Philadelphia Inquirer - November 1980

And you thought the Phillies did the deed all by themselves

By Jayson Stark, Inquirer Staff Writer

From a perspective of nearly two weeks, I thought that you might like to know, just for the record, the real story of how the Phillies got to be Number One.

They owe it to all, apparently, to a Center City lawyer who wore the same clothes from the fourth game of the playoffs to the third game of the World Series. Then, when those clothes shed their magic and the Philliies lost the third game in Kansas City, he changed to another outfit. That outfit was not blessed, as you know, because the Phillies lost the fourth game as well, and so he jumped – not a moment too soon – into another change of clothing for the fifth game.

This proved to be the enchanted outfit. Not only did the Phillies win Game Five, but the Eagles, thanks to the same rumpled garb, won their game against the Dallas Cowboys. Clearly you can't take clothes like this for granted, which is why he took them in a bag to his office on the Commentary following Tuesday, and changed into them before heading down to Veterans Stadium for the sixth and final game.

There are many people who do not go along with this story, however. The lawyer, they say, was just lucky. The real power was in their hands. They got the message and left the room or turned the television off when Kansas City scored a run. One man insists that the Phillies won because he made sure that his wife, who was jinxed, wasn't watching; a woman says her dog did it. She noticed that the dog barked every time that the Phillies got a hit, so she made the dog stay with her throughout the whole of each game, doing things that make it bark.

My son says "the Phillies would never have gotten to the World Series in the first place if it weren't for him. He had changed, during the playoffs, from Channel 6 to Channel 17 every time the Phillies got themselves into a tight spot. The switch gave him – gave us all a – double image and a splitting headache, but it was the least we could do, under the circumstances, for our team.

My husband thinks, to be perfectly frank, that the Phillies' success had nothing to do with the lawyer's clothes or the people who turned off the television or the women who was jinxed or the barking dog or Channel 17. It had to do, very simply, with the crackers.

Yes, the crackers. You see, during the eight inning of that fifth and pivotal game against the Royals, there were these boxes of crackers in the room where the television set was. They were thin, black boxes sitting side by side, one nearly empty and the other full.

When it became evident that the crackers were good luck, no one was allowed to touch the them, let alone eat any. And, naturally, they had to be put back, placed in position before the start of Game Six when, as relief pitcher Dan Quisenberry put it, Kansas City was "up against the wall – the Berlin wall, east side." You get the feeling that if only Quisenberry hadn't changed his underwear, things might have been different for Kansas City today.

There seems to be no limit to superstition when it comes to sports. Rumor has it that Sparky Anderson, manager of the Detroit Tigers, never steps on the foul line when he goes out to talk to a pitcher. Nor is it unusual, I understand, for baseball players to wear the same lucky pants, or sit only in a certain spot on the bench. Someone well versed in these matters tells me that basketball star Pete Maravich always wore the same old gray floppy socks.

I don't know why any of this should surprise me. I used to stand in a gravel driveway and throw a tennis ball up in the air the night before a test. If I could clap 26 times before it came down, I would pass. If I couldn't, I would change to a lower number. Well, my future was on the line. So although I took most of this stuff with a smile and a large grain of salt, I wasn't beyond taking the jogging shorts out of the hamper that I had been wearing on the Sunday when Tug McGraw struck out Jose Cardenal in the ninth inning, and helping him do it again on Tuesday to Willie Wilson.

I doubt that McGraw will ever know quite how much help he and the other Phillies had. In the locker room after the game, with Paul Owen's arm around his neck and the champagne dripping from his nose, he said the reason that the Phillies won was because they had reached back for that little bit of extra. But then he added, "The Phillies have been reaching back for the extra since Moby Dick was a guppy." So you know it had to be more than that.

Schmidt in NL, Jackson in AL, if this vote counted

By Allen Lewis, On Baseball

In the next month, the MVPs, Cy Young Award winners and rookies of the year will all be announced. The fans will argue the merits of the choices, and, once again, many will debate what constitutes a Most Valuable Player.

Before and after the MVP voting each year, there are proposals for defining what is meant by most valuable, or for simply renaming it the Player of the Year Award. Doing either would be a serious mistake – it would be a shame to lose the interest-heightening controversy so often generated by the MVP choice.

The two writers in each league city who pick the award winners must cast their votes between the end of the regular season and the start of postseason play. I don't have a vote, but here are my choices and predictions:

National League MVP: Despite a sub-par year on defense, the Phillies' Mike Schmidt is a solid choice over Expos catcher Gary Carter, Astros outfielder Jose Cruz, Dodgers first baseman Steve Garvey and Dodgers leftfielder Dusty Baker. In addition to leading the league in home runs and RBIs, Schmidt was first in total bases and slugging percentage, second in runs scored and game-winning RBIs, and within four of the league-high in walks. Prediction: Schmidt.

American League MVP: Because both outfielder Reggie Jackson and relief pitcher Rich Gossage are Yankees and thus will detract votes from each other, and because of George Brett's assault on the .400 batting mark, this vote is certain to create controversy. Our choice is Jackson. Although he didn't lead the league in anything but home runs (41), he carried the Yanks until Graig Nettles was sidelined, after which the opposition pitched around him. Jackson hit .300, batted in 111 runs and finished second in game-winning RBIs. Behind Jackson, we like Royals left-fielder Willie Wilson, Brett, Gossage and Orioles first baseman Eddie Murray. Prediction: Brett.

National League Rookie: By the thinnest margin, the choice is Dodgers relief pitcher Steve Howe over Phillies outfielder Lonnie Smith. Had Smith played enough to bat 400 times, he would have been a clear-cut choice despite his defensive failings. Prediction: Smith.

American League Rookie: His power stats make Indians outfielder Joe Charboneau a narrow choice over Red Sox second baseman Dave Stapleton, followed by Twins reliever Doug Corbett and Tigers outfielder Rickey Peters. Prediction: Charboneau.

Cy Young: There's no question about the NL award going to Steve Carlton, but the AL choice is certain to cause controversy. Our pick is the A's Mike Norris, who tied for second in wins with 22, arid placed second in earned-run average (2.54), complete games (24), innings pitched and strikeouts. He accomplished all that while pitching for a club that finished only four games over .500. Steve Stone, the 25-game winner for the Orioles, is the predicted winner over Gossage, Norris and the Yankees' Tommy John.

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The answer to last week's Trivia Question: Except for Schmidt and' Greg Luzinski, Pete Rose is the only current Phillie to bat in more than 80 runs in two major league seasons. Playing for the Reds, Rose knocked in 81 runs in 1965 and 82 in 1969. Sydney Greenwood of Moorestown. N.J., was first with the correct answer.

This week's question: When Steve Carlton won 15 games in a row in 1972, he pitched five shutouts. How many shutouts did Rube Marquard of Allen Lewis on baseball the New York Giants pitch when he set the all-time major league one-season record by winning 19 straight games in 1912?

Green says he’ll manage Phils in ‘81

By Jayson Stark, Inquirer Staff Writer

Dallas Green, who piloted the Phillies to their first World Series triumph in the 98-year history of the franchise, said last night that he will return as manager in 1981.

"Yeah, I'm going to, I guess," Green ' said when asked if he would be in the dugout again next season. Green has expressed his preference for being in the front office.

