03.09.07
Phillies Fans- Blame it on the Nice Old Lady With The Dogs
The forthcoming release of Phillies General Partner Bill Giles memoirs is not likely to be eagerly anticipated by Phillies fans lacking in a sense of black humor, but at least one line of this book will certainly enter into Phillies lore. From the Philadelphia Daily News:
BILL GILES TELLS the story in his new book of a visit to Jack Betz’ representative during his search for investors to help him buy the Phillies. That rep called Betz – who owned a water-purifying firm – at home. Betz’ response? He said he liked the Eagles more.
Betz’ wife, Claire, overheard the conversation and tossed in her 2 cents, which ended with, “we’ve invested $5 million in dumber things.” So began the tenure of Giles as president and then chairman of the Phils, providing much of the fodder for 17 entertaining chapters in a book called “Pouring Six Beers at a Time,” written by Giles and Doug Myers. The back cover, appropriately, features a shot of a descending Kiteman at the Vet, part of a cast of characters (along with Cannon Man, Benny the Bomb and Karl Wallenda) who have become relics.
“The best promotion, of course, is winning teams and a good facility,” Giles said Wednesday, “and fortunately, although we haven’t been to the playoffs, the last few years we’ve had winning teams and we have a great facility and that’s a whole lot better than trying to figure out who the next Wallenda’s going to be.
