Thursday, April 8, 1971
Page Seven
THE MICHIGAN DAILY
Poae Seven
the
Upper deck
The Birds can be caught . .
if.. but..
By ELLIOT LEGOW
FOR THE last two years the Baltimore Orioles have complete-
ly dominated the American League. They have twice swept
to easy Eastern Division titles and twice blitzed the Minnesota
Twins in three games to capture the American League flag.
This season things should be no different as the Oriole
dynasty looms tougher to topple. The Orioles will be starting
the same lineup; that last year rolled to a fifteen game margin
over the second place New York Yankees in the Eastern Divis-
ion race, and now with a deeper pitching staff and more solid
bench may be able to increase that margin.
The first American League team in fourteen seasons
with three 20 game winners, Baltimore wasn't satisfied and
picked up Pat Dobson a 14 game winner with the weak San
Diego Padres.
Now with four potential 20 game winners, exceptional field-
ing, and the big bats of Frank and Brooks Robinson, Boog
Powell, Paul Blair and Merv Rettunmund the Orioles should be
able to fly even higher above the pack in the East.
While the Orioles have b e e n strengthening themselves
through trades and a productive farm system, the other five
teams in the East have desperately searched for ways to catch
the Birds, and nearly all their managers claim that his is the
team that will abort another dynasty-in-the-bud.
However, none of the other teams in the East has any-
thing like the overall strength and depth that marks the
Orioles. In particular there is a lack of pitching In the di-
vision and injuries and springtime failures are causing
more headaches around the league.
Each team has pursued a particular strategy in trying to
catch the Birds, some standing pat, others trading wildly, or
relying on an upsurge of superstars from the farm system. '
Last year's runners-up to the O's, New York's rebuilt Yank-
ees will be going with a team generally akin to last year's. New
York's plan has been to cultivate the products of its farm sys-
tem and hopes that Thurman Munson, Jim Lyttle, Frank Te-
pedino, John Ellis, and Frank Baker may be today's (or tomor-
row's) Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and Bobby
Richardson,
But, (and one thing these five other teams share is
once or more major but) only Munson has made it as a
starter so far, and chances are good that none of the young
Yankees will be real superstars.
One, thing in the Yankee's favor in the race for second
place is a solid starting pitching trio of Stan Bahnsen, Mel
Stotlemyre, and Fritz Peterson with youngsters Steve Kline a
possible fourth, and the division's best bullpen next to (of
course) Baltimore.
Boston Manager Eddie Kasko wasn't satisfied that the
talent he had on hand or in the Red Sox farm system was good
enough to give the Beantowners a pennant so he went out and
traded and traded some more.
As a result the Red Sox will be fielding a far different
team this year, with a completely re-arranged infield, a new
catcher, but the same uninspiring pitching staff.
Doug Griffin and Luis Aparicio will give the Red Sox a
good keystone combo, but not necessarily better than last year's
pair of Mike Andrews and Rico Petrocelli. No other aspects of
the Bosox attack are any stronger and the loss of Tony Coni-
gliaro could hurt both the offense and the box office.
Detroit and Washington are both basing their hopes in '71
on the trade which saw Denny McLain, Aurelio Rodriguez, and
Eddie Brinkman, among others, swap uniforms. The Tigers
probably came off better from the trade and figure to have one
of the league's strongest fielding and hitting ensembles as a re-
sult.
But, Detroit, like Boston, does not h a v e first place
pitching material. Mickey Lolich is Detroit's only dependa-
ble 15 game winner and Les Cain, Joe Coleman, Joe Nekro,
Mike Kilkenny, and Bill Zepp are all uncertain quantities.
The springtime miseries of Cain and Coleman make it
even more unlikely that Billy Martin's first season in Tigertown
will be a repeat of 1968.
Washington and Cleveland have even more buts clouding
their paths to the top of the A.L. East. The Senators may live to
regret their deal with Detroit although Denny McLain paired
up with Dick Bosman may give the Senators two of the leag-
* ues' strongest right arms.
But the rest of Washington's pitching staff is thin and
their infield, a strongpoint a year ago, will suffer without
Brinkman and Rodriguez.
Cleveland also has two good starters, in Sam McDowell and
Steve Hargan, and a fairly potent offensive outfield. The In-
dians' infield should be more solid, defensively, than Washing-
ton's but Alvin Dark's young team suffers from a lack of super-
stars, and will need a good deal more improvement to move into
contention and bring some fans into the vast cavern of Munic-
ipal Stadium.