Phillies general manager Paul Owens said last night, however, that he was unaware of Green's decision.

"No, I can't (confirm the report)," Owens said. "I'm not going to confirm it or not, because we haven't talked. We're going to sit down and talk on Wednesday, probably. I've been hoping he would (return), I've been trying to give him time."

"The money is right, three and a half to four times what I can make normally," Green said of managing. "It's difficult to turn down. The timing just doesn't seem right for a move," said Green, 46, who would like to succeed or assist Owens.

"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," said Green, the father of four children.

As to Owens' feelings about the certainty of Green's return to manage next year, he said, "I can't tell... that, really. By the time I say one thing, he'll turn around and do another. I said, 'Just go home, talk it over (with Green's family), make sure you know what you want to do."

Independents seeking different results from election night fare (excerpt)

By Harry Harris, Inquirer TV Writer

Now that they're champs, Phillies stars are receiving national TV offers. Tug McGraw will occupy a "Hollywood Squares" niche Thanksgiving week. NBC reportedly wants to spotlight Steve Carlton in a special to follow the unusual Jets-Dolphins grid telecast Dec. 20. Why unusual? It will minimize voice-over commentary.

If NBC succeeds in nabbing the taciturn and reclusive Lefty that feat might well qualify for "That's Incredible!" A report current just after the World Series had Carlton turning down $25,000 to do a TV interview with ABC's Barbara Walters.

The network's news chief, Roone Arledge, pooh-poohed the rumor.

"I doubt," Arledge said, "if Barbara even knows who Carlton is. Main thing, ABC doesn't pay anybody for interviews."

Schmidt, Carlton capture awards

Compiled by The Inquirer Staff

ST. LOUIS – Phillies Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton were named the 1980 National League player of the year and pitcher of the year yesterday by The Sporting News.

Schmidt, who is expected to win the National League Most Valuable Player Award, received 81 votes, more than twice as many as runner-up George Hendrick of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Carlton, who won the Sporting News award twice previously, in 1972 and in 1977, easily outdistanced runner-up Jim Bibby of the Pirates in the player poll.

The weekly publication also named George Brett of the Kansas City Royals and Steve Stone of the Baltimore Orioles player and pitcher of the year in the American League.

Green will sign today to manage Phillies in 1981

Compiled by The Inquirer Staff

Dallas Green will sign a one-year contract today to manage the Phillies in 1981.

The announcement will come at a 9 a.m. press conference, shortly before Green boards a plane for the instructional league in Florida.

Green had repeatedly indicated that he did not want to return as the field boss and said yesterday he might ask for a $150,000 salary to relent. Phils owner Ruly Carpenter has coaxed Green to manage another season, but terms were not immediately available.

One player, outfielder Bake McBride, has said he does not want to come back if Green manages again.

Green reportedly is in line to succeed Paul Owens as the Phils' vice president and player personnel director when Owens retires. 

Sports-hungry Tampa Bay area seriously pursues expansion team

By Allen Lewis, On Baseball

The Tampa Bay area, which supported the football Bucs and the soccer Rowdies in big-league fashion, is serious about trying to land a major league baseball team. The Pinellas County Sports Authority recently selected a site for a 45,000-seat stadium and sports complex, and has already approved an architect's plans for the stadium.

Next comes funding for the $60-million-to-$80-million project. That must be obtained through revenue bonds backed by either the county or its 24 municipalities. That's expected it be completed within a year, and the project is expected to be finished as early as 1985.

Landing a franchise is another matter. The group seems to be aiming for an expansion club and has been in contact with Denver multimillionaire Marvin Davis, who once almost bought the A's and is now also interested in an expansion team. Since no league will add only one team, the two are working in tandem, and their first hard pitch is expected to be made at the winter meetings next month in Dallas.

The Tampa Bay area's main cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Dunedin host five major league clubs during spring training. And a Tampa Bay team could be a reality sooner than a lot of people think.

NOTES: The naming of Ralph Houk as manager of the Boston Red Sox wasn't as popular a move as might be expected. Surprisingly, the top choice of the fans and media was Ken Harrelson, the former first baseman-outfielder who in recent years has been a TV announcer for the Red Sox. Harrelson was hardly the model of hustle and decorum when he was playing for the A's, Senators, Red Sox and Indians from 1963 to 1971, but is said to be respected now.... If you wonder why old-line managers believed in the knockdown pitch, what happened after the Phillies' Dickie Noles decked George Brett in the fourth game of the World Series might explain it. After that "message," the Royals scored just four runs in 23 innings, got only three extra-base hits and averaged a strikeout per inning. That one pitch may have turned the Series in favor of the Phillies.... How difficult is it to hit.400? Since Ted Williams hit.406 in 1941, only Brett (.390 this year), Rod Carew (.388 in 1977), Williams (.388 in 1957) and Stan Musial (.376 in 1948) have hit.370 or higher.... Giants manager Dave Bristol's reply to the blast that outfielder Jack Clark leveled at him at the close of the season: "He just needs someone else to blame for his failure."... Veteran reliever Rollie Fingers is reported to be working on a knuckler. But he'll have to find someone to catch it.... One of the several reasons Don Zimmer was fired by the Red Sox is said to be his downgrading of the young talent coming out of the farm system.... The Expos may regret the deal in which they acquired first baseman Willie Montanez for the stretch run. To get Montanez, they had to give the Padres first baseman Randy Bass off their Denver club. The 210-pound Oklahoman hit 37 homers and knocked in 143 runs to lead the American Association, in both departments, and hit.333 for the second straight year. In 1979, he had 36 homers and 105 RBIs Those who criticized the use of horses, dogs and police to discourage rowdiness when the Phillies won the Series would have been the first to ask why there wasn't more security had there been no such preparedness and a few hundred fans had gone wild.

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The answer to last week's Trivia Question: When Rube Marquard set the one-season record for consecutive victories with 19 in 1912 he pitched only one shutout. On May 20, in the eighth game of that streak the lefthander blanked the Reds, 3-0. He allowed just one run in four games and the six he gave up in his 8-6 win over Boston on June 30 for his 18th straight was the most runs scored by any opponent in the streak. First with the correct answer was Ray Leber of Upland, Pa.

This week's question: In 1980, Mike Schmidt hit more than 35 home runs for the sixth time in his major league career. How many other third basemen have had six or more seasons with more than 35 home runs?

Honors pile up

Schmidt wins AP vote as NL player of the year

By Jayson Stark, Inquirer Staff Writer

Mike Schmidt fooled with success and won.

Schmidt, already one of the premier long-ball hitters and RBI producers in baseball, altered his batting style in 1980.

The change made Schmidt a more consistent batter, and yesterday he added to his honors when the Associated Press named him its National League player of the year.

Also honored yesterday was Phillies rookie Lonnie Smith, named by the Sporting News as its National League rookie of the year.

Schmidt earlier had won the World Series Most Valuable Player award and the Sporting News' NL player of the year award.

Schmidt led a Phillies sweep of the first four places in the voting by a nationwide panel of sportswriters and broadcasters for the Associated Press award. He received 368½ votes, finishing far ahead of teammate Steve Carlton, the Cy Young Award winner as the league's best pitcher.

Carlton received 81½ votes, followed by bullpen ace Tug McGraw, with 13, and first baseman Pete Rose, with nine.

