Site News - 2019
December 2019 Update: I’ve still been able to keep the month-a-month pace, adding the July 1980 editions of the Philadelphia Inquirer to the site library. It’s interesting to see the season unfold day-by-day, in the eyes of the reporters who were with the team every day. Let’s just say that in July, there was not an expectation of a parade in October!
Hot Stove: It’s time to see what the Phils do to improve the team for new manager Joe Girardi. Everyone – from the owner to the youngest Phillies fan – knows that pitching is a dire need to this team to be able to compete. Hopefully the next few weeks will be very interesting. They certainly will be enlightening!
Still On the Lookout For:
- Pictures from the 1980 season. Looking for digital copies of pictures that can be posted on the site.
- Articles from the Philadelphia Bulletin. Richie Ashburn used to do a weekly article in that newspaper. Online, scanned, clipped, must most importantly free!
Future Updates: Still hoping to keep the current month-to-month pace of adding articles to the site library. The holiday season may cut into that a bit, but I’ll keep working on it!
November 2019 Update: We’re keepin’ on keepin’ on. Sustaining the progress that was made in the last month, the June articles from the Philadelphia Inquirer are now in the site library. In addition, the pictures of games through June have been updated to include pictures from the Inquirer, as well as a few other sources.
Hardware: Congratulations to Phils’ catcher J.T. Realmuto for winning both the Gold Glove for his defensive excellence. Cementing himself as quite possibly the best fielding catcher in baseball, Realmuto’s cannon arm led to a majors-best 43 runners caught stealing.
Still On the Lookout For:
- Pictures from the 1980 season. Looking for digital copies of pictures that can be posted on the site
- Articles from the Philadelphia Bulletin. Richie Ashburn used to do a weekly article in that newspaper. Online, scanned, clipped, must most importantly free!
Future Updates: I want to keep on working towards the goal of getting the entire season of Inquirer articles in the site library. The current pace may taper off a bit as we head to the holidays, but I want to keep working towards that goal.
October 2019 Update: Got some momentum going! I was able to complete all the Philadelphia Inquirer articles from May 1980. These are now available in the site library! I also started the process of making the pictures from these issues available in the boxscore pages of each game. Some of the pictures are decent quality, while others are not great… but they’re better than nothing!
Disappointment: After the buzz of signing Bryce Harper and trading for J.T. Realmuto, the Phils’ performance in 2019 was… well, disappointing. Out of the playoffs, locked into a fourth place finish, this is a team that did not achieve what they set out to do. It remains to be seen what changes will be made to the team to try to get them where the fans pine to be once more – the playoffs.
Still On the Lookout For:
- Pictures from the 1980 season. Looking for digital copies of pictures that can be posted on the site
- Articles from the Philadelphia Bulletin. Richie Ashburn used to do a weekly article in that newspaper. Online, scanned, clipped, must most importantly free!
Future Updates: I want to keep on working towards the goal of getting the entire season of Inquirer articles in the site library. I cannot promise to keep the current pace going, but I will try to at least keep up regular updates!
September 2019 Update: After so many months of mini-updates, I managed to get through the rest of the articles from the April 1980 editions of the Philadelphia Inquirer. All the Phillies articles from the month are now in the site library.
Coming Up Short: The Phils 2019 season seems to be coming apart at the seams. The offense had run hot and cold, the pitching has been mediocre at best, and the team seems to be destined for a disappointing finish to a season that began with so much promise. Changes will have to be made this offseason, but it remains to be seen if the front office has the stomach to begin.
Still On the Lookout For:
- Pictures from the 1980 season. Looking for digital copies of pictures that can be posted on the site
- Articles from the Philadelphia Bulletin. Richie Ashburn used to do a weekly article in that newspaper. Online, scanned, clipped, must most importantly free!
Future Updates: Now that April is finished, it’s onto the May editions of the Philadelphia Inquirer. I cannot promise to tear through May as quickly as the last half of April, but I will do my best!
August 2019 Update: Back to baby steps with the advent of the school year. I have managed to put in a few days' worth of articles in the site library. Articles from the Philadelphia Inquirer are now complete through April 18!
