Reading Eagle - January 1980
January 6, 1980
Baseball Clinic
Howie Bedell, Philadelphia farm director, heads the staff for a baseball clinic for managers and coaches of all age groups to be held at the Pottsgrove Intermediate School on Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Billy Connors, Larry Rojas and P.J. Carey of the Phillies' minor-league instructional staff will be among the leaders.
All phases of the game will be covered, including motivating of players and organizing of practice drills.
The clinic is being sponsored by the Pottsgrove Athletic Association.
January 18, 1980
Schiavo Signs With Phils
Local Sports
There have been many successes in the Boyertown Legion baseball program. Successes such as nine Berks League and five state championships in the last 11 years.
All those people who help run the Boyertown program can now add another success to their credentials. Ed Schiavo signed a contract with the Philadelphia Phillies Friday to become Boyertown's first player to sign a pro contract.
Schiavo, a 6-foot-2, 170-pound right-handed pitcher who had a 25-5 record in three years with Boyertown, will try to make Philadelphia's Helena, Mont., farm club in the Pioneer Rookie League next season. He'll report to the Phillies' training camp in Clearwater, Fla., March 14.
"I saw Ed pitch in Reading last summer," said Phillies' director of minor-league operations Howie Bedell. "He has a fluid motion and he's strong. From what I saw and from the scouting reports from Gary Nichols and Elmer Valo, we decided to draft him in the secondary phase (in the Jan. 9 secret draft of amateurs)."
The Phillies were the third team to draft Schiavo. He nearly signed with the New York Yankees last year before deciding to return to Boyertown for his final year of legion play. He never came to terms with the Montreal Expos after being drafted by that team last June.
"I'm willing to knock around a while," Schiavo said. "I'm just gonna hang in there and see what happens."
Of course, if Schiavo would make it to the majors, it would be yet another success of Boyertown's Legion program.
January 20, 1980
Longborg Seeks Dental Career
SCITUATE. Mass. (UPI) — His professors know who he is: they remember the October afternoons in 1961 when Jim Lonborg earned himself a niche in Boston baseball history.
But his fellow students have more trouble. Many were in grade school when the lanky right-hander. then 25. pitched the Red Sox to their "Impossible Dream" pennant. He is maybe a name, but little more than that.
Time, the one constant enemy of every athlete, caught up with Lonborg in 1979. Midway through the season. he was cut by the Philadelphia Phillies, ending his 15-year baseball career.
But ends foster beginnings, and to replace the minor disappointment, there was a growing family and a realization other areas must be explored. For Lonborg, it meant much self-reflection, and, finally a headlong leap into the field of dentistry
Time For Switch
"I don't feel like waiting for anything,” the articulate hurler says in the kitchen of his cape-style home in this seaside town south of Boston. "I've got to have some positive goals and plans, I had a wonderful 15 years but it was enough. It was time to make a switch and not even look back.”
After a summer of relaxation, his first since the early 1960s, Lonborg decided on dentistry. He had earned honors in biology at Stanford as a pre-medical student and had once thought briefly about quitting baseball to go to medical school.
"That was after the first trade (in 1971 to Milwaukee). But that was just a momentary reaction. You think, `How could they do that to me.' But I stayed in baseball and put the wraps on, that for good," he says.
Lonborg decided on health care, and dentistry, "because I knew it was a field I could be happy in. I enjoy the power of a doctor or a dentist who can make people feel better. It was something I always had a sincere longing for."
At the suggestion of dental school officials at Tufts University, he enrolled at the University of Massachusetts at Boston to regain his academic form. He is taking prerequisite courses and hopes to begin dental school in July.
"We feel very good about my chances," he says, without motioning to his wife Rosemary or four of his five children, who scurry around the house waiting for popcorn and afternoon movies. "It certainly can't hurt being Jim Lonborg, but I'm assuming I'll be accepted. We don't think about the negative side of it."
Lonborg, with shades of gray running through his brown hair, says adapting to the academic life was easier than he thought.
