Wilmington Morning News - November 1980
November 4, 1980
Green to manage Phils again
By Ralph Bernstein, Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA – Dallas Green, who piloted the Phillies to their first World Series triumph in the 98-year history of the franchise, said last night 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 made no secret that he prefers to be in the front office, where he worked until Aug. 31, 1979, when he replaced Danny Ozark as manager.
"But the money is right, three-and-a-half to four times what I can make normally. 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 Director of Player Personnel Paul 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.
Green eliminated the star status of a number of Phillies in 1980 as he used all 25 players, including several rookies, in directing the team to the National League pennant and the World Series victory over the Kansas City Royals.
Green said he did not contemplate any sweeping changes of the championship team, but indicated some fresh and younger faces would be sought. He also indicated the Phillies would be interested in adding to their starting pitching rotation.
"I think we nave to look for some more offense," observed the 6-foot-5 former major league pitcher who has been with the Phillies' organization in one capacity or another for the past quarter century.
Green said that veteran relievers Sparky Lyle and Tug McGraw should be back in the bullpen, but that the Phillies were open to a deal for a quality reliever.
"I think we proved as much as anybody that a team has to have a stopper, a guy who can go out there ana put the game away," Green said.
Green said he expected the Phillies to eventually sign McGraw, who may test the free-agent market merely to determine his money value outside the Phillies' organization. McGraw had a spectacular season, especially in the September stretch drive, the NL playoff against Houston and the World Series.
"He (McGraw) wants to sign, and we owe him a consideration," Green said. "But I can't blame him for trying (the re-entry draft) to see what the outside world thinks of him. It should determine his market value. It doesn't mean he's going to leave. It could be an opportunity just to see how much he's worth."
Asked if he expected another controversial season with his players, Green said: "I hope it's easier. I certainly do not want to go through another year like we did. The players should have a better understanding of my methods, and maybe I'll have a better understanding of them."
Schmidt, Carlton picked by players as NL’s best
Associated Press
ST. LOUIS – Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton of the world champion Phillies and George Brett of the Kansas City Royals and Steve Stone of the Orioles were named 1980 baseball award winners yesterday by The Sporting News, a weekly publication.
Schmidt and Carlton were respectively selected as player and pitcher of the year in the National League. In the American League, Brett was selected the 1980 player and Stone the pitcher, the St. Louis-based publication said.
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 runs.
Carlton, who had a record of 24 victories, 304 innings pitched and 286 strikeouts while turning in 13 complete games, was selected as the top pitcher for the third time. He was accorded top pitcher honors in 1972 and 1977.
Jim Bibby of the Pittsburgh Pirates finished a distant second to Carlton in the voting.
The NL Cy Young Award winner will be named tomorrow.
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 right-hander.
November 5, 1980
Happy Steve Carlton wins Cy Young for 3rd time
By Hal Bodley, Sports Editor
On the outside, Steve Carlton insists awards mean very little to him. On the inside, he covets meaningful honors just like anybody else.
“If he wins the Cy Young Award this year it will mean more to him than the other two," Carlton's wife, Beverly, told me last week during the Mike Schmidt Golf Classic at Hilton Head Island, (S.C). "I know he is hoping he gets it."
Carlton's selection was never in doubt. When Jack Lang, executive secretary of the Baseball Writers Association of America, counted the ballots yesterday afternoon, the Phillies' left-hander came within one vote of unanimous selection. He received 23 of the 24 cast by a special committee of BBWAA members. Jerry Reuss of the Dodgers, who finished second overall, received the only other first-place vote. Pittsburgh s Jim Bibby was third and Houston's Joe Niekro fourth. Others who received mention were the Phillies' Tug McGraw, Montreal's Steve Rogers, Houston's Joe Sambito and Cincinnati's Mario Soto.
Carlton is only the fourth player to win the award three times since it was started in 1956. Previous three-time winners were Sandy Koufax (1963-65-66), Tom Seaver (1969-73-75) and Jim Palmer (1973-75-76). Prior to 1967, the award was combined for both the American and National Leagues. Beginning in '67, separate awards were given.
Carlton received his first Cy Young in 1972 when he won 27 games for the last-place Phillies. He came back to take it again in 1977 with a 23-10 record.
This past season, however, was the most rewarding for the 35-year-older who came to the Phillies from the St. Louis Cardinals on Feb. 25, 1972. His 24-9 record and 2.34 earned run average led the Phillies to their fourth National League Eastern Division title in five years. And although his post-season performances were not considered in the Cy Young voting, he had a 1-0 record in the best-of-five playoffs against Houston, then won both starts in the World Series against Kansas City.
Carlton, considered by many to be an emotionless, extremely private person, has been just the opposite since the Phils turned back the Royals in six games to win the world championship.
"I've never seen him so happy," said Beverly. "He keeps repeating to me, 'We're world champions, we're world champions.' We're not only happy for ourselves and the other players, but also for the Carpenter family. They certainly deserved a world championship."
"I can't say enough for the quality pitching Steve Carlton gave us in 1980," said Manager Dallas Green. "No one in the league even came close to doing what he did. I can only think of one game, a 6-1 loss at Montreal on July 2 when he could not have won. His first, last and middle name this year was 'Consistency.'"
"The first four months of the year his slider was almost unhittable," said catcher Bob Boone. "He was just awesome. There is nothing else lean say about him."
Carlton, who just completed his 15th season in the majors, has a 225-169 lifetime record. This past regular season he pitched 304 innings and added 27 13 in postseason competition.
"His arm had to be tired at the end," said Green, "but despite that, he kept us close in every game. During the season he came back to win 15 or 16 times following a loss. That is the mark of a true stopper."
Carlton, who has not granted interviews to reporters for more than a year, had good years while Danny Ozark was the manager, but Steve never liked the man and this type of mental conflict disrupted his intense concentration. Almost from the moment Green arrived on Aug. 31, 1979, you could see a change in Carlton.
"We could all tell Steve was a much happier person when Dallas took over the team," said shortstop Larry Bowa. "I don't think Steve had anything personal against Danny Ozark, but I don't think he thought Danny was a competent manager. And we all know how incompetence drives him crazy.
"I think he respects Dallas more because Dallas actually learned the ropes as a big-league pitcher. Danny had a tendency to go with the hot hand. Like, if Tug McGraw was hot, Danny would go with him. That's OK, but eventually you're using Tug too much. Dallas wanted to use everybody and Steve knew this.
