbance, and when I checked my handbag, my billfold was gone.

You know, I cried, because I could not believe that in all that happiness someone could be as mean as this. I guess I am naive.

The thieves managed to turn a beautiful and exciting day into a day of regret for ever coming to Philadelphia. It was all the money I had to last me until the end of the month and I had no money to get back home to New Jersey. I also had some 40 German marks and a beautiful pendant that I had just received from my 78-year-old aunt in Germany.

I still love my Phillies, but it sure dampened the enjoyment for me. I will think twice before I go to Philadelphia again.

A wonderful gentleman, Roscoe Woods, and his lovely daughter, took me back to New Jersey and gave me a dollar to take the high speed line home. I thank him for his kindness.

One more thing, I think that Pete Rose, my idol, deserves a lot more thanks than he got because he held it all together. I love you Pete!

GISELE M. O'NEILL

Laurel Springs

Green’s work could start trend for other teams

By Ray W. Kelly of the Courier-Post

PHILADELPHIA – The Greening of the Phillies, a baseball experiment that turned an urban desert into a victory garden and planted the seeds of possible change within other organizations looking to cultivate a world championship, was officially extended for another season.

Manager Dallas Green, whose temporary leave of absence from the Phils' front office was extended yesterday by way of a one-year contract for an estimated $150,000, predicted that the road to a World Series repeat would be less rocky in 1981.

"But I'm not going to change my personality. I'll still be a pain in the rear end," he said with a chuckle.

Some of the players who blossomed under the no-nonsense handling of Green, might fail to see the humor in the statement. But, then again, the heir-apparent to the general manager's job never did promise anyone a rose garden.

"I don't think we'll have continuous friction. I mean, I certainly hope not," said Dallas. "I've had time to know the personalities of the players better. Conversely, I hope I've proven to them that I want nothing more than what they want... to win.

"When we go to spring training, we won't have the strike thing over our heads. There won't be some of the salary problems we had last year. And we won't have to contend with the new manager thing."

A number of baseball big-wigs are more interested in the concept that Green represented, rather than the problems he solved. You see, Dallas was basically an executive who parlayed his administrative muscle (made awesome by the backing of the big bosses) and his baseball knowledge into highly productive atmosphere.

Obviously, the athletes would prefer to have a less secure manager looking over their shoulders on a day to day basis. When the judge and jury is sitting right there in the dugout watching the scene of the crime, it's a little tough to claim a case of mistaken identity.

The recent decision by Whitey Herzog to retain his job as manager of the St. Louis Cardinals while at the same time acting as general manager may be the first ripple of a trend by management, a new way of dealing with the modern day athlete.

There are pitfalls, however. Phillies owner Ruly Carpenter pointed one out during Green's press conference, noting that many players in baseball today have incentive clauses in their contracts.

If a general manager negotiates a deal that calls for a bonus for such things as total appearances, stolen bases or the like, it sets up a potentially explosive situation in which the same man (acting as field manager) could be accused of benching a player in order to save the club money.

Winning combinations are usually copied by the also-rans, although Green is hoping he'll be back in the front office by the time the rest of baseball finds a way to copy the Phillies' unique situation.

"I don't want to go into that career-manager thing," he said. "I'm just excited about what we accomplished in 1980. And I think we can improve on that. I'm looking for ways to make us better.

"Offensively, I want to continue the 25-man theory. I want to continue the team concept. We proved that when we do things right, we can win the one-run games, we can come from behind.

"My own personal feeling is that we don't have to make a lot of changes. I know we can't stay stagnant in a winning situation. Every team has weaknesses, including the Phillies. We're not going to sit back; We want the same kind of effort we got in 1980. If we don't get it, well make changes.

"If we can make a deal, a trade to improve us, we'll do it. Plus, we'll look long and hard at some of the kids who might be ready to continue that pushing of veterans. That will continue the freshness we need.

"I'm not going to let us sink back, into a laissez faire attitude... like, we're world champions and all 25 guys are safe."

No one is safe in this Garden of Eden. Not with one of the best bloomin' managers in baseball still tending to things.

Phillies sign Baumer to post

PHILADELPHIA – Jim Baumer, former General Manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, has been named Director of the Phillies Minor League Department and Scouting.

Baumer, 49, replaces Howie Bedell, who served as director of the minor league system, and Jack Pastore, formerly director of scouting. Pastore will serve as Baumer's assistant.

"Basically, I firmly believe in a one-man operation as the head of that department," said Phillies' General Manager Paul Owens. "I learned that a long time ago.

"We followed that format while I was that department head and the same when Dallas Green replaced me. We tried to go to the two-head department last year and I'm just not satisfied.

"Baumer has a lot of experience in player development and scouting. I feel that experience will do the job for us."

Baumer saw major league service in 1949 with the Chicago White Sox and in 1961 with the Cincinnati Reds. He played in Japan for five years (1963-67) and became a scout for the Houston Astros in 1968. Baumer joined the Milwaukee organization in 1972 and served as scout, director of player development and General Manager.

Baumer has been a Phillies' employee since 1978, when Owens hired him as a special assignment scout with emphasis on the American League. Baumer scouted the Kansas City Royals before the World Series.

Channel 17 offers Phillies highlights

PHILADELPHIA – WPHL-TV, Channel 17, will offer area Phillies fans the opportunity to relive the "Comeback Kids" drive to the World Championship.

The entire week of Nov. 17 will be devoted to highlights of the 1980 season.

Monday, Nov. 17 - Phillies at Montreal, game of Oct. 3

Tuesday, Nov. 18 - Phillies at Montreal, game of Oct, 4

Wednesday, Nov. 19 - Phillies at Houston, playoff game (4) of Oct 11

Thursday, Nov 20 - Phillies at Houston, playoff game (5) of Oct. 12

Friday, Nov. 21 - Phillies vs. Royals at Veterans Stadium, World Series game (6) of Oct. 21

Saturday, Nov. 22 - Victory parade and Kennedy Stadium ceremonies of Oct. 22

Record on Phils

PHILADELPHIA – "The Phantasic Phillies," a 50-minute record album highlighting the Phillies' 1980 World Championship season, is scheduled for distribution Nov. 17.

The album is narrated by Harry Kalas. In addition to the Kalas narration, the album includes play-by-play radio game highlights leading up to the division-clinching games in Montreal, playoff action against Houston, and recreated game action from the World Series. The album also includes interviews with players, the clubhouse celebrations and Kennedy Stadium rally.

Dallas Green couldn’t forget the teaching of Owens

By Ray W. Kelly of the Courier-Post

PHILADELPHIA – He gave three reasons why he' agreed to manage the Phillies for another year. Yet, when all was said and done, it still came down to the fact that Dallas Green could not forget his roots.

Oh, he smiled into the cameras and joked about how winning the World Series had enabled him to receive some "interesting money" from owner Ruly Carpenter as part of the one-year contract.

He also talked about the timing for his eventual move back into the front office not being right. And, how because of the working relationship between himself and General Manager Paul Owens, keeping the status quo seemed the best way of perpetuating a winning tradition for the club.

But money never meant anything to Green. And, the working relationship that he truly wanted was to be at Owens' side during the next year or two, putting the final touches on a baseball education that began 13 years ago.

If there was a bottom line to Green's decision, not to call in his IOUs and demand his return to the executive side of the Phils, it was the love and respect he has for the man called The Pope. Neither success nor ambition was going to change that. Not ever.

It was Owens who befriended the righthander with the sizzling fastball 24 years ago. And, when Dallas could no longer throw hard and get the batters out consistently, it was Owens who took the tall, handsome pitcher aside one afternoon in Clearwater, Fla., and told him, "I'd like you to think about becoming my assistant."

Phils' farm director at the time, Owens , had already discussed the young man with General Manager John Quinn, noting, "I like the way the guy battled his arm problems. He's not a quitter. He's honest and straightforward. I think he has a future with us."

The two men made sure Dallas qualified for his baseball pension, a show of good faith that both realized was a solid investment when they traveled to Florida after the season to view the work being done on what was to be one of the finest baseball facilities in the country, Carpenter Complex.

"When I drove up to the place, there was Dallas in the outfield digging holes for the fence," recalled The Pope with a smile. "You can believe it or not, but I knew right then that someday he would be right where he is today... a very successful baseball man."

In the years that followed, there would be times when Green wondered if he shouldn't be doing other things within the organization. But, in the end, he always respected Owens' judgment.

"Why are you asking me to manage in the minor leagues?" asked Dallas during the winter of 1967. "I can't learn about the business end of baseball while I'm in South Dakota!"

Owens just smiled. "You should know what it's like to ride the minor league bus," he answered. "That way, when you eventually deal with the people throughout the organization, you'll be able to understand their problems."

This was exactly the same kind of education Bob Carpenter regretted never having under his belt when his dad turned the Phillies over to him. Young Ruly was not going to suffer the same fate. Like Green, Ruly soon found himself under The Pope's wing.

