01-e Eight TH-E SUMMERi DAILY 'Tuesday, July 24, 1973 "' Hank hits Kuhn for '700' silence By KEN RAPPOPORT KANSAS CITY (i)-Hank Aaron, in a combative mood on the eve of the 44th All-Star game, took on the commissioner of baseball and the Fall of Fame yester- day. The Atlanta Braves' slugger, speaking at a news conference at Royals Stadium, first expressed his displeasure about what he considered a snub from Commissioner- Bowie Kuhn. "I DIDN'T RECEIVE a telegram from the commissioner when I hit my 700th home run," said Aaron. "National League President Chub Feeney sent me a tele- gram after I hit it. I would think that the commissioner would send one too." Aaron was reminded by a reporter that it wasn't common for a man to hit 700 home runs. And Aaron, who's attempting to eclipse Babe Ruth's career record of 714, an- swered with a smile: "I know, that's why the commissioner should have sent the telegram." KUHN, INFORMED OF Aaron's com- ments while in Kansas City for today's All-Star game, had this reaction: "I'm certainly sorry that Henry Aaron was disappointed as I am sure he knows I am one of his biggest rooters. I want to lead the baseball celebration when he hits 714 and 715." The Atlanta star also revealed that he might not send the 700th home run ball to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. He said he had second thoughts about it because of what he considered past snubs by the Hall. "I sent the Hall my 500th home run ball and my 600th home run ball and they never even mentioned it in their bro- chure," said Aaron. "I don't know if I'll let them have this one. I have to think about it." THE BASEBALL, returned to Aaron after he hit it into the left field seats at Atlanta Stadium Saturday, currently rests in "a safe," said Hammerin' Hank. Aaron said he sent the bat with which Summer Daily Sports he slugged No. 700 to Louisville, apparently for promotional use by the Louisville Slugger Corp. Aaron, who claimed he's faced little pressure trying to break Ruth's record, also took time to talk about the President of the United States and Mrs. Babe Ruth, WHEN ASKED IF President Nixon sent him a telegram after he hit his 700th home run, he said, "No. But I guess he has other things to think about these days." Aaron also said he had been slightly disturbed about newspaper stories re- garding Mrs. Ruth. "From what I've read, it seems she feels I've been trying to take some of the glory away from her husband by going after the home run record," said Aaron. "I haven't spoken to her-but I can tell her it's not true. I'D NEVER TRY to take the glory away from Babe Ruth. To me he was one of the greatest players who ever lived." Meanwhile, Feeney announced the selec- tion of Aaron as the NL's Players of the Week for July 16-22. 44th All-Star clash ton ite Politics mar A.L. squad By CHARLES BLOOM Because the junior circuit has power, youth and resilience on its side, it should emerge from today's 44th playing of base- ball's mid-season classic victorious. But the victory could be accomplished much easier if the American League All-Star selections had been handled properly. To begin, too many of the league's top players have been left off the squad, in. cluding two of the circuit's better arms and its leading hitter. Tops on that list is New York's Ron Blomberg, a .400 hitter for most of the year and Detroit's John Hiller, the only reason the Tigers are still alive in the AL East. BOTH SQUADS WERE expanded to 29 players late last week and the official reason has yet to be offered. But perhaps the expansion was necessitated by the ab- sence of certain players. Nolan Ryan, the first pitcher in two decades to hurl two no-hitters in one season, was that extra man in the A. L. and manager Dick Williams was hard pressed to explain why the strikeout king was left off the origi- nal list. 'The answer may lie in just WHO se- lected the American League contingent. Dick -Williams is manager of the Oak- land A's whose owner is the infamous Charles 0. Finley. It may just be that Finley had his Kelly Green and Gold hand in the selection. Why for example is Rol- lie Fingers on the staff while pitchers like, Hiller, Joe Coleman of Kansas City's Paul Splittorff are not? Why should Cleveland's Buddy Bell hold down the spot reserved for the lowly Indians when the Tribe's best hitter George "Maybe I Will and Maybe I Won't' Hendrick (20 HR) is snubbed? Is it because Hendrick is a for- mer A who did not get along with the club's establishment? Why is Oakland's Jim Hunter slated to start when Williams does not like to use his own players, es- pecially nitching? WILLIAMS HAS HAD no comment but it is interesting to speculate on the influ- ence Finley or, for that matter, any other owner has had on the classic. But here are some suggested changes in the roster: * Ron Blomberg in place of first sacker Jim Spencer, Texas. * Ken Suarez, Catcher of Texas, in place of Bill Freehan. * Chicago's Bill Melton at the-hot cor- ner instead of Sal Bando of Oakland. * George Hendrick in the outfield in place of Buddy Bell. * John Hiller in place of. Rollie Fing- ers. But these changes are besides the point. Predicted score: Americans 5, Nationals 3. N.L. class will show By DAN BORUS ?aiy saports commentary The contention that the American League has finally surpassed the National Leagie in quality of play and will there- fore capture today's All-Star Game is as plausible as the contention that Richard Nixon was unaware of the Watergate covernp. As Sen. Sam said, "It takes a powerful imagination to belim'e it." Oh true, the juiior circuit has .at least a baker's dozen of truly exciting ball- players: Otis, Murcer, Mayberry, etc. But excitement doesn't always wi ball games, even All-Star classics in snazzy new stadia. Consistency does. And Consis- tency is- the National League's middle iame. Of the last 15, 13 contests have been chalked up in the National's win column. Co mmenta ry And that consistency is due, in part, to that little extra hustle a National-Leaguer applies to his game. Whether it's Pete Rose decking Ray Fosse or a Billy Wil- liams making a ninth innyig daring dash tothird on a Manny Sanguillen pop single to left or a Joe Morgan single in the tenth, that little extra bit of class always turns the tide for the senior circuit. Much has been made about the Ameri- can League's superiority in the hurling de- partment, but a quick look at the re- spective staff ERA's shows that BOTH squads possess a 2.57 mark. And, it should be recalled that four of the All-Star American League moundsmen are ex- National Leaguers who just didn't make thu cream of the crop in the tougher league. They don't have many big winners in the National League, but then again they can also hit fastballs in that league. Though the Nationals, led by two first basemen who play the outfield, have a margin of 72 home runs over their base- ball counterparts, the Nationals should have little trouble executing that supreme AP Photo of National League weapons, the hit and run. The Junior circuit may have speed, but it doesn't have Bobby' Bo"s, Cesar Cedeno, and Joe Morgan. Those are the fellows who have blazed ruts in the Na- y's start- tional League basepaths, and whose ew breed ubiquitous presence on the sacks is simply devastating. Cardinals When the situation was reversed and en for the the American was the superior loop, the the staff. immortal Babe sneered that the National was "a nickel curve" league. But that was and hence before Phase IV. Today the league is like five million in tax free municipal bonds. t Mound rivals meet the press CATFISH HUNTER (left) of Oakland and Rick Wise of St. Louis, toda ing All-Star hurlers, model some classy shirts, popular with baseball's n of ball players. Wise, 11-5 on the year and the pitcher who kept the afloat in the rough going, is the most rested of NL hurlers and was chose starting nod for that reason, despite have the highest ERA (3.05) on Hunter, 15-3, has always been a favorite of his manager Dick Williams a got the nod.