"We were losing a game early in the year, down something like 2-0 and Dallas lifted Lefty for a pinch hitter. I heard him tell Dallas later, 'You did the right thing.' Last year, Lefty would have gone crazy. Oh, not in public, but he still would have gone bananas."
Cy Young voting
NEW YORK – Final point totals for the National League Cy Young Award by voting members of the Baseball Writers Association ol America (first place voles worth five points, second place voles worth three points; third place votes worth one point):
Steve Carlton, Phi 23 1 0 - 118
Jerry Reuss, LA 1 15 5 - 55
Jim Bibby, Pit 0 5 13 - 28
Joe Niekro, Hou 0 3 2 - 11
Tug McGraw, Phi 0 0 1 - 1
Steve Rogers, Mil 0 0 1 - 1
Joe Sambito, Hou 0 0 1 - 1
Mario Soto, Cin 0 0 1 - 1
Cy Young winners
NEW YORK – Winners of the National League Cy Young Award, as voted by the Baseball Writers Association of America: (one award given covering both leagues until 1967):
1980 Steve Carlton, Philadelphia
1979-Bruce Sutter, Chicago
1978-Gavlord Perry, San Diego
1977 Steve Carlton, Philadelphia
1976-Randy Jones, San Diego
1975 Tom Seaver, New York
1974-Mike Marshall, Los Angeles
1973-Tom Seaver, New York
1972-Steve Carlton, Philadelphia
1971 Ferguson Jenkins, Chicago
1970-Bob Gibson, St. Louis
1969-Tom Seaver, New York
1968-Bob Gibson, St. Louis
1967 Mike McCormick, San Francisco
1966 Sandy Koufax, Los Angeles
1965 Sandy Koufax, Los Angeles
1963-Sandy Koufax, Los Angeles
1962 Don Drysdale, Los Angeles
1960-Vernon Law, Pittsburgh
1957 Warren Spahn, Milwaukee
1956 Don Newcombe, Brooklyn
November 6, 1980
Phils to flee?
Tug, Unser might go
Associated Press
NEW YORK – Tug McGraw, one of the heroes of the Phillies' rush to baseball's world championship last month, declared for the free agent re-entry draft yesterday, charging that the Phillies are not willing to pay him at the same level as the team's other top players.
McGraw was joined by Phillies utlity man and pinch-hitter deluxe Del Unser. Along with outfielder Steve Braun of the Toronto Blue Jays, they pushed to 51 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.
McGraw issued a statement to explain his situation.
"I have entered the free agent draft as of this afternoon, Nov. 5," it said. "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."
Yesterday's 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 next Monday, three days before the draft takes place.
With that in mind, McGraw and his financial adviser, Phil McLaughlin, plan to meet with Phillie officials again tomorrow and perhaps over the weekend as well.
McGraw, apparently, would prefer to remain with Philadelphia, just as Los Angeles outfielder Dusty Baker, who declared for the draft Tuesday, would like to stay with the Dodgers. Because of that, Baker encouraged the Dodgers to retain his negotiation rights and McGraw hopes the Phillies will do the same with him. Teams routinely may opt for such rights at the conclusion of the re-entry draft.
Of the 51 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.
Green, ‘LC’ wont
PHILADELPHIA – The Phillies might lose Tug McGraw and Del Unser, who declared their free agency yesterday, but they are holding on to two other important figures.
Yesterday, right-handed power pitcher Larry Christenson signed a one-year contract with the club for undisclosed terms. Furthermore, the team has called a press conference for this morning and is expected to announce the signing of Manager Dallas Green to a one-year contract worth from $100-150,000.
Green, who managed the Phils to their first world championship, had frequently said he would rather move to the front office, working with Player Personnel Director Paul Owens as a step towards eventually succeeding him.
Monday Green said he would be back in the dugout for another season, continuing a firm-handed rein that began Aug. 31, 1979.
Green, 46, is a former pitcher and his sophisticated use of the Phils' pitching staff is considered a significant factor in the championship.
November 7, 1980
One more in store for Dallas
By Ray Finocchiaro, Staff Correspondent
PHILADELPHIA – The money's right, the boss agreeable and the rewards obvious. But Dallas Green had another reason for somewhat reluctantly agreeing to manage the Phillies again next summer.
If one world championship's fine, then two would be terrific.
"Paul Owens and I talked about wanting to set up this club for some time," said Green yesterday at a Veterans Stadium press conference announcing a new one-year term for Green as manager of the Phillies. "The working relationship that we have, me on the field and him (Owens) upstairs, is a good relationship for this baseball team and for the perpetuation of this baseball team. We've won with this team and proved our guys are good baseball players. If they stick to it, which they're capable of doing, we can win it again."
And the encore, which is always tougher, would please organization-man Green even more.
"We might make a change or two to perpetuate that winning ability," said Green, who had wanted to move upstairs as Owens' right-hand man for a year or two before taking over the general manager's duties himself. "Any general manager would like to build a dynasty. We're just interested in putting together a pretty good club for Phillies' fans."
This is the second time Green signed on as manager despite protests he would rather remain in the front office. Green managed the Phils one month "to evaluate the personnel" after Danny Ozark was fired at the end of the 1979 season. He was then talked into managing the '80 club "on a one-year-only basis" by Owens and club president Ruly Carpenter. Now he's doing it again.
"I'm very happy," Green said of his about-face. "There was no secret of my preference (not to manage), but we felt the timing wasn't right (to move upstairs). Winning the championship was something I had to consider. That put me into the situation where I could hit Ruly for a few extra bucks, and that meant something to my family."
Terms of Green's one-year contract weren't announced, as usual, but he is expected to have moved into the $125-150,000 neighborhood after residing in the "slums" for a paltry $65,000 in his rookie year as manager.
Asked how many of his players would be earning more than the manager, Green smiled, "All of 'em. We'll try to hold Vukovich down. But I can live with that. With the authority and power Paul and Ruly have given me, I don't have any worries in that regard.
"I'm excited about what we accomplished in 1980 and looking forward to spring training with enthusiasm," he said. "I think I can improve this team. We won't have the strike threat, the big contracts or the 'new manager' thing hanging over our heads this time.
"We won with a good blend of veterans and kids. We'll continue that blend and continue the 25-man theory. But I'd like to see better offense out of people. Offensively, we want to continue the team concept, to do the things we need to do to win. We leaned heavily on Mike Schmidt this season. Bull (Greg Luzinski) helped him early and Bake McBride had a good year, too, but we still need consistent offense from the other guys."