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

Schmidt's credentials included a .286 batting average, 48 home runs and 121 RBIs. He set a record for homers by a third baseman, breaking the mark of 47 set in 1957 by Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews. It was the fourth time in the last seven years that Schmidt has led the NL in home runs. His RBI total also was a league high.

Schmidt, 31, also is one of the top defensive players in baseball, having won four gold gloves for his play at third base. This year, he was named to the NL All-Star team for the fifth time, and either led or was among the leaders in total bases, sacrifice flies, slugging percentage, runs scored and game-winning RBIs.

Schmidt, known for his detached approach to his business, generated some personal excitement this season as he joined manager Dallas Green's team concept and grind-it-out tactics.

"Everywhere I go I'm recognized now," said Schmidt, an Ohio University graduate who has played in relative obscurity during his eight-year major league career. "It's unbelievable."

He said that the Phillies' final three weeks, including the season-ending, division-clinching series over Montreal, the five-game playoff triumph against Houston and the first-ever Series victory, over Kansas City, were incredible.

"Each one made the other possible," said Schmidt, who might have been the goat of the NL playoffs had his teammates not bailed him out.

"We re-established the concept of a team, and I was proud to be the goat of the playoffs because it gave some of my teammates a chance to be heroes. It's been an unbelievable year in my life."

As for the batting change that made a .286 hitter of a lifetime .255 swinger, Schmidt said that he just stood farther back in the batter's box, which gave him more time to see and decide what to do with pitches. It changed him from a pull-hitting slugger to a spray hitter who used all fields.

Smith, who stole 33 bases and hit .339 for the Phillies this year, was one of four rookies honored yesterday by the Sporting News, the St. Louis-based magazine. Bill Gullickson of the Montreal Expos was named the NL rookie pitcher of the year, Joe Charboneau of the Cleveland Indians the American League rookie of the year, and Britt Burns of the Chicago White Sox the AL rookie pitcher of the year.

Free agents go on block

By the Associated Press

Baseball's re-entry draft will be held today with 48 free agents – including a pair from the world champion Phillies – available for the major league's fifth such draft.

The Philiies Tug McGraw, one of baseball's best relievers last season, will likely produce a great deal of interest. Reserve Del Unser, who sparked the Phillies to several late-season and postseason wins with clutch pinch hits, is also eligible to be drafted.

But Dave Winfield, 29, the star outfielder whose contract talks with the San Diego Padres bogged down with his request for $13 million over 10 years, is probably the featured attraction in this show. He's already made headlines by chatting with prospective employers and notifying some would-be bidders that they are off his list.

In the background has been talk of a possible conspiracy to keep George Steinbrenner, free-spending owner of the New York Yankees, away from Winfield. Because the Yankees had the best record in baseball last season, they pick last among the 26 teams on each round. The Chicago Cubs have the first choice.

A player can be selected by a maximum of 12 teams, plus his old team, and there is the possibility that Winfield's eligibility could be exhausted before the Yankees pick. However, Winfield's original asking price and his letter to more than a dozen teams asking that they not draft him could scare off enough clubs and give Steinbrenner a shot. Besides, in the first four drafts, only pitcher Dave Goltz has been selected by 13 clubs in the opening round.

Winfield's agent already has mentioned lawsuits if the Yankees don't have a chance to get their man. In the past, what Steinbrenner has wanted, he's gotten, building four division winners in five seasons with the help of free-agent acquisitions Reggie Jackson, Rich Gossage, Tommy John, Rudy May and Bob Watson.

Some of the other teams who have been courting Winfield include the Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros and New York Mets, whose new ownership has been promising a much more aggressive posture on free agents.

Winfield, Claudell Washington of the Mets and Ron LeFlore, the base-stealing star of the Montreal Expos, are the best of the 13 outfielders available. Monday night, Dusty Baker withdrew himself from the auction by signing a five-year contract for close to $4 million with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

There also will be 14 pitchers in addition to McGraw, nine catchers and 11 infielders available. Other top names eligible include catcher Dar-rell Porter of the American-league champion Kansas City Royals, pitcher Don Sutton of the Dodgers, first baseman-designated hitter Rusty Staub of the Texas Rangers and third baseman Roy Howell of the Toronto Blue Jays.

A team that signs a free agent must compensate the player's former team with a draft choice in the next year's amateur selection – one reason why the owners made compensation the key issue of the contract negotiations earlier this year. The owners don't like the economics of receiving what they consider inadequate compensation for losing key players.

Draft leaves McGraw in the cold

By Jayson Stark, Inquirer Staff Writer

NEW YORK – Tug McGraw was out rehearsing his version of "Casey at the Bat" at the Academy of Music yesterday afternoon. Meanwhile, in New York, baseball's fifth annual free-agent re-entry draft was in progress, and in that one, mighty Tugger was striking out.

McGraw, despite his 36 years, was supposed to be one of the big names in this year's free-agent pool. He was the Phillies' heart-patting, fist-pumping darling of World Series watchers everywhere. Surely, he would blitz through the auction place and emerge with the same million-dollar bankrolls so generously bestowed in the past upon the Dave Goltzes of the earth.

Instead, McGraw provided the shocker of the draft by going through 15 rounds without being selected by a single team.

It isn't all bad. He now has the right to negotiate with all 26 baseball clubs instead of only 14. "For all practical purposes," McGraw's financial adviser, Dick Moss, said yesterday, "it's better this way. But on the other hand, it's a real downer for Tug."

All afternoon', baseball people groped for explanations of what had happened. McGraw wasn't the only big name rejected. Montreal's Ron LeFlore, who stole a mere 97 bases this season, was selected only by the Chicago White Sox in the 11^th round. Unless two teams draft a player, he is free to negotiate with everyone. So LeFlore is in the same confusing boat as McGraw.

At least they have plenty of company. Twenty of the 48 available players were selected by one or no teams. They included Luis Tiant, Lee May, Pete LaCock and Ed Figueroa, along with a lot of assorted Dave Raders and Jesse Jeffersons.

But a guy named David W. Roberts, who a lot of people probably thought was a Channel 6 weatherman, was chosen by 12 teams, the most of any player. The Phillies made him their second pick. He is a utility type who hit.238 for Texas this year.

Then there was Boston's Jim Dwyer, an outfielder-first baseman who declared free agency partly because he wanted to play winter ball and the Red Sox wouldn't let Wm. He was the Phillies' first-round choice, and he was chosen by 11 other teams as well. Dwyer batted.285 this season, but his seven-year lifetime average before that was.239.

The Phillies also drafted three low-budget pitchers – Minnesota lefthander Geoff Zahn and Montreal righthanders Stan Bahnsen and John D'Acquisto. They also retained the right to negotiate with Del Unser, who was chosen by four other teams (Pittsburgh, Boston, San Francisco and Milwaukee).

Clearly, there was a trend toward thrift, and McGraw got caught in it.

"You look at last year, and there was an awful lot of disappointment for the $35 million that was spent," Phils general manager Paul Owens said. "I don't think it was collusion. I think people are just getting tired of it. Maybe this could be the end to all this wild spending."

Owens said it was almost as if two different drafts were going on. One involved the Yankees, Mets and Astros, slobbering after the big names. The other involved everybody else, trying to line up a few useful possibilities who wouldn't look to make more than Gulf Oil.

