Sept. 21, 1964 - Neither the prospect of catching early morning schoolbuses, trains after a few hours’ sleep, the chill weather, nor the fickleness of chartered airline schedule dampened the crowd of 2,000 Phillies fans who swarmed to International Airport early this morning to welcome their heroes home from Los Angeles.
Schoolchildren, collegians, and elderly fans, who have been hanging on every pitch for months were darned if they were going to miss the chance to give their pennant-bound team a fitting welcome.
Last night, Jim Bunning struck out John Roseboro with the tying run on base in the ninth inning to win his 18th game of the season, giving the National League leaders a 3-2 victory over the Dodgers and a 6½-lead in the standings over the Cardinals.
This morning, as Philadelphia Mayor James Tate strode out to meet the team’s chartered jet as it touched down at 12:30 a.m., bedlam broke out in the airport’s second-floor concourse.
Schoolchildren who had been industriously working on their homework threw their books down and cheered lustily as manager Gene Mauch led the team off the ramp.
Twelve games remain on the schedule, but fans at the airport were thinking ahead to the World Series, scheduled to open in the park of the National League winner on Oct. 7.
The magic number is seven, meaning any combination of Phils wins and Reds and Cards defeats totaling seven will give the Phillies their first pennant since the Whiz Kids took it in 1950.
One of those waiting at the airport was Mrs. Judy Amaro, wife of infielder Ruben, who told a reporter that Ruben’s parents and sister were planning to come up from Vera Cruz, Mexico, for the World Series.
“They’ll see it in Philadelphia,” said Mrs. Amaro.
“This brings back memories,” said a smiling Richie Ashburn, former centerfield star for the old Whiz Kids, now a radio-TV sportscaster.
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