Green has no complaints with the Phils' pitching staff, which he felt convinced a lot of skeptics down the stretch.
"With Steve Carlton and Dick Ruthven, we've got as good a 1-2 situation as there is in baseball," Green said. "(Rookies) Marty Bystrom and Bob Walk can't get anything but better and the signing of Larry Christenson (to a one-year contract on Wednesday) is a plus. Hopefully, Larry will stay sound and have a good year for us."
Green and Owens will scan the free-agent lists – which includes Phils' relief pitcher Tug McGraw and reserve outfielder Del Unser – and test the trade winds at baseball's winter meetings.
"We don't need to make a lot of changes, but we have to make some changes," Green said. "A team can't stay stagnant and continue winning. Pittsburgh proved that last year. Every club has weaknesses and the Phillies do, too. We'll work hard to improve that. If we can make a trade to improve us one inch, we'll do it."
Phils ax Bedell in shake-up
Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA – Jim Baumer, former general manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, has been named director of the Philadelphia Phillies' Minor League Department as well as director of scouting, the National League club announced yesterday.
Howie Bedell, who was in charge of the club's minor leagues, has been let go. Jack Pastore, director of scouting, will assist Baumer under the new administrative format.
"Basically, I firmly believe in a one-man operation as head of that department," said Phillies' vice president Paul Owens, in making the announcement. "We followed that format while I was department head and the same when (Phils manager) Dallas Green replaced me.
"We tried to go to the two-head department for the last year and I'm just not satisfied," Owens said. "Bedell, who directed the development end, has had no scouting experience. I'm very appreciative of the job Bedell has done for the Phillies, but I just felt a change was needed."
Baumer, 49, 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 between 1963 and 1967 before becoming a scout for the Houston Astros in 1968. He joined the Milwaukee organization in 1972 where he served as scout, director of player development and general manager until 1977.
Owens hired Baumer in 1978 as a special assignment scout with emphasis on the American League. Baumer scouted the Kansas City Royals prior to the World Series. He also is involved in free agent crosschecking and scouting of the Phillies' minor league clubs.
Between 1974 and 1979, Bedell was an assistant in the Minor League Department to Green, who was named the Phillies' field manager in August of that year.
November 11, 1980
Players vote Phils’ Smith top NL rookie
By Hal Bodley, Sports Editor
PHILADELPHIA – He had a .308 lifetime batting average and 239 stolen bases in the minors, but the trouble with Lonnie Smith was nobody had any faith in him.
Phillies Manager Danny Ozark stuck Smith in right field for the 1979. season opener and after he butchered a couple of fly balls, Lonnie was on his way back to Oklahoma City.
"It got to the point where I considered quitting baseball," Smith said. "I had proved everything I could in the minors, so why keep going back?"
Smith did go back in April of 1979, hit .330 with 34 stolen bases and when Dallas Green took over as Phils' manager, a whole new world opened for fleet Lonnie Smith.
Green gave the 24-year-old Californian a chance and Smith did not let his mentor down. Lonnie had an outstanding season, helping the Phillies to their first world championship, and for that has been named The Sporting News' National League Rookie Player of the Year.
Smith, who hit .339 with 33 stolen bases in 100 games, won by a landslide over Cincinnati's Ron Oester in voting by National League players, receiving 107 votes to Oester's 24. The Cardinals' Len Durham finished third with 14.
"I feel like Ronald Reagan," said Smith when notified of his selection. "This is just a great, great feeling. First the world championship, now this. I feel very honored because the selection was made by opposing players."
Smith, who played all three outfield positions, moved above .300 in his sixth at-bat in April and never fell below that mark. His lowest average of the year was .326 on Aug. 11.
When Greg Luzinski went on the disabled list following the All-Star Game, Smith played left field in 39 of the 45 games Luzinski missed. In those 39 games, as the leadoff batter Smith had 55 hits, scored 38 runs, stole 19 bases and hit .355. And, not so coincidentally, the Phils won 23 of those games.
In addition to his batting average, Smith also broke Richie Ashburn's rookie record of 32 stolen bases, set in 1948.
"I guess the biggest thing about this year was the fact Dallas Green gave me a chance," said Smith. "I always felt if I got the opportunity, I would produce."
There were those who felt Ozark, convinced Smith could not cut it in the big leagues, tried to prove his point in the 1979 opener.
"I don't really feel he tried to embarrass me," said Smith. "It's just that I had no chance to prepare for that start. I didn't have any inkling I was going to be in right field until I got to the park that night. I was nervous and not mentally prepared. I misjudged some balls and fell down once.
"I never felt Danny Ozark liked the way I played baseball. So, I didn't get much of a chance."
That all changed with Green at the helm, During the winter, just as spring training was gearing up, he refused to let Player Personnel Director Paul Owens trade Lonnie Smith to Baltimore for infielder Billy Smith.
“I'm a Lonnie Smith man," Green said then, and he kept repeating that all summer.
Smith was one of several rookies who blended well with veterans to make the Phillies world champions. In the National League playoffs against Houston, Smith batted .600. Against Kansas City in the World Series, he hit .263.
"I really never had any doubts about my ability to hit in the majors," said Smith. "I thought what it might be like to bat against Nolan Ryan and J.R. Richard and the other good pitchers, but once the season got under way, that was no longer a question mark for me. Now I feel like I can hit anybody."
The most frustrating thing for Smith was playing several games in a row and producing, then having to sit on the bench.
"You go out, get two or three hits, then have to sit down," he said. "At times that was difficult, but I am happy I got to play as much as I did. Next season, maybe I will get to start more, but if I don't, I know I'll get to play. I was able to prove my point this year. Frankly, the whole thing has not hit me yet."
November 12, 1980
AP tabs Schmidt best in NL
By Ralph Bernstein, Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA – Mike Schmidt fought success and won.
Schmidt, one of the premier long-ball hitters and RBI producers in baseball, altered his batting style in 1980, and became an even better hitter. The change made Schmidt a more consistent batter, and the Phillies' third baseman won the Most Valuable Player award in this year's World Series.
It also earned Schmidt The Associated Press mantle yesterday as National League Player of the Year. The American League selection will be named tonight.
Schmidt outdistanced the field, leading a Philadelphia sweep of the first four places in the voting of a nationwide panel of sports writers and broadcasters. He received 368 votes, finishing far ahead of teammate Steve Carlton, the Cy Young Award winner as the league's best pitcher. Carlton received 8IV2 votes, followed by Phillies' bullpen ace Tug McGraw with 13 and first baseman Pete Rose with nine.