"It was difficult the first four weeks. I had to relearn my study habits, how to take notes, how to take tests. But I'm so strongly motivated. It's really a joy. And anything that's a joy isn't really hard," he says.
Certainly no harder than getting out opposing hitters, something Longborg found increasingly difficult in 1979. The 1967 Cy Young winner, who had claimed 18 victories as late as 1976, was a spare body last season. He pitched just seven innings for the Phillies, compiling an 0-1 record and a horrendous 11.57 earned run average. When Manny Trillo was reactivated, Lonborg was released.
"It was a part of life, I knew I would get released during the summer. I knew I didn't fit into their plans. I couldn't really go to another ballclub because I wasn't pitching and I wasn't in shape.
"There is no easy way to be released. They always tell you they need you. I saw a lot of players come and go," he says.
Still, Lonborg holds some cherished memories from the game, the most vivid being the day he was carried off the field by jubilant Boston fans after pitching the pennant-winning game over the Minnesota Twins. And, in the World Series against St. Louis, he hurled a 1-hitter, one of only four pitchers to do so in World Series play.
"You think about all the people who played this game, including the great ones, who never got into a World Series. I enjoyed being a part of that fantastic season. I have a tremendous wealth of memories.
"But I haven't been out of baseball long enough to miss it. I don't have the time. In baseball, I've always been surrounded by youth and in that respect, I've never been allowed to grow old. I was doing the same thing at 35 that I was at 12. You're maturing all along, but once the uniform goes on, it's still basically a kid's game."
Sports/People (excerpt)
Tale of the Ticket
You must know which team sells the most expensive ticket in the major leagues. Right. The Yankees. At $5.99 per seat average. At $5.10, Boston is second, followed by Montreal at S5. The Phillies are fifth in the N.L. at $4.50 and 10th among the 26 teams. Cheapies are Oakland at $3 and San Diego at $3.05. World Series champ Pittsburgh is 19th at $4.05. The average price is S4.31.
January 28, 1980
Dallas Green Stover Guest
Dallas Green will be making his first visit to Reading as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies in a role as a speaker for the annual Reading Hot Stovers banquet Tuesday at 6:30 at the Abraham Lincoln Motor Inn.
Green, who pitched for the initial Reading Phillies team in 1967, and formerly visited often as farm director, will be accompanied by several other members of the Philly family.
Alternate outfielder Greg Gross, a York County native; and Paul Owens and Bill Giles, club vice presidents, are also expected to speak.
The main speakers will be Willie Stargell, the World Series hero and N.L. co-MVP, and Scott McGregor, the near-hero of the World Series. McGregor has been telling people that his New Year's resolution is to throw one less pitch to Willie Stargell.
The Hot Stovers have announced the names of the winners of their annual awards for achievement in scholastic and Legion play.
Randy Erb. Boyertown High outfielder, has won the Charlie Ohlinger scholarship. Darryl Leh, Oley Valley pitcher-outfielder, is the Berks County MVP.
Don Helwig, pitcher, is the Reading High outstanding player. Paul Strunk Jr., Oley outfielder, is the Berks Legion MVP.
January 29, 1980
Aaron Wires Heavy Words, Snubs Kuhn
NEW YORK (AP) — Still steaming over what he considers a six-year-old slight, all-time home run king Hank Aaron has lashed out at Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, snubbing an award presentation that commemorated his record 715th home run as the greatest moment of the decade of the 1970s.
Aaron was to be honored by Baseball Magazine Monday along with Pete Rose of the Philadelphia Phillies, named player of the decade, and Keith Hernandez of the St. Louis Cardinals and Don Baylor of the California Angels, chosen the top performers of 1979.
Rose, Hernandez and Baylor all showed up but Aaron sent a telegram, read by his agent. Bob Flamm. It said in part:
"Because of the inadequacies in the ballot selection, retirement for black players from baseball, and with the commissioner of baseball I feel I cannot support this activity.