Sigh… The Phils’ continue to bumble and stumble their way through the 2019 season. At this point, they’re looking up at not only the Braves and Nationals, but the Mets as well. If it isn’t a staggering offense, it’s the sporadic starting rotation. If not the rotation, then it’s the rather mediocre bullpen. If not the bullpen,… well, you see it as well as I do!
Still On the Lookout For:
- Pictures from the 1980 season. Looking for digital copies of pictures that can be posted on the site
- Articles from the Philadelphia Bulletin. Richie Ashburn used to do a weekly article in that newspaper. Online, scanned, clipped, must most importantly free!
Future Updates: School has started, which means that time will be more precious, but I will try to persevere in adding to the site library. For now, the focus is still on April issues of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Go Phils!
July 2019 Update: This month, I was able to complete adding the Philadelphia Inquirer Baseball ’80 preview supplement from April 10, 1980 into the site library, as well as game articles from the first three games of the season. Articles from the Philadelphia Inquirer are now complete through April 14.
Fightless Phils?: The Phils’ midseason swoon continued in July. Unfortunately, the chances of a division championship seem to be dimming every game. However, there is still a decent chance of reaching the wildcard game. Hopefully the Phils can add a quality arm or two to the pitching staff!
Still On the Lookout For:
- Pictures from the 1980 season. Looking for digital copies of pictures that can be posted on the site
- Articles from the Philadelphia Bulletin. Richie Ashburn used to do a weekly article in that newspaper. Online, scanned, clipped, must most importantly free!
Future Updates: My job will soon be revving up for the school year, so updates may be more sporadic, but I will try to keep them coming to the best of my ability. For now, the focus is still on April issues of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Go Phils!
June 2019 Update: Over the past several months, I was able to add the articles from the Philadelphia Inquirer Baseball ’80 preview supplement from April 10, 1980. Reading some of those articles really took me back! And, of course, some of them, in trying to predict what would happen in that season, were… to put it nicely, inaccurate.
Stumbling in 2019: After looking like a possible World Series contender in April and May, June was a cold slap in the face by reality. An inconsistent offense, a depleted and ineffective bullpen and a starting staff that can be lights out one day, and lit up the next have caused the Fightin’ Phils to tumble out of first place. Hopefully the team can be stabilized coming out of the all-star break.
Still On the Lookout For:
- Pictures from the 1980 season. Looking for digital copies of pictures that can be posted on the site
- Articles from the Philadelphia Bulletin. Richie Ashburn used to do a weekly article in that newspaper. Online, scanned, clipped, must most importantly free!
Future Updates: Can’t promise a return to regular monthly updates, but I’ll be trying to poke my head in here from time to time to add a thing or two. Still working on April issues of the Philadelphia Inquirer right now. Go Phils!
No updates for April or May.
March 2019 Update: Did you miss me? I know it’s been awhile, but real life and adult responsibilities (like being Dad) have cut in mightily on the free time to spend. I have put in an article or two along the way, but not enough to warrant an “update” until this month. There are now articles from the Philadelphia Inquirer included through April 10, 1980! That means since the last update eleven months ago, eleven new articles have been added.
Ready for 2019! Did you hear that the Phils signed Bryce Harper? I know, EVERYONE’S heard about Bryce Harper. Along with the acquisitions of J.T Realmuto and Jean Segura, it is shaping up to be an exciting 2019 season for the Phils!
Still On the Lookout For:
- Pictures from the 1980 season. Looking for digital copies of pictures that can be posted on the site
- Articles from the Philadelphia Bulletin. Richie Ashburn used to do a weekly article in that newspaper. Online, scanned, clipped, must most importantly free!
Future Updates: Can’t promise a return to regular monthly updates, but I’ll be trying to poke my head in here from time to time to add a thing or two. Next up will be the Philadelphia Inquirer’s 1980 season preview magazine that was published on April 10, 1980. Like most of you, life continues to be a crazy ride!
No updates for January or February.