Other players with more than one vote were Atlanta's Dale Murphy, the Cardinals' Garry Templeton, George Hendrick and Keith Hernandez, Chicago's Bill Buckner, the Dodgers' Steve Garvey and Dusty Baker, Houston's Jose Cruz, Pittsburgh's Dave Parker and Montreal's Gary Carter, Ron LeFlore and Andre Dawson.
As for that batting stance change that made a .286 hitter of a lifetime .255 swinger, Schmidt said he just stood further 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.
Schmidt's results included a .286 batting average, 48 home runs and 121 RBI. 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 led the National League in home runs. Schmidt's homers and RBI were NL highs.
Schmidt, 31, also is one of the premier defensive players in baseball, having won four Gold Gloves at third base. 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 RBI.
Schmidt, a guy known as "Mr. Cool" for his seemingly detached approach to his business, generated some personal excitement this season as he joined Phillies Manager Dallas Green's team concept and grind-it-out tactics.
"Everywhere I go, I'm recognized now," said Schmidt, who has played in relative obscurity during his eight-year major-league career. "It's unbelievable."
Schmidt described the impact of the Phillies' first World Series triumph in the 97-year history of the clubs as awesome. He said the Phillies' final three weeks, including the division-clinching series over Montreal, the five-game playoff triumph against Houston and the Series victory over Kansas City, were incredible.
"Each one made the other possible," said Schmidt, who actually almost was the goat of the NL playoffs. His teammates 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."
November 13, 1980
A gem, few nuggets in today’s draft
By Hal Bodley, Sports Editor
NEW YORK – Baseball's re-entry draft, which will have a pronounced affect on the 1981 season, will be held today, with 48 free agents available for the major league's fifth such draft.
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 the featured attraction for 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 pick first.
A player can be selected by a maximum of 13 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 could scare off enough clubs and give Steinbrenner a shot at him. Only pitcher Dave Goltz has been selected by 13 clubs in the opening round in the first four drafts.
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, Goose Gossage, 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 owner ship 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.
There also will be 15 pitchers, nine catchers and 11 infielders available. The other top players eligible are catcher Darrell Porter of the Kansas City Royals, pitchers Don Sutton of the Dodgers and World Series hero Tug McGraw of the Phillies, first baseman-designated hitter Rusty Staub of the Texas Rangers and third baseman Roy Howell of the Toronto Blue Jays.
It's the differences of opinion in a player's ability that underscore the value of free agency. A man's worth to one team is much less than when several teams are interested.
Sports briefs (excerpt)
Compiled from dispatches
Can Philly hit slam?
No city has ever had a grand slam in professional sports – four league championships in the same 12-month period – but Philadelphia has at least an outside chance of doing so this year.
The Phillies already have captured the baseball World Series crown, and the Flyers, Eagles and 76ers all lead their respective hockey, football and basketball divisions in their leagues.
In an interview with the Lancaster (Pa.) New Era, Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder, well-known Las Vegas oddsmaker, said the overall chances of Philadelphia's four major professional franchises going all the way are about 75 to 1.
"The Phillies have already won, so that means there are only three left," Snyder said. "It's still 3 to 1 that the Eagles don't win it all."
He said the Sixers are a 4 to 1 bet to win the National Basketball Association title, with the Flyers given a 6 to 1 shot at all the marbles in the National Hockey League.
No city ever has produced even three winners in a 12-month span.
Philadelphia already has taken a record triple crown" in divisional races over the past 12 months. The Phillies baseball championship was the third jewel in the crown as the 76ers and Flyers captured their divisions last season only to fall in later playoff competition.
Furthermore, Philadelphia's Big 4 franchises are 25-1-2 since the Flyers lost to Toronto Oct. 8.
Third Eddie Michaels isn’t kicking family tradition (excerpt)
By Matt Zabitka
The membership of the Delaware' Sports Hall of Fame will get a rare treat at Sunday's 12:30 p.m. meeting at the New Castle Ramada Inn.
Principal speaker will be Ruly Carpenter, president of the world champion Phillies, who will talk about his team's march to its first World Series championship in history.
A question-and-answer session will follow Ruly's talk.
Ruly, like Manager Dallas Green, is a product of Delaware scholastic baseball.
He played at Tower Hill, Green at Conrad High. Both played in the Delaware Semi-Pro League.
In addition to the Hall of Fame's 80-member selection committee, all living Hall inductees have been invited to Sunday's session, according to Hall of Fame President Lou Romanoli.
"To the best of my knowledge," said Romanoli, "This will be the first time Ruly will be addressing any group in Delaware since the Phillies won the World Series."
November 14, 1980
McGraw is left in cold after snub
Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA – World Series pitching hero Tug McGraw was completely ignored yesterday in baseball's free agent re-entry draft while Del Unser, another Phillies "super sub," was selected by four teams.
McGraw, 36, a reliever who got the Phils out of several ninth-inning jams in the Series against Kansas City and who pitched brilliantly in the stretch run for the National League pennant, was on the outside looking in at the talent auction.
Because he was not selected, he was declared a total free agent under the draft rules, meaning he is eligible to negotiate with all 26 major league clubs. Ron LeFlore, the speedy Montreal Expo who stole 97 bases last season, almost was completely ignored. Chicago finally selected LeFlore in the 11th round.
"I was very surprised," said Paul Owens, director of player personnel for the Phillies. "It was like it was two separate drafts, one for LeFlore and McGraw and one for the other players. Maybe it's a trend. Players who indicated they would try for big sums... maybe clubs are finally getting to the point where they say, 'This has gone far enough.'"
That's one theory. Another is that the draft is really a chess game, a battle of nerves with clubs waiting each other out. That's Marvin Miller's theory.
"I think this was an outgrowth of last year when clubs deliberately hung back as long as a player had one pick or no picks because under the rules, when a player is drafted by less than two teams, it is not necessary to draft him or give up an amateur choice if you sign him," the executive director of the Players Association said.
Utility outfielder Unser, 36, attracted the Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants.
The Phillies also retained negotiating rights with Unser, who got several key hits in the team's drive to its first world championship in the 98-year history of the franchise.
Meanwhile, the Phillies drafted negotiating rights to outfielder-first baseman Jim Dwyer of the Boston Red Sox in the first round, Texas catcher-infielder Dave W. Roberts in the second, and three pitchers – Stan Bahnsen of Montreal, Geoff Zahn of the Minnesota Twins and John D'Acquisto, also of Montreal – in the third, fourth and fifth rounds.