McGraw may have been the victim of a drive to keep his market value lower than the $2-million, four-year deal he was reportedly seeking. That was Owens' theory.

Moss said he was sure that what happened yesterday did not reflect a lack of interest in McGraw.

"I know that for a fact," he said, "because I talked to a lot of clubs. I think I know what happened. Everyone was just sitting back waiting for someone else to go first. I think if someone else had drafted Tug, seven or eight or nine clubs would have come in. But since no one did, they laid off him.

"Obviously, it's better for the club that signs him now, because they don't have to give up an amateur draft choice.... This same thing has happened to a lot of players the last two years. But he's probably the biggest player it ever happened to."

Owens and owner Ruly Carpenter met with McGraw and Moss for three hours this week and made what Owens termed "a very good offer." Owens said that McGraw's reaction was not so much "that he didn't respect our position, but he just felt that as long as he'd gone this far he might as well test the market."

Yesterday's developments probably made McGraw more signable for the Phillies. But not so for Unser.

Moss also is Unser's agent, and he said that, while Unser would like to stay with the Phillies, the two are "very disappointed" with the club's last offer. He said he would treat the Phillies in negotiations "just like everybody else" who drafted Unser.

Boston reportedly is very interested in Unser. That is ironic, because if the Red Sox make off with him the Phils would respond by making a heavy pitch for Dwyer.

One scout, when asked about Dwyer yesterday, said, "I'll tell you who he reminds me of – Unser." And Jim Bunning, who is Dwyer's agent, said Dwyer is "a younger-type Unser."  Dwyer. 30, is an excellent outfielder, more versatile than John Milner, and has a reputation for playing hard. He was a great minor league hitter but didn't have a good big-league year until this season (nine homers, 38 RBIs in 260 at-bats).

Versatility is what Owens likes most about him, and that also is what attracted the Phillies to Roberts, 29.

"Hugh Alexander (the Phillies' chief scout) saw him play seven positions the last two years," Owens said. "He can catch, play all the infield positions and play the outfield. He also might be able to hit me 10 homers, and that's another big thing. He'd give us another righthanded bat. And I felt like we were short of that at times."

Zahn was 14-18 with a 4.45 earned-run average this year. He also is 34 years old, and one baseball person described him yesterday as "a real slopballer." His major attraction is that he is lefthanded. With the inevitable departure of Randy Lerch and the possible loss of McGraw, the Phils might need another lefthander, especially against the Pirates.

Owens said he chose Zahn over the 1 younger Billy Travers of Milwaukee because he "might be better able to come over to this league and get left-handed hitters out."

Bahnsen, 35, and D'Acquisto, 29, are righthanders. But the Phillies might need one to complement McGraw and Sparky Lyle, either instead of or in addition to Ron Reed. Bahnsen was 7-6 with a 3.07 ERA and four saves for Montreal this year. But he has "always pitched well against us," Owens said. "And I like his makeup."

D'Acquisto was 2-5 with a 3.38 ERA and three saves with San Diego and Montreal this season. Hardly anybody throws harder than D'Acquisto. But hardly anybody is as erratic, either.

"We had mixed emotions about him," Owens said. “But if he could get consistent, he could help any club.”

Undrafted, McGraw comes to terms with rejection

"In my career," says Tug McGraw, "nothing routine ever happens. Things always seem to be weird."

Not one team selected McGraw in Thursday's baseball re-entry draft. Yet McGraw, whose relief pitching (20 saves, 1.47 ERA during the regular season) was a key to the Phillies' winning their first world championship, insists he's not disappointed.

McGraw told the Associated Press yesterday that he believes other clubs have the impression he doesn't want to leave Philadelphia, that he'll eventually come to agreement with the Phillies, and didn't want to waste a draft choice on him for those reasons.

"I think other owners didn't draft me because they felt they had little hope of signing me," McGraw said.

The genial lefthander said the re-entry slight didn't change his negotiating approach with the Phillies one bit. He's still asking for a four-year contract, reportedly at $250,000 per season.

McGraw, 36, said he was prepared to go out and negotiate with any of the 26 clubs interested in talking, but that his bottom line was to remain in Philadelphia, if possible.

Typically, McGraw maintained his keen sense of humor despite the re-entry debacle.

"I fell out of a tree and broke my left elbow," he jested upon hearing he hadn't been selected Thursday.

McGraw said that he and the Phillies were in the "same ballpark" monetarily. "We differ in the psychological approach to negotiations," McGraw explained, describing this "psychological approach" as involving his playing position, length of contract, and his age.

Apparently, the Phillies feel 36-year-old relievers seeking four-year contracts are a poor risk compared to everyday players. They probably are willing to meet the pitcher's financial demands, but over a shorter term of contract.

McGraw admitted that even if other teams – and he rattled off such names as the New York Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals and Los Angeles Dodgers – offered him $200,000 or $300,000 more than the Phillies he would sign with Philadelphia.

But since no team drafted him, what makes McGraw think he could get elsewhere even what he was asking the Phillies?

"I could get it today. I know. You can book it," McGraw said.

"But I wouldn't sign with another team for the same amount I can get from Phila delphia," McGraw noted. "It would take a lot more to get me to move."

Suppose he can't come to terms with the Phillies?

"If not, then I would take one of the other offers," McGraw replied. "I'd have to do what's best for me and my family."

McGraw said the reasons why the club is offering him what it is proposing are more discouraging to him than the actual offers.

"The Phillies certainly are the club I'd want to stay with, if possible, if they come up with a reasonable offer," McGraw said. "Outside of that I'm a baseball player. I'll play anywhere."

At the Union League, a big boost for the U.S. ski team (excerpt)

By Ruth Seltzer, Society

Tug McGraw, auctioneer

At the Bayberry Gala, a dinner-dance which was held last weekend to aid the Crozer-Chester Medical Center, World Series star Tug McGraw served as the voluntary auctioneer. During the cocktail hour, we were introduced to Tug and his wife, Phyllis.

Tug, the relief pitcher, proved to be a first-rate auctioneer. He's a good pitchman.

The highest bid, close to $3,000, was for "A Day with Tug McGraw and the Phillies" – starting with batting practice in the morning and lunch in the clubhouse. The grandson of the purchaser, who asked to remain anonymous, will tag along with Tug for several hours.

Referring last Saturday to his free-agent status, Tug said: "No matter where I am, I'll see that the child gets to spend a day with me."

Tug and Phyllis McGraw live in Rose Valley, Delaware County.

"We hope they stay in Philadelphia," remarked Peggy (Mrs. Lynn) Kippax, a member of the Bayberry Gala committee.

For the first time, the Bayberry Gala was held in Longwood Gardens. Guests dined in a fantastic setting – in Longwood's conservatory and ballroom. The seated dinner (for 400) was catered by Georges Perrier and the staff of Le Bec-Fin restaurant.

It was an all-star occasion with Perrier, McGraw, pianist Linda Child and the unbeatable Longwood Gardens.

Maestro Billy Wilson led the Harold Ruben dance orchestra.

The general chairmen of the Bayberry Gala were Sandy (Mrs. Nicholas J.) Christos and Sue (Mrs. George S.) Thorbahn. The co-chairmen of the auction were Judy (Mrs. Peter W.) Kaiser and DeeDee (Mrs. Paul T.) Cass.

