Galesburg Register-Mail from Galesburg, Illinois • Page 36

32 Galesburg Register-Mail, Qalesbutg, III. Wednesday, Nov. 16, 1977 Carew named AL's MVP By FRED DOWN UPI Sports Writer NEW YORK (UPI) Rod Carew, the Minnesota Twins' first baseman whose .388 batting average en route to his sixth batting title matched the highest in the major leagues in 20 years, was named the American League's Most Valuable Player Wednesday in the most diversified voting in the history of the balloting. The 32-year-old native of Gaton, Panama, winner of five batting titles in the last six years, won the prestigious award by a decisive point margin of 273-217 over Al Cowens of the Kansas City Royals. Carew received 12 of the first-place votes cast by the committee of the Baseball Writers Association of America but no fewer than 10 other players got at least one No.

1 vote. Under the point system, a first-place vote is worth 14 points, a second-place nine and so on down to one for a lOth-place ballot. It was the first MVP Award won by Carew, who compiled the highest batting average in the major leagues since Ted Williams batted .388 for the Boston Red Sox in 1957. Carew is the 16th player from a non-pennant winning team to win the AL award and the third member of the Twins honored. Cowens, who had a offensive performance for the Royals, got four first-place votes and others who received at least one were Ken Singleton of Baltimore (3), Jim Rice of Boston 1), Graig Nettles of New York (2), Sparky Lyle of New York (1), Thurman Munson of New York (1), Reggie Jackson of New York (I), Carlton Fisk of Boston (1), Larry Hisle of Minnesota (1) and Carl Yastrzemski of Boston (1).

Singleton, a .328 hitter for the Orioles, was third with 200 points, followed by Rice at 163 and Nettles at 112. Lyle, Munson, Jackson, Fisk and Bill Campbell of the Red Sox rounded out the top 10. A classic line drive hitter in an era of free swingers, Carew made a strong bid to become the major leagues' first .400 hitter since Williams batted .406 in 1941. He carried a .411 average into late July and then "slumped" to the before coming on strong in the last few weeks of the season. 0 Rod Carew: American League's Most Valuable Player 1 1 St Ohio State favored over Michigan for right to become 'clay pigeon'g Howe now, or die? Gordie Howe, 49-year-old superstar of the WHA'i New England Whalers, seeks his l.Mtth career goal against dianapolis Tuesday night.

Howe was unsuccessful but the Whalers won, M. UNIFAX Black Hawks tie Islanders By SHERYL FLA TOW UPI Sports Writer The New York Islanders and Chicago Black Haws are so evenly matched that most of the time neither comes up a winner. Tuesday night was no skated to a 1-1 tie, with Islander goalie Billy Smith and Chicago goalie Tony Esposito stopping 30-of-31 shots apiece. Both scores came in the third period on power-play goals, with rookie Mike Bossy scoring for the Islanders at :37 and Ivan Boldirev tying it up at 12:16. The tie kept Chicago in first place in the Smythe Division with a record of 54-7 and left the Islanders in second place in the Patrick Division with a record of 7-5-5.

Actually, New York had better scoring chances, particularly in the final two periods. And one Islander admitted he was not pleased with the final score. "I think it was a step back for us," said Billy Harris, who hit the post in the third period. "With all the chances we had, we should have scored more goals and won the game. Sometimes, we try too hard." Elsewhere in the NHL, St.

Louis and Washington played to a 2-2 tie and Vancouver beat Cleveland, 5-4. In the WHA, New England defeated Indianapolis, 6-4, and Quebec beat Winnipeg, 7-6, in overtime. Blues 2, Capitals 2: Brian Sutter's first goal of the season, a power-play goal with eight minutes to go in the game, earned St. Louis the tie. College conference all-stars WHEATON, 111.

(UPI) Coaches in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tuesday chose tackle John Boettcher of Augustana as the most valuable offensive player and linebacker Earl Wilcek of Elmhurst the most valuable defender on their all-conference team. Offense Tight end Bob Perkey, Wheaton Split end Pete Thompson, Carroll Split end Chuck Phillips, Wheaton Tackle Mike Hopkins, Carthage Tackle John Boettcher, tana Guard Bernard Verner, North Central Guard Tom Tracy, Augustana Guard Jack Dale, Illinois Wesleyan Center Dave Doering, Carthage Quarterback Scott Hall, Wheaton Running back Mike Slaughter, Carthage Running back Mark Zoran, Augustana Running back Kurt Swearingen, Illinois Wesleyan Placekicker Bob Unruth, ton Defense End Hank Denecke, Millikin End Chip Hammond, Illinois Wesleyan Tackle Willie Rucker, tana Tackle Joe Scott, Carroll Tackle John Heinzman, Millikin Middle guard Bob Grimes, Illinois Wesleyan Linebacker John Korbell, North Park Linebacker Earl Wilcek, Elmhurst Linebacker Chan Bell, Millikin Linebacker Larry Wagner, Wheaton Defensive back John Ryser, Wheaton Defensive back Ray Threlkeld, Carthage Safety Gary Goforth, tana Mild TOMORROW Time to Insulate WHITE'S PHONE 342-0185 By FRED McMANE UPI Sports Writer NEW YORK is the week the Big Ten Conference finds out which of its two college football powerhouses Michigan or Ohio to lose to the Pacific Eight champion in the Rose Bowl game. Who will be this year's clay pigeon? It will be decided Saturday at Ann Arbor, and if the game is anything like the past six between the two clubs, it figures to be close and about as exciting as watching paint dry. This game has decided the Rose Bowl representative in each of the last five years and Ohio State has been the chosen one four times. We like the Buckeyes to make it five of six in a 13-10 yawner.

