Want to know the middle name of Randy Lerch? It's all in this article, a preview of the 1980 Phils by Mark Whicker. Interesting is the lack of some of the important cogs that would be called up during the season (Bob Walk, Marty Bystrom) while others who played no or little part with the team were listed (Doug Bird, Rawly Eastwick and Bud Harrelson were all released before the season; one-time prospect Mike Anderson was in the minors in 1980 and released at the end of the season). Also, Mike Schmidt as a leadoff man? Now, I am too young to well remember Schmidt's early career, but I can't fathom him as a leadoff guy. Third or fourth, definitely.

1980 Phillies

By Mark Whicker

Steven Norman Carlton

• Turns 36 Dec. 22... Bats and throws left... Born in Miami, Fla... Four All-Star Games.
• Again the league's best lefthander and could have won 22 games with very little imagination... Had two solo one-hitters, shared another, and had six good shots at no-hitters during the season... Also shut out Montreal on the last day of the season to wrap up division for Pirates... Exhibited deadly pickoff move, superb slider, fine fastball throughout season... Hurt knee in late July and wasn't 100 percent for the 10 crucial games against Pittsburgh... Had best innings-hits ratio among pitchers over 200 innings (252-201)... Got fifth 200-plus year in strikeouts and now has 225 career wins... "It was Lefty's second best year (to 1972) as far as consistent pitching goes," said Tim McCarver... Doesn't talk to press, prefers to use own conditioning program, and isn't considered best influence on young pitchers, but few can fault him on the mound.

Robert Raymond Boone

• Turns 33 Nov. 19... Bats right, throws right... Born in San Diego, Cal... Three All-Star Games.
• Caught Steve Carlton in the All-Star Game and several other times, only one highlight of a memorable year... Led league's catchers with a .286 average and won Gold Glove, but was hitting .321 at the break... Then injured his hand and groin, and finally his knee in a home plate collision Sept. 13 with the Mets' Joel Youngblood and needed surgery... Had 58 RBIs in 114 games, the product of diligent work with Billy DeMars... Had only two passed balls... One of the leading subscribers to the offseason conditioning program... Also the National League's player representative in the effort to work out a new Basic Agreement with the owners... Criticism of his pitch-calling (too many breaking balls) seemed to wane in '79... Could have become a free agent, but signed multi-year contract with Phils at end of season.

Peter Edward Rose

• Turns 39 Apr. 14... Switch-hitter, throws right... Born in Cincinnati, Ohio... 12 All-Star Games.
• How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?... Was hitting .302 Aug. 31, then drove to .331 average, 23-game hitting streak, all-time high of 10 200-hit seasons... Broke Honus Wagner's singles record and helped pack 2.77 million into The Vet during a fourth-place season... Stands 258 hits short of Stan Musial's league record and 819 short of Ty Cobb's all-time mark... Also played expert first base in his first try and had career high of 20 steals... Did all of this despite being miscast as a No. 3 hitter most of year... Returns to leadoff spot this season... Conquered challenge of living up to own legend in front of new audience... Still, media and fans overrated his leadership status, and his feats did not cure team's ills... Earthy, fun-loving guy who takes pains to commiserate with rookies and reserves, on every team... One of America's few athletes whose name alone has come to signify a style of play.

Garry Lee Maddox

• Turns 31 Sept. 1... Bats and throws right... Born in Cincinnati, Ohio... Three All-Star Games.
• Still faster than a speeding line drive in centerfield... One of three N.L. outfielders with over 400 chances, he won his obligatory Gold Glove... Veterans Stadium catches against Dan Driessen, Chris Speier and Terry Puhl should have been bronzed for posterity... Missed 22 games with sundry injuries, and his average slipped to .281 under that burden with worst RBI year since 1976... Usually batted no higher than No. 6, but stole 26 bases... Didn't feel particularly close to new manager Dallas Green, but maybe that will change... Introspective man who reads the Bible and rarely feels satisfied with his own performance... "I get credit for my good plays, so I should get blame for bad ones," he said after feeling that he cost the club a game... Likes to swing at the first pitch, doesn't like people making an issue of it.