There were many eyecatchers at the party – including Longwood's senorita and spider mums, golden ball cacti, masterpiece white tea roses, orchids beyond belief, and plants of the African tropics.

They stand at the head of a quality class

By Allen Lewis, On Baseball

It used to be called Class. Now it's called Quiet Quality. In baseball, Quiet Quality is:

•  The way Houston manager Bill Virdon accepted the loss of a pennant his team appeared to have won two days in a row.

•  The way National League umpire Doug Harvey handles a game – every game.

•  Signing a long-term contract and never asking to have it renegotiated.

•  Mike Schmidt hitting a home run and circling the bases briskly.

•  Royals reliever Dan Quisenberry refusing to alibi and retaining his sense of humor after two World Series defeats.

•  Larry Bowa making one outstanding play after another at shortstop, even when locked in a long batting slump.

•  Lonnie Smith breaking up a double play with a hard slide, spikes down.

•  A manager telling an umpire that the umpire blew the play, without taking his hands out of his back pockets.

•  The way Bob Boone caught and called pitches in the Phillies' 11 postseason games.

•  Pete Rose being hit by a pitch and running to first without saying a word to the pitcher.

•  A Tug McGraw interview after a game win or lose.

•  Signing autographs for a reasonable period of time for polite youngsters.

•  The way Del Unser conducts himself after getting one big hit after another.

•  Dallas Green's sincere dedication to the organization that employs him, putting it ahead of his own wishes.

•  A player answering a dumb question from a young reporter without unduly embarrassing the questioner.

•  Wearing your uniform correctly.

•  Winning World Series back-to-back.

•  Not having to ask what Quiet Dignity is.

NOTES: Even if Edward DeBartolo Sr. finally wins approval for his purchase of the White Sox, commissioner Bowie Kuhn will cancel the sale. That he has the authority already has been tested in the courts.... In that regard, why is it that grown men buy sports franchises, agreeing to abide by the league's rules, then threaten to sue if they want to do something their fellow owners vote against?... Many members of the Boston media are not overjoyed with the selection of Ralph Houk as Red Sox manager. Wrote one: "As a former third-string catcher, he (Houk) will be comfortable with... another old third-string catcher, (co-owner) Haywood Sullivan."... The quality pitcher in the free-agent draft, Don Sutton, wants $4 million over five years. That's a heap for a pitcher who will he 36 before next season begins.

•

The answer to last week's Trivia Question: Mike Schmidt of the Phillies and Eddie Mathews, who played for the Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves, the Houston Astros and the Detroit Tigers, are the only third basemen in major league history to hit more than 35 home runs in as many as six seasons. Joe Hayes Jr. of Norristown was first with the correct answer.

This week's question: Name the only team in major league history to have three players hit 40 or more home runs in the same season.

Baton is raised in salute to bat

By Daniel Webster, Inquirer Music Critic

The bat proved mightier than the baton yesterday when the Phillie Phanatic flapped onto the podium in the Philly Pops "Victory Concert" at the Academy of Music.

The Phanatic – "David Raymond, swathed in green feathers, wearing green sneakers and carrying a bat rolled down the aisle, climbed the red-carpeted stairs to the stage and stole his first baton – from conductor Peter Nero.

It was probably the first time an orchestra had been conducted by a green-feathered creature, but then no Philadelphia orchestra had been called on in recent years to play something in honor of a World Series championship.

All this baseball fanaticism had been hatched by Nero, who calls himself a Phillies fanatic, and Moe Septee, the Pops producer. No sooner had the last game been won than Septee was on the phone with Tug McGraw to arrange the pitcher's debut with an orchestra. That will come tomorrow night at the Academy when Tug will recite "Casey at the Bat."

At the same time, Nero set to work to write a victory march. That piece, "Philadelphia! Philadelphia! We Are Number One!" was on the music stands when the feathered Phanatic took the baton and put Nero out at the podium.

Nero's place in the starting rotation has not been threatened by the Phanatic's big stick, it is safe to say. His march, however, is a showy piece that has been written to hold a place in the lineup for tomorrow's concert as well. Tug McGraw not only will read "Casey," but will do a kind of "voice-over" with the march, bringing the final moments of the Series' last game into the music. In fact, it will be a kind of duet with Harry Kalas' voice, as the march and the players will try to recreate the excitement of a month ago.

If Nero and his writers can keep light on their feet, they may be able to produce a musical history of the year in Philadelphia sports. His concerts may fill up with pucks and footballs, basketballs and even quoits, especially if the other winning teams demand equal musical time.

Winning was the note that Nero struck with this concert. The program, before the Phanatic said, "Play ball," was an easy mix of charm and good humor. The baseball context gave extra meaning to the overture to The Pirates of Penzance and suggested some other meaning for "September Song." But the program was a set of fresh pieces with the spice of novelty.

Douglas Fairbanks Jr. narrated some of the poetry in Alan Hovhaness' Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, lending poignance to a highly atmospheric piece. The work incorporated sensuous writing for an accordion, played here by Carmen Carrozza, who used the instrument to suggest some exotic woodwind instrument singing in the winderness.

Fairbanks stayed on to perform "September Song" and a song each from Camelot and My Fair Lady. These were spoken songs, but spoken with such cleverness that the theatrical mood of each was established at once, and the total effect made dramatic.

Nero nodded to the rival in the pops league by playing some of Boston Pops conductor John Williams' Superman music. Nero won the composing duel in this one, however, for Superman is epochally empty stuff.

Fat City:  Phillies’ Series haul a record

By the Associated Press

NEW YORK – 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.

The 1980 shares compare to the $28,236.87 that went to each member of the winning Pittsburgh Pirates after the 1979 World Series, and $22,113.94 that 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, and a one-eighth share of $4,336.65 to reliever Sparky Lyle.

Other Phillies personnel receiving full shares were trainer Don Seger, assistant trainer Jeff Cooper, clubhouse and equipment manager Kenny Bush Sr., his assistant, Pete Cera; and stretch and flexibility instructor Gus Hoefling. Hank King, batting practice pitcher, received $8,673.29; Gary Watts, Pete Murphy and Mark Andersen, bat boys, $4,000 each; Kenny Bush Jr., bat boy, $2,000, and Kevin Kaufman, clubhouse assistant, $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.

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, divided 30 full shares of $12,570.59 apiece.

All 12 first-division teams shared 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.

Series II

The Phillies and Royals are back at it again, but this time there will be no hits, catches, throws or errors. That's because the Royals and Phils are taking each other on in video-land – the "Family Feud" television game show, to be exact. Phillies Larry Bowa, Garry Maddox, Mike Schmidt, Del Unser and Dick Ruthven are taping the syndicated game show today in Los Angeles. Opposing them will be Kansas City's "family" of Hal McRae, Willie Wilson, Paul Splittorff, Dennis Leonard and Dan Quisenberry. Watch for the play-byplay sometime after Jan. 1 on CBS, Channel 10 

Smith on Topps’ Rookie All-Stars

Compiled by The Inquirer Staff

NEW YORK – Phillies outfielder Lonnie Smith was one of only three National League players to be named yesterday to the 22d Topps Rookie All-Star squad.

Seven American League rookies were selected by major league players, managers and coaches.

Smith joined first baseman Rich Murray of the San Francisco Giants and shortstop Ron Oester of the Cincinnati Reds in the NL group.

