Reading Eagle - July 5, 1980
Jack Martin Dies
NEW YORK (AP) – Jack Martin, the oldest living former New York Yankee and Philadelphia Phillies baseball player, died Friday at the age of 93.
Martin, of Brick Township, N.J., had suffered a heart attack just after being introduced at the 34th annual old-timers’ game June 21.
He had another attack July 2 at Montefiore Hospital where he died Friday.
He was born April 19, 1887, in Plainfield, N.J. He played shortstop for the Yankees when they were known as the Highlanders in 1912. He moved to the National League where he played for the Boston Braves and then ended his career with the Phillies in 1914.
His career batting average was .237.
Schmidt Will Miss Game
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Ed Whitson of the San Francisco Giants and Ray Knight of the Cincinnati Reds were named to the National League All-star team Friday to replace Vida Blue and Mike Schmidt.
Whitson, a 25-year-old right-hander, is 7-7 with a 3.05 ERA. Blue was placed on the disabled list by the Giants last Wednesday.
Schmidt sustained a hamstring injury and doctors said he would be unable to play in Tuesday’s All-star game at Dodger Stadium. Knight, a third baseman, is batting .297 with eight homers and 48 RBI.
Sykes Cools Phillies
St. Louis (AP) – Bob Sykes says he’s beginning to believe what the senior member of the St. Louis Cardinals’ pitching staff has to say.
“Jim Kaat told be that along about the fourth, fifth or sixth inning you start getting cool,” said Sykes, 3-6, after stopping the Philadelphia Philies 1-0 Friday in 96-degree heat.
“He wasn’t kidding, either,” said Sykes, who fired an eight-hitter in the 10-inning contest. “The sixth inning rolled around, and it was new life. He’s 41 years old, and he’s an inspiration. Sitting here watching him for five starts means a great deal.”
The shutout, Sykes’ first in the National League, was the third of his career.
“The other two were in 1978,” the former Detroit Tigers hurler recalled. “They were two in a row, both over Oakland five days apart. I believe in myself. I knew it had to come.”
Three of Philadelphia’s hits off the St. Louis left-hander were doubles, but only one presented a serious threat.
Greg Luzinski doubled to short right field after Pete Rose singled with two out in the eighth inning. Electing to test the arm of Leon Durham, Rose was out when the rookie outfielder hurled a one-bounce strike to home plate.
If the Phils’ chances were few, those of the Cards were almost non-existent until George Hendrick came to the plate a fourth time.
Nino Espinosa checked St. Louis on two hits through eight innings. Then Kevin Saucier, 3-3, served up Hendrick’s 17th home run after Ted Simmons grounded out in the Cards’ 10th.
Sykes said he had been fore-warned that the game would be decided by one swing of the bat.
“I had two people come up to me and tell me they were going to end it with a home run,” the St. Louis hurler said. “Reitzie (Ken Reitz) told me, and George told me. George hit it. I didn’t see it. I was in the tunnel. I heard everybody say, ‘That’s out of here.’ I couldn’t even tell you where the ball landed.
Philadelphia Manager Dallas Green said a heat reading of 130 degrees off the artificial turn in Busch Stadium’s outfield probably took its toll.
“It’s a little tough to get up for this kind of weather,” the Phils’ pilot said. “The pitcher knows what he’s got to do. But Sykes pitched a heckuva game. You’ve got to give him credit.”
Sykes, shackled earlier by a 10.50 earned average, said he considers his career reborn.
“I expect a lot of good things out of myself now, I really do,” he said. “I don’t mean to be cocky but, gosh darn it, I want to be a good pitcher.”