Ruly Carpenter ran Phillies when they won 1980 World Series

WILMINGTON, Del. - So many emotions flooded through Ruly Carpenter when the Phillies finally won the World Series in 1980. Thirty years had passed since The Whiz Kids had won the National League pennant under the stewardship of his dad, Bob Carpenter, who did not even come close again to winning until the Phillies blew that 6 1/2-game lead with 12 games remaining in 1964. The old man passed the presidency of the club in 1972 down to Ruly, who worked hand-in-hand with general manager Paul Owens to overhaul the organization and field a team that became recognized for sustained excellence.

When Ruly thinks back on the 1970s, it is seldom without contemplating what could have been. Even with a core of stars that included Steve Carlton and Mike Schmidt, the Phillies were beaten in the National League Championship Series by the Reds in 1976 and the Dodgers in 1977 and 1978. They signed Pete Rose yet finished 14 games out the following year, but in 1980 Tug McGraw struck out Willie Wilson for the final out in the World Series and the Carpenters had won a championship in their fifth decade (1943 to '81) of ownership.

"What I am happiest about was that Dad had lived long enough to see it," says Ruly, seated at a conference table at his office in Wilmington. "I remember he was there in his old office at Veterans Stadium and I walked in there. I just . . . "

Ruly purses his lips as his voice begins to crack.

"Excuse me," he says. He removes his glasses and rubs his eyes, now shining with tears.

"From 1943 to 1980, we had never won a world championship," he says. "There were so many years of frustration."

Twenty-eight years have passed and the Phillies have still not won another world championship. In the many years that have passed since the Carpenters sold the team to a consortium led by Bill Giles in 1981, the club had just two World Series appearances and were beaten in each: by the Orioles in 1983 and the Blue Jays in 1993. When they play in it again beginning Wednesday, they will be cheered on as always by Ruly Carpenter, who is 68 years old and still avidly follows the ups and downs of his old team. He says he is so pleased for Giles and club president Dave Montgomery, both of whom worked for him when he owned the team.