Rangers,
Hawks
grab
playoff
rl
By The Associated Press
NEW YORK - Third period
goals by Vic Hadfield and Walt
Tkaczuk rallied the New Yor k
Rangers to a 5-4 victory over the
Toronto Maple Leafs last night in
the opening game of their Na-
tional Hockey League Stanley Cup
Playoff.
The victory gave the Rangers,
second place finishers in the East
Division, a 1-0 edge in the best-of-
7 series.
The second game is scheduled
here tonight.
The Leafs jumped in front on
two goals apiece by veterans Dave
Keon in th first period and Paul
Henderson in the second, and led
4-2 with time running out in the
middle period.
But Bob Nevin's close in shot
Baun's skate and passed L e a f
Skinner new captain
J u n i o r defenseman Brian
Skinner has been voted captain
of the 1971-72 Michigan hockey
team. Skinner also shared the
Most Valuable Player Award
wit retiring captain Paul Gams-
by. The Dekers Club named
sophomore Gary Connelly as the
Most Colorful Rookie. Coach Al
Renfrew cited sophomore for-
ward Rick Mallette as the Most
Improved Player.
'
i
I
a
I
SPORTS
NIGHTr EDITOR: BOB ANDREWS
Hawks scored three power-play
goals, two of them by Bobby Hull,
to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers
5-2 last night in the opener of
their National Hockey League
Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Bobby slapped in a 20-foot shot
while the Flyers' Larry Hale was
in the box and Pat Stapleton fol-
lowed with another long shot as
the Hawks went ahead to stay 2-0
in the first seven minutes of the
game.
The Flyers, who haven't won on
Chicago Stadium ice since joining
the NHL in 1967, cut the margin
to 2-1 before the first period end-
ed on Bill Lesuk's power-play goal.
With Ed Van Impe serving time,
the Hawks' Golden Jet hit the
corner on another power-play at
6:24 of the second period, but the
Flyers kept within range at 11:06
when rookie Bob Kelly planted a
short shot through goalie Tony
Esposito.
* * *
Bruins breeze
treal's John Ferguson and then
had uncomplimentary remarks for
Ashley.
After receiving the misconduct,
the Boston star pushed past a
linesman and had to be physically
restrained by teammates from go-
ing after the referee.
Ashley earlier had given 10-
minute misconduct penalties to
Montreal's Pete Mahovlich and
Phil Roberto. and Boston's Dallas
Smith.
The Bruins capitalized on a two-
man advantage at 3:57 of the first
period as Orr connected on a long
slap shot.
Montreal, which tried to out-
muscle the Bruins at times, tied
the score on a power play at 1:34
of the second period, Ferguson
received credit for the goal as the
puck trickled into the net while
Orr and goalie Gerry Cheevers
were tangled on the ice.
Midway through the period Orr
fed Smith, whose long shot was
tipped in by Wayne Cashman,
putting the Bruins in front to stay.
glanced off defe]
Baun's skate and p
goalie Jacques Plan
three seconds left i
period.
Hadfield, who ha
York's opening goa
period power play,t
in the opening minut
period, grabbing his
and lifting it past P
Then Tkaczuk tur]
ular individual effort
ning goal.
Hawks claw
CHICAGO-The C
nseman Bob
gassed L e a f
m
te with only BOSTON - The Boston Bruins Fred Stanfield added an insur-
tn the second overcame Montreal's clutch-and- ance goal at 8:47 of the final
grab tactics and withstood the period.s
d scored New loss of Bobby Orr in the final
t on a first period to defeat the Canadiens
tied the score 3-1 last night in the opener of CARDS SKI(N CUBS:
es of the final their National Hockey League
own rebound playoff series.
'lance. Orr,- the highest scoring 'de-
ned a spectac- fenseman in NHL history, scored
into the win- once and assisted on Boston's sec-
ond goal before we was given
holding and misconduct penalties
by referee John Ashley with 10:55 By The Associated Press ly
left in the final period. BALTIMORE - Frank Robin- thi
hicago Black Orr was called for holding Mon- son's slicing double to right field
snapped a fifth-inning tie and CU
gave, the world champion Balti-
more Orioles a 3-2 victory over
the Washington Senators yester- ye
:{ es
day in their 1971 home opener.