"I understand that Mr. Kuhn requested that he present me the award for the outstanding moment of the 1970s, in honor and recognition of the new all-time home run record set on the eighth of April 1974. However, looking back on that time. I remember the commissioner did not see the need to attend."
Speaking later from the offices of the Atlanta Braves, Aaron explained his telegram.
"As for player of the decade, I think the things I achieved overshadowed anything anyone else did," he said.
Aaron said of retired black players, "There remains a shortage of blacks in the front offices and as managers and coaches. Baseball should live up to its responsibilities."
But Aaron seemed angriest at Kuhn. who saw the record-tying 714th home run in Cincinnati on April 4. 1974, but was not on hand when Aaron broke Ruth's record four nights later in Atlanta.
"If it's the moment of the decade now, It was the moment of the decade in 1974, too," Aaron said. "I thought It was a slap at me and at the people of Atlanta that the commissioner wasn't there. And I think it's an even bigger slap that he wanted me to get up on that podium today. I just didn't think it'd be to my benefit to do that.
"It would have been like Kuhn was treating me like a damned idiot. What am I supposed to do? Scratch my head and forget what happened in 1974?"
Kuhn was obviously shocked and saddened by the sudden blast from Aaron, with whom he has appeared several times.
"I will continue to admire Henry's achievements as among the greatest in the history of baseball and I have no comment beyond that," the commissioner said.
But then Kuhn continued. "I've talked to Henry at various functions and I never heard any of that from Henry." he said. "Quite the contrary. It's kind of sad."
Kuhn saw Aaron tie Ruth's record in Cincinnati — "I know he was there for No. 714," cracked Rose. "The ball went over my head." — but had a speaking engagement in Cleveland the night the record was broken. Hall of Famer Monte Irvin, a member of the commissioner's staff, represented Kuhn in Atlanta at that game.
"I still count as one of my great personal thrills being present for No. 714 in Cincinnati," Kuhn said. "I was speaking in Cleveland the night he broke the record and I announced it in the course of my speech.”
January 30, 1980
‘Togetherness” Hot Stover Theme
By John W. Smith, Asst. Sports Editor
The Reading Hot Stovers demonstrated Tuesday night that the spirit of togetherness and mutual admiration isn't limited this week at the Abraham Lincoln Motor Inn to the Greater Reading Council of Churches banquet.
The concept of "family" might be expected to be in the forefront with the presence of the Pittsburgh patriarch, Willie Stargell. But every-body else sounded similar notes during the 19th annual fete, attended by some 600 who practiced their own brand of togetherness in the jam-packed ballroom.
Stargell paid tribute to the spirit on the Pirates. Scott McGregor extolled the togetherness on the Orioles. Dallas Green called for the Phillies to develop such a feeling.
Greg Gross and McGregor and Green had words of praise for Stargell. Stargell had words of praise for the Orioles and words of well-wishing for the Phillies. McGregor showed he has no bitterness whatsoever for Stargell's homer. Gross and Green delightfully kidded each other. Gross and McGregor pledged contributions to Stargell's sickle-cell anemia fund.
Even the invocation and the benediction sounded the same theme, but it never got to the boring or saccharine stage. And most diners felt it was one of the Hot Stovers' better programs.
There were of course a few hitches. Phillies G.M. Paul Owens didn't know he was invited and so didn't show; the pre-speaker part of the program dragged too much, and the mystery guest was such a mystery that toastmaster Warren Ruffner was confused by his identity.
But a surprise hit of the evening was Gross, whose dead-pan humor was very well received. Green showed that he will be an improvement on Danny Ozark in at least one respect, and McGregor handled himself very well for one whose college diploma is still 117 credits in front of him (he finished his first-ever course Tuesday morning).
Stargell, the climactic speaker, talked for only 10 minutes and rambled a bit, but his obvious sincerity touched the audience, as it did when he was here four years ago.
"Sports allowed the city of Pittsburgh to unite in such a way that it has become truly an outstanding place to live," Stargell asserted.
