Phillies Hall of Fame member Richie Ashburn is subject of new book

Richie Ashburn, called the “most beloved athlete” in the history of Philadelphia is the subject of a new book is set to be released by Barricade Books.

Richie Ashburn … Why The Hall Not? The Amazing Journey To Cooperstown with a foreword by Dan Stephenson, who does video for the Phillies, will be in bookstores and on the Internet by the end of the month.

“This is a wonderful true story about a star athlete who takes time to talk to a young fan and sign an autograph and later the fan mounts a grassroots campaign to help the star athlete get into the Hall of Fame,” said Barricade Books Publisher Carole Stuart. “You don’t find many uplifting stories about athletes these days. This book tells such a story.”

Tim McCarver, former professional baseball player and broadcaster on Fox Sports’ baseball game of the week, said, “This is a marvelous book about Philadelphia’s most beloved athlete Whitey Ashburn.” Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster Chris Wheeler said, “And when I think about Whitey, I smile. What a legacy Whitey has left.”

Co-author Jim Donahue met Richie Ashburn as a young fan at Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia. Ashburn signed an autograph for him and Donahue became an Ashburn fan. Later, Donahue began a campaign, Why the Hall Not? to have the Hall of Fame induct Ashburn. Along the way, Donahue and Ashburn became friends. They shared meals and even watched Jeopardy together. Donahue was Richie’s guest when Ashburn and another Phillies’ great, Mike Schmidt, were inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

Richie Ashburn … Why The Hall Not? The Amazing Journey To Cooperstown $19.95 (hardcover) can be ordered from Amazon and other Internet sources, including www.barricadebooks.com and www.mowday.com, the website of co-author Bruce Mowday.

Mowday is a former sportswriter and has written a number of books, including Jailing The Johnston Gang, Bringing Serial Murderers To Justice for Barricade Books.

“When Jim Donahue first told me about his relationship with Richie Ashburn, I knew it would be a wonderful book,” Mowday said. “It’s a great story of a star baseball player being kind to a young fan. More athletes should follow Richie’s example.”

The book includes Donahue’s personal story, and much information as a results of research at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., as well as interviews with members of the Phillies organization and those associated with the Why The Hall Not? campaign.

Ted Taylor, author and media professional said, “Richie Ashburn was part of Philadelphia baseball for decades, entire generations grew up watching him play and/or hearing him describe the game as only a Hall of Famer could. Phillies fans haven’t been blessed with many great players over the years but in Ashburn they got not only a great player but a great human being as well. This book tells the uplifting story of Richie, a fan and Richie’s road to the Hall of Fame.”