nal
Robinson's hit scored Dave err
r> Y Johnson, who had singled off los-
er Casey Cox and moved to third Ca
f~i . a". ':;::>< :i; y: > } on a single by Boog Powell. Coxth
xx retired the side after issuing a i
=5'{ one-out intentional walk to Merv i
. ,; Rettenmund, loading the bases. on
Dave McNally, who won 66 oth
. . . . . . . . . .. :r . . . " gam es the past three seasons, in-
,:" cluding 24 last year, went the dis- 19-
tance for the Oriolesafter a shaky ed
..fstart. Pe
The Baltimore left-hander re- inn
.~tired Elliott Maddox with the bas- run
t t as-rur
" =es loaded to thwart a first inning eig
=Jthreat and then yielded two runs f
in the third on four consecutive ror
two-out hits. th
Singles by Frank Howard, Mike ru
.Epstein and Joe Foy - the last Ha
: two off infielders gloves - pro- G
:...::,;,:>-:::: :;.:.";i:i::;::f: ;.rr>: duced one run and Maddox sing- pe
led home another beforeMcNally fo
fu
retired Paul Casanova. um
Washington rapped n i n e hits on
::off McNally, who ran his lifetime of
record over the Senators to 20-4. otr
.. He has beaten them 13 times in wa
14 decisions since the start of the ha]
1968 season.
AssociatedP ress
WITH GLOVE POISED and stick uplifted, Montreal goalie Ken Dryden makes a sliding skate save
on a drive off the stick of Boston Bruin forward Johnny McKenzie as Canadlen Pete Mahovlich (20)
sooks on. The Bruins went on to take a 3-1 victory to draw first blood in their best-of-seven playoff
series.
top
Nuts
in
trying to cut down Reese at
rd.
* * *
cbs clubbed
CHICAGO - Jose Cardenal and
e Hague each drove in four runs
sterday as the St. Louis Cardi-
Is, capitalizing on five Chicago
ors, battered the Cubs, 14-3.
The -fumbling Cubs handed the
rdinals nine unearned runs,
rd baseman Ron Santo a n d
st baseman Joe Pepitone corn-
tting two errors apiece and sec-
A baseman Glenn Beckert an-
ier miscue.
Left-hander Steve Carlton, a
game loser last season, blank-
the Cubs on three hits until
vitone homered in the seventh
ping. Billy Williams hit a two-
n homer for the Cubs in the
hth.
The Cards, helped by three er-
s, scored five unearned runs in
third, with Cardenal's two-
n single off losing pitcher Bill
nds the key blow.
Carlton's two-run double cap-'
d a six-run explosion in t h e
urth, with the last three tallies
earned following Pepitone's sec-
d error. Hague delivered two
the runs with a single and an-
her scored on a bases-loaded
lk by rookie reliever Bill Bon-
M.
x sweep
DAKLAND - The Chicago White'
slugged five home runs yes-
day-not counting a blast into
seats by Carlos May which be-
me a triple when he failed to
ch the plate-and opened their
American League season by sweep-
ing a doubleheader from the Oak-
land A's 6-5 and 12-4.
Bill Melton had two of the Chi-
cago homers, including a grand
slam in the sixth inning of the sec-
ond game, as the Sox gained the
double victory for new manager
Chuck Tanner.
May's mistake appeared costly
when the A's tied the score 3-3 in
the fourth, but the Sox went ahead
Stickmen win
The Michigan Lacrosse Club
completed a sweep of their sea-
son series with Michigan State
yesterday as they defeated the
Spartans 9-4 in Spartan Stadium.
Michigan jumped off to a 3-0
lead in the first period and were
never headed. The top scorer for
Michigan was Skip Flanagan
who netted two goals and added
three assists. Other scorers for
the Wolverines were Dennis
Burdziak, Phil Powers, Dan
Lamble, and Don Dworsky and
Dick Dean with two apiece.
Michigan's next game will be
at Chicago on Saturday.
on Mike Andrews' two-run double
in the fifth and scored five times
in the sixth, four coming on Mel-
ton's grand slam off reliever Bob
Locker.
Melton and Walt Williams hom-
ered in the first game for Chicago
and Jay Johnstone and Andrews
added homers in the second game
of the first opening day double-
header in major league history. The
penera
twin bill drew 23,823 to the Oak-
land Coliseum.
Bart Johnson went all the way
to earn the victory in the second
game. Tommy John, who lasted
six innings, was the first game
winner.
Chicago, trailing 5-4 in the sev-
enth inning of the first game, won
on pinch hitter Rich McKinney's
two-out single to center. Williams
scored from second and Ed Herr-
man came all the way around from
first when the ball went through
center fielder Rick Monday.
Reds burn
CINCINNATI - Hank Aaron
drilled his first home run of the
season on the first pitch of the
seventh inning and Clete Boyer
knocked in another run with a sin-
gle, lifting Atlanta over/ Cincinnati
2-1 last night.
