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1964: The Year the Phillies Blew the Pennant
The 1964 Phillies had seemingly run away with the National League pennant and had it all wrapped up by September 21st. With only 12 games remaining - 7 of them at home - the Phillies were in first place by 6 1/2 games.
It was almost mathematically impossible for the Phillies to blow that big a lead - but they did.
More often than not, Phillies manager Gene Mauch has been blamed for the monumental collapse ever since. But was he responsible?
Barry Bowe doesn't think that Gene Mauch was to blame, but you be the judge as you follow the events that transpired during the 162-game schedule.
Woven in between the day-to-day highlights are the author's personal anecdotes, tidbits of information about some of the greatest ballplayers who ever played the game - not only for the Phillies, but for players on other teams, and players in other sports.
You'll be exposed to trivia like - What baseball player was John Glen's wingman during the Korean War? What baseball player was Sgt. Ernie Bilko named after? How did the Oakland Raiders become one the 8 original AFL teams? Who was the first Little Leaguer to make it to the big leagues? What incident started the hatred between the Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys?
It was almost mathematically impossible for the Phillies to blow that big a lead - but they did.
More often than not, Phillies manager Gene Mauch has been blamed for the monumental collapse ever since. But was he responsible?
Barry Bowe doesn't think that Gene Mauch was to blame, but you be the judge as you follow the events that transpired during the 162-game schedule.
Woven in between the day-to-day highlights are the author's personal anecdotes, tidbits of information about some of the greatest ballplayers who ever played the game - not only for the Phillies, but for players on other teams, and players in other sports.
You'll be exposed to trivia like - What baseball player was John Glen's wingman during the Korean War? What baseball player was Sgt. Ernie Bilko named after? How did the Oakland Raiders become one the 8 original AFL teams? Who was the first Little Leaguer to make it to the big leagues? What incident started the hatred between the Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys?
490 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 3, 2014
12 people are currently reading
1 person want to read
About the author
Barry Bowe
47 books17 followersAmerica’s best crime writer leads a fascinating life.
A jock in high school, Barry Bowe got kicked out of the Naval Academy two days before the beginning of Plebe Summer. Long story.
Sold life insurance, quit because he hated it.
Became a territory manager in Manhattan, for the world’s largest textile manufacturer. More interested in acting and rock ‘n’ roll, got himself fired.
Auditioned for a part in dinner theater. Got the part, didn’t know how to act. Moved on to music.
Fronted several rock groups for several years, couldn’t make enough money to support his family. Wife and two children. Favorite daughter Stevie, favorite son Ed.
Moved to Fort Lauderdale, installed carpet for a few years. Did well until aggravating an old football injury. Needed knee surgery, needed new career-path.
Moved back to Philly. Gave life insurance another try, still hated it.
Found a home in the fitness industry. Started at the bottom, worked his way toward the top. Loved his job, made tons of money. Refused to kiss the president’s ass, got fired after six years.
Divorce mixed in the middle of all that.
Moved to the Caribbean to become a writer. Didn’t know a story had a beginning, a middle, and an end. Taught algebra, geometry, and trigonometry in an expensive private school. Went from $60,000 per year, to $16,000. Tended bar seven nights a week to make ends meet, took correspondence courses on writing in his spare time.
Became a sportswriter with the local newspaper, first sportswriter to put the name of future NBA star Tim Duncan on the sports page.
Quit both jobs to move to L.A. to write the pilot for a TV series.
Moved back to the islands when the production company ran out of money.
Decided to become a freelance writer, subsidized by a rich girl who thought he had talent. Found a niche in the true-crime market, wrote more than 100 stories for the True Detective magazines.
Came home to visit mom, bumped into an idea for a book. Took a day-trip to New York City to interview two agents. Liked both, picked one. Connie Clausen.
Mentored him, sold his first book. Born to Be Wild in the United States, Der Wild in Germany.
Connie died, didn’t like the person taking over her agency.
Continued as an independent writer: 1964, Stosh, Caribbean Queen, The War Journal (ghost writer), Birth of the Birds, Eagles QBs A to Z. And now ... America’s best crime saga: 21 Years. Polish Widow on the drawing board.
Delivered pizza to make ends meet, for years. Loved the job and co-workers.
Loves horseracing. Splits time equally between betting on horses and writing.
Favorite grandson Zack (my spelling, not his) graduated from Rosemont College with a degree in chemistry. Favorite granddaughter Ally married a soldier stationed in Fort Riley.
Obsessed with seeing 21 Years on Netflix.
A jock in high school, Barry Bowe got kicked out of the Naval Academy two days before the beginning of Plebe Summer. Long story.
Sold life insurance, quit because he hated it.
Became a territory manager in Manhattan, for the world’s largest textile manufacturer. More interested in acting and rock ‘n’ roll, got himself fired.
Auditioned for a part in dinner theater. Got the part, didn’t know how to act. Moved on to music.
Fronted several rock groups for several years, couldn’t make enough money to support his family. Wife and two children. Favorite daughter Stevie, favorite son Ed.
Moved to Fort Lauderdale, installed carpet for a few years. Did well until aggravating an old football injury. Needed knee surgery, needed new career-path.
Moved back to Philly. Gave life insurance another try, still hated it.
Found a home in the fitness industry. Started at the bottom, worked his way toward the top. Loved his job, made tons of money. Refused to kiss the president’s ass, got fired after six years.
Divorce mixed in the middle of all that.
Moved to the Caribbean to become a writer. Didn’t know a story had a beginning, a middle, and an end. Taught algebra, geometry, and trigonometry in an expensive private school. Went from $60,000 per year, to $16,000. Tended bar seven nights a week to make ends meet, took correspondence courses on writing in his spare time.
Became a sportswriter with the local newspaper, first sportswriter to put the name of future NBA star Tim Duncan on the sports page.
Quit both jobs to move to L.A. to write the pilot for a TV series.
Moved back to the islands when the production company ran out of money.
Decided to become a freelance writer, subsidized by a rich girl who thought he had talent. Found a niche in the true-crime market, wrote more than 100 stories for the True Detective magazines.
Came home to visit mom, bumped into an idea for a book. Took a day-trip to New York City to interview two agents. Liked both, picked one. Connie Clausen.
Mentored him, sold his first book. Born to Be Wild in the United States, Der Wild in Germany.
Connie died, didn’t like the person taking over her agency.
Continued as an independent writer: 1964, Stosh, Caribbean Queen, The War Journal (ghost writer), Birth of the Birds, Eagles QBs A to Z. And now ... America’s best crime saga: 21 Years. Polish Widow on the drawing board.
Delivered pizza to make ends meet, for years. Loved the job and co-workers.
Loves horseracing. Splits time equally between betting on horses and writing.
Favorite grandson Zack (my spelling, not his) graduated from Rosemont College with a degree in chemistry. Favorite granddaughter Ally married a soldier stationed in Fort Riley.
Obsessed with seeing 21 Years on Netflix.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 1, 2015
I liked that this book gave a day-by-day account of the season. There was a summary of each game, and for those of us who are hankering for baseball when the snow is piling up during the winter, those were really nice to read. It reads more like a reference or research book as it appears that the author did not obtain any direct quotes or interviews bu instead conducted extensive research. It was an enjoyable read - unless, of course, one is a Phillies fan!
Displaying 1 of 1 review