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
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