"Yeah, I had the both of them, recalled The Pope with a chuckle. "They were there when we began taking the entire scouting and minor league system apart and putting it back together again.

"I wanted Dallas to have the background to succeed me as farm director. As for Ruly, I gave him the job of wading through a mountain of files and working up a system of evaluating our people."

Every once in a while, the senior Carpenter would poke his head into Owens' office and ask, "How's the kid doing?"

"I'm working his butt off. He's coming along fine," The Pope would answer.

"Don't give me a load of bull. Make him work. I want him to know both the good and the bad of this business. Someday, the two of you are going to be running the Phillies."

During those years, a bond was forged between Ruly, Dallas and The Pope. It was rife with good feelings, but its foundation was in their common quest for a winning organization.

The Phillies were building from within, with Quinn generously lighting the way for Owens to succeed him. And Owens, in turn, passing his knowledge along to Green and young Carpenter.

One day. as he was taking Dallas with him into an important meeting. Owens stopped suddenly and told his protégé, "I'm not going to keep anything from you. Whatever I can teach you, I will.

“But remember one thing. You're Dallas Green, not Paul Owens. Don't try to be another me. Be yourself and you'll do just fine."

There were times, especially during the stormy sessions with Danny Ozark, that Owens would sit back and chuckle at the advice he'd given Dallas. But, he never intervened because he had taught the young man to fight for his minor league players.

Even when they were at odds with each other, the two men considered it part of their education. When Dallas became farm director, he didn't like the idea of including catcher John Stearns in a deal that brought Tug McGraw in from the New York Mets. The trade was made anyway.

Yet. when Owens was tempted to trade Lonnie Smith to Baltimore for infielder Billy Smith, it was Green who prevailed, much to Owens' delight. What fans have to understand is that Lonnie belonged to the team Dallas was putting together for the future. Keith Moreland, Marty Bystrom. Bob Walk, Luis Aguayo and the rest of the youth movement represent years of work on the part of Green.

The veterans on the current Phillies squad, in essence, belong to Owens. When he first started developing the club, he told the press, “Don't judge me as a general manager today. Come back in five years and tell me whether I'm a success or failure."

That team, although it had made its mark with three divisional titles, was given "one more year to do it" before being dismantled. That last chance was the 1980 season.

What could be more fitting than to have the team that The Pope built helped over the top by the team Dallas developed. With the help of Ruly, the three finally achieved their goal.

Unfortunately, there was a price. Because he was in the dugout instead of the front office, Green was missing out on the final stages of his own executive development in order to do a job he never really wanted.

"The ironic part." said Owens, "is that Dallas doesn't realize how much field ability he has. He's good. And, in the long run, I think this experience will only help to make him an even better general manager."

For now, a lifetime of work and waiting has finally come to fruition for The Pope. On the framework of major league baseball, it is his turn to stand center stage and receive the recognition he deserves.

Dallas is well aware of this. He wants to have his moment in the sun. Setting aside his own personal goals for the good of someone else is something you'd expect of Green because he was taught by one of the best.

The ties are strong. The roots run deep. And Dallas Green is not the kind of man to forget where he came from or how he got there.

Schmidt player of year

NEW YORK – It has been the year of the Phillies. And, not coincidentally, the year of Mike Schmidt.

Schmidt today added another post-season honor to his growing list by being named the National League Player of the Year by The Associated Press. Schmidt was named most valuable player of the World Series and is a lock to be named the National League's MVP.

The slugging third baseman, who led the Phillies to their first world championship in 97 years, easily outdistanced the field, leading a Philadelphia sweep of the first four places in the balloting by a nationwide panel of sports writers and broadcasters.

HE RECEIVED 368½ votes, finishing far ahead of the Phillies' pitcher Steve Carlton, who last week won the National League Cy Young Award. Carlton received 81½ votes. Phillies' bullpen ace Tug McGraw was third in the balloting with 13, followed by first baseman Pete Rose, who had nine.

Phillie Lonnie Smith took an honor yesterday, too. Smith was among the Sporting News' rookie players and pitchers of the year, the St. Louis-based publication announced.

Schmidt set a major league record for third basemen with 48 home runs, breaking the mark of 47 set by Hall of Famer Eddie ' Mathews in 1953. It was the fourth time in the last seven seasons that Schmidt has led the NL in homers.

He also won the National League runs batted in crown with 121.

A perennial Gold Glove third baseman, Schmidt was selected to the All-Star team for the fifth time last season and either led or was among the NL leaders in several other batting categories, including total bases, sacrifice flies, slugging percentage and runs scored.

Schmidt was the driving force in. the Phillies' pulsating race to the National League East Division crown and had the game-winning. RBI in each of his team's last five regular-season victories. It was his home run in the 11th inning on the next to the last day of the season in Montreal that ended the Expos' chances and clinched the division title for the Phillies.

AND, ON the night the Phils clinched the Series with a sixth-game triumph, Schmidt recalled his bittersweet career in Philadelphia.

"I went through a period in 1978 when I'd get booed every time I put this uniform on," he said then. "I hit about .250, had 20 home runs and about 70 RBIs – a good year for a lot of guys. But they (the fans) blistered me."

Schmidt was named the MVP of the Series after batting .381 with two home runs, seven runs batted in and six runs scored against Kansas City.

"I would," he said amid the Series celebration, like to chop it (the MVP award) up into 25 pieces. We had a handful of different guys who got key hits down the stretch... Greg Gross... Del Unser... You know what the other guys did."

INDEED, a strong case could have been made for McGraw, or catcher Bob Boone, or shortstop Larry Bowa, to be named the Series MVP. But in the end, Schmidt got the award and there is little doubt the Phillies would not have won the Series without his contributions.

The same could be said for the regular season. Schmidt put together his most healthy, most consistent year. He, Bake McBride, Carlton and McGraw carried the Phillies through much of the summer while guys like Boone, Bowa and Greg Luzinski were either hurt or struggling.

The 31-year-old Schmidt is a favorite to be named the league's Most Valuable Player when the Baseball Writers Association of America announces its selection later this month.

Other players receiving more ' than one vote were Dale Murphy, Joe Morgan, Garry Templeton, Keith Hernandez, Bill Buckner, Steve Garvey, Jose Cruz, Dave Parker, Ron LeFlore, Gary Carter, Andre Dawson, Dusty Baker and George Hendrick.

Smith, an outfielder, got attention from the Sporting News with 33 stolen bases in 100 games while carrying a .339 batting average as the Phillies surged toward the world championship.

Joe Charboneau of the Cleveland Indians, Britt Burns of the Chicago White Sox and Bill Gullickson of the Montreal also were honored.

Charboneau, an outfielder and designated hitter, batted in .289 in 131 games, with 23 homers and 87 runs batted in.

Burns, a 21-year-old righthander, posted a 15-13 record last season while completing 11 games for the White Sox.

Gullickson was praised for his fastball, winning 10 games and losing five after being called up by the Expos on May 28.

The magazine said the selections were made by a poll of 168 National League and 244 American League players.

Winfield’s rejections may ignite draft war

By Ray W. Kelly of the Courier-Post

The "Winfield Letter" may turn out to be nothing more than a minor incident for major league baseball. But, then again, there once was a time when Watergate was called a mere third-rate burglary.

From little acorns giant oak trees grow. Wars don't just start, they evolve through a chain of events. And it's quite possible that before San Diego Padres outfielder Dave Winfield is finished with the re-entry draft, all hell will break loose.

If Murphy's Law prevails and anything that can go wrong does go wrong, the entire structure of the free agent system could be jeopardized and the very existence of the Players Association may be threatened.

Then again, Winfield might earn a ton of money in the New York Yankee outfield and live happily ever after. . Maybe.

The sound of distant guns was heard yesterday, when Gabe Paul, president of the Cleveland Indians, reacted to a letter he received from Winfield and his agent, Al Frohman.

Basically, the letter was a nice way of telling the Indians not to waste their time drafting Winfield because he wouldn't go to Cleveland if he was transported in a solid gold Rolls Royce.

The Indians were among a dozen teams that Winfield deemed undesirable. They all received letters, which Frohman described as, "polite notes, an attempt to help clubs save a draft choice."

Paul did not see it as a favor from out of the blue. He needs to save draft picks about as much as he needs to save green stamps. Oh no, he saw it as an attempt to undermine the very spirit of the draft.

Although he didn't come right out and say it, Paul wouldn't be alone if he suspects the main reason for the letter was to discourage teams like his from drafting Winfield, thereby opening the door for the Yankees.

You see, under the current agreement between the owners and the Players Association, a dozen teams (plus the team losing the player in question) are the only ones permitted to draft the free agent.

The order of teams doing the drafting is based on their respective position in the final standings of the preceding year.

In other words, the less fortunate clubs go first while the powerhouses (both on the field and financially) such as the Phillies, Royals and Yankees go last.

Winfield and his agent are well aware that if the 13 draft spots are filled before the big money clubs get a chance to join the bidding, there is little recourse. Winfield is stuck with choosing between the Clevelands and the Detroits of this world.

