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CHlCAGO—Youngsters finding the gates closed to Chicago’s
Wrigley Field because of the players strike, formed a picket
Strike may be
[settled soon
J By VITO STELLINO
UPI Sports Writer
| NEW YORK (UPl)—The
pension fund dispute has been
Settled but the baseball players’
[trike continued today because
)f a stalemate on the issue of
’ack pay for rescheduled
•ames.
• Shortly after 1 a.m. (EST)
[Wednesday, the negotiations
[roke off when the owners
(ejected the players’ proposal
pat they be docked a
paximum of one day’s pay if
pe teams play an entire 162-
[ame schedule.
■ The owners rejected that
proposal, claiming they want to
lock the players a day’s pay
pr every game that is
rescheduled as part of a
toubleheader. Both sides agree
he players will be paid for
James made up on open dates
r as split doubleheaders.
The original issue that
Parted the strike—the funding
rs the pension fund—was settled
vhen the players agreed to the
>wners’ proposal offer of a
1500,000 increase in the pension
iind. The money will come
■McLain to surprise critics?
By PAUL CORCORAN
Copley News Service
OAKLAND, Calif. - Pitcher
Denny McLain, coming off his
major league season,
has been giving his many
i critics an opportunity to say “I
told you so” in spring training
appearances. He has had trou
ble getting anyone out.
This is taken as circumstan
tial evidence that Mr. McLain,
the only major league pitcher
to win 30 games in more than
three decades, is washed up at
the age of 28.
But the Oakland A’s do not
see it that way. They look on
McLain as the right-hand
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from surplus money already in
the fund and not from any
additional owners’ contribution.
Sides Seem Close
The two sides seem so close
now that a quick settlement is
likely but the issue of back pay
will become a bigger one with
each passing day as the
number of games to be
rescheduled builds up.
Marvin Miller, executive
director of the Players Associa
tion, said he had a call from
Federal Mediator Curtis Counts
late Tuesday night and agreed
to a Wednesday meeting. The
owners are scheduled to meet
Thursday in Chicago.
The long day of negotiations
started about 10:30 a.m.
Tuesday morning in the Four
Seasons restaurant. Miller’s
office is located in a skyscraper
38 floors above the restaurant.
Miller was huddled with the 24
player representatives and oc
casionally talked by phone with
John Gaherin, the counsel for
the owners who was in touch
with the owners’ Player Rela
tions Committee. After mid
night, the players were asked
pitcher they have needed to go
with a fine hitting team, which
also is more than competent in
the field. They did not rescue
him from the Texas Rangers,
alias the Washington Senators,
for philanthropic motives.
Despite his dismal 11-22 rec
ord at Washington in 1971, Den
ny still has the credentials of a
first-rate major league pitcher.
And his one-year suspension in
1970 because of his off-the-field
activities undoubtedly hurt
when he did get back into a
regular pitching rotation.
A poor start does not neces
sarily mean that the pitcher in
question is going to be a flop for
line of their own. (UPI)
to leave from the restaurant
and moved up to Miller’s office.
The issue of the pension fund
was settled first.
Back Pay Becomes Paramount
But once the issue of the
pensions was settled, the issue
of back pay became para
mount.
“We’re concerned about the
inequity from town to town,”
Detroit catcher Bill Freehan
said. “Under the owners
proposal, some teams would be
penalized more severely than
others.”
The owners want to dock the
players a day’s pay whenever
they rescheduled a game as
part of a doubleheader. The
players countered with a
proposal that the players be
docked a half-day’s pay for the
first two games rescheduled as
doubleheaders—fora maximum
of one day’s pay.
The players also agreed to
waive all the rules for the
scheduling of games, such as
allowing night games on
getaway days or a day double
header after a night game.
the entire season.
One of the best examples of
that is the return of all-time
Cleveland Indian great Bob
Feller to major league baseball
after World War II service.
Feller had a miserable early
season in 1946, and the word
went out that Rapid Robert was
not so rapid anymore—that his
fast ball had lost its zing.
That Feller may have lost a
trifle of his speed perhaps was
correct.
But he was a much better
pitcher over-all than before
World War 11, and his no-hitter
— one of three career triumphs
— in 1946 dispelled any doubt
about his undeniable talent.
Feller went on to win 26
games in that season, and con
tinued as one of the premier
pitchers in the American
League into the mid-19505.
This is not to compare
McLain with Feller, one of the
few stars to be elevated to the
Hall of Fame the first year he
was eligible.
But McLain has credentials
to prove his talent is well above
average, and to confirm that
his 31-victory season was not a
freak of the type which pops up
from time to time when a jour
neyman such as Bo Belinsky
pitches a no-hitter.