"We were able to put aside all pettiness, envy and jealousy on the Pirates this year. We respected but didn't fear the opposition."
Willie recalled how surprised he was to learn as a boy that he could be paid for doing something he liked as much as playing baseball, and that spirit has certainly stayed with him. Surely many in the audience could think of others who have been deserted by that spirit.
"Don't let anyone keep you from fulfilling your dream," Stargell stressed, "but don't step on anyone or take advantage of anyone to fulfill it." He cited the many unsung heroes who get no award but "the great feeling of helping someone."
"We leaned on our talent in Philadelphia and had the feeling, that we didn't have to work too hard," Green told the diners. "We're going to get our act together and start thinking about ‘we' instead of ’I.’
“We owe you a good year's work. I can promise you that you'll be proud of the way the Phils handle themselves in 1980."
Dallas pledged that the work will begin right from the start of spring training.
Gross, who called Stargell "an inspiration to everyone in baseball," made a strong pitch to Green to play more than part-time. Like Green, he predicted no pennant (remember last year when everybody was predicting world championship?), but did promise "a real close race.”
McGregor made much of the way the Orioles "pulled together and helped each other out." The star southpaw said he wasn't too upset about losing the World Series because it was such a great feeling just to get there. He thanked Stargell for all the publicity Willie's blast has brought to him. "You don't know what he's done for my career."
The annual mystery guest was Eddie Collins Jr., son of the Hall of Famer, who had a .241 lifetime average for the A's in 132 games in 1939-41. Collins, 63, served in the Phillies' front office for a while and is now chairman of the history department at Episcopal Academy.
He was mixed up in the introduction with either Harry "Rip" Collins, a pitcher in the 1920s who died in 1968, or James "Ripper" Collins, a first baseman in the '30s.
Also speaking were Joe Buzas, owner of the Reading Phillies; Bill Giles, executive vice president of the Philadelphia Phillies, who delighted with tales of Kiteman; and Mayor Karen Miller. Ruffner's jokes, as usual, proved popular with the diners.
Awards were presented to the four previously announced scholastic and Legion baseball players, and to the Boyertown Legion and Gabelsville Lebanon Valley champions.
SportopicS: Hot Stove Embers
By John W. Smith, Asst. Sports Editor
Some lines worth repeating from the 19th annual banquet of the Reading Hot Stovers Tuesday night:
"Willie Stargell is like Goliath, Lord, but we're so glad that this Goliath is on Your side.... We know that when You answer our prayers You give us what we need rather than what we ask for. We hope that we Philies' fans don't need another year like this last 'one." — The Rev. James Miller, Trinity UCC, Mount Penn, in the invocation.
"I doubt if she'll be as entertaining and amusing as her predecessor." — Toastmaster Warren Ruffner in introducing Mayor Karen Miller.
"I'm the only certified non-athlete at the head table, except for Warren." — Mayor Miller.
"The first time we had Kiteman, he had to get a substitute because the opener was post-poned a week due to the strike. It took a while to find one, because they didn't have a listing for 'Kitemen' In the yellow pages. The one we finally got wouldn't jump at first because he was scared stiff. But this was Philadelphia, so of course the fans kept booing. He finally jumped and went off the side of the ramp, so they booed some more. But this year we're going to use a shorter ramp." — Phillies V.P. Bill Giles.
"Dallas said he'll pitch the last inning of the exhibition game if I play the last inning. It has to be the last inning because I'll be counting the money up till then." — Reading owner Joe Buzas.
"People ask me what you do to get ready to be an extra man. The answer is nothing. Of course, being Greg's caddy I can run in and out to left held a couple of times before the game. It's very important to be the first guy on the top of the steps when somebody hits a homer, and to stay close to the manager in the dugout. That way you get a lot of TV exposure." — Phillies outfielder Greg Gross.