The use of letters to dissuade the lesser teams from blocking the path of the money clubs is nothing new. Pete Rose, Nolan Ryan and Reggie Jackson did it.

"Yes," said Paul, "but, no one has done this before as brazenly as he (Winfield) has.

Winfield's literary manners aren't half as important as the fact that Paul's reaction may be the part of a backlash. It's quite possible that the "dirty dozen" receiving the cold shoulder in the mail may have decided they've had enough of stepping aside for the financial giants.

It's well within their rights to use their draft picks anyway they deem fit. This could be the time they decide to make a stand.

"It's unfair for any player to try to do this," said Paul. "I'm all for allowing every club who wants a player the right to go after him.

"But this isn't what the owners and other players agreed to, so it's not right for any of us, players or owners, to blatantly try to defeat the principle of the draft."

Alas, push comes to shove.

Whether they've done it intentionally or not, the owners have found the "Catch 22" of the free agent process.

The Players Association may have blundered when they agreed to limit the number of teams allowed to seek the services of a free agent. And, Winfield could become the first top athlete caught in the loophole.

It's no secret the Yankees want the outfielder desperately. They even tried to arrange a trade with the Padres earlier in hopes of averting the free agent scene.

Winfield turned down the trade. And, although one can only speculate as to why, it's quite possible that he cither didn't want to see the Padres receive any compensation for his leaving (there's lots of ill will here), he suspected he might be able to push the Yankee offer even higher by including some competition in the bidding war, or he was advised that such a trade would leave the Padres and Yankees open to charges of collusion.

If it turns out Thursday that Winfield misses out on the chance to join the Yankees and become the top money player in baseball by surpassing Pittsburgh's Dave Parker ($1 million per year), things could get explosive.

Rumor has it that if the draft procedure blocks his path to the Yankees and either Atlanta or the Mots don't come in with big offers to ease the pain, Winfield may consider taking the matter to court – Sherman Anti-Trust, restraint of trade, violation of civil rights, etc.

In doing so, however, Winfield would be in the unique position of challenging the initial bargain struck by his own association.

Representatives for the players could end up looking very foolish. But, more importantly, a legal battle might open a can of worms in which the owner's legal counsel could challenge the existence of a union in which (as they see it) is in violation of law because membership is almost automatic for a player moving into the major leagues.

Right now, it's just a little squabble about a seemingly insignificant letter. Then again, the first domino may have just fallen in the direction of domino number two.

Tug, Del not absolutely draft proof

By Ray W. Kelly of the Courier-Post

PHILADELPHIA – The baseball season ended weeks ago, but Tug McGraw is once more hanging by his fingernails. And Del Unser is figuring he will be coming through in the clutch.

Some things never change. At least, that's what many Phillies fans are hoping as tomorrow's free-agent draft draws near and the contract rights to both McGraw and Unser go up for bid.

Neither Tug, the premier relief pitcher in the major leagues last season, nor Del, the pinch-hitting hero in the Phils' march to a world championship, have the slightest desire to move their lockers out of Veterans Stadium.

It wouldn't hurt to worry a little about the situation, however. When the dollar signs start to fly, anything can happen. Especially if people start getting their feelings hurt.

McGraw, for example, was slightly disappointed (to say the least) in the Phillies front office when early negotiations resulted in Tug being offered a contract that was worth less per season than newcomer Sparky Lyle is reportedly receiving.

It wasn't just the money. It was also the principle of the thing – Tug's been the guy who has been coming through for the team; not only in 1980, but for most of the past six years.

"I thought their offer might reflect that contribution," said McGraw yesterday. "It's true. It did bother me that the offer wouldn't have even made me the highest paid guy in the bullpen.

"But the more I thought about it, I realized that when you're bargaining, initial offers are irrelevant. They've got to try to feel me out and try to get me for as little as possible

"Still, I wish their offer had shown some appreciation in what I'd done... even though I'm not taking it personally."

Lyle's contract, which came (at least in part) with him from the Texas Rangers, is estimated to be in the $375,000 per year range and will run at least until 1982.

"What happened is that the Phils gave me their bottom offer (less than Lyle) and I gave them my top figure," explained Tug, who didn't deny reports that he set his ceiling at $500,000 for each of four years.

"Here I am living on the edge again," he added with a laugh. "I thought I'd be able to relax after the season."

It hasn't been easy for Tug to take a breather, not with rumors flying fast and furious that the Phils are preparing to let him get away in the draft and then make a trade for either Bruce Sutter of the Chicago Cubs or Rollie Fingers of the San Diego Padres.

"I suspected that the Phils came in with a low initial figure on me in order to bargain for time," said Tug. "What I can't understand is that, if Sutter has a bad knee and Fingers is the same age as me, and the Phillies won't get either for less than I want to be paid, then what's the problem?"

McGraw already knows the answer. He even provided his own answer when he said, "It's a two-fold thing with the Phils. First, it's their philosophy about salary structure and how much the top starters should be paid and how much relief pitchers should make and how much other guys in other positions should make.

"But I look at it this way. We have the lowest paid superstar on the team and the highest paid superstar. I don't want to be either. I want to be in the middle. I don't believe one position is more valuable than another. I feel I've contributed as much to the success of the team as anyone else."

Both Tug and the Phillies decided to shelve negotiations until after the dust that tomorrow's reentry draft will stir up has settled. More than likely, the Phils want to see if the New York Mets aim their newfound financial resources at Padre Dave Winfield or a natural drawing card like Tug.

"Yes, I can make the move to New York if I have to do it," said McGraw. "I figure this will be the next to last contract I ever negotiate. I want it to be with the Phillies. But, it has got to be a good one.

"I realize the Phils have a hang-up about paying any pitcher on the team more than Steve Carlton (whose $400,000 per year contract will no doubt be renegotiated). Still, I want to come away feeling the Phillies appreciate what I've done.

"Of course, the figure I gave the Phillies doesn't apply to other clubs. If I move, so do the numbers… upward."

Unser, on the other hand, is simply hoping that a dozen teams draft him and then forget to make him an offer. It happened before and it shook him up considerably.

All Del is looking for in the draft is for the other teams to set some sort of value on him, thereby giving him leverage in his future talks with the Phillies.

"I don't expect the multitudes to knock down my door," he said with a chuckle from his California home. 'I'm not balking at anything or trying to make a killing.

"But I had good seasons back-to-back for the Phils and never said a word about more money. It has been a good relationship for both of us and I want to stay with a winning team in a city where I have many friends. I guess the Phils know that. I hope they don't use it against me. they know I want to stay."

The Phillies know Del's feelings. Sill, they'd better be careful that another team doesn't come around and offer Unser a combination of money and more playing time. He might be tempted if the team is in the right city.

“I’d have to think twice if a team with a ballpark that's tailored to my style of hitting, such as Yankee Stadium, made me an offer. Or, if it was an up-and-coming team in a town near my home... which is Oakland or San Francisco... or near my folks, which is St. Louis... or, if I got an offer that ran for three or four years... I mean, I'd have to think about it.

"Still, I've got to think that the Phillies have gotten used to having Del Unser come through for them. I'm hoping they don't forget."

So is McGraw. But, when it comes to money, it's not a case of what you did for me yesterday. It is: what are you going to do for me tomorrow?

Bidding begins tomorrow in baseball’s auction

NEW YORK – Baseball's annual auction begins tomorrow with the free agent draft and, if tradition holds, several players soon will become rich men.

The Atlanta Braves, for instance, plan to select six or seven outfielders and pitchers in the re-entry draft, including perhaps outfielders Dave Winfield of San Diego and Claudell Washington of the New York Mets, plus pitchers Don Sutton of Los Angeles, Bill Travers and Bill Castro of Milwaukee and Dan Spillner of Cleveland.

According to one account, Atlanta will draft Winfield, Sutton and Washington in the first three rounds, then Travers, Castro and Spillner if they are available.

"WE'LL MAKE a serious bid initially for our first three selections," Atlanta Executive Vice President Al Thornwell said. "We'll see how we're doing with them. If it looks like we're going to be knocked out of the box, we might make a big bid for one of the others we select."

The Braves, who have the 14th pick in each round, have been in contact with Winfield, Sutton and Washington. Winfield and Sutton have visited with owner Ted Turner in Atlanta.

There is a considerable amount of strategy involved in the event, most of it centered around Winfield. With each of the 48 free agents available limited to 13 teams, some premium players could be closed out early.

That is the problem facing the New York Yankees, who are anxious to get into the bidding for the slugging Winfield, the most glamorous name in the draft. The Yankees had baseball's best record last season with 103 victories, and therefore have the 26th and final pick in each round of the draft. That means 25 teams – including the Braves – will have a shot at picking Winfield before New York.

WINFIELD HAS written to more than a dozen teams, advising them that he has no desire to play for them and suggesting that they not waste a draft pick on him. But many baseball people suspect some devious intentions in the letter, suggesting it is an attempt on the slugger's part to make sure he's still available when the Yankees get their turn in the draft.

