Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 41

7' TRAVOLIIIG LI AN Erik Kramer hopes to settle down and earn a job with the Lions as a backup quarterback 120 IIJ5IDH Olazsbal dominating the World Series of Golf 22 Martin, Pippig win Bobby Crim 10-mile race 3S Early-season goose hunt a sound move 1 1E U.S. Open short on American seeds 15E Section TVRadio2E Horse racing1 4E Weather1 6E 1 The Detroit News Sunday, August 26, 1990 Sports JLL. FMdleir OB roof i Homers AH A1 Athletics i 1 i I 1 V-" i IT 1 iini I. 1 'T 1 iff 1 1 Left, out Players who homered over Tiger Stadium's left-field roof: Harmon Killebrew, of the Minnesota Twins, off the Tigers' Jim Bunning on Aug. 3, 1962.

Frank Howard, of the Washington Senators, off the Tigers' Mickey Lolich on May 18,1968. Cecil Fielder, of the Tigers, off the Oakland Athletics' Dave Stewart on Aug. 25, 1990. i 7 i it's all hands front and center for Cecil Fielder after his roof-clearing home run, pielder stamps self DALE G. YOUNG The Detroit News a two-run drive in the fourth off Dave Stewart.

It put the Tigers ahead, 54, on the way to a 144 victory. as special with one swing By Dave Dye Detroit News Staff Writer Unless left fielder Rickey Hender son is willing to climb up near the light towers, there is no shift that can stop Cecil Fielder. The phenomenon of the Tigers Shelby cycle bid stopped4E Rickey Henderson, MVP75E Charting Fielder's day7E Clemens 5-hits Jays, 1-Q8E Japanese import reached a new height Saturday afternoon in a 14-4 victory over Oakland, when Fielder became the third player to homer I over the left-field roof at Tiger Stadi-um. No Tiger had ever done it. Only i Minnesota's Harmon Killebrew (off Jim Bunning on Aug.

3, 1962) and i Washington's Frank Howard (off Mickey Lolich on May 18, 1968) have accomplished what Fielder did against Athletics right-hander Dave Stewart in the fourth inning before 45,474, the largest crowd of the season at Tiger Stadium. "That's the longest home run I've had hit off me," Stewart said. "I was just glad nobody got hurt in Fielder, who couldn't win a starting job with Toronto, went to play in Japan last season. He was signed as a free agent during the off-season by General Manager Bill Lajoie. "Give credit to Bill Lajoie," Fielder said.

"He's the one who gave me a chance to play here in Detroit. "I finally got an opportunity to play in the big leagues, and I'm making the best of it." Fielder had another two-run homer in the first inning, which landed in the upper-deck bleachers in left-center. He leads the majors with 41 homers and 108 RBI. "It's a home run whether they go over the roof or not," said Fielder, who in typical fashion seemed embarrassed to discuss his feat. "Basically, I'm just trying to hit the ball hard.

"(Homer) No. 40 is really what I care most about. That put me in an elite group of guys who've played here. That's not something that happens every year." Only four other Tigers have hit 40 Please see Tigers7E Big Ten schedule woes9E ine and talking about winning a championship and that of some A nticipation. When was the last time we've known such a sweet feeling in the ballpark as when Joe Falls banged 39 of them in Briggs Stadium which is a major-league record to this day.

Fielder isn't there yet, but he is starting to get close. When he came up the first time Saturday against Oakland, the fans gave him a nice reception, but nothing that would shake the girders. If anything, the noise should have been louder here was a man who had brought some excitement to our city this summer a bright spot in a dull season. And he was coming up to answer the massive home run hit by Jose Canseco in the top of the first inning. But 39 home runs do not alone make a hero, so the welcome was a restrained one.

Please see Falls4E Cecil Fielder is walking to the plate? Kirk Gibson? Yes. AlKaline? No. Willie Hor-tbn. Yes. Norm Cash? Somewhat.

Rocky Colavi-lo? Somewhat. It takes a special kind of player someone who can bounce them off the light standards to hold the attention of everyone in the ballpark. ,1 I've known two men in my life who, when I knew they were coming up, I wouldn't dare go to the little boys' room. Ted Williams and Mickey Mantle. Here, in Detroit, you have to go all the way back to the days of Hank Greenberg to find a man who captivated our entire city.

He was very spe- Henry could drive them deep into the stands and he could do it consistently, so when he stood at the plate, slightly hunched over, with those muscles rippling through his shoulders and down his arms, every eye was on him. They came out to see Greenberg and he did not disappoint them. When he hit 58 home runs )n 1938 to challenge Babe Ruth's record of 60, he rr. AP Top 25 The Associated Press' pre-" season college football poll, with first-place votes, total points "t'and final 1989 ranking: Hawkins' goal: Big Ten title He sees Spartans in Rose Bowl I Si 'fit 1 IWM sixth, MSU23id in AP poll Associated Press Miami, which ended the 1980s as the nation's top college football team, is starting the 1990s the same way. The defending national champions are ranked No.

1 in The Associated Press' preseason poll. The Hurricanes beat Notre Dame by 25 points in voting by a nationwide panel of 60 sportswriters and broadcasters. Michigan, last year's preseason No. 1, was sixth this year. Auburn was third in the preseason poll, Florida State was No.

4 and Colorado was No. 5. Miami received 24 first-place votes and had 1,431 points; Notre Dame got 22 and 1,406. Auburn got three first-place votes and Florida State which handed Miami its only defeat last season got six first-place votes and 1,268 points. Nebraska was next, followed by Team 1st Pts '89 1.

Miami (Fla.) 24 1,431 1 2. Notre Dame 22 1,406 2 3. Auburn 3 1,311 6 4. Florida St. 6 1,268 3 i 5.

Colorado 4 1,258 4 6. Michigan 0 1.116 7 7. Nebraska 0 1,019 11 8. Tennessee 0 982 5 I 9. USC 0 977 8 10.

Clemson 0 919 12 I 11. Illinois 0 900 10 12, Alabama 0 728 9 13. Texas 0 719 20 14. Arkansas 0 629 13 15. Virginia 0 575 18 0 557 22 '17.

Ohio State 0 502 24 18. Pittsburgh 0 459 17 19. UCLA 0 404 20. Washington 0 394 23 21. Penn State 0 362 15 22.

Oklahoma 0 311 23. Michigan St. 1 288 16 24. Houston 0 195 14 25. W.

Virginia 0 119 21 "I want to win the Big Ten and the national championship, I've heard about Pasadena, but I haven't seen it yet." Michigan State first-team All-Big Ten wide receiver Courtney Hawkins. By Terry Cabell Detroit News Staff Writer EAST LANSING -The goal is simple and team-oriented: Win a championship. It is not a new idea. It doesn't have a patent. Hundreds of individuals on dozens of teams have the same idea bulb flickering inside their head.

But there's a difference between Courtney Hawkins think- other college football players in the country Hawkins, as his team's top receiver, is in position to help produce such a feat. "The thing that "separates Courtney from a lot of other wide receivers is his MSU Coach George Perles, whose team staged media day Saturday. "Courtney is a lot like Lynn Swann. He can go to the ball, he has the ability to control his body in the air, and he's tough. He can run the heck out of reverses.

"He's a well-rounded athlete." Please see MSU9E JULIAN H. GONZALEZ The Detroit News Michigan State wide receiver Courtney Hawkins wants to improve his overall game this season. Last season he set team records for catches and yards. Please see Poll9E.