Elia Is Fired as Manager of Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies fired manager Lee Elia Friday and named coach John Vukovich as interim manager for the rest of the season.

General Manager Lee Thomas said that next year’s manager will come from outside the organization and will be named as quickly as possible after the end of this season.

Elia was hired on June 18, 1987, replacing John Felske.

The Phillies are in the National League East cellar and have lost 33 of their last 47 games.

“I feel at this time this is the best thing for the Phillies to do,” Thomas said.

The firing was a sharp turnaround for Thomas, who 2 months ago extended Elia’s contract through 1989.

“When I gave him the extension, I thought things would work out,” Thomas said. “But after 2 1/2 months I think it is time for a change.”

Elia, who spoke after Thomas left, said: “The ballclub is in one of its poorest years and changes have to be made, and the manager is usually part of that change.”

Elia was offered a job in the Phillies’ organization but said he would see first if he could get a job managing or coaching in the majors before taking on a development post in the farm system.

The third native Philadelphian to manage the Phillies, Elia led the team to a 51-50 record last season after succeeding Felske, for whom he had served as a coach since 1985.