The rest of the team is composed of second baseman Damaso Garcia of the Toronto Blue Jays, third baseman Glenn Hoffman of the Boston Red Sox, outfielders Joe Charboneau of the Cleveland Indians and Rick Peters of the Detroit Tigers, catcher Don Graham of the Baltimore Orioles and pitchers Britt Burns of the Chicago White Sox and Doug Corbett of the Minnesota Twins.

Charboneau led in the balloting with 673 votes. He was followed by Oester with 542 and Hoffman with 490.

Another win for McGraw

This time, he plays for an orchestra

By Daniel Webster, Inquirer Staff Writer

The Philly Pops picked up free agent Tug McGraw last night and made him the organization's designated narrator.

McGraw was signed while the city still basked in the euphoria of the Phillies' World Series win in October. In the interim, McGraw played in an instructional league, where he was coached by Jerry Grabey not to flinch at the curves that the stage can throw at an entertainer.

This was his first time up with the Pops, and conductor Peter Nero had found a musical setting of "Casey at the Bat" which called for a performer with McGraw's aplomb. The Phillies' relief pitcher had worked out the piece with Grabey and in rehearsals last week. Last night, he had gone out for a sandwich but returned backstage while Douglas Fairbanks Jr. was performing with the orchestra at the Academy of Music.

A peek at the stage caught McGraw full force. His left hand fluttered over his heart – in a gesture reminiscent of Game 5 of the Series – and he walked to his dressing room with knees wobbling wildly.

There was a sell-out crowd in the Academy to see McGraw come out. Phillies souvenirs were being sold in the street, and a few Phillies pennants waved when he emerged. There were Phillies buttons on a few lapels in the orchestra. Moe Septee, the Pops impresario, was walking around backstage with a World Series baseball in his pocket.

McGraw made his clutch appearance with the Pops as vivid as any he had made with the Phillies last year. He is a showman with a sense of timing. Maybe the Phillies can work out a contract that calls for a specific number of concerts in addition to pitching time.

He came out on the darkened stage, impeccably dressed in formal clothes. The lights came up as Frank Proto's music began with taped crowd noises. As designated narrator, he stepped into the role vigorously, found his stance and moved ahead.

Those in the crowd hung on every word, knowing very well how the story all comes out, and they got a kick out of hearing McGraw snatch up Casey's name for the batter who hit the cover off the ball. Calm is McGraw's middle name, and he rode over that fluff with a grin – although he used that left-hand flutter against his ruffled shirt.

After that, it was growing fun for the pitcher. He roared and whispered, pulled off his jacket to match Casey's disdain at the plate and swept off his vest to underline all that. And when the music suggested hauteur, McGraw was swinging his hips and moving the way other performers in other theaters deal with the art of removing coats and vests.

His range of voice and inflection showed that he had a lot of deliveries at his fingertips. Somehow the final line came too soon for this vocal crowd. The narration was punctuated by applause and cheers. And when it was over, McGraw pulled a mitt out of Nero's piano and caught a ball.

Nero was repeating much of a program he had led on Sunday, but at the earlier program, the Phillie Phanatic had been the representative of the baseball world at the Academy. The program included Gershwin songs in imaginative arrangements by Nero, music from Superman and Lt. Kije. Fairbanks repeated his narration of verses from the Rubaiyat to a score by Alan Hovhaness and did songs from Camelot and My Fair Lady.

But it was for McGraw the audience cheered last night. A lot of transference went on there between the listeners and this charismatic designated narrator.

Saucier sent to Rangers in Lyle deal

The Phillies sent lefthanded relief pitcher Kevin Saucier to the Texas Rangers yesterday as the player to be named later in the Sept. 13 deal that brought them Sparky Lyle.

"We hated to lose Kevin," said Phils' general manager Paul Owens. "But Texas said they needed 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."

Saucier, 24, was the Phils No. 2 selection in the 1974 draft. He was 7-3 with a 3.42 earned-run average in 40 relief appearances last year, his first full season with the club. Saucier allowed 50 hits in 50 innings while striking out 25 and walking 20.

Lyle, 36, appeared in 10 games with the Phillies last year, compiling an 0-0 record and a 1.93 ERA, with two saves.

Eddie Robinson, executive vice president of the Rangers, said, "Saucier challenges the hitters. He's a good competitor – very aggressive – and should be a valuable addition to our bullpen."

In other moves, concerning last week's winter re-entry draft, Owens said he has 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."

Owens also announced that pitcher Jim Wright has been assigned to Oklahoma City and that outfielder Alejandro Sanchez, 21, has taken his spot on the roster.

Sports People

No field, good act

Students at a middle school In Reno, Nev., were expecting to hear a talk by Phillies outfielder Lonnie Smith Tuesday, but the guest of honor beat a hasty retreat when he learned that reporters were going to be present.

The reason for his departure became clear when a call to Spartanburg, S.C, revealed that the real Lonnie Smith was relaxing at home.

"I've never been to Reno in my life,".Smith said. "I've been in Spartanburg since the Series."

Phillies publicity director Larry Shenk said, "These things happen all the time. Last year, we had somebody walking around saying he was Mike Schmidt. A few years ago, somebody said he was Steve Carlton."

The man who passed himself off as Smith was scheduled to speak on "Motivation and What It Takes to be a Professional Athlete."

This was the year

"The Phillies will be a contending ball club the next four or five years," general manager Paul Owens told the Television, Radio and Advertising Club of Philadelphia at the Franklin Plaza. But will they ever match the effort of this year's championship team?

Manager Dallas Green told the group that, "In five months we did what hadn't been accomplished in 97 years.... Probably no other team in the history of baseball played better. I waited 25 years to see it."

Even bullpen hero Tug McGraw seemed to realize that he was in a once-in-a-lifetime situation. According to executive vice president Bill Giles, "Tug said to me after the third game 'I'm going after a three- or four-year contract. If I were you, I wouldn't give it to me. I'll never be this good again.'"

McGraw and the Philly Pope

The Philly Pops has been in existence for only two years, so it didn't exactly come of age Tuesday night in featuring Frank Edwin McGraw in a virtuoso rendition of "Casey at the Bat" but it certainly made musical history. The old walls of the Academy of Music never saw the likes of it before – an uninhibited athlete performing with a jaunty, accomplished symphony orchestra before an adoring, sell-out audience.

It was a night in which the audience relived the fun and joy of the Phillies' uphill struggle to win the World Series, for if ever a group caught the spirit of that memorable moment for Philadelphia, it was the Philly Pops. The acuity and the nerve to have Mr. McGraw perform with the orchestra underscored what a fine addition Conductor Peter Nero and Executive Director Moe Septee are providing for the city's entertainment.

Nothing could top Mr. McGraw's heart-stopping relief pitching in the playoffs and in the Series, but he came close to doing so Tuesday evening. He is as talented on the stage as he is on the mound and if the Phillies management doesn't have the sense and the cents to sign him to a long-term contract and settle his free-agent status soon, Mr. Septee should enter the bidding. Can you see Frank Edwin McGraw as Hamlet or Richard III? The lucky fans at the Academy of Music Tuesday could.

