Daily News | The Celebre twins: How Richie Ashburn and a South Philly pizza shop became ‘family’
The AM-radio broadcast hummed in his car, providing a soundtrack for the summer nights he delivered pizzas throughout South Philadelphia. The announcers — Harry, Whitey, Wheels, and Andy — were able to make a nine-inning game feel like a breeze. And when the Phillies entered the late innings, the driver knew to listen closely. An order — more so a plea — was likely going to come over the airwaves.
A Denver oil company recruited Ashburn to be its pitchman and folks back home in Nebraska urged him to become a politician. He was sharp and knew how to work a crowd. But his wife, Herberta, reminded him that baseball was what he knew best. “He always looked like he was playing with his hair on fire,” said Chris Wheeler, who adored Ashburn as a youngster and credits him for allowing him the chance to broadcast his first Phils game. “We didn’t analyze things back then the way they do now, ‘Well, his OPS was and his WAR was.’ You just looked at him and for us kids, he was our guy.”
By Saam — one of Ashburn’s original broadcasting partners — once said Ashburn “knew when to shut up and not talk too much.” Yes, Ashburn knew the game. But he didn’t feel the need to prove himself. He was smart — he used a pen every day to complete the New York Times crossword puzzle, his son said — and he loved to read. Ashburn spent his entire adult life in baseball, but he knew more than just center field.
Ashburn stayed in the booth and formed an iconic bond with Kalas, who arrived in 1971 with the new stadium. They were both from the Midwest and proved to be the perfect pair as they worked together for 27 seasons. Kalas played the straight man to Ashburn’s dry wit. It worked. “He wasn’t like the rest of us,” Wheeler said. “He would go back to his room and he’d say, ‘I’m going to spend time tonight in Suite 245 with the most interesting person I know. Me.’ He’d rather be in his room reading than be out like the rest of us were in those crazy days.”Celebre’s is now owned by Michael Spina, who grew up in South Philly and started working there when he was 13. Not much else has changed since Ashburn first ate there alone.
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