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'{{short description|Professional softball team}} The '''Philadelphia Athletics''', later named the '''South Jersey Athletics''', were a professional softball team that played in two [[men's professional softball leagues|professional softball leagues]] at [[Veterans Stadium]] in [[Philadelphia]] (1978), Dyer Field in [[Wilmington, Delaware]] (1979-1980)<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64584352/the-morning-news/|title=Clipped From The Morning News|date=April 6, 1979|pages=31|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64584765/the-morning-news/|title=Clipped From The Morning News|date=July 10, 1980|pages=28|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> and finally the Cjonacki Sports Complex in [[Berlin, New Jersey]] (1981-1982).<ref name="auto3">{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vBUeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=o1cEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7245,5272863&dq=softball+new-york-clippers&hl=en|title=Ludington Daily News - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com}}</ref> ==League history== During the late 1970s and early 1980s, several men's professional slow-pitch [[softball]] leagues were formed in the United States to build on the growth and talent in the booming men's amateur game during this period.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1977/07/29/slow-pitch-pros-fast-becoming-favorites/2dff2748-c53f-4fd6-9a20-b08f18cd2a5c/|title=Slow-Pitch Pros Fast Becoming Favorites|first=John|last=Feinstein|date=July 29, 1977|via=www.washingtonpost.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1977/05/26/pro-slo-pitch-softball-debuts-sunday/cca52509-c3c2-4116-a1d7-323d2e1b6bc3/|title=Pro Slo-Pitch Softball Debuts Sunday|first=Russell|last=Carter|date=May 26, 1977|via=www.washingtonpost.com}}</ref> The [[men's professional softball leagues|American Professional Slo-Pitch League (APSPL)]] was the first such league, launching in an era of experimentation in professional sports leagues.<ref name="auto3"/> The APSPL was formed in 1977 by former [[World Football League]] front-office executive [[Bill Byrne (sports entrepreneur)|Bill Byrne]], who would go on to found the [[Women's Professional Basketball League]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64767329/the-journal-times/|title=Clipped From The Journal Times|date=April 3, 1977|pages=47|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64705618/valley-news/|title=Clipped From Valley News|date=May 25, 1977|pages=42|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Former New York Yankees star [[Whitey Ford]] was the first APSPL commissioner.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64607292/lansing-state-journal/|title=Clipped From Lansing State Journal|date=July 21, 1977|pages=42|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64783650/the-courier-journal/|title=Clipped From The Courier-Journal|date=September 3, 1978|pages=8|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The Philadelphia Athletics joined the APSPL in the 1978 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64584054/the-courier-journal/|title=Clipped From The Courier-Journal|date=July 8, 1978|pages=7|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> In 1980, three teams, Fort Wayne, Milwaukee and Cleveland broke away to form the [[men's professional softball leagues|North American Softball League (NASL)]] under the leadership of [[Ted Stepien]], who owned 6 of the 8 teams in the league (only Fort Wayne and Milwaukee had non-Stepien ownership), while the APSPL continued with just 6 teams. Philadelphia remained in the APSPL.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-10-02-sp-45743-story.html|title=With This Team, He'd Better Have a Sense of Humor|date=October 2, 1994|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://funwhileitlasted.net/2014/05/23/1979-fort-wayne-scouts-softball/|title=1979 Fort Wayne Scouts • Fun While It Lasted|date=May 23, 2014}}</ref> The NASL lasted one season. In 1981 the APSPL merged with NASL to create the [[men's professional softball leagues|United Professional Softball League (UPSL)]], but only the Milwaukee franchise came from the NASL to the new league as the other NASL teams folded.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.softballhistoryusa.com/category/other/nasl/|title=NASL – Softball History USA|website=www.softballhistoryusa.com}}</ref> The Athletics moved to New Jersey in 1981 and became the South Jersey Athletics. The merged league competed for two seasons, before disbanding after the 1982 season, ending the pro era of men's softball.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.softballhistoryusa.com/|title=Softball History USA – This site is dedicated to collecting the history of the great sport of softball.|website=www.softballhistoryusa.com}}</ref><ref name="auto4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.angelfire.com/sd/slopitch/pro.html|title=Professional Slow Pitch Softball History|website=www.angelfire.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://detroitcaesars.weebly.com/|title=Detroit Caesars|website=Detroit Caesars}}</ref> The Athletics had a nomadic existence, starting play in 1978 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia with a capacity of over 60,000. The A's, with a high attendance mark of 4700 spectators, lost over $200,000 under the direction of President Valentino Piacentino.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64585168/the-philadelphia-inquirer/|title=Clipped From The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=July 26, 1981|pages=184|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Seeking a more stable situation, the team moved to Wilmington, Delaware, but suffered from poor attendance.<ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto2"/> The team eventually found a home in New Jersey, changed the name from the Philadelphia Athletics to the South Jersey Athletics, and the franchise stabilized until professional softball played ended in 1982.