According to draft rules, each player may be selected by a maximum of 13 teams. No player among the 48 free agents available reached that limit and the two who were closest Roberts and Dwyer were surprises.
Roberts was the first player picked, selected by the Chicago Cubs, who made no other choices in the draft. He is represented by agent Jerry Kapstein, who said by phone from his office in San Diego that negotiations already have begun for Roberts, who batted .238 in 101 games for Texas last season.
"We're not surprised that Dave was picked No. 1, not at all," said Kapstein. "We have held in-depth talks with a number of teams and there has been strong interest in him. One executive said, 'This guy reminds me of John Havlicek.'"
Roberts, who was tabbed by 12 teams, may not be able to play basketball like Havlicek, but he is a baseball handyman, who played at least one game at each of the eight starting positions for Texas last season.
Dwyer, a veteran who has played for five teams, batted .285 in 93 games with Boston last season. He was selected by 11 teams. Like Roberts, he is unlikely to command the kind of numbers that the Yankees and Mets will toss around when the bidding begins for Dave Winfield and Don Sutton.
McGraw was unavailable for comment last night, but his adviser, Dick Moss, said the re-entry strike was "a real downer for Tug."
Moss said yesterday's events did not reflect a lack of interest in the relief pitcher.
"I know that for a fact because I talked to a lot of clubs," he said. "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," Moss continued, "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."
McGraw also may have been a victim of a trend toward thrift, Owens said.
"You look at last year and there was an awful lot of disappointment for the $35 million that was spent," he said.
November 17, 1980
Newport is Green for a day
By David Hughes, Staff Writer
The banner read "NEWPORT'S HERO – DALLAS GREEN!"
That was just one of the hundreds of banners, posters, and signs which lined the streets of downtown Newport yesterday as the community welcomed home native son Dallas Green, manager of the World Champion Phillies.
An enthusiastic crowd of several thousand people turned out to celebrate Dallas Green Day in his old home town. Green, who was born and raised in Newport, personally led the huge parade in his honor. He waved and talked to the cheering throngs as he walked by, behind an escort of three Wilmington police on horseback.
The parade began at Krebs Junior High about 2 p.m. and proceeded into downtown Newport by way of Highland Avenue and Stonehurst Drive. Along the way, the towering, silver-haired Green, who had just returned from a Florida vacation, spoke with numerous friends he recognized and pointed out landmarks of his childhood days.
"I used to sneak in there and play some" basketball," said Green with a smile as he and several leading local citizens walked by the Krebs School. Noticing someone with an Eagles' cap, Green, sporting a dark-colored suit and sunglasses, said, "They're all right, too!" Walking by another group, he remarked, "You sure you all rooted for us, now?" to which he received a thunderous ovation.
The crowds became even heavier as the parade turned the left corner at Market Street, and by the time it swung back around to Justis Street one block over, the sidewalks ' were five-deep in merry spectators. Many residents watched from the porches of their homes.
The crowd cheered wildly when Green pointed out 219 Justis St., a house in which he spent part of his youth. Down the street, the entourage took their places on a podium next to Jack's Barber Shop to watch the parade pass by.
"I hit a lot of home runs around here," shouted the 6-foot-5 Green, a 1952 graduate of Conrad High.
Green assumed front and center of the podium along with wife Sylvia and Newport Mayor Jack Hanna, who has known Green since childhood. Also present were Green's children: Dana, John, Kim, and Doug, as well as Green's mother.
Mayor Hanna said he remembered well playing with Green as a small child.
"I don't want to make it sound like bragging, the fact that I have known him for so long," said Hanna. "But yes, I remember him and his family growing up in town, and Dallas playing in the little leagues. I can't remember all the names of other kids he played with, but Dallas was just like any of the others, just an ordinary kid. He was always so huge, though, just like now. Even as a small kid he stood out."
The parade included, other than the numerous floats, representatives from 11 area fire companies and bands from Dickinson, Delcastle and Wilmington Highs, as well as Conrad Junior High. Other groups were the Newport Chamber of Commerce, the Delaware National Guard, and the Stanton-Newport Little League. One local towing company rode along with a statue of a bull which proclaimed: "Phillies Bullpen."
When the parade ended, Mayor Hanna introduced the Phillie manager and the crowd of several thousand went crazy.
"My family and I have had one hectic year," Green announced to the crowd. "But we did it with something just like this. Because I'm a Newport native and I know what you have done for the Phillies this year and for Dallas Green in particular.
"When I got walking downtown back there I started to remember a lot of the street corners and things I used to do on them, and I laughed with a lot of the people who were there with me and that have been with me for so long. I used to play baseball right back here.
"Newport gave me an opportunity to grow up and it's given a lot of other kids the opportunity to grow up. I know I can't ever forget where I grew up and the people that helped me along the way. There are so many of you I wish I could shake everyone's hand, but it's impossible."
Baseball Hall of Famer Judy Johnson, a Wilmington native, was introduced briefly and a short blessing was given. Green was mobbed by fans as he left the podium but reached a car quickly and was gone with his family.
"We had originally planned a Dallas Green Day in July," said Mayor Hanna. "We would have had it no matter where the Phillies finished this year. But we didn't reach a date until two-and-a-half weeks ago. We really put it together in a crunch!"
Rudy blasts owners, big deals
By Matt Zabitka
Ruly Carpenter picked up Saturday's paper and, like an instant replay, developed an instant migraine, a king-size one.
The story in the sports section that ticked-off the president of the Phillies was the one reporting the signing of free agent outfielder Claudell Washington by the Atlanta Braves to a pact worth $3.5 million over five years with a no-trade provision.
Washington, 26, a left-handed hitter with a lifetime batting average of .280 in six major league seasons, was picked by Braves' owner Ted Turner in the third-round of Thursday's free-agent re-entry draft. Washington the past' season had played for the Chicago White Sox and the New York Mets.
"This is just another nail in the coffin for baseball," said Carpenter, addressing about 40 members of the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame Association yesterday afternoon in the Patriot Room at the Ramada Inn, in New Castle.
"The owners have continued to make signings such as this. Claudell Washington I know has some potential for the future, but he still hasn't proven that he is worth that kind of money.
"There are no players today worth that kind of money, and if anyone is, say a George Brett or someone like that, give the money to them. Don't give it to a Claudell Washington.
