Site News - 2024

April 2024 Update:  As the season begins today, so does the 1980 season repeat itself, this time in the lines of the Press of Atlantic City.  We’ll see if I can fit the entire season in the limited space I have left, but will look for ways to shoehorn it in if it doesn’t fit naturally.  To this point, I finished spring training articles and am eager to jump into the regular season, just as the boys in Citizens Bank Park are ready to begin their quest for the World Series this year.

 

As Is:  The Phillies were not enticed by the delayed signings of pitchers Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery, and have elected to begin the season with a pitching rotation of Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suarez, Taijuan Walker (when he’s off the injured list) and Christopher Sanchez. For now, Spencer Turnbull will act as the fifth starter.

 

Opening Day:   While the loss to the Braves on Opening Day was not what the Phillies were looking for, it sure is nice that baseball is back!  Hopefully, the Phils iron out the wrinkles and begin this season fighting not just for a wild card spot, but the division title.

   

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… most importantly free!

 

 

Future Updates:    Now that I have started, I will continue to put in articles from the  Atlantic City (NJ) Press.  While I am going through the season, I will also look for opportunities to free up space for future additions, possibly by combining the date and boxscore pages, but that change will come later.  Future possibilities include the Asbury Park (NJ) Press, Lancaster (PA) Intelligencer Journal, the Lancaster (PA) New Era,  and the Lebanon (PA) Daily News.  All of this is, of course, as space provides.

March 2024 Update:  I spent most of the first half of the month tinkering with the pages for the players, coaches and front office.  Old graphics from the Geocities site were re-added for some nostalgia, and the pages were tidied up a bit.  A few of the descriptions even got edited for clarity – and a few grammar errors.  Then I began adding articles from the Atlantic City (NJ) Press.  I am in mid-March, when the players had just begun the Grapefruit League schedule.

 

Whiz Wit:  The Phils finally added a free agent to the club.  Whit Merrifield, who represented the Toronto Blue Jays in the All-Star Game last season, signed a one-year contract with a club option with Phillies.  This season, Merrifield is expected to play a sort of super-sub role with the Phils.  Other minor additions include pitchers Spencer Turnbull and Kolby Allard, who each signed one-year contracts.

 

Spring Training!    Speaking of the Grapefruit League, the Phils have begun their spring training games.  As the team regroups for another run for the playoffs and World Series, the players seem loose and confident.  Hopefully, the season plays out that way!  

   

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… most importantly free!

 

Future Updates:    Now that I’ve started, I will be concentrating on the Atlantic City Press.  I will also continue to try to find ways to clear some space, as my free account with Jimdo is quickly approaching its limit of pages.

February 2024 Update:  This month I was able to complete the full year of articles from the Allentown Morning Call!  It was fun reliving the World Series once more.  I did note a fair amount of… anger? from the writers in the Morning Call against the players and their rectitude in interviews.  More so than in the other papers.  There just seemed to be a bit more snippiness from these writers than most others, outside of Bill Conlin, of course.  As Mike Schmidt once said, “Philadelphia is the only city, where you can experience the thrill of victory and the agony of reading about it the next day.”

 

Nothing?    Since the re-signing of Aaron Nola, the Phils have been largely silent during the annual free agent rush.  While other contenders are making moves to improve their teams, the Phils have seemed content to stand pat and perhaps see what bargains shake out at the end of the winter.

 

Florida Bound!    Just a few weeks remain for those sweet words to be said once more:  Pitchers and Catchers Report!  On February 14, the Phils’ hurlers and receivers will begin spring training at the Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Florida.  The rest of the team will arrive a few days later, on February 19.

   

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… most importantly free!

Future Updates:    In the near future, I’ll begin the process anew with articles from a new source. Right now, I am leaning towards beginning the Atlantic City (NJ) Press.  Other possibilities include the Asbury Park (NJ) Press, Lancaster (PA) Intelligencer Journal, the Lancaster (PA) New Era,  and the Lebanon (PA) Daily News.  In the meantime, I’ll look to do a bit of housecleaning to clear some space, as my free account with Jimdo is quickly approaching its limit of pages.

January 2024 Update:  I was able to finish the NLCS according to the Allentown Morning Call.  The tense 5-game series with the Houston Astros brought in turns frustration, elation, agony and joy.  It is always fun to relive those memories, and get a fresh perspective from a different writer.

 

No Yamamoto:   Though the Phillies reportedly put in a competitive offer, Japanese phenom pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto chose to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers.  The Dodgers, who also spent millions on Shohei Otani in the offseason, signed Yamamoto to a contract worth $325 million over twelve years.

 

What next?    Other than re-signing Aaron Nola, the Phils have been relatively quite in the offseason.  However, there are still some name players available as of the new year.  Starting pitchers include, among others, NL Cy Young winner Blake Snell and starters Marcus Stoman, Jordan Montgomery and Shota Imanaga; relievers Josh Hader and Hector Neris, outfielders Cody Bellinger, Adam Duvall, Teoscar Hernandez… and, of course, first baseban Rhys Hoskins.

   

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… most importantly free!

Future Updates:    As expected, progress on the website slowed quite a bit with the holidays.   I’d like to say it will pick up again in January, but things are going to be quite busy for awhile. For now, I’ll keep working to finish out the articles from the Allentown Morning Call and then look to see what should come next.  Possibilities include the Atlantic City (NJ) Press, Asbury Park (NJ) Press, Lancaster (PA) Intelligencer Journal, the Lancaster New Era,  and the Lebanon (PA) Daily News.  Considerations will also have to be made for space, as my account with Jimdo is quickly approaching its limit.