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64585593/courier-post/|title=Clipped From Courier-Post|date=May 12, 1982|pages=29|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65310372/the-philadelphia-inquirer/|title=Clipped From The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=July 26, 1981|pages=219|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65310448/the-philadelphia-inquirer/|title=Clipped From The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=July 26, 1981|pages=220|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> ==Philadelphia Athletics== The Athletics brought on former [[Philadelphia Phillies]] star [[Johnny Callison]] to serve as player-coach<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65463933/the-philadelphia-inquirer/|title=Clipped From The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=May 19, 1978|pages=20|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65463977/the-courier-journal/|title=Clipped From The Courier-Journal|date=July 8, 1978|pages=21|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> but he would resign after a 10-25 start, citing the need to return to his business committments.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65464433/the-philadelphia-inquirer/|title=Clipped From The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=June 15, 1978|pages=29|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65464014/the-philadelphia-inquirer/|title=Clipped From The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=July 26, 1978|pages=25|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65464498/philadelphia-daily-news/|title=Clipped From Philadelphia Daily News|date=July 26, 1978|pages=79|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The team struggled on-the field at Veterans Stadium in 1978, finishing the season 29-35 (.453), 2nd in the Eastern Division to the [[New England Pilgrims (softball)|New England Pilgrims]] advancing to the playoffs with their 2nd place divisional finish.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65308946/the-philadelphia-inquirer/|title=Clipped From The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=May 20, 1978|pages=23|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64584108/the-philadelphia-inquirer/|title=Clipped From The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=July 15, 1978|pages=25|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Philadelphia lost to the [[Cleveland Jaybirds]] in the first round of the playoffs 2–1 (10-16, 8-4, 26-22), dropping the third game in a slug-fest Cleveland took 26–22. The [[Detroit Caesars]] won the 1977 APSPL World Series with Mike Nye of Detroit winning the series MVP. Benny Holt of the [[Chicago Storm (softball)|Chicago Storm]] won the triple crown and was honored as league MVP. Johnny Dollar (.571, 15 HRs, 81 RBIs) was the Athletics sole representative on the 1978 All-APSPL team. Cliff Yeager (.621, 3 HRs, 48 RBIs), Pete Simonelli (.500, 9 HRs, 31 RBIs, 65 runs scored) and Lawrence "Boom Boom" Hutcherson (.486, 43 HRs, 125 RBIs), who had come to the Athletics from the defunct [[Baltimore Monuments]], had solid seasons in support.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65308605/the-philadelphia-inquirer/|title=Clipped From The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=May 13, 1978|pages=23|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The Athletics also featured former [[National Football League]] star, and Pennsylvania native, [[Billy "White Shoes" Johnson]] (.349, 4 HRs, 19 RBIs).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64584086/the-morning-call/|title=Clipped From The Morning Call|date=May 18, 1978|pages=22|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Poor attendance and financial losses playing at Veterans Stadium had owner Butch Piacentino looking for a new home by the end of the season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65674365/the-philadelphia-inquirer/|title=Clipped From The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=August 25, 1978|pages=26|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The team moved to Delaware in 1979 but retained the Philadelphia Athletics name.<ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65308792/the-news-journal/|title=Clipped From The News Journal|date=May 5, 1979|pages=17|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The move did not benefit the win-loss record as the Athletics struggled to a 23-41 (.359) finish, 3rd place in the Eastern Division, 13 games behind the [[Rochester Zeniths (softball)]], and out of the playoffs. Ron Dorsey and Lawrence Hutcherson made the mid-season All-Star team.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65308906/the-morning-news/|title=Clipped From The Morning News|date=July 19, 1979|pages=34|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The Milwaukee Schlitz took the APSPL title in 1979 over Kentucky, with Schlitz player Rick Weiterman winning both the series and league MVP awards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.softballhistoryusa.com/category/other/aspsl/|title=ASPSL – Softball History USA|website=www.softballhistoryusa.com}}</ref> Hutcherson (.533, 12 HRs, 57 RBIs) and Dorsey (.433, 16 HRs, 77 RBIs) had strong seasons for the Athletics. 1980 was a similar struggle as the Athletics went 21-43 (.328) and out of the playoffs as Hutcherson and Dorsey elected to play for the York Barbell amateur club in the National Slo Pitch Conference, a prestigious amateur competition .<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65651424/the-morning-news/|title=Clipped From The Morning News|date=May 9, 1980|pages=37|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65714374/york-daily-record/|title=Clipped From York Daily Record|date=June 3, 1980|pages=14|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The [[Rochester Express]] won the league title, Don Brown of Rochester was the World Series MVP and Bill Gatti of Kentucky was honored as the league MVP. Infielder Gary Hartman<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65674976/the-morning-news/|title=Clipped From The Morning News|date=May 18, 1980|pages=83|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> made the all-APSPL team for 1980. John Spadaccino (14 HRs, 46 RBIs) and the windmill-style delivery of pitcher Sam Sapienza<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65676083/the-daily-item/|title=Clipped From The Daily Item|date=June 23, 1978|pages=15|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> had come from the disbanded [[Trenton Champales]] in the off-season had solid season.