Only once in four previous drafts has a player reached his 13-team limit in the first round. That happened last year to pitcher Dave Goltz who signed with Los Angeles.

Winfield is certain of being selected by one New York team. The Mets own the third choice in the draft following the Chicago Cubs and Seattle Mariners and have expressed every bit as much interest in the slugger as the Yankees.

In fact, Fred Wilpon, president and chief operating officer of the Mets, thinks he may even have a small edge when the bid ding begins. When Wilpon met Winfield and the player's agent, Al Frohman, there was an inkling of recognition.

THEY discovered they had grown up in the same section of Brooklyn, N.Y., and that, in fact, there even had been a business relationship between their families. Wilpon 's father was a funeral director in the old neighborhood and Frohman's father was a rabbi who often conducted services in the chapel.

A thin connection, to be sure, but at this stage, teams will grasp at any thread which might provide an inroad to a desirable free agent. It's part of the re-entry routine.

Time for Phillies fans to follow Tug McGraw’s apology

By Pete Finley of the Courier-Post

I know your names, you Tug McGraw and Barry Whatshisname fans! I know you've teamed up to get me. Well, it won't work. I'm not about to turn in my typewriter, computer. No way.

AS a flatter of fact I demand an apology. Yes, an apology from all of you who disagreed with my observations on one of the unclassiest moments in Philadelphia sports history. (Boy, that sounds important doesn't it?) Why not an apology?

I understand McGraw apologized to the New York fans about his remark concerning what they could do with the World Series just won by the Phillies. You heard me correctly, McGraw apologized. How does that grab your pennant?

Now if he apologized to the fans he demeaned 90 miles away, he certainly should apologize to the thousands of hometown fans who sat in front of him as he made the great utterance. And if he apologizes to them, then you should apologize to me.

I mean it, now. I'm just a bit frosted about the whole thing. It's bad enough I have to wait for crispy chicken in a Gino's while that Barry guy's dentist-office-songs torture me. And it's bad enough to find half-page ads about his concerts (forgive me for abusing that word John McCormack and Enrico Caruso) stuffed in my mailbox here at the paper.

Now I have to get abuse about Barry Mannimow in the same letters taking me apart about the McGraw column. Well I have a limit too, you know. And the end is almost in sight, so just watch out.

Karen Petruzzi of Bellmawr thought I was too hard on McGraw and all the Phillies. Karen, you sound as proud and defensive of the Phillies as I do about Notre Dame. Imagine my despair when those sports pollsters failed to give ND a first place vote all season, then voted them into first place because Alabama lost and then voted them back to seventh place just because a lucky Georgia Tech team played miles over its head. Jeez!

But Karen, you stepped over the limit when you disagreed with me about New York being THE town, the capital of the world. For your penance write a 500 word composition about the Empire State Building. In ink! After you write your apology, of course.

Here's something for you to ponder, you Phillies fans. The Phillies organization would have ended the season of 1980 without a profit (with a loss, as a matter of fact) without the tremendous support of the ticket-buying fans in the playoffs and in the series. And of course, we have to include as profit, the tons of refreshments bought by the same fans.

Also, the organization owes a great debt of gratitude to the thousands of loyal fans who continued frequenting Vet Stadium during those roller-coaster weeks of July and August when the Phillies looked like anything but contenders.

Now then, with all this admittedly super fan support, why couldn't the organization have rewarded the faithful with a planned parade complete with fireworks, bands, a reviewing stand... something like a Super-Sunday with streets roped off to traffic and food stands all over? Why did the organization respond with a goofed-up parade, absolutely spontaneous and absolutely ill-timed which brought great hardship to many caught in the traffic and much disappointment to thousands who had to stay in school or be at work?

I'll tell you why. Because too many of the players wanted to cut out real fast. They wanted to blow out of Philly as quickly as possible. They certainly did not reciprocate for the sacrifices made by their fans all season. And believe me, going to a game, almost any game, does call for some sacrificing. All is not ginger-peachy all the time sitting in the stands and bucking traffic getting to and from the game.

I know some kids who played hooky from school to attend the game, some with and some without their parents' permission. At Highland and Washington Township high schools, coaches suspended some athletes for cutting practice because they went to the parade. Good for the coaches. Some parents tried to compromise the team's discipline by asking our sports department for support in the form of an article. No way. Our sports writers are in total agreement with the coaches on this matter.

Now get busy with those apologies. I'm going to wait only so long.

Brett named AL player of Year

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – It was early May and George Brett was of f to a terrible start, barely hitting .240.

"I don't think I'm a .240 hitter," said the Kansas City Royals' third baseman, whose lifetime average stood at .310. "I still don't think there's any reason I can't hit close to .329 like last year."

As it turned out, Brett finished 61 percentage points away from .329.

He wound up at .390, the highest total in the major leagues in 39 years. He also led the American League in slugging percentage (.664) and on-base percentage (.461).

In the meantime, he reeled off a 30-game hitting streak, averaged an RBI per game, and captured the interest of baseball fans around the world with his quest to hit .400.

In no surprise, Brett was an overwhelming choice of a nationwide panel of sportscasters and broadcasters as The Associated Press American League Player of the Year.

Brett's storybook season was marred only by sporadic injuries that kept him out of more than 40 games and a hemorrhoid condition that threatened to sideline him in the World Series.

The way the 27-year-old All-Star handled the reaction to his hemorrhoid ailment was vintage Brett. His problem became known after the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Royals in Game 1 in Philadelphia. The next night, he reached base three times in three plate appearances, but took himself out of the game in extreme pain.

Comedians made jokes. Players made jokes. Everybody was laughing, it seemed, but the horribly embarrassed Brett.

But minor surgery on the off-day relieved the pain and pressure. He came back with a smile on his face.

"All my problems are behind me," he announced to the army of writers and sportscasters. "If I don't play third base, I'm going to Preparation DH. Everybody else is having fun with this, so I decided I should, too. Of course, I don't enjoy being the butt of the joke."

He returned to action and hit safely in the final four games before the Phillies finally beat the Royals for the world championship.

By mid-season, Brett was hitting .337, although an ankle injury kept him out of the All-Star game. He hit an astonishing .420 the second half of the season and on Aug. 17, a Sunday game in Kansas City against Toronto, he slammed a three-run double that pushed his average for the first time over .400.

Three times he dipped below the magic number only to creep back above it. He was hitting .400 as late as Sept. 19. He finished with 118 RBIs in 117 games.

Brett amassed 488½ votes for AL player of the year honors, compared to 11½ for Reggie Jackson of the New York Yankees and 11 for Cecil Cooper of Milwaukee. Willie Wilson, Brett's teammate, was fourth with nine votes, followed by Baltimore pitcher Steve Stone with three and Kansas City relief ace Dan Quisenberry, with two.

Mike Schmidt Phillies' third baseman, was earlier named AP Player of the Year for the National League.

Draft leaves Tug in cold

By Ray W. Kelly of the Courier-Post

Hi! This is Tug McGraw of the Phillies. Would you like to talk to me about pitching lor your team?

I'd like to talk to you.

By the way, how come you didn't pick me during the free agent draft?

That's the speech Tug has all prepared for next week, when he starts calling major league teams he thinks might be able to use one of the best lefthanded relief pitchers in baseball. Him!

"I had to come up with it real quick," said McGraw yesterday. "It's something I never thought I'd need."

Neither did anyone else who gathered in New York yesterday to watch 26 big league clubs declare their intentions of bidding for the services of 48 players, most of whom couldn't carry the world championship ring Tug will soon be placing on his finger.

In a turn of events that shocked many baseball people, McGraw was completely ignored by representatives of all the teams. The Phillies were shut out because, by rule, they aren't permitted to draft the rights for renegotiation until two other teams take the player in question.

"Yes. I was a little surprised, to say the least," said the 36-year-old hurler, who has been in the forefront of two teams' (New York Mets and Phillies) climb to the top of the baseball world. "But, I'm not discouraged."

Sharing McGraw's surprise was Phillies General Manager Paul Owens, who admitted, "If I'd been one of a number of other clubs, I would have taken Tug. I mean, someone has to take a quality reliever like Tug. I can't believe it."

Owens suspected a number of things combined to cause what is obviously a rather suspicious looking baseball phenomenon.

"I think Tug's age and his demands may have played some part in the thinking of some clubs," said Owens. "But that can't possibly be the whole story.

"Maybe the other clubs simply felt it was a waste of time trying to sign him; that in the end, the Phillies were going to make him an offer, that we weren't about to let him get away.

"This was a different kind of draft, almost two drafts in one. After the big guys, Dave Winfield and Don Sutton, were chosen, it was like the second phase was a backlash by teams rethinking their approach to free agents."

Maybe so. But it was hard to think that after several years of falling all over each other to give all kinds of money to mediocre athletes, every team in baseball suddenly got religion.

It would be easier to believe there was a conspiracy.