Here's how we see the rest of the action around the country. The East Syracuse 27 West Virginia are excited about next year. Colgate 40 Delaware 27 Red Raiders finish unbeaten and uninvited. Boston College 26 Massachusetts 17 Eagles can handle this kind of competition. Rutgers 33 Boston University 6 Scarlet Knights have a well-padded schedule.

The South Florida 35 Utah 9 Wes Chandler should catch a bundle of passes. North Carolina 23 Duke 21 Tar Heels want that Liberty Bowl bid. Clemson 23 South Carolina 14 Bowl. Tigers notch berth in Gator Maryland 33 Virginia 6 One need only look to Virginia to find the real Santa Claus. The Midwest Illinois 21 Northwestern 7 Wildcats are true to form and send Coach Johnny Pont out a loser.

Notre Dame 37 Air Force 8 Irish will choose Cotton Bowl: Michigan St. 24 Iowa finish second in Big Ten. Minnesota 25 Wisconsin 14 Gophers ruin John Jardine's farewell as Wisconsin coach. The Midlands Iowa St. 27 Oklahoma St.

17 Dexter Green outshines Terry Miller. Colorado 30 Kansas St. 9 Kansas State is Midlands' answer to Virginia. Missouri 38 Kansas 10 Unpredictable Tigers should handle this one easily. The Southwest Texas 37 Baylor Longhorns await showdown with Texas Texas 30 TCU 7 Hapless Horned Frogs no match for Aggies.

Arkansas 36 SMU 6 Even with glittering record, backs may get shut out of a major bowl. Texas Tech 25 Houston 13 Red Raiders not out of bowl picture. Woody and Bo expect 'little things 9 to decide By ED SAINSBURY UPI Sports Writer CHICAGO (UPI) Michigan's Bo Schembechler wants to guard against the "little things" when his Wolverines play Ohio State Saturday with the Big Ten co-championship and a Rose Bowl berth at stake. "With two teams as close as these are, any little thing is vitally important," said Schembechler, speaking to the weekly football writers luncheon Tuesday. "The unexpected turnover, the kicking game, a mistake, the little things add up.

Both teams want to win it very badly." Schembechler, a victor over Ohio State last year, said the Buckeyes this year were better than a year ago. 1 'The difference is their offensive line is better than a year ago and their offense is better," he said. "I don't know if Michigan is any better." He agreed with other analysts that the difference in the game could hinge on the performance of the rival quarterbacks, Rick Leach for Michigan and Rod Gerald for the Buckeyes. "Gerald is dangerous," he said. "He can run and he's quick.

He's the type of quarterback who can make a bad play into a good one. Leach runs when the defense dictates for him to run, but he doesn't have as much yardage this year as he had a year ago. "I don't think Gerald and Leach will be the whole offense. They've got guys who can run, and we do too. But on offense neither team is going to move if the quarterbacks don't move the ball." Burley apologizes Bear's Sevy in hospital CHICAGO (UPI) Defensive end Jeff Sevy was hospitalized Tuesday with tonsillitis, the Bears announced.

Coach Jack Pardee said Sevey would be released Wednesday, but nothing was definite about his condition. The Bears host the Minnesota Vikings Sunday at Soldier Field. CINCINNATI (UPI) Cincinnati Bengal defensive end Gary Burley has sent a formal apology to Minnesota Viking quarterback Fran Tarkenton for the play in which Tarkenton was injured, putting him out for the rest of the season. Burley, an intense 6-3, 262- pound lineman, sacked the star quarterback on a third-quarter play last Sunday and Tarkenton's leg was broken. The Vikings beat the Bengals, 42-10.

Tarkenton said of Burley's tackle, "It wasn't a dirty play." Nonetheless, Burley sent the apology which follows: "Dear Fran, "My first season in the NFL, I was injured and out for the season. In your 17-year pro career, you have missed but one game. In my aggressive play Sunday, on a day in which you were superb, I injured you. "Fran, I am truly sorry, for you have contributed so much to the National Football League. I wish you a speedy recovery and the best of luc in your future play.

Sincerely, Gary Cincinnati Bengals." Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. For holp with ill your family intursncs nwdi, tu: IUD NELSON ft. Stats fvm Insuunci Coaoanill Officii: WATCH FOB tut color inaart appearing Moo In Ml Fanning many homo knprovamani bonua tuyi lantiftrtfy low pneaa JUMTVOJt NOTICE mm YOU AM Aovurmtp wiTiwmnwmwvnmmmm LOWER ABOUT IT! 1.