"Of course we all know the re-entry draft was held Thursday in New York. Naturally, there were some real surprises. Tug McGraw wasn't taken by anybody. Ron LeFlore was only drafted by one club, the Chicago White Sox.
"It is not the ownership that is to blame for this (shelling out multi-million dollar contracts). It is not the players and it is not the agents. It's the owners."
Well, isn't Ruly Carpenter an owner?
"Yes, I've been a part of it because I have been guilty of signing players to long-term contracts too, but at least I've tried to give money only to the quality player or to the guy I think has the longevity, the age, that kind of thing to where the percentages are in my favor. But some of my peers have taken the course such as the one Turner took with Claudell Washington. In the long run, in the next few years, it's going to be a disaster for baseball.
"I don't know where it's going to stop or if it is ever going to stop."
And if this high-price for talent continues, Carpenter predicted it will be the fans who suffer – right in the pocketbook.
"The only alternative for ownership is going to be an escalation in ticket price. And when we keep raising the box seats, raising the box-seat prices, you're going to price the working man and his family right out of baseball, and that's who we really rely on. It's not the corporations that have the big boxes on the field. It's the working guy who brings his family to a ball game (who will suffer the most). If this continues, that's what's going to happen.
"It's very embarrassing for me, as an owner, to stand up here and have to say this, but it's the truth. It's something we can't control.
"There have been some people who have come into this game in the past 10 years, some owners who don't give one good bleep about this game we all love. There are people that have this desire to win, some of them are egomaniacs, but they're killing this game and they're running their baseball teams as a subsidiary of another corporation, or they have some very lucrative tax benefits that are involved."
Carpenter confessed that winning the World Series this year as "the greatest moment of my baseball life. I just can't describe the feeling."
So, will the Phillies stand pat in 1981 with their 1980 World Championship team?
"We'll trade anybody if it will improve us," he responded to a question I put to him.
"Even Steve Carlton?" I asked. "Yes, if we could get another quality pitcher and three other good players in exchange," he said, quickly adding: "Hey, wait a minute. I don't want to see a big banner headline in tomorrow's paper saying that we're willing to trade Steve Carlton."
Carpenter let it be known that he is dead-set against the National League adopting the designated hitter, as practiced in the American League,
"I think that for the good of baseball, the National League should stay the way it is.
"I've received many letters on this controversy. I've been inundated with letters. Of the 200-300 letters I've received, there was only one letter writer who wanted the National League to adopt the designated hitter rule."
At ease, speaking before a hometown audience, many of whom he knew on a first-name basis, Carpenter recounted the highlights and lowlights of the 1980 National League playoffs and the Phillies' involvement in the World Series. He told of the "book" the Phillies had prepared on the Kansas City Royals.
"I read our scouting report on Kansas City very carefully. We had followed them for a month during the regular season with the anticipation we could be playing them (in the World Series).
"The consensus seemed to be that here is a fine offensive club. Here is a fine defensive club. We all knew that they had a good overall team and good speed, but they didn't have the pitching. They did not have a good pitching staff. Their pitching staff gave up more hits in innings pitched and they played in the weakest division in baseball. So right there we knew they had problems.
"I thought that offensively, defensively and speed-wise they could compete with anybody, but they did not have the depth in their pitching staff, basically.
“We built our strategy around getting out what we referred to as the rabbits – Frank White, Willie Wilson and U.L Washington. And if you'll check the statistics you'll see we were successful in doing this. We did not want those guys on base in front of what I consider to be the finest player in the game today in George Brett. We succeeded and we were able to win."
Given a warm introduction by Hall of Fame Association President Lou Romanoli, Carpenter responded: "Thanks for that introduction, Lou. If you worked for me you'd get a bigger raise than what Dallas (Green) got."
Then, looking in the direction of New-Journal columnist Al Cartwright, Carpenter commented: "Thanks, Al, for setting up another speaking engagement for me for which I don't get paid. I wish you were my agent, Al. I'd make out a lot better."
Carpenter told me before the meeting started that, like most of the Phillies people, he is getting many requests for speaking engagements, most centered in the Pennsylvania area.
"Asked if he, like Manager Green, also received a raise, he broke into a chuckle. "I take no salary. I get zero. I'm the lowest paid of all the people (affiliated with the Phillies)."
As the meeting was breaking-up at around 2:20 p.m., following a question and answer session, I asked Carpenter if he was going to go directly to Newport to watch the parade there for Dallas Green.
He looked at his wrist watch, then said: "The parade is probably over by now. I think I'll go home and catch the Eagles on television, and I hope they're ahead by three touchdowns and Wilbert Montgomery isn't hurt."
November 18, 1980
To the victors go spoils
Phils, Royals divvy record Series haul
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, 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.
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, headed 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, divided 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 shared in the players' pool. The 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.
Among those receiving full shares from the Phillies were trainer Don Seger; assistant trainer Jeff Cooper; Kenny Bush Sr., clubhouse and equipment manager; Pete Cera, assistant to Bush; and Gus Hoefling, physical instructor.
Other shares went to Hank King, batting practice pitcher ($8,673); Pete Murphy, bat boy ($4,000); Gary Watts, bat boy, ($4,000); Mark Anderson, bat boy ($4,000), Kenny Bush, Jr., bat boy ($2,000), and Kevin Kaufman, clubhouse assistant ($2,000).
Smith, Graham named all-Rookie
Associated Press
NEW YORK - Seven American League players head the 22nd Topps Rookie All-Star team announced yesterday.
The only National League players chosen in balloting by major league players, managers and coaches were outfielder Lonnie Smith of the Phillies, first baseman Rich Murray of the San Francisco Giants and shortstop Ron Oester of the Cincinnati Reds.
Orioles catcher Dan Graham made the team. Other American Leaguers were 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 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.
It’s one more time for champion Phils
You were not caught in a time warp last night. And it is not 1981 and the Phillies are not playing the Montreal Expos in November for the National League Eastern Division crown.
If you turned your television dial to Channel 17 and heard Harry, Richie and Andy again, do not be fooled. It was the station's way of providing a replay of the thrilling conclusion to the Phillies' greatest season.
Last night was a replay of the telecast of Friday, Oct. 3, the first of a three-game series in Montreal with the winner taking the East title.
In case you were out of town, out of state and out in the stratosphere for the last few months, the Phillies won "last night's" game 2-1, behind Larry Christenson, reliever Tug McGraw and Mike Schmidt, who won it with two RBI.
Tonight at 8, Channel 17 will show the second game of the series. Sorry to spoil the suspense, but the Phils win.