Lawrence Robert Bowa

• Turns 35 Dec. 6... Bats and throws right (note: Bowa was a switch-hitter)... Born in Sacramento, Cal.... Five All-Star Games.
• The shortstop from Vesuvius... Starting his second decade as a Phillie starter with the highest career fielding percentage of any SS in history... Made six errors last year, none at home, but lost Gold Glove to Dave Concepcion... Phillie clubhouse was eerily quiet when he missed 16 games with broken thumb in May-June... So was their performance: they went 3-13... Was hitting .302 at time of injury but ended at .241 with fewest steals (20) since '73... The spur in the Phillies' hide, he inspires some with his Voice of Doom talk and turns off others, but the club needs his spunk... After blowup with media in '78 he became the most cooperative Phillie in '79... Says Garry Maddox: "Larry would make more great plays, but he doesn't have to. He's always in position to handle the routine play.

Gregory Michael Luzinski

• Turns 30 Nov. 22... Bats and throws right... Born in Chicago, Ill... Four All-Star Games.
• He became The Whipping Bull, hitting .188 at home, slumping to five-year lows in runs, HRs and RBIs, and catching the wrath of the homefolks... Missed 21 games with torn thigh muscle; should have been on disabled list in order to heal completely.

Jesus Manuel Trillo

• Turns 30 on Dec. 25... Bats and throws right... Born in Caritito, Venezuela... One All-Star Game.
• Best defensive second baseman in the league... Missed 40 games with broken forearm (hit by Rick Sutcliffe's pitch in Los Angeles May 3) and the Phils were 18-22 without him... Still ranked second among N.L. second basemen in double plays... Fastest gun in the East on a double play, and hit well in No. 2 spot in September to hike average to .260 with 22 doubles... Stylish figure in uniform, described by Tim McCarver as "the new Tyrone Power"... A fine early-season hitter, but people still doubt his stamina... Quiet, smiling presence whose Boston-educated wife Maria serves as agent... Maria's family is one of Venezuela's richest... The big prize in the six-player deal with Cubs in '79 that sent Jerry Martin and Barry Foote to Chicago.

Arnold Ray (Bake) McBride

• Turns 31 Feb. 3... Bats left, throws right... Born in St. Louis, Mo... One All-Star Game.
• Every proposed major trade in the off-season involved McBride's name... Was hitting .216 May 21 but ended at .280 with 25 steals and 60 RBIs, one under career high... Market value is obvious, with sprinter's speed and fielding reputation that reached new heights in '79... Also had 582 atbats, second to Rose, proving he can at least make an appearance with pain... One of four National Leaguers who had double figures in doubles, triples and homers... Batted leadoff a lot, but struck out 77 times and may be more effective batting third or fifth... Only he can answer the widespread accusation that he doesn't always hustle, but he's a much better clutch hitter than people think... And how many players score 82 runs in an "off" year?

Michael Jack Schmidt

• Turns 31 Sept. 27... Bats and throws right... Born in Dayton, Ohio... Four All-Star Games.
• All or nothing at all... Came back from disappointing '78 to hit league-leading 45 HRs (Note: Dave Kingman actually led with 48 HRs. Schmidt finished second.), and he leads baseball in homers over six seasons... Should pass 300 career homers in 1981... Second in slugging percentage and RBIs, and led league in walks... Hit four homers in succession July 7-8 and seven in four games... Won Gold Glove again and led 3Bs in double plays... Yet hit .188 in September and had several periodic droughts... Haunted at times by staggering expectations, on his part and others... Would like to hit .300 someday and, in fact, may be most effective as leadoff man... Considered best baserunner on team, one of best athletes in game... One of the bridge-playing Phillies... A complex, aloof, highly intelligent man who is on pace for Hall of Fame admission despite everything.

Richard David Ruthven

• Turns 20 March 27... Bats and throws right... Born in Sacramento, Cal.... One All-Star Game.
• Even when he was 6-0 with a 1.65 ERA, his elbow didn't feel quite right... Went on disabled list with hip and arm problems and finally had post-season elbow surgery... Phils are convinced he's ready again... Of the first 209 batters to face him, only 37 got hits... Had two-hitter in Los Angeles May 5 and one-hitter in San Diego May 9... Won 19 of his first 24 decisions after Phillies traded Gene Garber to Atlanta for him in mid-'78... Another two-time Phillie... His last win was July 26 at Chicago... Deliberate motion gives basestealers a break... "I wanted him back ever since I traded him the first time," says Paul Owens.