McLain’s 1968 achievement
of 31 wins for Detroit marked
the first time since Dizzy Dean
crashed the barrier in 1936 any
one had done it. For his
achievement, the former Chi
cago White Sox bonus baby won
almost all awards, including
the Cy Young award for best
pitcher, most valuable player
in the American League, and
Sporting News major league
player of the year.
McLain had won 16,20 and 17
games the three previous sea
sons, and in 1965 tied the Amer
ican League record for most
successive strikeouts in a game
— seven.
Denny had another standout
season in 1969, when he won 24
and lost 9 for the Tigers, who
were dethroned as American
League champions by Balti
more. He led the American
League in shutouts that year
Foyt
signs
at Indy
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (UPI)
—A.J. Foyt Jr. officially
entered the Indianapolis 500-
mile race Tuesday for the 15th
consecutive year and could
become the classic’s first four
time winner.
Foyt, who now builds as well
as races his own cars, entered
two of his creation.
Another two of the turboch
arged Ford Coyotes were
entered in the name of J. H.
Greer of Houston where Foyt
has his garage. A.J. Foyt Sr.
was named crew chief for all
four cars.
Four other racers were
entered Tuesday, four days
before the midnight Saturday
deadline. The field now num
bers 40. Speedway officials said
they expect about 30 more
entries to be mailed before the
time expires.
Other entries Tuesday includ
ed two by owner-driver Dick
Simon, Salt Lake City; a
backup Dan Gurney Eagle for
Bobby Unser who had an
earlier entry, and a turboch
arged Chevrolet-powered car by
Ray W. Smith of Eaton, Ohio.
Gurney’s second entry and the
two for Simon will be powered
by turbo-Offenhausers.
with nine, and in games
started, 41.
The roof fell on McLain the
following year, however, when
commissioner Bowie Kuhn sus
pended him for associations
with unsavory personalities
whose concept of sport was not
in keeping with the image of
baseball. Denny was 3-5 before
the suspension.
McLain seldom had been
cited, up to the 1970 season, for
lack of ability. A hard worker,
he was criticized, however, for
being occasionally more flip
than dedicated, concerned
more about his plane than his
curve.
One factor that may have
contributed to his trouble was
that fame and fortune came so
early in his life.
It is not a new story. Success
has destroyed many in sports
and other professions who were
not mature enough to live with
it. And for a 24-year-old man
boy with a zest for play as well
as pay, it may have been too
much of a load.
In any event, McLain is back
with a contender in Oakland,
where Vida Blue will try to
prove his 23-victory rookie sea
son was no fluke.
It might serve the other
teams in the American League
West not to take Denny lightly
this time around, despite his
poor initial showing.
Meeting set
for Minor 9
Tee managers
The Griffin Recreation
Department will hold two
organizational meetings for
those interested in managing
Tee League and Minor League
teams.
The meeting for Tee League
managers will be Wednesday at
7:30 p.m/
The meeting for the Minor
League manager will be
Thursday, April 20, at 7:30 p.m.
Both meetings will be held at
the Griffin Community Center.
★★★★★★★★
SPORTS
★★★★★★★★
I Sports Briefs |
By United Press International
STARS REVEAL CHOICES
SALT LAKE CITY (UPI) —
The Utah Stars revealed
Tuesday their four college
selections made March 2 during
the secret American Basketball
Association draft.
The choices of the Stars were
Chris Ford, a 6-5 guard from
Villanova; Travis Grant, 6-8
forward from Kentucky State;
Chuck Jura, 6-10 center from
Nebraska and Bob Nash, 6-8
forward from Hawaii.
ON PROBATION
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (UPI) -
The NCAA placed the Universi
ty of Minnesota Duluth on one
year probation Tuesday for
using 14 ineligible basketball
players during the 1970 and 1971
seasons.
The NCAA said the players
participated in unauthorized,
organized basketball competi
tions during the summers of
1970 and 1971.
CLASSIC SCHEDULE
MILWAUKEE (UPI) —Wis
consin will play Yale and
Marquette will meet Rice next
December in the opening games
of the Milwaukee Basketball
Classic.
The tournament field also
includes Southern Methodist
and Arizona.
NEW HEAD COACH
RENO, Nev. (UPI) —Jim
Padgett, head basketball coach
at the University of California
since 1968, has been named
head coach at the University of
Reno-Nevada.
Padgett, who has a 13-year
college record of 219-99, will
replace Jack Spencer.
CALHOUN SIGNED
PHOENIX, Ariz. (UPI) -
Forward Corky Calhoun of
Pennsylvania, their No. 1 draft
choice, was signed Tuesday by
the Phoenix Suns.
Jerry Colangelo, general
manager of the Suns, said that
Calhoun had the tools to be a
great pro player.