Until Atlanta's two-run seventh,
the Braves had been able to reach
Cincinnati starter Jim McGlothlin
for only one hit-Sonny Jackson's
sixth-inning single.
Aaron belted McGlothlin's pitch
over the left centerfield wall for
his 593rd career homer and the
Braves scored their go-ahead run
on a single by Harold King, a walk
to Felix Milan and Boyer's safety
to left center.
The Reds, who had 10 hits off
Ron Reed and Cecil Upshaw, scored
their run in the sixth on a double
by Johnny Bench, a walk to Ber-
nie 'Carbo and a run-scoring single
by Hal McRae.
Upshaw choked off a Cincinnati
rally in the ninth, shutting the door
with one out and a man on second.
-Associated Press
CAUGHT IN THE act is Chicago White Sox baserunner Rich
Reichardt. Reichardt was cut down trying to steal second in yes-
terday's first game with the Oakland Athletics. Receiving the
throw is A's second baseman Dick Green.
Twins spin
ST. P A U L-MINNEAPOLIS -
Bert Blyleven dazzled Milwaukee
with a four-hitter and Harmon
Killebrew unloaded his 488th ca-
reer home run as the Minnesota
Twins trimmed the Brewers 4-0
yesterday.
Blyleven, who turned 20 Tues-
day at the start of his second sea-
son in the majors, gave up a first
inning infield single by Mike He-
gan. After Milwaukee catcher
Phil Roof was struck on the ear
flap of his batting helmet in the
second, Blyleven r e t i r e d 13
traight before Dave May and Ber-;
So
C
Six
ter
the
car
tou
Ruggers close regular season,
prepare for Big Ten tourney
HOOSIERS, MSU TOUGH
Improved league beckons netters
By CHUCK DRUKIS
:S
By RANDY -PHILLIPS
"The overall conference is very strong
this year. There are more good teams than
ever before," contemplated Michigan Ten-
nis Coach Brian Eisner on the upcoming
Big Ten Tennis season.
In contrast with previous years when the
Wolverines romped away with the confer-
ence crown, this year's battle appears to
be a multi-team race with Michigan the
slim favorite. Michigan -has managed to
cop the last four trophies and 11 of the
last 16 titles.
Indiana and Michigan State look much
stronger this season and are considered to
be serious threats to Michigan's continued
tennis dominance.
Indiana returns six lettermen including
one of the toughest two-somes in the con-
ference at number one and two singles,
The Hoosiers could have conference
champs at both those positions which are
held down by junior Mark Bishop and
senior veteran Geoff Hodson.
In'diana coach Bill Landin is confident.
"We're shooting for the top this year. We
should be tougher at the top of our line-
tin nrhieli wirll h.,ln tice nncidjao.hln "
be tough to beat. The number one team
will have Hodsdon and Bishop together.
Landin calls this pairing "the best team
I've had since 1965."
Sophomore Tom Dunker gave Indiana
its only individual title last year at No. 5
singles, and he is back this season playing
at the third spot.
The Spartans wallowed in third place
last season, but they should be strong this
season all the way down their line-up.
Tom Gray, 1970 Big Ten runner-up to
Michigan's Jon Hainline, will move into
the lead post for MSU. DeArmond Briggs
moves up to the second spot from last
year's fourth seeding. Briggs advanced to
the conference semifinals last season.
Michigan State coach Stan Drobeck
says "the title's wide open." He added that
all the teams in contention are "looking to
see what Michigan's line-up w ill be."
Drobeck considers the race to have five
contenders including Michigan, Michigan
State, Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa. He even
gives Minnesota a slight chance to come
through and take it all.
Drobeck is happy with the progress of
the conference and is "impressed by the
will help any team decidedly, Drobeck an-
swered, "only perhaps the home team."
None of the Big Ten teams except North-
western have much experience on slow
surfaces so the disadvantages will be felt
equally by all the contending clubs.
T h e Spartan mentor however, thinks
that the title will be decided at the tourn-
ament and not during the dual meet sea-
son. "The conference championships are
still the determining factor." He added
that "every match counts" and a good dual
meet season will build the necessary mo-
mentum for the championships.
Illinois and Iowa could prove tough for
the conference crown or at least could
prove to be spoilers. The Illini have a lot
.f strength at the top of their line-up
with Chip Clements at No. 3. Clements
played No. 1 last season. Eisner evaluates
them as having four real fine singles play-
ers and two real f i n e doubles teams."