"I'm not that type of thinker," said Tug. "No, there can't be a conspiracy. That's absurd. If it was some sort of plot, I would have been drafted by a few unacceptable teams. Then I'd be stuck.

"As it turns out, this may be even better. I'm completely free to make my own deal. I don't even have to inform the Phillies of any offers or give them a chance to match it. Although, you know I wouldn't do a thing like that."

Owens also rejected the notion that McGraw was snubbed because of any prearranged deals.

"No, no way," said the Pope. "First of all, Tug wasn't the only one hit by this. Ron LeFlore (Montreal) wasn't chosen. Almost half the players were selected by one team or less.

"Apparently, the industry is beginning to realize that the free-agent draft has not been successful for most clubs, that developing talent is still the answer.

"There was $35 million spent last year. A lot of people were disappointed. People are beginning to say that they're not getting true value out of this thing, that trying to do something (build a winner) overnight is simply a good way to lose money. The Yankees have done well, but they are in a minority.

"This wasn't a good draft insofar as there wasn't a whole lot of quality players. But it's more like the industry has begun to realize it has just been foolish... that this isn't a bonanza and that spending $12 million or $15 million just doesn't make good sense when it's not working."

McGraw, who was busy rehearsing "Casey At The Bat" for Tuesday night's performance at the Academy of Music when he received word that 25 teams had given him the cold shoulder, tried to be optimistic.

"I'm not going to take it as a reflection of my ability," he said. "I was prepared for a possible problem because I gave a lot of teams the impression I was coming back to the Phillies and wasn't interested in them.

"I didn't contact anyone. I didn't make a lot of noise in the newspapers and name a lot of teams I'd like to have contact me. Instead, I laid low.

"Obviously, that was a mistake. I'll just have to start calling up the teams that need help. A team like the Mets, if they don't sign Winfield, may be interested. I know more than a few clubs were interested before the draft.

"One thing is certain, I'm not backing away from the figures I gave the Phillies. I'm sitting on what I want – period!"

Owens, who will probably be contacted by McGraw this coming week, indicated that what transpired at the draft will not have a major effect on negotiations.

"I'm sure both Tug and Del Unser will be getting back to us," he said. "We told both players that although some clubs have gotten mad at having their players go free agent, we don't feel that way.

"I'd rather see them test the market and get a better idea of their value than sit around here wondering how much they're worth.

"Now they know. But our figures aren't going to change."

McGraw wishes the television sportscaster was right when he reported Tug was seeking a $650,000 per year contract. "Good grief!" said McGraw. "If I was looking for anything close to that kind of money, I could understand the Phillies not signing me.

"No, the problems are not just money, but the length of the contract and the deferment of the money. Plus the fact that Steve Carlton's contract is used by the team as a guideline. But Lefty being underpaid shouldn't be my problem."

McGraw's biggest problem may have been all the positive statements he has made about the Phillies and the Philadelphia area. After awhile, it got very hard to believe that the Phils would let him go or that he would even consider leaving.

"Look," said Owens. "Maybe this might help Tug realize that we were being fair with our offer all along. We've tried to take into consideration not only his talent, but the good public relations he's brought us.

"I swear I never talked to anyone concerning him and the draft. I wouldn't do anything to hurt him. Hell, I want him with us!"

Maybe McGraw will be back with the Phillies next year. But, whenever the subject of the re-entry draft comes up, a lot of people are still going to feel like Tug's wife, Phyllis.

"I don't know," she said yesterday after hearing the news. "It's just seems so... so ironic!"

Phils ignore big boys, draft Rangers’ Roberts

By Ray W. Kelly of the Courier-Post

The Phillies sat back during yesterday's re-entry draft and watched the Lords of Flatbush flash their Yankee and Met checkbooks at Dave Winfield and Don Sutton. The world champs from Philly had smaller fish to fry.

"With the exception of Pete Rose and Richie Hebner, who were special cases, we've never gone overboard for free agents," said Phillies General Manager Paul Owens after the draft in New York.

"We're just trying to add a little strength here and there, if we can," he added.

In what was best described as an "austerity draft," the Phils spent most of their time hedging their bets against the possibility of losing bullpen ace Tug McGraw or utilityman Del Unser.

Owens, for example, chose Dave W. Roberts of Texas on the second round.

"He's played seven positions," said Owens. "Plus, he's a right-handed hitter with some sock coming off the bench. We're hoping to add that kind of hitter to the club."

The Phils also took Boston's Jim Dwyer, and outfielder-first baseman who was described as "an Unser type of player," as well as three pitchers: Montreal's Stan Bahnsen and John D'Acquisto, and Minnesota's Geoff Zahn.

"Bahnsen has always pitched well against the Phillies," said Owens. "He could be used in middle relief (to replace Ron Reed?). Zahn has potential. And, we've always liked the way D'Acquisto throws. He could be the real sleeper of the draft because he's only 28 years old."

The age of Winfield and Sutton didn't seem to matter. Both were picked by 10 teams – three below the limit allowed. The bidding began immediately.

Five teams – the New York Mets, the New York Yankees, the Atlanta Braves, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cleveland Indians picked those two players in the first two rounds.

The price tags are high. Winfield is said to be thinking $13 million over 10 years and Sutton is talking about $500,000 for four years.

Frank Cashen, executive vice president and general manager of the Mets, declared there was no ceiling on how high his team would go in the Winfield sweepstakes. That is a clear-cut policy change by new management after four years in which the Mets participation in the free agent draft was all but invisible.

The Mets have spent about $2 million on free agents so far. Their crosstown rivals, the Yankees, have doled out about $15 million and George Steinbrenner is ready to go for more.

"He's outstanding, not only as a ball player but as an Individual," said the Yankee owner, sounding like a man looking forward to matching his checkbook against the other bidders.

As for Winfield, he's playing it cool.

"I just feel good about my position," the slugger said. "The rest is negotiation."

Among Winfield's priorities are that the club he sign with be committed to his youth program and that it is a winner in a major media center.

Some teams took a defiant stance in the draft. The Chicago Cubs opened the action by choosing Roberts and then did not select another player. What's more, the Cubs turned down the chance to retain negotiating rights to their own free agents, first baseman Larry Biittner and third baseman Lenny Randle.

San Diego, which has invested about $10 million in free agents before, passed from the start, as did Minnesota, Detroit and Kansas City. Texas and the Chicago White Sox, with 13 selections, led all teams in picks.

TGIF:  Try the Pops

Well, you maybe accustomed to his face, but not on stage with the Philly Pops. Actor Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. sings tunes from "My Fair Lady," "Camelot," "Knickerbocker Holiday" and a medley Cole Porter songs Sunday at 3 p.m, at the Academy of Music. Fairbanks joins conductor Peter Nero and the pops orchestra for an afternoon of Broadway melodies and epic poetry. For more information call (215) 735-7506. Also joining Fairbanks, will be Phillies relief pitcher Tug McGraw.

For three full weeks Philly couldn’t lose

By Rusty Pray of the Courier-Post

It was something, wasn't it? For 24 days Philadelphia – often correctly called the city of losers – became the city that could not lose.

For more than three weeks, every professional team in the city won... and won... and won. By the time it ended Wednesday night, the five clubs had gone an incredible 28-0-2.

The Phillies, of course, began the winning binge during the World Series. After losing to the Kansas City Royals, 5-3, in the fourth game, the Phils took the next two to capture the first world championship in the 97-year history of the franchise.

But the Phillies were hardly alone. On Oct. 18 – the same day the Phils lost for the last time in 1980 – the Flyers were beaten, 6-2, by the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Flyers haven't made that mistake since.

To have one team a world champion and another on a sizable winning streak would have been enough to satisfy anyone's expectations. Except, the magic extended to the Eagles, to the 76ers, to the Fever.

One suspects that if some unknown entrepreneur of sport had picked that time to found a professional tiddlywinks team, it would have flipped over the opposition with ease.

For the Philadelphia sports fan, a downtrodden species if there ever was one, those three weeks were nirvana, a just reward for years of suffering. Stoic fans who endured decades of everything going wrong suddenly were set free to bask in the glow of absolutely everything going right. It was a wonderfully ironic reversal of Murphy's Law.

The Phillies started it with an Oct. 19 win in Kansas City that set the stage for the clincher Oct. 21 in Philadelphia. For the fans who spent their lives watching the Phils lose when they were bad, and continue to lose when they were good, the World Series victory was totally unbelievable.

For many days after the Phillies were paraded along Broad Street in the manner of conquering heroes, people were still pinching themselves. World Series parades were held amid the smog of Los Angeles, or the grime of New York. But it was difficult to fathom such a thing occurring under the stern gaze of Billy Penn.

While folks were digesting the gormet fare of a world championship in baseball, the Eagles were running off four straight wins, including one over Dallas, America's team itself. As a matter of fact, the Eagles have won for the last six Sundays, but the first two were when Philadelphia still was just another stop on the sports road.

