Wilmington News Journal - November 1980

November 1, 1980

Dover salutes Renie Martin with a parade

DOVER – A parade through downtown Dover, followed by a speeches and presentation of awards to honor Dover native Renie Martin will begin today at 11:30 a.m. in downtown Dover.

Martin, a Dover High graduate, pitched so well for the Kansas City Royals against the Phillies in the recent 1980 World Series that the City of Dover has decided to pay tribute to its local hero with a "Renie Martin Day.”

The parade will begin at 11:30 from the old railroad station in West Dover, proceed east down Loockerman Street and end up at City Hall. An awards program for Martin will be conducted there, starting at noon. Martin and his family will ride in the parade. Two marching bands from Dover High will provide the music.

November 2, 1980

A day for Renie

Hundreds show their affection for Dover’s favorite

By Jack Ireland, Staff Reporter

DOVER - There were people of all ages – young and old – gathered in downtown Dover yesterday morning, and they all came for a common reason. They came with smiles on their faces to honor Dover's favorite son, Renie Martin.

A cheering crowd estimated between 400 and 500 lined Loockerman Street in downtown Dover for a parade honoring Martin, the Dover High graduate who pitched so well for the Kansas City Royals against the Phillies in the recently completed 1980 World Series.

The short parade, which included Martin and his. family, was followed by speeches and awards on the cool autumn day directly in front of City Hall. The guest speakers included John Hickman, long-time Parkway manager of the Delaware Semi-Pro League, and Bob Reed, Martin's close friend and former standout pitcher himself at the University of Maryland. The people simply wanted to say thanks to a young man who had brought such pride to Delaware and especially the city of Dover.

"I was in the same graduating class in 1973 at Dover with Renie and I just came out here to see him," said Kathy Bove, moments after Martin had autographed two baseballs for her. "I think everyone just wanted to let Renie know what we think and how proud we are of him. I really think he is going to go far and it's great we can show our appreciation."

After the parade, politicians praised Martin, awards were presented while Reed and Hickman recalled his baseball career.

"I think this is something that should have been done," said Mary Anne Krynski, who brought her 2-year-old daughter along to see the parade. "After all, Renie put Dover on the map this year. I think this is a lot of fun and I'm just glad we could come out. Renie did so well and deserves this."

Martin, who had three strong outings against the Phillies in relief, showed his appreciation and class by holding a luncheon for the public after the ceremonies at the Wesley United Methodist Church across the street from City Hall. Martin, who will leave to play winter ball in Venezuela within two weeks, spent well over an hour signing autographs for admiring fans of all ages in the Church Hall.

"I was shocked at how many people were here," said Martin, when the excitement finally began to slack off. "I thought maybe 50 100 people would come. I didn't know that I was that well supported in Dover. I didn't talk long (at the post parade ceremonies), but I really didn't know what to say. I do want to say thank you to everyone and how much I appreciate all of this. There probably aren't many players who go back to their hometown and have something like this."

"I'm happy I came, I have never met a major league player before," said 10-year-old John Steffen of Dover, wearing a Phillies batting helmet and clutching an autograph from Martin. "I'm a Phillies fan, but was rooting for him when he pitched. I think he's really a good player."

Many people carried banners with sayings like "We are Loyal to Our "Dover Is Proud of Renie" and We Love You Renie." One banner hanging from Mort's Delicatessen along the parade route said "We Love the Phillies, But We Still Love Renie Martin.”

"I'm pretty darn proud of Renie and he deserves something like this," said Edward Sapp, Renie's grandfather, wearing a blue KC Royals cap as he waited for the parade to begin. "Renie had this cap on when he licked the Yankees last spring and he gave it to me. I'm sure proud he let me have it."

Sapp was one of many Martin relatives on hand for the tribute and celebration yesterday. Renie waved to the crowd in a bright red convert-able along the parade route, with his parents Paul and Marjorie Martin and his younger brother Timmy seated in the same car.

"This is all really something," said his mother. "You know Renie just didn't wake up one morning and decide to be a major league player. A lot of this comes from within and during the winter months he ran four, five miles a day to stay in shape. Renie has brought me pleasure as a son and he is a good family man. Win or lose he would always call us after the game and that is hard sometimes. I know because I'm a pretty sore loser myself."