"One time in Florida I was pitching against Willie. He hit a long home run off my curve, and Gene Mauch yelled out I shouldn't be such a dummy and should throw my fastball. The next time up, I blew two straight fastballs by him. I wanted to try a curve, but figured I better throw what Gene wanted. So I threw another curve, and he hit it way over the palm trees. So I yelled to Gene, 'He hit your pitch a darn sight farther than he hit mine."' — Phillies manager Dallas Green.
"So Gross has pledged a dollar a hit to Stargell's sickle-cell anemia fund. That's 74 dollars for last year, and he's just signed a million-dollar contract. We're all heart in Philadelphia." — Green.
"This is the first time I've been in Reading since I played here with West Haven in 1973. I took a drive by the Penn View Motel and it still looks the same." — Oriole pitcher Scott McGregor.
"I'd like to play the Phillies in the World Series. It wouldn't be so far to travel." — McGregor.
"Howard Cosell wanted me to say something about the weather, but I said I'd tread water in the ocean for nine innings to play in a World Series. Just think of all those who never got to play in one. When I signed I thought I was cheating the Pirates because they were giving me money for what I wanted to do." —Willie Stargell.
Aaron Cites Self
ATLANTA (AP) — Although he played only six years of the 1970s, all-time home run king Henry Aaron says he — not Pete Rose — should have been named "Player of the Decade."
"I don't want this to sound like I have anything against Pete Rose or his accomplishments, because I don't," Aaron said Tuesday. "I just feel like what I did in the '70s was in no way second best to any accomplishment of anybody, no matter what they did.
"I know I only played the first six years of the decade, but I think what I did in those six years should be enough. This would be easier to take if the vote had been by the fans, but it was by sports writers — people who know a little about baseball," he said.
Sportscasters, writers and baseball executives participated in the voting. Rose received 109 points, including 24 first place votes. Rod Carew of the California Angels was second with 103 points and 20 firsts. Aaron was next with 86 points, including 20 firsts.
Aaron was to be honored Monday with Baseball Magazine's award commemorating his record 715th homer as "The Greatest Moment of the Decade." Rose of the Philadelphia Phillies also was to be honored.
But Aaron refused to show up or accept the award from baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn because, he said, Kuhn failed to appear at Atlanta Stadium on April 8, 1974 when he set the record.
January 31, 1980
‘Repair and Prepare’ Green’s Motto
By John W. Smith, Asst. Sports Editor
"Repair and Prepare" appears to be Dallas Green's slogan for the 1980 Philadelphia Phillies.
"That's what we've got to do this year, and we're going to work on it darn hard in spring training," the new manager told the Hot Stover diners Tuesday night.
Dallas did more than hint that there would be wholesale changes if the club falters again this year. So far this off-season, the only change has been an extremely minor one.
"If we can't put the pressure on this year, this may be their last shot. I think this team deserves the one last shot, with somebody who knows the club. That's why I'm the manager."
In an interview prior to the banquet, Dallas said he was satisfied to take the team as currently constituted into the pennant race.
"If everybody repairs themselves satisfactorily, I'd be very satisfied. We have some apprehensions about the repairing, but that seems to be coming along very nicely. Ruthven, Christenson, Boone, have to keep progressing the way they are now.
"If those guys repair themselves. and we prepare in spring training, and do the things that I think are necessary to get us back on the 'Thinking Winning' track, and play the kind of baseball we're capable of playing, we can match with anybody.
"I'd be satisfied to go to war with the fellows we've got, if somebody could tell me they're all gonna be sound."
This time last year, of course. Manny Trillo and Nino Espinosa had not yet joined the Phillies. "I don't foresee many if any deals being made." said Dallas, who has apparently given up on getting the standout relief pitcher for whom the Phils tried so hard (many felt too hard) in Toronto.
Green seems set with the same five-man rotation Danny Ozark had last year before the injuries hit — Carlton, Ruthven, Christenson, Lerch and Espinosa.
Dallas is also counting on Ron Reed and Tug McGraw for good years in the bullpen, despite their ages (37 and 35) and their troubles last year. "They're quality guys. I'm sure they'll continue to be. They just got pitched too much last year."