The Flyers, with their keen sense of timing, decided to get into the act. After their loss on Oct. 18, they reeled of an unbeaten streak that has been extended to 12 games (10-0-2).

It seemed somehow appropriate that the Flyers would involve themselves in Philadelphia's victory spree. After all, they were the first to bring parades to Broad Street with back-to-back Stanley Cup triumphs in 1974 and 1975. And last season they merely went 35 games without losing.

The one streak that went virtually unnoticed belonged to the Sixers. They tied a 31-year-old franchise record by winning 12 games in a row, which is no small accomplishment when you consider the wild and crazy schedule National Basketball Association teams play.

It's a shame the Sixers did it in relative obscurity. But that should not take away from the fact that Philadelphia's worst draw contributed a great deal to the city's finest hour.

Only the Fever, which plays a hybrid form of soccer indoors, can be counted as a small investor in the rise of Philly's sports stock, which may be rivaled only by the current Reagan rally on Wall Street. The Fever opened its Major Indoor Soccer League season a week ago by blowing away the aptly named San Francisco Fog.

Like all things, good and bad, it had to come to an end. The Sixers, without center Darryl Dawkins and fatigued from playing in Chicago the previous night, were blown out by the New York Knicks on Wednesday. It should be noted, however, that the Sixers began another streak Thursday night with a win over Indiana.

Of course, a loss by someone was inevitable. But until the Knicks burst the bubble, Philadelphia was invulnerable, dressed in the impenetrable armor of winning. For a time, Philadelphia, once the city of losers, was the city that could not lose.

Brett MVP, Carlton top pitcher

NEW YORK (AP) – Kansas City third baseman George Brett, whose flirtation with a .400 batting average captured the imagination of the entire country, was named the most valuable player and most valuable batter for 1980 by the American Sportscasters Association yesterday. Phillies lefthander Steve Carlton was named the best pitcher.

Brett headed the list of those honored by the ASA's nationwide panel of sports directors, sportscasters and play-by-play announcers.

Also, honored were slugging Joe Charboneau of the Cleveland Indians, named rookie of the year; and Billy Martin, who led the Oakland A's to a second-place finish in the American League West and was tabbed manager of the year.

Bill Virdon, who led the Houston Astros to the National League West crown, the first championship in the club's 19-year history, finished a close second to Martin in the voting for manager of the year.

Phillies, Royals earned record in Series shares

NEW YORK – To the victors go the spoils.

The world champion Phillies and American League champion Kansas City Royals each earned record World Series shares, according to figures released by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn yesterday.

Each full share for a member of the Phillies was worth $34,693.18, breaking the record of $31,236.99 earned by the New York Yankees in 1978.

The Royals, who lost the Series in six games to Philadelphia, came away with $32,211.95, breaking the losers' share record of $25,483.21, which went to the Los Angeles Dodgers two years ago.

The 1980 shares compare to the $28,236.87 which went to each member of the winning Pittsburgh Pirates following the 1979 World Series, and $22,113.94 Which went to each member of the losing Baltimore Orioles.

The Phillies voted 33 full shares, three half shares, a one-quarter share of $8,673.29 to rookie Marty Bystrom, who won five games in September, a one-eighth share of $4,336.65 to reliever Sparky Lyle, who joined the team for the final weeks of the season, and 19 cash grants to uniformed and non-uniformed personnel.

Gaining full $34,693.18 shares were trainer Don Seger, assistant trainer Kenny Bush Sr., assistant clubhouse manager and equipment manager Pete Cera, and stretch and flexibility instructor Gus Hoefling. Batting practice pitcher Hank King received $8,673.29, Bat boys Gary Watts, Pete Murphy, and Mark Andersen got $4,000, while bat boy Kenny Bush Jr. and assistant Kevin Kaufman received $2,000.

The Royals voted 26 full shares and a three-quarter share of $24,158.96 to infielder Jerry Terrell. Pitchers Steve Busby, Gary Christenson and Jeff Twitty and outfielder Rusty Torres received half cuts worth $16,105.97 each. Outfielder Steve Braun got a one-third share of $10,7371.31. Outfielder Jose Cardenal received a one-sixth share of $5,368.66. There were also 21 cash grants to uniformed and non-uniformed personnel, netted by $5,000 to pitcher Rawly Eastwick.

Houston's National League West winners earned $13,465.29 for a full share, a sum no World Series champion received until 1969. The New York Yankees, winners of the American League East, divide 30 full shares of $12,570.59 apiece.

The players' shares come from the first three games of each League Championship Series and the first four games of the World Series. Combined, they produced the highest players' pool in history, $3,915,870.82.

All 12 first division teams snared in the players' pool. The Baltimore Orioles received $2,668.71, the Los Angeles Dodgers got $2,275.21, the Montreal Expos $2,405.23 and the Oakland A's $2,746.99 for their second-place division finishes. A full third place share was worth $628.38 for each Cincinnati Red, $619.60 for each Milwaukee Brewer, $759.52 for each Minnesota Twin, and $663.02 for each Pittsburgh Pirate.

Smith honored

NEW YORK – The Phillies' Lonnie Smith was one of only three National League players named to the 22nd Topps Rookie All-Star team announced yesterday. Seven American League players were selected to the squad.

Besides Smith, the only National League players chosen in balloting by major league players, managers and coaches were first baseman Rich Murray of the San Francisco Giants and shortstop Ron Oester of the Cincinnati Reds.

Phils on bat team

ST. LOUIS – Third baseman Mike Schmidt and second baseman Manny Trillo of the Phillies have been named to the first National League Silver Bat Team, created to honor the top hitter at every position in the National and American leagues.

The team was announced today by the Sporting News.

Joining the two Phils on the NL team were Keith Hernandez of the St. Louis Cardinals at first base; shortstop Garry Templeton, St. Louis; outfield, Dusty Baker, Los Angeles, Andre Dawson, Montreal, and George Hendrick, St. Louis; pitcher, St. Louis.

Saucier sent to Rangers

PHILADELPHIA – As it turned out, the Phillies traded youth for experience.

The infamous "player to be named later" in the Sept. 13 deal with Texas for Sparky Lyle yesterday emerged as Kevin Saucier. Like Lyle, Saucier is a left-handed reliever. Unlike Lyle, Saucier has no penchant for sitting on birthday cakes.

For that reason alone, Saucier, who had a 7-3 record for the world champion Phils in relief, would seem ill-suited for the wild and crazy Rangers, who never seem to live up to their talent in the American League West.

THE VETERAN Lyle helped the Phils immeasurably during the stretch run, appearing in 10 games and going 0-0 with two saves and a 1.93 earned run average.

Saucier, who is only 24 years old, had a 3.42 ERA, permitting 50 hits in 50 innings while striking out 25 and walking 20. He yielded two home runs.

"We hated to lose Kevin," said Phillies General Manager Paul Owens. "But Texas heeded a lefthander to replace Lyle. Sparky was a big help for us down the stretch and will be an integral part of the bullpen for us for a couple of years."

Concerning last week's winter re-entry draft, Owens said he talked to only one agent.

"Jim Bunning, who represents Jim Dwyer, called and will get back to us later," Owens said. "I'm expecting to hear from the other four we drafted plus Tug McGraw and Del Unser within the next seven days. We left it with Tug and Del to get back to us after the draft."

Owens also announced another change in the club's winter roster. Pitcher Jim Wright has been assigned to the Oklahoma City farm team and 21-year-old outfielder Alejandro Sanchez was added to the roster.

Wright, who did not pitch at all in 1979 because of an arm injury, had a 9-9 record at Oklahoma City this past season and a 5.35 ERA in 23 starts. He'll be eligible for the annual winter draft during the baseball meetings that begin Dec 8 in Dallas.

Sanchez, from the Dominican Republic, batted .289 for Spartanburg in the South Atlantic League. He led the club in runs, hits, triples, home runs (14), RBI (73) and steals (24).

Rose voices his opinion

HARTFORD, Conn. – Anyone who has any ideas about one year in the spotlight for the Phillies has forgotten the Pete Rose factor.

"I'm a world champion," the 39-year-old first baseman said yesterday. "We won the World Series. I play in a great city. It's fun."

The way Rose sounded at a news conference in Hartford, he is not about to let that fun get away from him. He said baseball is his life, and the World Series is the high point of the game.

Rose, who played for Cincinnati until two years ago, said the Phillies hit their stride for the first time in 98 years this year and he projected that 1981 will be a "spectacular" season for the National League team.

"I think they finally learned how to win," he said. There were "So many tough, so many 'must' series," he said, adding that the team met most of the challenges it had faced. Among those, he said, was friction with the Phillies' own fans.

Rose said he expected the pitchers of the Phillies to be the outstanding strength of next year's team and attributed much of this year's victory in the World Series to two of the team's top hurlers: Tug McGraw and Sparky Lyle.

But while McGraw often stole the spotlight and was even mentioned as a candidate for the series' "Most Valuable Player," it was Lyle who provided the real punch to the throwing game, Rose said.