Arnulfo Acevedo (Nino) Espinosa

• Turns 27 Aug. 15... Bats and throws right... Born in Villa Altagracia, Dominican Republic.
• Was doing fine until a tight shoulder curtailed his season... Didn't give up an earned run from April 15 to May 10... Mike Schmidt hit homers during 12 of his starts... Righted a mid-season slump with a 5-1 July... Obtained from Mets for Richie Hebner and was glad to join a contender, but began to wonder when Phils were shut out during six of his starts... Still beat Mets three times and broke a 12-game jinx to West Coast teams by beating San Diego in may... Was a pinch-runner and pinch-hitter in the same inning of the 23-22 win at Chicago May 17.

Dickie Ray Noles

• Turns 24 Nov. 19... Bats and throws right... Born in Charlotte, N.C.
• Doesn't particularly like batters... May go into bullpen because Dallas Green likes his tenacity... Also his fastball... In two tours with the Phillies, gave up 80 hits in 90 innings, and own three starts after Ruthven and Christenson went on disabled list... Had rocky minor league career until he won five in a row at Oklahoma City... Phils were shut out twice during his good outings... Walked nine in beating Giants at The Vet July 9, but his control improved when recalled.

Larry Richard Christenson

• Turns 27 Nov. 10... Bats and throws right... Was born in Everett, Wash.
• His luck was even worse than Lerch's... Broken collarbone postponed his first start until May 19 and first win until June 9... Then he pulled a groin trying to escape a pitch from Mets' Kevin Kobel... Minor surgery to smooth out collarbone followed... In between, didn't get his second complete game until Aug. 7 and raised questions about stamina... Was on the showroom floor during the winter meetings... "They can't trade me, I'm a 5-and-10 man," he joked. "That was my record last year, 5-and-10."

James Douglas (Doug) Bird

• Turns 30 March 5... Throws right, bats right... Born in Pomona, Cal.
• Started and won Dallas Green's first game as Phillies' manager... So much for the highlights... Yielded seven homers in 61 innings and had trouble adjusting to higher N.L. strike zone... Was on disabled list with sore shoulder in June... But steered ERA down from 8.10 on May 19... His 11-4 performance in 1977 probably won Kansas City an A.L. West pennant... Had a 20-save year in '73... Over here, his slip pitch didn't slip... Needs an excellent spring to make this club.

Warren Scott Brusstar

• Turns 28 February 2... Throws right, bats right... Born in Oakland, Cal.
• Probably the biggest reason the Phils' staff fell apart... A strained shoulder muscle degenerated into a lost season, with only 13 games and 14 innings... Rested the arm completely from August to January... Meanwhile, no one could step into the long relief role he filled so brilliantly.

Randy Louis Lerch

• Turns 26 Oct. 9... Bats and throws left... Born in Sacramento, Cal.
• Phils got him a 7-0 first-inning lead in Chicago May 17, but he lasted one-third of an inning and the score eventually became 23-22... It was that kind of year... Between scarcity of runs, a broken right hand in a downtown Philly altercation, and a Lee Mazilli line drive off his left hand, nobody knew the trouble he'd seen... Pitched his first major league shutout in New York Sept. 12 but Green fined him for not running out a ground ball... It was his first losing season in organized ball... Snuffed out the Pirates in a crucial game Sept. 20 and had six complete games... Is encouraged to forget the fancy stuff and just rely on his two fine fastballs... Close confidant of Carlton... Managed a 3.74 ERA despite everything... Likeable guy who's still maturing.

Rawlins Jackson (Rawly) Eastwick III

• Turns 30 Oct. 24... Bats and throws right... Born in Camden, N.J.
• Devoted the year to mastery of the split-fingered fastball and naturally his his ups and downs... Gave up eight homers in 83 innings and suffered the cycle (single-double-triple-homer) in one inning at Chicago... His ERA hit 7.39 at one point, but came down just as quickly... Enjoyed one stretch of six earned runs in 17 appearances... Had two big moments, fanning Dave Kingman to wrap up 23-22 game and retiring Willie Stargell to beat Pittsburgh in 12 innings Aug. 10... Former Fireman of the Year who threw strictly heat at Cincinnati... Probably the youngest-looking Phillie... Dallas Green considers him the possible ace up the Phillies' sleeve in '80.

