Connie Mack-Dick Allen Chapter

05/15/2026

Middleton recently stated that the Phillies lose money every year. He said that the team lost $40 million last year and will lose a lot more this year. He and the ownership group put up “stupid” money to win a World Series, but it doesn’t look like they’ll get it. At least they tried, right?

Well, I’m not convinced that the Phillies are losing money every year. That could be tricky accounting to use in the run up to negotiations with the players union. Professional teams have a documented record of under-reporting profits during collective bargaining.

05/11/2026

Chapter member Mike Walsh (me!) just published a SABR Games Project article about a KC Athletics v White Sox game on August 16, 1966 in Chicago. In that game, Bert Campaneris ran wild on the basepaths, tormenting Sox pitchers Tommy John and Hoyt Wilhelm (as well as White Sox catchers and infielders). Campy even scored "standing up" all the way from 1st on a pickoff throw error. It may be one of the greatest base running performances in baseball history.

Check it out:

August 16, 1966: Bert Campaneris runs wild on White Sox, scores all runs for Athletics without an RBIMay 7, 2026/in Games Project 1960s /by wpadminLnRiLWZpZWxke21hcmdpbi1ib3R0b206MC43NmVtfS50Yi1maWVsZC0tbGVmdHt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOmxlZnR9LnRiLWZpZWxkLS1jZW50ZXJ7dGV4dC1hbGlnbjpjZW50ZXJ9LnRiLWZpZWxkLS1yaWdod...

04/29/2026

Robert K. Fitts’ passion is Japanese baseball. He’s doing a book talk and signing on June 5th at the Barned and Noble in Bryn Mawr at 7 PM on his book, IN THE JAPANESE BALLPARK: Behind the Scenes of Nippon Professional Baseball.

Fitts is an award-winning author and speaker, his articles have appeared numerous journals, magazines, and websites. He is also the author of ten books on Japanese baseball and Japanese baseball cards.

Fitts is the founder of SABR’s Asian Baseball Committee and a recipient of the society’s 2025 Henry Chadwick Award for "outstanding, long-term contributions to the study of the game," the 2013 Seymour Medal for the Best Baseball Book of 2012 (Banzai Babe Ruth); the 2019 and 2023 McFarland-SABR Baseball Research Awards; the 2012 Doug Pappas Award for the best oral research presentation at the annual convention; and the 2006, 2021, 2023, and 2024 SABR Research Awards.

He has twice been a finalist for the Casey Award and has received two silver medals at the Independent Publisher Book Awards. While living in Tokyo in 1993-94, Fitts began collecting Japanese baseball cards and now runs Robs Japanese Cards LLC.

04/22/2026

The Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame has anounced their 2026 class of inductees. There are a few in the baseball world, and they are Ben Shibe, the owner of the Philadelphia Athletics, and the man for whom Shibe Park was named. Edith Houghton, who was the first female scout in MLB when she worked for the Phillies.
Also, David Raymond, the original Phillie Phanatic, is receiving a Legacy of Excellence.

This is from the group's press release:

Philadelphia Sports Hall

2026 Inductee Class

The Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame proudly announces its 23rd Inductee Class, celebrating another outstanding group of athletes, coaches, contributors, and teams whose legacies have shaped the rich history of Philadelphia sports.

The 2026 Induction Ceremony is Thursday, November 5, 2026, at Live! Casino & Hotel Event Center in South Philadelphia.

The public is invited to join the celebration of these remarkable individuals and teams.

Join the Celebration

The 2026 Induction Ceremony & Reception is open to the public.

Event Details:

📅 Thursday, November 5, 2026

📍 Live! Casino & Hotel Event Center, South Philadelphia

For more information, tickets, and event registration, visit:

https://www.philadelphiasportshalloffame.org/


2025 Pricing in effect until May 1!!


2026 Inductee Class

Agnes Stegmuller - Lacrosse/Field Hockey

Art Still - Football

Ben Shibe - Baseball

Bobby Smith - Soccer

Carli Lloyd - Soccer

Dave Raymond - Legacy of Excellence

Edith Houghton - Baseball

Gina Procaccio - Track & Field

Hugh Douglas - Football

Jack Bauerle - Swimming

Jimmy Lynam - Basketball

Johnny Gaudreau - Hockey

Jon Runyan - Football

Lisa Salters - Legacy of Excellence

Sal Paolantonio - Legacy of Excellence

1926 Frankford Yellow Jackets - NFL Champions

1970 Philadelphia Textile Men's Basketball-NCAA College Division Champions

JFK Stadium - Venue Enshrinement

04/17/2026

Wednesday was the 79th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's shattering of the barrier put in place by the lords of baseball in the 1880s, which prevented Black men from playing Major League Baseball. There was an event at the Philadelphia Stars Memorial Park at Belmont and Parkside Avenues. It honored Jackie and unveiled the design for an updated mural honoring Philadelphia's Negro League team. The previous mural was on a building that had to be demolished. The new mural will be on a wall that is now under construction. Here are a few pictures of what the mural will look like, and chapter member Mike Peich took pictures of Rock Hoffman with former Phillie Milt Thompson and 98-year-old Arlington "Ollie" Henderson, who played for the Stars in the 50s

04/09/2026

With our friends from the Baltimore Babe Ruth Chapter (BBRC), the Connie Mack-Dick Allen Chapter are co-hosting a trip to a minor league game. This year, we're trying something revolutionary and going Independent. It's almost like we planned this for the sesquicentennial of the United States.

That right we're going to the White Rose City (York, PA) to watch the York Revolution play the Charleston Dirty Birds at Wellspan Park in Atlantic League action with first pitch 1 PM on Sunday, June 7th. More details are below

Hope to see you there.

BBRC/Connie Mack 2026 MiLB game
June 7, 2026
York, PA

When: Sunday, June 7, 2026; 12 to 4 PM

Where: Wellspan Park, York, PA

Charleston Dirty Birds at York Revolution
www.yorkrevolution.com

How much: Ticket to the game which includes Diamond Club buffet is $34.00.

Food: Ground beef burgers, grilled chicken sandwiches, pasta salad, fruit salad, chips, Pepsi products and water

To attend contact Rock Hoffman at [email protected]

04/04/2026

New book on Retrosheet just published: How Retrosheet Saved Baseball History by Jay Wigley. Indeed it did save baseball history. Retrosheet's voluminous play data is the foundation of numerous baseball stat sites, include Baseball Reference and Fangraphs, and more. It started with an idea by Bill James in the 80s and was led for several decades by David Smith, a microbiologist living in Newark, DE. Check it out:

The book that explains how Retrosheet saved baseball history for all fans everywhere, all for free!

04/03/2026

Interesting article about the analytics of today's game and how Justin Crawford's abilities go against those trends. This article also highlights the continuing impact of Moneyball.

As the gospel of analytics and data insights is worshiped the wide world round, Justin Crawford proves numbers do lie.

04/02/2026

Neat article about Babe Ruth's infamous piano.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24994062/jane-leavy-babe-ruth-legend-piano-bottom-curse-bambino

02/26/2026

Dear Phillies fans,

Chapter VP of Communications Mike Walsh is giving a presentation at Main Line School Night on a very exciting, extra-innings Phillies-Giants game he attended on July 16, 1966. The presentation also covers the somewhat unusual roster moves John Quinn and Gene Mauch made after the 1965 season and into 1966 and how those moves were born out of desperation after the stunning late-season collapse of the 1964 team. He’ll also cover the roster _unbuilding_ moves in 1967 and later.

So if you have an interest in mid-60s Phillies history, this presentation is for you.

Date/Time: Thursday, March 12, 1pm-3:30 pm.

Link to register: https://courses.mainlineschoolnight.org/wconnect/ace/CourseStatus.awp?&course=26SSL41816

Course fee: $39

Location: Creutzburg Center, 260 Gulph Creek Road (in Harford Park), Radnor, PA 19087

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Uzh3bRocMPQ2FhHT8

Other issues he’ll address during the presentation:

-- How Cookie Rojas’ two-base error directly led to this creation of this presentation.

-- Did Bob Uecker have his best season with the 1966 Phillies? And did anyone actually attend Bob Uecker Day at Connie Mack?

-- Did Willie Mays hit a triple during that game or was that a figment of an impressionable cub scout’s imagination?

-- What is a hook slide?

-- Was the 1966 team or the 1983 team the real Wheeze Kids? And which team was older?

-- What is the "Opposite of the Process"?

-- How did reliever Terry Fox become a “matinee hero”? And does he remember that game?

Mike will also cover the many great but now largely forgotten players in that game.

You’ll also get to see and touch some actual Phillies mementos from 1966.

Hope to see you there!

PS: Mike has given previous versions of this presentation to the Philly SABR chapter and to the Mathewson-Plank chapter, and both of those presentations are available on Youtube. But his research on the 1966 Phillies has continued, and the presentation has evolved as he uncovered more information about that team.

★★★★☆ · Park