<ref name="auto4"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65675700/democrat-and-chronicle/|title=Clipped From Democrat and Chronicle|date=June 30, 1980|pages=6|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65675764/democrat-and-chronicle/|title=Clipped From Democrat and Chronicle|date=June 30, 1980|pages=9|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> ==South Jersey Athletics== The APSPL combined with the NASL in 1981 to form the United Professional Softball League (UPSL) and the Athletics rebranded as the South Jersey Athletics with a move to New Jersey.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64807155/the-philadelphia-inquirer/|title=Clipped From The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=May 17, 1981|pages=182|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65719171/courier-post/|title=Clipped From Courier-Post|date=June 19, 1981|pages=24|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> It was a stellar season for the Athletics<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65677515/courier-post/|title=Clipped From Courier-Post|date=June 29, 1981|pages=18|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>, finishing the year 35-21 (.625), winners of the Eastern Division, and earning a first-round playoff bye as a result. The Athletics stumbled against New England, who entered the playoffs with a .400 record, losing 3–2 (4-8, 12-7, 0-5, 5-3, 16-6) in the semi-finals despite strong performances by Ron Dorsey (4 HRs) and Bobby Bryant (3 HRs).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.softballhistoryusa.com/category/1981/|title=1981 – Softball History USA|website=www.softballhistoryusa.com}}</ref> Kentucky would win the league title, beating New England in the championship, Greg Whitlock of Kentucky was the World Series MVP and teammate Bill Gatti the league MVP. Ron Dorsey (.511, 34 HRs, 75 RBIs) and Bob Bryant (.464, 20 HRs, 64 RBIs) made the all-UPSL team. Mike Kolb (.456, 29 HRs, 74 RBIs), John Spadaccino (.500, 26 HRs, 64 RBIs) and Sam Sapienza (19-17 pitching) had excellent seasons for South Jersey.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64584920/courier-post/|title=Clipped From Courier-Post|date=August 20, 1981|pages=27|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> 1982 was another solid campaign as the Athletics finished the season 35-25 (.583), 3rd place in the highly competitive Eastern Division, 9.5 games back of the [[Cleveland Competitors]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65718929/courier-post/|title=Clipped From Courier-Post|date=June 11, 1982|pages=23|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65718995/democrat-and-chronicle/|title=Clipped From Democrat and Chronicle|date=May 15, 1982|pages=31|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65719423/courier-post/|title=Clipped From Courier-Post|date=June 29, 1981|pages=18|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> South Jersey would get swept 3–0 (18-11, 16-15, 18-14) the first round by [[Detroit Softball City]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64585702/courier-post/|title=Clipped From Courier-Post|date=August 25, 1982|pages=21|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Milwaukee would defeat Detroit 5–1 in the World Series with Dick Laba of Milwaukee the series MVP. Dana Andry of Cleveland was the UPSL MVP. Ron Dorsey (.547, 47 HRs, 95 RBIs) was again named to the all-UPSL for the Athletics. Mike Kolb (.521, 46 HRs, 114 RBIs), Bob Bryant (.495, 27 HRs, 81 RBIs) and John Spadaccino (.481, 27 HRs, 55 RBIs) provided additional power for South Jersey in 1982. The UPSL and the Athletics folded after the conclusion of the 1982 season, ending professional play and returning players to the amateur leagues.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.softballhistoryusa.com/category/other/uspl/|title=USPL – Softball History USA|website=www.softballhistoryusa.com}}</ref> ==Athletics year-by-year record== {| class="wikitable" |- style="background: #F2F2F2;" ! Year !! Team Name !! Record !! Pct !! Finish !! Division !! Playoffs !! League |- align=center | 1978 || Philadelphia Athletics|| 28-36 || .453 || 2nd || Eastern || 1st Round || APSPL |- align=center | 1979 || Philadelphia Athletics|| 23-41 || .359 || 3rd || Eastern || - || APSPL |- align=center | 1980 || Philadelphia Athletics || 21-43 || .328 || 6th || - || - || APSPL |- align=center | 1981 || South Jersey Athletics || 35-21 || .625 || 1st || Eastern || Semi-Finals || UPSL |- align=center | 1982 || South Jersey Athletics || 35-25 || .583 || 3rd || Eastern || 1st Round || UPSL |- align=center |} ==See also== * [[Sports in Philadelphia]] ==References== {{reflist}} == External links == *[https://funwhileitlasted.net/2014/06/29/1978-1980-philadelphia-athletics-softball/ Philadelphia Athletics on Fun While It Lasted] *[http://www.angelfire.com/sd/slopitch/pro.html Softball History Data] *[https://www.softballhistoryusa.com/ Softball History USA] *[https://detroitcaesars.weebly.com/ Detroit Caesars Online Home] *[https://www.teamusa.org/usa-softball/national-softball-hall-of-fame National Softball Hall of Fame] [[Category:Softball teams]] [[Category:Sports clubs disestablished in 1982]] [[Category:Sports clubs established in 1978]] [[Category:Sports teams in New Jersey]] [[Category:Defunct sports teams in New Jersey]] [[Category:Men's professional softball teams]] [[Category:Sports teams in Philadelphia]] [[Category:Defunct sports teams in Philadelphia]] [[Category:Defunct sports teams in Pennsylvania| ]]'