Michigan had to struggle to beat the Illi-
ni, 6-3 in the Irish Invitational. I o w a
could be the dark horse contender, as they
have a deep team. Veterans Jim Esser, Rod
Kubat, Craig Sandvig, and the addition of
highly touted freshman Bruce Nagel should
1r.r lte a lnzrkc. in n. fi. i,,cinn coneI
nie Smith slapped singles in the
seventh.j
Roof was taken to a hospital for
observation but was believed to
have escaped major injury. j
The Twins jumped on Milwau-
kee starter Lew Krausse for three
runs after two were out in the
first. Tony Oliva singled and Kill-
ebrew cracked a 2-2 offering 391
feet into the left field seats.
Rich Reese singled and scored
when A n d y Kosco fielded Jim
Holt's hit to left and threw wild-
Senior athletes
receive honors
Several awards were presented
to senior athletes at the first an-
nual M-Club awards banquet last
night in Crisler Arena.
Receiving the Doctor Hazel Losh
Award was diver Dick Rydze. The
George Canamare Award went to
basketball captain Dan Fife. Rydze
also received the Big Ten swim-
ming award.
Nineteen recipients received the
Fielding H. Yost award. They
were: Ramon Almonte, Phil Sey-
mour, Pete Newell, Don Moor-
head, Henry Hill, Jim Burton,
The Michigan Rugby Club Sat-
urday completed their regular sea-
son. The Blue squad finished 3-0-1.
The Gold team ended 2-0-1.
The Big Ten tournament begins
Saturday. Unfortunately, in spite
of an undefeated season, the poten-
tial of the ruggers remains cloudy.
The spring season was regret-
tably short. The players didn't have
an ample chance to develop tech-
nical skills. Furthermore, the brev-
ity of the season also meant an ab-
breviated number of practice ses-
sions. Since rugby requires exten-
sive running, perhaps some of the
lackluster second half showings can
be attributed to pre-mature fatigue.
Michigan did have several classic
moments. But, they never develop-
ed consistency. Too often after
jumping off to an early lead
through brilliant manuvering, the
team, losing its aggressiveness and
hustle, sat on their lead.
Even with quick backs, until the
team has a good scrum, it's going
to have difficulty winning. Captain
Terry Larrimer said, "Our scrum
are strong, but they can't seem to
work together. They're having
trouble handling the ball. We need
the scrum to get the loose ball be-
fore the opposition has had a
chance to set up. I'd say our one
The Blue beat Windsor 17-6 the
following week, as an early lead
proved detrimental to the rugger's
attack. All of a sudden, the players
started picking up bad habits, such
as no teamwork.
In the rugger's only home game,
they shellacked Detroit 17-3. De-
troit had a poor team, and were
really no match for the Blue. After
building an early 14-0 lead through
teamwork and good passing, they
slackened off. "It's unfortunate,"
Larrimer said, "We needed a bet-
ter opponent to test our potential."
There is a difference between city
rugby teams and college teams. A
city team plays more intelligently
while. a college team tries to over-
power its opponents. A college
team is quicker, younger, and usu-
ally stronger.
Michigan's last opponent, Chi-
cago, was the only college opponent
they faced. With six new men in
the Blue lineup because of injuries
and a shuffling of players between
the Blue and Gold "B" team, the
ruggers struggled to a 0-0 tie.
"Chicago turned into our first real
opposition," said Larrimer, "It
took us by surprise. We actually
had to play defense for the first
time, which took our concentration
'off our offense."
Professional League Standings
Baltim
Boston
Detroit
Washin
New Yi
Clevela
Chicagc
Kansas
Minnesi
Milwau
'Califori
Oaklan
AMERICANsLEAGUE
East
W L Pct
ore 1 01.0
1 0 1.00
1 0 1.00
1gton 1 1 .50
ork 0 1 .000
nd 0 1 .0
West
0 2 0 1.00
City 1 0 1.00
iota t 1 1 .50d
kee 1 1 .50
,ia 0 1 .00
d 0 3 .00
x.
0
0
0
0
0
0
00
0
0
0
00
GB
i
1
^1
1/
I/2
.1
1
New York
Pittsburgh
Chicago
St. Louis
Montreal
Philadelphia
Atlanta
San Francisco
Houston
San Diego
Los Angeles
W
I
1
1
1
0
West
2
a
0
1
L
01
0
1
1
1
1
1
2
Pct.
1.000
1.000
.500
.500
.000
.000
1.000
1.000
.500
.000
.333
.000
NATIONAL LEAGUE
GB
1
1
1
1
2
o
I
CinciRnsuits
- - I