"McGraw proved he can't pitch every day. (But) Sparky Lyle was unbelievable. He was unhittable. He was very responsible for us winning," Rose said.

Philly stars to vie for charity

CAMDEN – Members of the world champion Phillies, the 76ers and other sports figures from throughout the country will participate in the Garry Maddox Celebrity Bowling Classic Jan. 12 at Bruns-wick Lanes on Mt. Ephraim Avenue here.

Immediately following the Bowling Classic, which will run from 6:30-9:30 p.m., the Larry Bowa Celebrity Party will be held at Emerald City in Cherry Hill.

Both events will benefit the Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic. Spectator tickets to the Bowling Classic and the Celebrity Party are $10 each. Reservations to bowl on a five-member team captained by an athlete are $100 each, which includes admission to Bowas party.

Reservations and additional information is available by calling the Community Relations Department of the Philadelphia Child, Guidance Clinic at 215-XXX-XXXX.

Doctor charged with using Phils’ names for drugs

By Tim Pettit, Associated Press

HARRISBURG – State drug agents charged a Reading doctor yesterday with using the names of five players on the Philadelphia Phillies to illegally prescribe drugs.

Dr. Patrick Mazza, 56, was accused of prescribing amphetamines by using the names of Steve Carlton, Greg Luzinski and his wife Jean, Pete Rose, Randy Lerch, Larry Christenson, former player Tim McCarver and Sheena Bowa, wife of Larry Bowa. None of the players and wives was charged, said Attorney General Harvey Bartle.

"There is no evidence indicating any participation by the players in the illegal conduct," said state Justice Department spokesman Stephan Rosenfeld.

The drug story first emerged last summer, when the Phillies were battling for the National League baseball pennant. The Trenton Times said in a copyright story that state narcotics officials wanted to question some Phillies and members of their Reading farm club concerning reported illegal prescriptions.

The Reading Phillies use Mazza as their team physician. He was working with the team when some of the current Philadelphia Phillies played on the Reading club.

Several Phillies players hotly denied that they were tied to any criminal activity. Third baseman Mike Schmidt, mentioned in the newspaper account, called the report "totally ridiculous," and first baseman Rose said the only doctors he knew in Pennsylvania were the team physicians for the Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates.

Besides Mazza, Robert L. Masley, 54, of Reading, and his son, Robert M. Masley, 24, also of Reading, were charged in the case. They were accused of taking the prescriptions to four Reading pharmacies, having them filled and receiving the drugs, Bartle said.

In all, Mazza is charged with illegally writing 23 prescriptions that totaled 2,630 dosage units of various amphetamine compounds, Bartle said.

A routine check of pharmacy files in Reading was the key to the charges, said Richard Weatherbee, director of Pennsylvania's Drug Law Enforcement office.

That check found that the drugs Dexamyl, Dexedrine, Eskatrol and Preludin had been written in the names of Philadelphia Phillies players.

Specifically, Mazza was charged with 23 felony counts of prescribing drugs "beyond the scope of the doctor-patient relationship," Bartle's statement said.

Robert L. Masley was charged with with 11 counts of obtaining drugs by fraud. Robert M. Masley was charged with 16 counts of obtaining drugs by fraud.

Mazza could not be reached for comment.

Two Phils win Gold Gloves

ST. LOUIS – The Phillies added to their long list of postseason awards yesterday as Garry Maddox and Mike Schmidt were selected to the National League's Rawlings Gold Glove team, announced by The Sporting News.

Centerfielder Maddox is a six-time winner and third baseman Schmidt has been given the award five times.

In the American League, the weekly publication named Texas Rangers catcher Jim Sundberg for the fifth time.

Other American League repeaters were first baseman Cecil Cooper, Milwaukee; second baseman Frank White, Kansas City; third baseman Buddy Bell, Texas; and outfielder Fred Lynn, Boston. National League repeaters were first baseman Keith Hernandez, St. Louis; outfielder Dave Winfield, San Diego; and pitcher Phil Niekro, Atlanta.

Newcomers in the AL were shortstop Alan Trammell, Detroit; outfielders Willie Wilson, Kansas City; Dwayne Murphy, Oakland; and pitcher Mike Norris, Oakland. NL newcomers were second baseman Doug Flynn, New York; shortstop Ozzie Smith, San Diego; and catcher Gary Carter and outfielder Andre Dawson, Montreal.

The Gold Glove teams are selected by major league managers and coaches.

Phils to meet Royals, Yanks in exhibitions

PHILADELPHIA – A rematch with the American League champion Kansas City Royals and a game with the New York Yankees in the New Orleans Superdome highlight the Phillies' 1981 exhibition schedule.

The National League team announced yesterday that it will play 12 of 25 games at Jack Russell Stadium in Clearwater, Fla., marking the Phillies' 35th consecutive season of training there.

The Phillies are scheduled to open camp on March 3 and play their first exhibition game against the New York Mets on March 13 at Clearwater.

The Phils meet Kansas City March 16 at Fort Myers, Fla., and the Yankees March 29.

Phillies Exhibition Schedule

MARCH

13 Mets at Clearwater

14 Pittsburgh at Bradenton

15 Toronto at Clearwater

16 Kansas City at Fort Myers

17 Boston at Winter Haven

18 Boston at Clearwater

19 Minnesota at Orlando

20 Minnesota at Clearwater

21 White Sox at Sarasota

22 Toronto at Dunedin

23 St. Louis at Clearwater

24 Baltimore at Miami

25 Atlanta at West Palm Beach

26 Detroit at Lakeland

27 Detroit at Clearwater

28 White Sox at Clearwater

29 Yankees at New Orleans

30 St. Louis at St. Petersburg

31 Toronto at Clearwater

APRIL

1 Cincinnati at Tampa

2 Pittsburgh at Clearwater

3 Montreal at Clearwater

4 Cincinnati at Clearwater

5 Baltimore at Clearwater

6 Toronto at Dunedin

Schmidt is unanimous choice as MVP

By Ray W. Kelly of the Courier-Post

PHILADELPHIA – Mike Schmidt, a man with a bat that is home run king, a glove that is pure gold and a world championship ring on order, has always known what was important in his life and what not to worry about.

Which is why the Phillies' dazzling third baseman planned to go to bed early last night instead of waiting up for a late night phone call from New York City to inform him he'd been unanimously voted the Most Valuable Player in the National League.

Schmidt was the first choice on all 24 ballots in the Baseball Writers Association of America voting. He finished with 336 points – a perfect score – to become only the second player in National League history to be voted MVP unanimously. The other was Orlando Cepeda, who turned the trick in 1967 while with the St. Louis Cardinals.

"WITH A new baby in the house and my wife Donna on such a hectic schedule, I guess I can wait until morning for the news," said Schmidt, who became the first Phillies player to win the coveted award since reliever Jim Konstanty did it while pacing the 1950 Phils to a pennant. Old-time great Chuck Klein also turned the trick in 1932.

That's a long time for an organization to wait to have a player at the pinnacle of the national pastime. But then, Schmidt's climb to the top was never marred by impatience.

He waded through the "lows" of his ever-improving career with the same easy-going attitude that was just as prevalent last month, when he embarked upon a series of clutch performances that vaulted the Phillies past the Montreal Expos in the final week of the season and ultimately exploded in a World Series that saw him bat .381 with eight hits and seven runs batted in against the Kansas City Royals.

Ironically, it was Schmidt's torrid finish in 1980 that added a measure of drama to the voting for the MVP Award by select members of the BWAA, who were required to cast their votes prior to the playoffs.

AS THE season moved into its final weeks, there was some sentiment out on the West Coast in favor of Los Angeles outfielder Dusty Baker, who would finish a surprisingly low fourth, behind runner-up Gary Carter of Montreal and Jose Cruz of Houston.

It was those "early returns" that were expected to keep Schmidt from taking the award unanimously, even though it was evident that he was destined to lead the National League in home runs (48), runs-batted-in (121), slugging percentage (.624) and total bases (342).

The race became a "no contest" affair in the final days, however. Mike's final homer of the regular season set a new record for major league third basemen, Eddie Matthews of the Milwaukee Braves having established the previous mark of 47 round-trippers in 1953.

In the Phils' last five victories of 1980, the powerful slugger with a reputation as an outstanding baserunner solidified his role as a clutch hitter by driving in the winning run in four of the crucial games.

HE WENT on to become the MVP of the World Series, a remarkable achievement for a guy who once went through an entire season and collected just one sacrifice fly and lived with fans who never believed him capable of delivering in pressure situations.

"Oh, I remember the hard times," Mike once said with a smile. "I went through a period in 1978 where I'd get booed just by putting on the uniform. I hit .251 with 21 homers and 78 ribbies... not a bad year for a lot of guys. But, the fans blistered me anyway.

"I guess what helped me overcome those things more than anything was the realization that I should play for the glory of God. That's what I've done. And, my prayers were answered."

