Philadelphia Athletics (1978-1980)

American Professional Slo-Pitch League (1978-1980)

Tombstone

Born: 1978
Re-Branded: 1981 (South Jersey Athletics)

First Game:
Last Game:

APSPL World Series Championships: None

Stadia

1978: Veterans Stadium
Opened: 1971
Demolished: 2004

1979-1980: Dyer Field

Branding

Team Colors:

Ownership

 

Background

The Philadelphia Athletics softball team of 1978-1980 was a men’s slo-pitch squad competing in the American Professional Slo-Pitch League.  The team revived both the name and the old elephant logo of Philadelphia’s former American League baseball franchise, which departed for Kansas City in 1954.

The APSPL was concentrated on the East Coast and Upper Midwest.  The league signed a few big-name retired Major League Baseball players, such as Norm Cash of the Detroit Caesars and Joe Pepitone of the Trenton Statesmen.  The Athletics had one of the most unusual signings in the league though.  During the 1978 season Billy “White Shoes” Johnson, All-Pro kick returner for the NFL’s Houston Oilers, appeared in 25 games for the Athletics before NFL training camp opened.   He hit .349 (lowest average on the club) with 4 home runs.

The Athletics lost an estimated $200,000 playing at the Vet in 1978.1Smith, Paul. “Softball nomads stop wandering, find home field”. The Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA). July 26, 1981 For the next two seasons, the team played at Dyer Field in Claymont, Delaware while retaining the ‘Philadelphia’ name.

In 1981 the Athletics moved to New Jersey and became the South Jersey Athletics.

 

Downloads

1979 American Professional Slo-Pitch League Franchise Sales Brochure

1979 American Professional Slo-Pitch League Franchise Sales Brochure

 

In Memoriam

Athletics team owner Butch Piacentino passed away on April 4, 2014 at age 66.

 

Links

American Professional Slo-Pitch League Programs

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