Friday and Saturday, May 18 & 19, 1973, were quiet news days. In Europe, the "Cod Wars" between Britian and Iceland were intensifying, with UK Royal Navy frigates beginning to accompany fishing trawlers in disputed waters. In Australia, Victoria Premier Rupert Hamer won re-election. In the US, the biggest news was Secretariat winning the Preakness Stakes, setting him up for a potential Triple Crown.
The York Hospital Fete was an annual fundraiser in York, PA. Highlights in 1973 included an autcross race, vintage car show, auctions, musical acts, rides, a petting zoo and more. The Flying Wallendas made an appearance, as did former Penn State running back Lydell Mitchell, coming off his rookie season for the Baltimore Colts. $500,000 was raised for the hospital, while prize winners won appliances, vacations, and even a 1973 AMC Hornet four door sedan.
The local baseball team, the Phillies, was struggling through another rough season in '73, and lost two out of three games during the fete, losing on Friday night at home against the Cubs, then splitting a twi-night doubleheader the next day. Bill Robinson, who didn't play on Friday night, was the hitting star of the doubleheader, with six hits in nine at bats, including a big RBI in the 3-0 win on Saturday.
They had a rookie 3B in 1973. He would go on to have a moderate amount of success as a home run hitter and fielder.
ReplyDeleteThis matchbook made me do a double take, as I thought it said "York Hospital Pete", and was about to ask if you knew who "Pete" was :)
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