`oklahoma' Auditions Scheduled 
Little Theatre Of Wilkes-barre Will Hold Auditions For The Musical 
``oklahoma'' 7-9 P.m. Sunday And Monday At The Theater At 537 North Main St.

Archie Schappert 
Aug. 6, 1996 
Archie J. Schappert, 72, Of Sweet Valley, Ross Township, Died Tuesday In The 
Department Of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Wilkes-barre.

By PAUL SOKOLOSKI; Times Leader Sports Writer
 Friday, August 09, 1996 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1A 





MOOSIC -- The Philadelphia Phillies ended the waiting game with Butch
Hobson on Thursday, releasing him from his contract as manager of the
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "That is correct," said Phillies President Bill Giles said. "We let him go.
He's through as far as we're concerned." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hobson, who will be arraigned at 9:30 a.m. today in Providence County,
R.I., Superior Court on one count of cocaine possession, wasn't available for
comment Thursday night. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The move came more than three months after Hobson was arrested in
Pawtucket, R.I., shortly after allegedly receiving a mailed package containing
cocaine in his Comfort Inn Hotel room, where the Red Barons were staying for a
two-game series with the PawSox. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hobson took a paid leave of absence May 6, and has been away from the team
at his Alabama home ever since. But his official tenure with the Red Barons
ended just before today's arraignment, as the Phillies informed Hobson through
his attorney Steve Famiglietti. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "My lawyer told his lawyer last (Wednesday) night," Giles said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The decision was made by Giles and Phillies general manager Lee Thomas
after both read a copy of a hand-written statement Hobson signed for police
immediately after his arrest May 4 in Pawtucket. In it, Hobson admitted to
past cocaine deals and use with Jerry Poe, who allegedly sent Hobson the
package that arrived in Pawtucket. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We gave Butch every chance in the world to clear himself," Giles said. "It
was obvious that he would not be able to do that. We don't want anybody in our
organization that is involved with that type of illegal drug." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The move didn't exactly come as a shock to Red Barons officials. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "No, not after what happened," said Red Barons General Manager Bill
Terlecky. "It's different for us than it is for the Phillies. The Phillies
hired him. If there's any broken trust here, it rests more between Butch and
the Phillies." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I knew he wasn't going to come back," said Ramon Aviles, Red Barons
manager. Aviles began the season as Philadelphia's roving minor league infield
instructor, replaced Hobson on an interim basis May 6 and had his interim
title removed June 7. "I haven't been looking over my shoulder." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The release means Hobson won't be paid for the remainder of the Red Barons
season, which concludes after 23 more games. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I'm not saying it was a wrong decision," said Red Barons public relations
director Mike Cummings. "A day before his arraignment seems kind of unusual.
If they paid him this long why, before the final outcome, did they decide to
fire him?" &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Giles retorted, "We just concluded it was the proper thing to do." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hobson's dismissal, Giles said, was not made to settle the mind of Aviles
or the Red Barons for the remainder of the season. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Aviles has done a great job, we're very high on him," Giles said. "Butch
is completely separate." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hobson, a former player and manager for the Boston Red Sox, was hired this
season to manage the Red Barons. He guided them to a 13-14 record before
taking his paid leave of absence. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Under Aviles, the Red Barons are 45-47. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A few Red Barons who began the season under Hobson declined comment on the
matter Thursday night. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Famiglietti did not return a call left at his answering service Thursday
night. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Butch Hobson &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Phillies Fire Barons' Hobson 
Scranton/wilkes-barre Manager Had Been On A Paid Leave Of Absence Since 
Shortly After Being Arrested For Alleged Cocaine Possession Earlier This Year

Phillies Fire Barons' Hobson Scranton/wilkes-barre Manager Had Been On A Paid Leave Of Absence Since Shortly After Being Arrested For Alleged Cocaine Possession Earlier This Year