Ronald Lee Reed

• Turns 38 Nov. 2... Bats and throws right... Born in LaPorte, Ind... One All-Star Game.
• Before May 17 he had faced 85 batters and given up 13 hits... After May 17 his ERA went off the launching pad... Had five saves in 61 games, compared to 17 in 66 the year before... Went from May 10 to July 20 without a save, and strikeouts declined from 86 to 58... Problems may have come from too much concentrated work and too many middle-inning appearances... Seemed to come back a bit in September.

Gregory Eugene Gross

• Turns 28 Aug. 1... Bats and throws left... Born in York, Pa.
• Welcomed back into the fold with multi-year contract after trying free agent route... Third among N.L. hitters with more than 150 at bats (.333)... Had 28 at bats in first two months before winning Ozark's confidence with key double in Cincinnati... Hit .389 in June... Had five assists in limited outfield time.. Has nearly 2,300 major league at bats despite his age... Boasts only six major league homers but is starting to pull more... His pay goes up, through incentive clauses, if he starts a prescribed number of games.

Bobby Keith Moreland

• Turns 26 May 2... Bats and throws right... Born in Dallas, Tex.
• Had two fine seasons in one and now ranks as No. 2 catcher... First, hit .302 with 109 RBIs as Oklahoma City won its division of the American Association... Voted baseball's Triple-A catcher of the year... Came up in September and had slugging percentage of .521 with Phillies, playing fulltime after Boone was injured... Hit famous homer Sept. 20 against Pirates that was first allowed, then ruled foul by umps, prompting ejection of Dallas Green.

Derrel McKinley (Bud) Harrelson

• Turns 36 June 6... Switch-hitter, throws right... Born in Niles, Cal... Two All-Star Games.
• Retired after '78 and was working for collection agency and playing softball on Long Island when he heard of Larry Bowa's injury... Rode to the rescue June 26 and had some big moments.

Frank Edwin (Tug) McGraw, Jr.

• Turns 36 Aug. 30... Throws left, bats right... Born in Martinez, Cal... One All-Star Game.
• Believe it or not, had seven saves and a 2.25 ERA on June 30 and seemed an All-Star Game possibility... Then came the first of the record-tying four grand slams that culminated with Ed Ott's pivotal blow in the Bucs' 14-11 win Aug. 11... Gave up nine homers in 84 innings, but his 16 saves were a six-year high... Started strong with fastballs, but seemed to lose confidence in the screwball and guessed wrong the rest of the way.

Kevin Andrew Saucier

• Turns 24 Aug. 9... Throws left, bats right... Born in Pensacola, Fla.
• Would probably brush back Don Cordelone if he felt the need... Got most of his publicity from plunking, then fighting, the Cubs' Mike Krukow, but his running fastball earned respect, too. "He throws a heavy ball," said Dave Parker after Saucier got a save vs. Pirates... Survived starts of 0-12 and 0-6 during two minor league seasons... This was his first year of relief.

Delbert Bernard Unser

• Turns 36 Dec. 9... Bats and throws left... Born in Decatur, Ill.
• Came to Clearwater on a tryout last spring and went on to enter record books... His three pinch-hit homers in a row broke a major-league record... The last one, a three-run, ninth inning shot vs. San Diego June 10, capped a comeback win and electrified the Vet... Didn't see many fastballs after that.

Lonnie Smith

• Turns 25 Dec. 22... Bats and throws right... Born in Chicago, Ill.
• His manager, Dallas Green, believes in him and that may be all he needs... Started in home opener at RF, a position he'd never played, and misplayed a couple of balls... Nervousness and understandable... Then-farm director Green was enraged at Danny Ozark's treatment of Smith... Scored winning run in victory over Dodgers, but was sent back to Oklahoma City... Hit .330 there with 34 steals and led American Association with 106 runs.

Michael Allen Anderson

• Turns 29 June 22... Bats and throws right... Born in Florence, S.C.
• Made the club's catch of the year May 13 in San Francisco, crashing against rightfield fence for back-to-the-plate grab... Was the late-inning defensive replacement for Luzinski most of the year, getting 78 at bats in 79 games.