He looks for Rawly Eastwick to provide the big lift in the bullpen. "I'm expecting him to be much better. The spilt-fingered pitch seems to be working well for him. He did a good job for us the last part of last year."
That would seem to leave two slots on the staff, which Green says will number 10 (Ozark went with nine one year).
Dallas would very much like to see Warren Brusstar fill one of those. "His loss hurt us more than anybody's last year." said Green. agreeing with Ozark. "He threw today for the first time, and the trainers feel encouraged. But I'm not counting on him in my own mind."
Ex-Readingites Kevin Saucier and Dickie Noles, both of whom came up during the season last year from Oklahoma City, are other top candidates. Noles was a starter last year, but Green waits him for relief.
"I like his belly, I like his stuff, I like the way he approaches the pitching job. and I think his arm will handle a relief-type role. He might be a natural. We did it with Brusstar, right out of Reading."
Other possibilities are incumbent Doug Bird, whose 5.16 ERA last year is hardly encouraging; draftee Burke Suter. who was 10-13, 4.03 at Pawtucket (Green would have preferred the guy with two 't's" in his last name). and Paul Thormodsgard, picked up from the Twins for Pete Mackanin, but with some arm trouble and just on the Oklahoma City roster. "We're betting on him for the future," said Dallas.
Marty Bystrom, rated the top prospect at Oklahoma City last year, presumably needs another year as a starter in AAA, but could be rushed if one of the starters falters.
Dallas said he would prefer to go with only two catchers, who would be Boone and rookie Keith Moreland, a Reading grad. There's still some question about Keith defensively, but he's done the job offensively.
The infield is of course set with Rose, Trillo, Bowa and Schmidt. "Rose will be the leadoff batter," said Green without hesitation.
Bud Harrelson seems set as the infield backup again. Luis Aguayo, the only other possibility, has just 113 games in AAA behind him.
Lonnie Smith is the one sure newcomer to the outfield (he was on the team for the first few weeks last year before going back to play regularly at O.C., where he hit .330 with 34 steals ).
"I've always been a Lonnie Smith man," said Dallas. "I think he can be a very exciting offensive player. I think he can fit into the type of baseball I want to play. He's gonna battle for an outfield job with Gross.
"Luzinski, Maddox and even McBride have done well the past, but I want to give Gross and Smith more playing time." (One gets the feeling that Green would not mind a trade which would get the Phillies a pitcher for McBride).
Del Unser, who hit .298 last year, is set as a pinch-hitter and backup outfielder and first baseman. Mike Anderson, being a righty hitter, has a good chance for another shot as outfield backup as well.
That leaves one more non-pitching shot. Rookie first baseman-outfielder John Poff, who's shown he can hit in AAA, could fill it, though he still has an option left. Dave Rader, last year's third-string catcher, would if Green keeps three. Both hit left.
Sports Digest (excerpt)
Disappearing Act
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Pete Rose of the Philadelphia Phillies stood up the Mexican sports establishment and angered a couple of promotors by pulling a disappearing act before showing up in Cincinnati Wednesday, the Philadelphia Bulletin reports.
The newspaper reported today that Rose was supposed to present an award Wednesday to Mexico's top athlete of 1979 at a banquet, but he failed to show up.
The banquet honored Daniel Bautista, world record holder in the 20-kilometer walk and gold medal winner in both the 1976 Olympics and the 1979 Pan American games.
The banquet and award were sponsored by Levi Strauss & Co., which made an advance payment of $5,000 through the Philadelphia Speakers Bureau here, the newspaper said.
Richard Arroyo, international public relations manager for Levi Strauss, said Rose disappeared for two days after promising on Monday to fly to Mexico City.
"Our own suspicion is he just felt the engagement or commitment was inconvient for him," Arroyo said.
Rose was not immediately available for comment, but his Cincinnati lawyer. Reuven Katz was. "I don't want to discuss it," said Katz. "Some things are difficult to discuss."