Schmidt was booed for his defensive play when he first joined the Phillies. It was the result of fans who failed to realize that many of his throwing errors were directly related to a dislocated shoulder injury suffered during his first spring training with the big club.

"I NEVER tried to let those things bother me," he once explained. "I don't get tooexcited when things are going good and I don't get too down when things go bad.

"People shouldn't judge you as a person because of what you do on the field. I bet if people had a chance to spend some time with me, there are very few who wouldn't like me."

It's true. Schmidt's good nature and kindness toward others has prevailed oyer the years despite criticism about his ability, his friends ("He wishes he was black like Garry Maddox) and his composure (He was nicknamed Captain Cool).

"Turn the page. Tomorrow's another day," Schmitty would say in times of stress. And, he meant it.

NOW, at 31 years of age, the native of Dayton, Ohio, has been' named to receive an award that holds meaning for him.

When asked during September about the possibility of his winning the league's MVP Award, Mike said, "If we were to win this (the championship) and I won the MVP, it would be the greatest thing that could happen to me in baseball.

"I really don't have any great answers when I'm asked about. my most memorable moment or achievement. I mean, have four or five -individual accomplishments 'that were freaky... hitting four home runs in a row (twice), hitting the roof of the Astrodome and home run titles... but nothing that could compare to being MVP.

"That would mean a great deal because it would mean I was an integral part of a winning effort... that I was a major contributor to a winning cause, just as Pete Rose and Joe Morgan were in Cincinnati and Willie Stargell was in Pittsburgh."

A few million Phillies fans were well aware of that last night, when Mike Schmidt hit the sack early. Today, however, it's official.

1980 is year of Philly tourist blitz

By James C. Lawson of the Courier-Post

PHILADELPHIA – Still drenched with the euphoria that accompanies a World Series championship, the city has begun marketing its soft pretzels, Italian Market, the Art Museum and winning attitude to attract more tourists' and conventioneers' dollars.

The Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, armed with a new "Philadelphia Style: Come and Get It" signature song and a $750,000 advertising campaign, is rolling up its sleeves and slugging it out with New York and Chicago hoping to gain a bigger share of the convention and tourist market.

The campaign features a heavy media blitz and special weekend tour packages aimed at travelers who have never before visited Philadelphia.

And so far, the city with a Rodney Dangerfield "no respect" complex seems to have found another fast track to victory. Bureau officials have attracted the American Hospital Supply and the 15,000 member Rotary International conventions to the city for the first time.

The Rotary convention, scheduled for early June 1988, is expected to generate nearly $4 million for local merchants. The city, last year, was host to 361 conventions. This year 382 conventions have been scheduled, while nearly 400 will be held here next year.

Convention and Visitors Bureau officials are hoping for a yearly convention increase of 8 percent.

They expect the campaign to generate more than $1 billion in travel-related revenues next year.

"We're hitting the travel agents, corporate convention planners and foreign travel writers," said Samuel Rogers, a Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau spokesman said. "We've changed our approach. Instead of going to them to talk about our city, we're flying them in so they can see Philadelphia for themselves. We feel Philadelphia sells itself. And we've found it's less expensive to fly them in because we can get special rates on travel and accommodations."

It's easier to sell the city now because of "the Phillies, the Eagles, the Flyers, and the Sixers are all winners," Mayor Bill Green told more than 600 prominent business and political leaders during a luncheon earlier this week at the Franklin Plaza Hotel.

"We've adopted the winning attitude," Mayor Green continued. "More people know about Philadelphia because of its sports teams."

City officials also hope that outsiders have heard about the new hotels – which give metropolitan Philadelphia more than 7,500 first-rate rooms – new restaurants the many cultural and historic attractions.

"We want to let the world know we're not rolling up the sidewalks, we're rolling out the red carpet." Mayor Green told the diners. "We have a lot to offer and we want to let people know they can come and get it."

Many city officials and local merchants also believe that Atlantic City and its budding casino industry will prove to be another good attraction.

"The casinos will bring some people our way," said Rogers. "Atlantic City will attract people who'll rather stay there, but we're selling tourist on the idea they can stay here and take a one or two day bus tour to the casinos.

"We want everyone to get a taste of our town."

Santa gets a big welcome

By the Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA – Santa arrived here yesterday, sharing the limelight with a girl with a white rabbit and a popular baseball third baseman.

Thousands lined city streets here yesterday for the 61st annual Gimbels Thanksgiving Day Parade, a colorful procession of floats, marching bands and celebrities.

This year, the parade's theme was Alice in Wonderland, the children's classic by Lewis Carroll. Floats depicted Alice being rescued by colorful lobsters and turtles and meeting up with the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat and the caterpillar with the hookah.

At last, Santa Claus climaxed the parade with a ride aboard a sleigh pulled by reindeer over snow- covered rooftops on a 55-foot float.

In the old days, Santa climbed a fire department ladder to enter Gimbels through an upstairs window. But the new department store in The Gallery shopping center on Market Street is air conditioned with no upper-floor windows.

So, the modern-minded old elf took a ride in a fire department cherry picker to the roof and then descended to the ground and walked into the store to greet his young fans.

The parade was marred when a van pulling a Salvation Army float failed to stop when a band did and rolled into the last line of marchers. Two members of the Tipton, Ind., High School marching band were taken to Jefferson Hospital, where they were treated for cuts and bruises and then released. Police said the accident happened when the van's driver, Donna Smith of Philadelphia, failed to notice that the band had stopped.

The float being pulled by the van was carrying comedian Joey Bishop, and spectators said both he and Smith appeared to be very upset at the incident. Police said they did not expect to file charges against the driver.

Other stars joining in the parade were singers Bobby Rydell and Fabian, and Phillies baseball players Mike Schmidt, Warren Brusstar and Larry Bowa.

Schmidt, voted Most Valuable Player in the National League earlier in the week, appeared to received more cheers than Santa as he rolled down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway as grand marshal.

Phillies fever flying to Florida

By Tony Muldoon of the Courier-Post

Philadelphia isn't the only town that has become fanatical about the world champion Phillies.

Clearwater, Fla., the spring training home of the 1980 World Series winners, is planning a big welcome when the team opens its training camp in late February, and some travel agents in this area already have begun campaigns to take a lot of northerners south to see the champs.

The anticipated travel boom and Clearwater's plans to meet it are still taking shape, according to travel officials and spokesmen for the Phillies and the Clearwater Chamber Of Commerce.

Haddon Travel of Haddonfield, which handles the Phillies' team travel arrangements, is looking into group tours to Clearwater.

The Phillies themselves have not made any travel plans for 1981, but hard-core. fans are calling about trips to spring training even though the World Series euphoria has barely dissipated. They are the true fanatics, who don't mind spending up to $800 to get to a Phillies game, said Cheryl Van Horn, retail manager of Haddon Travel.

"Everything With the Phillies is very busy. We're starting our season for next year with the Phillies, and we are looking into package tours down to Clearwater," said Van Horn.

"I think the people who are calling right now are the people who are really interested in the Phillies and have been for years. The people are aware they're going to be busy next year, so they're calling early," said Van Horn.

The next group to call will be travelers who are going to Florida anyway and would like to visit the Phillies spring training camp as part of their regular vacation, she said.

Tallage Tours Inc. of Philadelphia, is offering four package tours to Clearwater, and travel agent Jon Spinosi, president of Jon's World Travel of Pitman, is looking forward to a profitable spring for himself and his competitors.

"It’s going to affect us pretty heavily when spring training starts," said Spinosi, who also is president of the South Jersey chapter of the American Society of Travel Agents.

"Not many people from the Philadelphia/South Jersey area go to Clearwater," he said.

"St. Petersburg gets most of the business. Now, because of the Phillies, a lot of people who'd be sitting on the sidelines this winter will say 'OK, let's take advantage of the bad weather and the Phillies and go to Clearwater instead of St. Pete,'" Spinosi said.

Although Talmage Tours and Jon's World Travel are optimistic about a spring bonanza, other area tour operators do not appear to be laying many great plans. It is, however, somewhat early to make predictions, according to most of them-"

Indeed, Clearwater's welcome to its world championship spring residents is still in the early planning stages, according to spokesmen for the chamber and the Phillies.

Travel agents and tour operators' are certain to base much of their winter-marketing strategy on the Phillies and their world championship.

“I’m sure they're going to jump into it;" he said. "It's too big a thing to pass up,"

Phillies general manager Paul Owens and field manager Dallas Green met with the Clearwater's Chamber of Commerce sports committee about 10 days ago to begin planning the festivities surrounding spring training.

"We've (had meetings with Paul Owens and Dallas Green and we've sent them a letter outlining some of the things we've discussed in our meeting," said James Parker, executive vice president of the Clearwater Chamber of Commerce.

Among the tentative events are a parade honoring the Phillies and signs proclaiming Clearwater the spring, training camp for the 1980 World Series winners.

"We’ll be doing a lot of things to recognize the Phillies themselves," he said. We want to plan it with the Phillies people. Things will be warming up as we get further into the winter,” said Parker.