In fact they win all five of 17's weeknight broadcasts. Tomorrow night they'll air Game Four in the National League Championship Series with Houston. Thursday night it's Game Five, the pennant-winner.
Friday night is the grand finale, Game Six of the World Series, the 4-1 triumph over Kansas City that won the Phillies' first world championship and sent the Delaware Valley into ecstasy.
It should be mentioned that Harry Kalas, Richie Ashburn and Andy Musser will be doing post facto broadcasts of the World Series game. National broadcast crews carried those games exclusively, so the Phillies' team will be doing recreated play-by-play.
Judge for yourselves how good they are as "actors." The Phillies' performances speak for themselves.
November 20, 1980
Saucier shashays to Texas
Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA – Kevin Saucier, who had a 7-3 record with the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies in relief roles, was sent to the Texas Rangers of the American League yesterday to complete a trade which sent reliever Sparky Lyle to the Phillies on Sept. 13, the team announced.
Saucier, 24, a lefty with a 3.42 earned run average, permitted 50 hits in 50 innings while striking out 25 and walking 20. He yielded two home runs.
Lyle appeared in 10 games for the Phillies in 1980. He was 0-0 with a 1.93 ERA and two saves. He was scored on only twice.
"We hated to lose Kevin," said Paul Owens, the Phillies general manager. "But Texas 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."
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.
November 21, 1980
Rose would like to end career in Japan
By Hal Bodley, Sports Editor
TOKYO – If Pete Rose's body will let him, his final days of baseball will be played in Japan.
The Phillies' first baseman is completing a two-week tour through this baseball-crazy country and has repeatedly told reporters he would like to eventually play in Japan.
Rose's comments came after the Seibu Lions of the Pacific Coast League offered him a $1.5 million, tax-free contract for two years.
The contract was offered through Cappy Harada, who serves as Rose's agent in Japan and is also international division director of the Major League Baseball Promotion Corporation.
Rose, who will turn 40 next April 14, refused the lucrative offer for two reasons. First, he has two years remaining on his four-year, $3.2 million contract with the world champion Phillies and, second, he has no intentions of leaving U.S. baseball before before he breaks Stan Musial's National League record of career hits. Rose, who has 3,557 hits, needs 74 to break Musial's record of 3,630. The all-time record of 4,191 is held by Ty Cobb.
"The National League record will be very important to me," said Rose. "It shows the consistency of a hitter. It would be foolish for me to get this close and not go for it. In fact, one of the reasons I did not sign with an American League club when I was a free agent was because of that, and other records."
One thing is for certain, however. When Rose breaks Musial's record, he will do it with a Japanese-made bat. During his stay in Japan, Rose signed a two-year contract with the Mizuno Corporation to use bats manufactured by that company.
Rose is believed to be the first major-league player to use a bat made outside the United States. Most American players use either Adirondack bats, manufactured by Rawlings, or Louisville Sluggers, made by Hillerich & Bradsby.
"The new bat is going to be Mizuno Model R-3631," said Rose. "The R is for Rose and the number 3631 represents the number of hits I will have when I break Stan Musial's record."
Rose shocked many major leaguers several years ago when he started using Mizuno gloves and shoes. Since then, many of his teammates and players on other teams have followed his lead away from American products.
Prior to switching to Mizuno, Rose used Louisville Sluggers, but his latest three-year contract with that company ended following the 1980 season.
Tak Sugimoto, manager of Mizuno's international division who worked out the bat contract with Harada, said his company plans to put up $36,310, or $10 for each hit, to keep interest alive as Rose goes for the record.
"Then, after he gets the record," Sugimoto said, "we will split the pot in half, giving $18,155 to Pete Rose's favorite charity (Philadelphia Police Athletic League) and the other half to a Japanese charity."
"Pete Rose is by far the most popular American player in Japan," said Harada, who also arranged autograph sessions, interviews and television appearances during Rose's visit here. "Everybody wants him to come here and play. He could get another million dollars in endorsements and appearances. You have to put the name Pete Rose right up there with Sadaharu Oh in Japan."
"I have every indication of honoring my contract with the Phillies and that's what I told the Japanese baseball people," said Rose. "I am signed through 1982 and there is an option year following that. The only thing that troubles me about the contract is that in 1982 I must play in 140 games to get the full amount ($810,000). I have not missed a game since I came to the Phillies and don't intend to miss any, but you never can tell what might happen. I have only missed nine games in the last 11 years.
"It's possible I could play in Japan as early as 1982. but I doubt that. Like I said, I plan to honor my contract with the Phillies, but if it looks like I am not going to get to play and something could be worked out with Japanese baseball, I might consider it.
"You have to think about the money. When they're talking about $1.5 million contract for two years with all the taxes paid, that's $750,000 clear each year. It's interesting."
"The president of the Seibu Lions indicated all U. S. and Japan taxes would be paid in advance and that Pete would end up with his salary clear," said Harada, who has been responsible for several lucrative Rose deals in Japan, including one that is pending with a major electronics firm. "This is frequently done for American players who come here because ii it weren't, taxes would take away most everything they earn. Before taxes, that offer to Pete would be in excess of $3 million."
"I would not accept an offer from Japan if I felt I could not play the way Pete Rose has played in America," said Rose. "I would not come to Japan as an over-the-hill flayer just because of the money. If am in good shape, and my reflexes are still good, I would like very much to play in Japan. The people are wonderful and they love baseball. It would be a fine way to end my career."
November 25, 1980
Phils’ Maddox, Schmidt top NL Gold Glove team
Associated Press
ST. LOUIS – Outfielder Garry Maddox and third baseman Mike Schmidt of the world-champion Phillies head the major-league Gold Glove teams announced yesterday by The Sporting News.
Maddox is the senior member of the teams, earning the designation for fielding excellence a sixth time. Only Roberto Clemente (12), Willie Mays (11) and Curt Flood (7) have won more Gold Gloves than Maddox.
Schmidt's selection was his fifth, tying him with Ken Boyer, Ron Santo and Doug Rader for most awards by a NL third baseman.
In the American League, catcher Jim Sundberg of the Texas Rangers was selected a fifth straight time.
American League repeaters are Milwaukee first baseman Cecil Cooper, Kansas City second baseman Frank White, Texas third baseman Buddy Bell and Boston outfielder Fred Lynn. National League repeaters are St. Louis first baseman Keith Hernandez, San Diego outfielder Dave Winfield and Atlanta pitcher Phil Niekro.
