Richie Ashburn: A Tribute
By Young Lee '98
During the spring of 1948, the Philadelphia newspapers were raving about a outfield rookie prospect from Nebraska named Richie Ashburn. One newspaper posted, "Ashburn is the surprise of the spring. It could be that he will open the season in the Phil outfield..A jack rabbit on the bases, he punches to all fields against all kinds of spring pitching."

That same Richie Ashburn did more than just open the baseball season in the Phillies outfield. Richie Ashburn or "Whitey" as he was nicknamed, ended up having a twelve year Hall of Fame career with the Phillies. He emerged as an integral part of the "Whiz Kids," outbatting every major league player of the 1950s with 1,875 hits.

Despite his amazing accomplishments as a player, Ashburn really made his connection with the Philadelphia public during his thirty-five years as a Phillies broadcaster. "Almost for the last 50 years, baseball in Philadelphia has been dominated by one person--Richie Ashburn," Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell commented, "He's been a constant. You'd tune in the radio, or turn on the television, and he was always there. He's a true Philadelphian." Upon the news of his death, the amazing influence Ashburn had over the people of Philadelphia became clearly evident. Multitudes of mourning people called into the sports radio station 610 WIP, and retold the countless stories of Ashburn's goodwill, especially toward the fans. Mayor Rendell ordered all flags in Philadelphia to be at half mast throughout the rest of that week. During the public viewing of his casket, more than 20,000 people came to pay their respects to Ashburn. "We knew he was loved," said his son Richard, "but this has been just unbelievable."

In an era when sports are more like business conglomerates and where athletes rarely spend more than two years with the same organization, let alone fifty, Richie Ashburn brought a breath of fresh air. Even in sports broadcasting, where there is so much emphasis on over-analyzing statistics and strategy, Ashburn always remained true to the fans. "Only Ashburn could be so analytical one moment, and so folksy the next," Daily News reporter Dick Jerardi wrote, "It was his style, and in 1997, his alone." Wearing his familiar cap and sunglasses and smoking his favorite pipe, Ashburn made the game simple and fun for fans listening and watching on TV, by simply being himself. "I'm not sure about that Harry.." Ashburn would always say, when disagreeing with his good friend and long time partner Harry Kalas, or "Whoa!" Ashburn would shout out whenever a Phillies player would rip a hard line drive hit. Ashburn's aw-shucks Nebraskian personality became a hit with Phillies fans all over. "What impressed me most was, he just had unbelievable warmth. You could quickly become his friend," said Phillies president Dave Montgomery, "He was an immensely popular person because he was just a person. And he didn't want to be a whole lot more than that."

As the Phillies finish another dismal season, it will be strange not to hear Ashburn's voice anymore. His death has left a void not only in the hearts of Phillies fans, but Philadelphians in general, and it will be long time before that void is filled again.

To a true Hall of Fame player, and even more, a Hall of Fame person. Thanks for all the memories, Whitey. We're gonna miss ya.