Sports in brief (excerpt)

Phillies players will make appearances in support of four Philadelphia organizations. Mike Schmidt will appear from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Philadelphian Apartments on behalf of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Larry Bowa will be at Industrial Valley Bank, 17th and Market Streets, at 11:30 a. m. Monday to help in the city's anti-litter campaign. Bob Boone will appear, with the Friends of Rittenhouse Square at 2 p,m. Nov, 30 in the square. Tug McGraw will appear for the West Park Hospital at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Park City West Apartments on Ford Road.

Penna. Says 3 used Phils’ names to get drugs

By Steve Twomey and Vernon Loeb, Inquirer Staff Writers

A Reading physician and two other men were accused yesterday of illegally prescribing and obtaining amphetamines in the last two years by using the names of five players for the world-champion Philadelphia Phillies, a former player and two players' wives.

State officials said that there was "no evidence" that any of those associated with the Phillies – players Steve Carlton, Pete Rose, Greg Luzinski, Randy Lerch and Larry Christenson; former player Tim McCarver, and Jean Luzinski and Sheena Bowa, wife of Larry Bowa – knew that their names were being used on prescriptions to obtain the drugs, which are stimulants whose distribution is controlled by state law.

All eight said they had no doctor-patient relationship with the physician, Dr. Patrick A. Mazza, and had received no amphetamines from him, according to a spokesman for the state attorney general's office.

All eight are expected to testify for the state in any hearings or trials resulting from the criminal complaint filed in Reading yesterday with District Magistrate Albert Gaspari, the attorney general's spokesman said. A preliminary hearing on the charges is scheduled Dec. 18 in Reading.

Last summer, newspaper reports of the investigation had said state officials were looking into the possibility that several players might have illegally obtained drugs. Those reports were vehemently denied by the players.

Mazza, 56, is the unofficial doctor for the Phillies' AA farm club in Reading, where Luzinksi and Lerch once played.

In the complaint, Mazza was accused of writing 23 prescriptions from mid-1978 to the spring of 1980 for 2,630 doses of four types of amphetamines and of making the prescriptions out to any of the eight associated with the Phillies.

Those prescriptions went "beyond the scope of the doctor-patient relationship, including prescribing drugs without first conducting the medical examination," the complaint said.

The complaint said that the prescriptions were taken to four Reading pharmacies by Robert L. Masley, 54, and his son, Robert M. Masley, 24, both of Reading, who usually indicated to the pharmacists that they were associated with the Phillies and would turn over the drugs to the players.

Mazza and the Masleys could not be reached for comment.

According to the complaint, the Masleys used their real names and sometimes dropped off the prescriptions and picked them up the next day. They brought in prescriptions roughly every two months, it indicated.

There was no explanation of why Mazza and the Masleys selected such easily remembered names for the prescriptions, nor what use was made of the drugs. The attorney general's spokesman said the investigation was "still open," although he declined to elaborate.

The complaint was the first action taken as a result of an investigation that became public knowledge in mid-summer with a flurry of nationwide newspaper articles. The initial story appeared in the Trenton Times, which reported in July that an unnamed Reading doctor was writing prescriptions for the players without performing medical examinations. A "runner" then picked up the pills and distributed them to the players, the paper said, quoting law-enforcement sources.

Among the players and wives named at that time were Greg and Jean Luzinksi, Rose, Larry and Shee-na Bowa, Lerch, Carlton, Christenson, McCarver and Mike Schmidt. Several of the players named complained bitterly at the time that the press had inaccurately and irresponsibly linked them to a drug case. The resentment also caused some of the players to cease talking to reporters for a while.

The scheme outlined in the criminal complaint, filed by state officers for the enforcement of drug laws," was essentially the same, with the important exception that the drugs apparently never went beyond the alleged runners, the two Masleys.

In addition, the complaint did not indicate that the names of Schmidt and Larry Bowa had ever been used to obtain the drugs.

In a statement, Phillies executive vice president William Giles said yesterday that he would not comment specifically on the complaint because he had not read it, but he added that "a thorough investigation into the matter was held last summer, and all of the Philadelphia Phillies players were found to have no involvement in the matter whatsoever."

When contacted at his home in Media. Schmidt, who had vehement ly denied the allegations when they surfaced, said of the state's complaint, "That's fine, that's good; I really don't care what they do I have no other comment. I just want to put it out of my mind."

McCarver, in a telephone interview, said he had no idea why his name might have been used in writing any prescriptions, but he declined further comment.

The others named yesterday could not be reached for comment.

The elder Masley was charged with 11 counts of obtaining controlled substances by fraudulent means; his son, with 16 counts.

If convicted, Mazza could receive up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine on each of the 23 counts, and the Masleys could each receive a year in prison and a $5,000 fine on each count.

Authorities said that the investigation began when a routine check of records at Reading pharmacies uncovered prescriptions made out to the Phillies but with local addresses. The attorney general's spokesman said the suspicions of the investigators had been aroused because they did not think any of the ballplayers lived in Reading.

The subsequent investigation showed that many of the addresses given were nonexistent and that in several cases, they were the Masleys'.

Mike Schmidt goes to bat, this time for the art museum

Major league home run king Mike Schmidt went to bat for the Philadelphia Museum of Art yesterday and helped raise more than $1,000.

Schmidt, the Phillies third baseman, signed autographs in the lobby of the Philadelphian, 2401 Pennsylvania Ave., as legions of admirers waited in line for his signature and to make a donation to the art museum.

Philly No. 1?  That figures

By Bill Lyon, Inquirer Staff Writer

Pro sports in Philadelphia, as you may have suspected, have been riding a tidal surge.

There is a suspicion that this is the best sports town in the country. Comes now Bob McMahon, armed with charts and stats and percentages and surveys, to say that isn't just a provincial suspicion but unadulterated, provable, uncontestable fact.

McMahon's figures show Philadelphia – its teams and its fans – are No. 1. Those figures are based on wins and championships, on attendance, and on the opinions of athletes.

First off, he has a chart showing the regular season won-loss percentage of each city in baseball, basketball, football and hockey, and then the composite total of all four sports.

Philadelphia is first, its teams winning 67 percent of their games. (These numbers, incidentally, are based on the baseball season just concluded, and the 1979-80 basketball, football and hockey seasons.)

Boston's teams were second, with a.620 percentage.

OK. But maybe a team is in a weak division. So how do the cities compare when the regular seasons end and the playoffs begin? McMahon is glad you asked because he charted that, too.

And Philadelphia came out first again, the Phillies going all the way, the Flyers and the Sixers reaching the finals, and the Eagles advancing to the second round. McMahon scored this as you do in golf; lowest number wins. Philly beat out Los Angeles, which won the NBA title and made the Super Bowl but was dragged down by the Dodgers' failure to win a division and the Kings' weak showing on the ice.

Houston was third in the postseason performance rankings, followed by Boston and Pittsburgh.

All right, so far McMahon s survey has focused on how a city's teams performed. But that is only one measurement of a city. Franchises get moved. Frequently. Cities, however, do not.

So, McMahon reasons, a true test of a sports town is the allegiance of its fans.

To judge a city strictly on total gate numbers is obviously unfair and inaccurate because of population discrepancies and capacity differentials. No stadium or arena is uniform.

So, McMahon reasoned, a more precise method would be to take the average attendance. And to be even more exact, consider attendance from the standpoint of percentage of capacity.