Newcomers in the AL are Detroit shortstop Alan Trammell, outfielders Willie Wilson of Kansas City and Dwayne Murphy of Oakland and Oakland pitcher Mike Norris. NL newcomers are New York Mets' second baseman Doug Flynn, San Diego shortstop Ozzie Smith, Montreal catcher Gary Carter and Expos' outfielder Andre Dawson.
Major league managers and coaches participate in the voting for the Gold Glove teams.
Phillies set 25 spring games
PHILADELPHIA – A New Orleans Superdome date with the New York Yankees on March 29 and a rematch with the American League-champion Kansas City Royals highlight the Phillies' 25-game 1981 spring training schedule.
The Phils, who open camp on March 3, will play 12 games in Jack Russell Stadium in Clearwater, Fla. The first game will be against the New York Mets in Clearwater on March 13. The complete Grapefruit League schedule:
March – 13, N Y. Mets (R) at CLEARWATER, 1:30; 14, Pittsburgh (R) at Bradenton, 1:30; 15, Toronto (R) at CLEARWATER, 1:30; 16, Kansas City at Ft. Myers, 1:30; 17, Boston at Winter Haven, 1:30; 18, Boston at CLEARWATER, 1:30; 19, Minnesota at Orlando, 1:30; 20, Minnesota at CLEARWATER, 1:30; 21, Chicago (R) at Sarasota, 1:30, 22, Toronto (R) at Dunedin. 1:30; 23, St. Louis at CLEARWATER, 1:30; 24, Baltimore (R) at Miami, 7:30 p.m.; 25, Atlanta at West Palm Beach, 1:30; 26, Detroit (R) at Lakeland, 8:00 P.m.; 27, Detroit at CLEARWATER, 1:30; 28, Chicago (R) at CLEARWATER, 1:30; 29, N.Y. Yankees (R-TV) at New Orleans, 1:30; 30, St. Louis at St. Petersburg, 1:30; 31, Toronto at CLEARWATER, 1:30
APRIL – 1, Cincinnati (R) at Tampa, 1:30; 2, Pittsburgh (R) at CLEARWATER, 1:30; 3, Montreal (R) at CLEARWATER, 1:30; 4, Cincinnati (R-TV) at CLEARWATER, :30; 5, Baltimore (R-TV) at CLEARWATER, 1:30; 6, Toronto (R) at Dunedin, 1:30
R – KYW WTAN RADIO
TV – WPHL TV (Channel 17)
November 26, 1980
Sports briefs (excerpt)
Compiled from dispatches
Mike Schmidt MVP?
Mike Schmidt, the Phillies slugging third baseman, was expected today to be named Most Valuable Player for 1980 in the National League.
Schmidt, who broke Eddie Matthews' record for home runs by a third baseman with his 48th in the 1 1th inning of the pennant-clincher against Montreal, had his finest season ever. In addition to his 48 home runs, Schmidt drove in 121 runs, scored 104 and had 157 hits in leading the Phillies to their first World Series victory in the club's 81-year [sic] history.
Schmidt, 31, also is one of the premier defensive players in baseball, having won four Gold Gloves at third base. 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 RBI.
November 27, 1980
Inspired pick
Schmidt credits Rose, Lord for his MVP award, season
By Hal Bodley, Sports Editor
PHILADELPHIA – Pete Rose won the National League's Most Valuable Player Award in 1973. Yesterday, it was Mike Schmidt's turn.
But no sooner had the Phillies' third baseman acknowledged his unanimous selection than he told a small media gathering at Veterans Stadium he would not have done it without Peter Edward Rose.
"I probably wouldn't be standing here right now if it weren't for Pete Rose," said Schmidt, who was picked first on all 24 ballots by a special panel of Baseball Writers Association of America members. "Pete instilled in me a new vitality that I think was a turning point for me at this stage of my life.
"I am 31 years old and that is an important time for all players. Pete gave me a great new outlook on the game of baseball, a feeling of youth, a feeling that when you go onto the field you should have fun playing the game. Pete and I have a great rapport, second to none in baseball. And I can't think of a better person to have a close rapport with."
It was March, 1979, when Rose, who had just joined the Phillies, started telling Mike Schmidt he could be the league's most valuable player.
"I honestly believe he never really thought about it until I started talking to him about it," said Rose. "Right now I think Mike Schmidt is one of the greatest athletes I have ever seen in baseball. He has no idea what his true potential is."
Schmidt is the third member of the Phillies to be named MVP. Relief pitcher Jim Konstanty was voted the coveted honor in 1950 and Chuck Klein received it in 1932.
It was Schmidt's third-base counterpart in the World Series, Kansas City's George Brett, who won the American League MVP with his remarkable .390 average.
Schmidt is the first National League player to get a unanimous nod since Orlando Cepeda was picked on all ballots in 1967 when he played for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Schmidt's 48 homers set a league record for a third baseman. He also led the majors in that department as well as runs batted in, 121. His .624 slugging average and 324 total bases led the league.
Schmidt, who hit nine homers in September and four in October, led the Phils with 17 game-winning hits, including four in the last five regular-season victories that clinched the Eastern Division title.
"Obviously. I am very excited about this," Schmidt said. "I want to give public thanks to the Lord and Christianity. I said a heckuva lot of prayers throughout the whole season. I don't mean the final three weeks, but throughout the entire year and I feel the Lord blessed me with an injury-free season.
"I missed just 12 games. To accomplish anything on an individual basis, you have to stay away from injuries. I think that is something that is pretty much in God's hands.
"I also want to mention my parents. Lois and Jack, back in Dayton, Ohio. They devoted a lot of time and effort to me. I know that's what parents are supposed to do, but they went out of their way to let me play baseball and other sports."
Throughout the first part of the season Schmidt's wife, Donna, was pregnant with their second child.
"She was very unselfish during that period," said Mike. "It was a very uncomfortable time for her and she was up a lot at night. I can only think of one instance when I didn't get a good night's sleep."
Schmidt, who had a .255 lifetime average at the start of the season. hit .286.
"I still think a .300 season for me is within reach," said Schmidt. "At the All-Star break in 1979, I changed my batting style. I moved away from the plate more. The results were not noticed at first, but the new stance eventually, helped me tremendously. I no longer was a dead-pull hitter.
"As I approach the 1981 season, I am going to strive for more consistency and that .300 season will be in the back of my mind. It's difficult when that home-run adrenalin starts flowing, but I think I have learned to control that pretty well."