The Rev. George Godfrey of Wesley Church summed up the day best. "We're proud of you Renie and We all love you. You did a great job."

Delaware (excerpt)

By Al Cartwright

Caught again.

It was smugly announced here that Renie Martin of Dover, the Kansas City relief was not the first Delawarean ever to play in a World Series, but the second. Vic Willis of Newark, who pitched for the '09 Pirates against the Tigers, was identified as the first.

Turns out that Martin is the No. 3 member of this select group. Put Dave May of New Castle in the middle. In 1969, he made two pinch-hitting appearances for the Orioles vs. the Mets. Sorry about that, Dave. And thanks – I think – to Ed Jones for noting the oversight.

• • •

Back on the banquet circuit, Tim McCarver told this one at the Brandywine Little League awards dinner – among other places:

Determined to look good his first week as a broadcaster, he sought the secret aid of Pete Rose, who identified the Phillies' hit-run sign for him.

That night, there was a situation that had Larry Bowa on first base and Bob Boone batting. McCarver spotted Coach Lee Elia flashing what Rose had told him was the hit-run signal.

"I think it's a good time for the runner to be going," McCarver nonchalantly said over the air. Bowa didn't move. McCarver checked out Elia again. Same sign. "He'll be going for sure on this pitch," Tim announced. Bowa held. The sequence happened a third time. Richie Ashburn remarked cuttingly, "Haven't you ever played this game?" McCarver, upset, convinced he had been conned, confronted Rose after the game. "I thought you told me that was the hit-run sign?"

"Yeah, it is, and the sign was on," Rose shrugged. "Bowa missed it three times."

November 15, 1980

McGraw likes Phillies… at his price

By Ralph Bernstein, Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA – Tug McGraw admits he's surprised but insists he's not disappointed that not one team selected him in baseball's re-entry draft Thursday.

McGraw is coming off an outstanding season with the Phillies in which he which he saved 20 regular-season games, compiled a 1.47 ERA and made a strong contribution in the club's National League pennant and World Series triumphs.

McGraw said yesterday he believes that 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 left-handed relief pitcher 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.

"In my career," said McGraw, routine ever happens. Things always seem to be weird."

McGraw 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.

The 36-year-old reliever 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. "But they're willing to do it for other players."

He described this psychological bit 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. He hedged this on getting the other benefits in the psychological war.

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

"I could get it today," McGraw said. "I know. You can book it. But I wouldn't sign with another team for the same amount I can get from Philadelphia. 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. I'd have to do what's best for me and my family," McGraw replied.

Green to be honored

The city of Newport will honor native hero Dallas Green tomorrow with a special day for the manager of the world champion Phillies.

The Dallas Green Day parade will begin at 2 p.m. at the Krebs playground. It will proceed across the overpass to the Stonehurst area to Market St The parade will continue to Augustine and Justice and a speaking podium will be set up near Justice and Marshall Sts.

November 22, 1980

Phillies drug probe nets Reading doctor but absolves players

By Tim Pettit, Associated Press

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

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

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

The players and the wives told state investigators that they never were treated by Mazza and never received the prescriptions that he allegedly wrote, Bartle said in a statement.

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

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

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

In a statement yesterday afternoon, Phillies executive vice-president Bill Giles said the team has "not received any information from the authorities on the matter and, until we do, we have no comment, except that a thorough investigation into the matter was held last summer and all Philadelphia Phillies players were found to have no involvement in the matter whatsoever."

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

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

November 23, 1980

Delaware (excerpts)

By Al Cartwright

Dallas and Sylvia Green enjoyed a bunch of reunions at the old-hometown parade in Newport that honored the manager of the world champeen Phillies, and one was with Woody.

Woody was the lead horse in the Wilmington mounted police representation, and he had been sold to the law by the Green family. Daughter Dana fox-hunted with him for several winters, but Woody became the victim of a space problem on the Green digs. Woody is short for the horse's registered name: Head Knock.