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Page 9
Knicks now face
Boston Celtics
By GARY KALE
UPI Sports Writer
NEW YORK (UPI) -The
New York Knicks disposed of
one tough foe and now take on
another as they hook up with
the Boston Celtics in the best
of-seven National Basketball
Association’s Eastern Confer
ence playoff final.
It took the Knicks six games
to eliminate Baltimore, closing
out the series Tuesday with a
107-101 victory over the Bullets.
“Boston is one of the
strongest teams in the league,”
said Knick Coach Red Holzman,
“they’re always tough for us.
We split the six-game season
series so nobody goes into this
one with any edge.”
Walt Frazier, who shares
Tuesday’s scoring honors with
Knick center Jerry Lucas, with
22 points each, thought the
matchups between New York
and Boston were even, and
agreed that the club must
contain the Celtics’ fast break
to stay alive.
First Game in Boston
The first game of the series
will be played in Boston
Thursday night. The second is
scheduled for New York on
Sunday, the third in Boston on
Wednesday, April 19, and the
fourth back in Madison Square
Garden on Friday, April 21.
If additional games are
needed, No. 5 will be in Boston
on Sunday afternoon, April 23,
the sixth in New York, April 26,
and the seventh in Boston on
Friday, April 28.
The Western Conference fin
als resumes tonight in Los
Angeles with the Lakers
meeting the defending cham
pion Milwaukee Bucks in the
second game of the best-of
seven series. The Bucks won
the opener 93-72 Sunday,
holding the Lakers to only eight
points in the third quarter.
Tonight’s game will be seen on
the ABC-TV network beginning
at 10 p.m. EST.
The New York-Baltimore
sixth game went right down to
the wire in the fourth quarter
as the Bullets grabbed a five
point lead at 93-88 with 4:14 to
Griffin Daily News Wednesday, April 12,1972
go, only to have New York take
the lead for good at 97-95 on
Bradley’s jumper from the left
baseline with 2:23 left.
Frazier Adds Foul Shots
Frazier added a pair of foul
shots to build the New York
lead to 99-97.
“This victory is a tribute to
the team,” Frazier said later.
“With Willis Reed and Dick
Barnett hurting at various
times, they showed determina
tion.”
Somebody asked losing Coach
Gene Shue why he was smiling
after being eliminated from the
playoffs and he replied: “As
long as you’re alive, you should
smile.”
Braves may hike
tickets in future
ATLANTA (UPI) - The At
lanta Braves public relations
director says he hopes the base
ball players’ strike was “the
war to end all wars” and some
changes will be made so it
doesn’t happen again.
Public relations man Larry
I NBA ~ I
Standings
By United Press International
(All Series Best of Seven)
Eastern Conference
Semifinals
W. L. Pct.
x-Boston 4 2 .667
Atlanta 2 4 .333
W. L. Pct.
x-New York 4 2 .667
Baltimore 2 4 .333
Western Conference
Finals
W. L. Pct.
Milwaukee 1 0 1.000
Los Angeles 0 1 .000
x-clinched series
Tuesday’s Results
New York 107 Baltimore 101
(Only game scheduled)
Wednesday’s Games
Milwaukee at Los Angeles
(Only game scheduled)
Shue never lost his cool
during the game as he urged
the Bullets on. He thought the
fifth foul picked up by center
Wes Unseld enabled New York
to gain better control of the
boards. The Knicks outrebound
ed the Bullets, 35-34.
New York had a balanced
scoring efforts, something they
hope can prevail in the Boston
series. Frazier and Jerry Lucas
each scored 22 points. Up front,
forwards Dave Deßusschere
and Bradley contributed 20
points apiece. Archie Clark of
Baltimore led all scorers with
31 points, Jack Marin added 21
and former Knick Mike Rkior
dan netted 19 for the Bullets.
Walburn also said it may be
necessary to hike ticket prices
or concession stand prices in
future years because more mon
ey would have to be paid the
players.
“You’ve got to even out the
checkbook,” Walburn said.
“Some adjustments have to be
made. It’s possible to adjust
player salaries, ticket prices
and concession stand prices.”
He told members of Sigma
Delta Chi, journalistic society
the strike would leave “wounds,
then scars,” but he hoped the
fans would not hold a grudge
about it.
Newton
defeats
Griffin
The Newton County tennis
team defeated Griffin 4-2 here
yesterday.
Jeff Watkins won his singles
8-2 and Scotty Adams won 8-3.
Sonny Shockley was beaten 3-
8. Jeff Watkins and Sonny
Shockley lost in the doubles 3-6
and 3-6. Hugh Sullins and Dean
Roberts were beaten 6-0,0-6 and
4-6. Scotty Adams and Eddie
Parker lost 64, 4-6 and 1-6.