In this area, Boston finished first and Milwaukee (counting in the Green Bay Packers) nosed out Philadelphia for second by hundredths of a percentage point.

Boston fans filled their sports arenas to 87 percent capacity. In this case, size, or rather lack of it, was a distinct advantage. Crammed, Fenway Park holds only roughly 60 percent as many people as, say, Veterans Stadium. Similarly, Boston Garden is not the largest place in either the NBA or NHL.

So, on total attendance, Boston would finish far down the line. But, as McMahon's figures suggest, its fans should be applauded for their support.

Milwaukee and Philadelphia each averaged 80 percent of capacity. The Flyers led the way, of course. They have had something on the order of 300 consecutive sellouts and played to a full house again all last season.

The Eagles were at 97 percent capacity last season and, given their success this year, should at least equal that. The 76ers averaged 11,700 last season, which is 64 percent of capacity. Certainly that figure is far lower this season, which tends to dispute the thesis that people automatically support a winner.

And the world champion Phils? Their crowds averaged 33,996, which was second only to L.A. in McMahon's survey. That was 58 percent of the Vet's capacity. Boston, L.A. and Kansas City had higher percentages.

Bob McMahon looked at all his material and decided something still was missing... the human element.

You can't ask fans about fans because (1) they're too biased, and (2) most of them go only to games in their own town.

Aha! How about polling the players themselves? In all four sports, and with one very important provision – you cannot vote for your own city. That ought to make it more objective.

But then how do you ask athletes to rate cities? If you take the Chamber of Commerce approach and do it on the basis of climate and scenery, the San Diegos of the world rejoice while the Buffalos know they don't hae a chance.

So, McMahon asked the mercenaries to rate the towns in four areas, three of which relate directly to the fans: (1) the most enthusiastic; (2) the unfriendliest; (3) the most knowledgeable; (4) their favorite cities, the ones they like because of food, entertainment, accommodations and atmosphere.

The pro football players rated Houston's fans the most enthusiastic (Philly was third), Pittsburgh's the most knowledgeable (Philly third again), Philadelphia fans the most unfriendly (b-o-o-o-o-o-o), and Los Angeles their favorite place to play (Philly finished ninth).

In the NBA, Portland was a runaway for most enthusiastic fans (Philly fifth), New York's the most knowledgeable (Philly fourth), San Antonio's the unfriendliest (Philly eighth) and New York was the favorite city.

In hockey, Philadelphia fans were landslide winners in enthusiasm and barely edged New York's as unfriendliest, while Montreal was voted most knowledgeable and favorite city.

In baseball, Philadelphia was first in the NL for both enthusiastic and knowledgeable fans, New York's the unfriendliest (Philly third) and San Diego favorite city (Philly fifth).

In the American League, New York fans won for enthusiasm and hostility, Boston for knowledgeable fans and favorite city.

So what does all of McMahon's work prove? Nothing startlingly new. Rather, it reinforces – in the standings, at the gate and in the minds of athletes – what most of us have suspected for quite a while now. If you're a sports fan, there isn't a better city than right here.

Maddox, Schmidt get Gold Glove awards

Outfielder Garry Maddox and third baseman Mike Schmidt of the world champion Phillies have won Gold Glove awards for defensive excellence again, the Sporting News announced yesterday.

Maddox was selected for the sixth straight year, to lead all players in both the American and National Leagues.

Schmidt, with five Gold Gloves, is tied with Ron Santo, Ken Boyer and Doug Rader for the most awards by a third baseman.

The rest of the National League squad: Keith Hernandez (St. Louis), first base; Doug Flynn (New York), second base; Ozzie Smith (San Diego), shortstop; Andre Dawson (Montreal) and Dave Winfield (San Diego), outfield; Gary Carter (Montreal), catcher, and Phil Niekro (Atlanta), pitcher.

The American League team: Cecil Cooper (Milwaukee), first base; Frank White (Kansas City), second base; Buddy Bell (Texas), third base; Alan Trammell (Detroit), shortstop; Willie Wilson (Kansas City), Fred Lynn (Boston) and Dwayne Murphy (Oakland), outfield; Jim Sundberg (Texas), catcher, and Mike Norris (Oakland), pitcher.

Investigating Ted Turner’s deals gives Kuhn wide room to wander

By Allen Lewis, On Baseball

Commissioner Bowie Kuhn has launched an investigation to determine if Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner tampered with Dave Winfield during a recent visit, but maybe he should have determined if the impetuous Turner is guilty of violating the rules in signing outfielder Claudell Washington to a ridiculous five-year, $3.5-million contract.

It is believed that Washington, 26, would have signed with the Mets before the season ended if the Mets had agreed to give the well-traveled player a fifth year at $350,000. When it appeared that Washington wouldn't budge, the Mets not only agreed to five years but upped their offer to $450,000. That was turned down, and Washington and his agent didn't even entertain offers from any team other than the Braves after the re-entry draft.

How Turner decided that Washington was worth money like that is a mystery. Washington hasn't hit as high as.285 in the last five seasons, and hasn't hit more than 13 homers in any season. His only big year was 1975, when he hit.308, batted in 77 runs and stole 40 bases, all career highs, for the A's.

Washington's agent, Tom Baenziger, has said, "They (the Braves) were only one player away from winning the pennant last season, and now they've got that one player – Claudell."

About the time Turner, whose Braves need pitching more than outfielders who hit less than.280, was signing Washington, he was calling 14-game winner Doyle Alexander's. demand for $350,000 a year "outrageous." Said Turner, "We'll trade him, no sweat."

NOTES: When Pete Rose said George Brett wouldn't hit.390 in the National League, some thought that it was sour grapes. But American League expansion does have its effect. Brett had 20 hits in 11 games and batted.444 while knocking in 18 runs against the Blue Jays. In 13 games against the Blue Jays, the Orioles' Eddie Murray batted in 38 runs.... Incidentally, it's difficult to believe, but Brett recently denied that he has a five-year contract extension that will pay him $1 million a year. "The only new contract I have is with 7-Up," he said. "The last baseball contract I signed was four years ago. I categorically deny that I've signed any kind of new contract with Kansas City."... Cy Young Award winner Steve Carlton, looking fit and rested after his annual hunting trip, spent last weekend in Clearwater, Fla., with his wife Beverly. "It's a combination vacation and business trip," Carlton told me. He and Mike Schmidt are part owners of an auto agency in Clearwater, which is where the Phillies train.... If you wonder why the Cubs are sinking, listen to their general manager, Bob Kennedy: "I'll sign people to contracts longer than one year, but I'm not going to guarantee anyone's pay for more than a year." It's no wonder so many Cubs ask to be traded.... The Angels may do a Johnny Bench with their top catcher of 1979, Brian Downing, and move him to the outfield. However, that move is dictated by Downing's arm problems.

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The answer to last week's Trivia Question: Jim Bagby and Jim Bagby Jr. won 226 major league games, the most of any father and son pitching duo. Bagby Sr., who pitched for the Reds (1912), Indians (1916-1922) and Pirates (1923), won 129 games. Bagby Jr., who pitched for the Red Sox (1938-1940, 1946), Indians (1941-1945) and Pirates (1947), won 97. First with the correct answer was Ken Buckwater of Paoli.

This week's question: Who is the only major league baseball player to win the Heisman Trophy as a college football star?