The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 26

2S DES MOINES REGISTER Oct. 10, 1979 Postponement is 26th in World Series history AP Photo rrm j-tl World Suits Continued from Page One Three, said right-hander Dennis Martinex would start Game Four In Pittsburgh on Saturday. Chuck Tanner, manager of the Pirates, said his club would stay with Bert Blyleven as the starter for Game Two. He is expected to start lefthander John Candeleria in Game Three and right-hander Jim Bibby in the fourth game. Tuesday night's postponement was the 26th in World Series history 25 rainouts and one because of cold weather.

Psyched-up Orioles take delay in stride BALTIMORE, MD. (AP) The Baltimore Orioles were psyched up for the start of the 1979 World Series, but they took It in stride when the first game was postponed because of rain. "It's going to cost me," said veteran shortstop Mark Belanger. "I'll probably have to take the family out to eat again. You think this game Is easy? Playing Is the easy part" "I'm going to go home and watch TV," said right fielder Ken Singleton.

"There's no letdown. Sure, I wish we had played but we didn't lose." Singleton said he might get some playing time in anyway, provided his two-year-old son Matthew was still awake when he arrived home. "His control Is very erratic, but he can go deep," Singleton said. 1 STAR-GAZING Young baseball fan, who came to Baltimore's Memorial Stadium to watch workouts for World Series, meets Pittsburgh's Dave Parker. The Pirates and Baltimore's Orioles were rained out Tuesday night In the first game of the 76th World Series.

gets nervous, except people went to. Even at (4:30) you could swim in the outfield." Kuhn, whose responsibility it is to decide the fitness or unfitness to play, Insisted that the decision came at the first feasible moment "There are transportation and other problems. So we make every effort to play. When we decide that this is impossible, we call off the game," said Kuhn. "This is terrific!" said a vendor who identified himself only as Bob the Beer Man.

"I'm going to sell a lot of beer and I won't have to climb a single step." Many of the fans who drove long distances said they were disappointed but understanding about the rainout "I'll just come back tomorrow night," said Bill Ryan, who drove here from Washington, D.C However, Ryan would have bad reason if be were upset "I paid a scalper 1)0 for this ticket," be sail It's all you could do. It's a sellout and I had to see the World Series." Tarps covered the Memorial Stadium infield, but puddles quickly developed in left and right field. The condition of the field already had been a concern because of Sunday's National Football League game between the Baltimore Colts and New York Jets. The ColtsJeU game was the fifth football contest this season at Memorial Stadium. The rainout was the first for a World Series game since 1976, when the fourth game between the New York Yankees and Cincinnati Reds was postponed one day by the weather in New York.

Fans, many of them wearing yellow rain slickers and carrying multi-colored umbrellas, arrived at the ballpark and waited in the storm. About 30 minutes before the scheduled start, they cheered the arrival of The Bird, a large feathered creature who stood under an umbrella leading cheers. But even the Orioles' mascot was forced to seek shelter from the rain. As the steady rain continued, the scoreboard flashed a cheerful "Hello" in capital letters to the fans. Later, the message was changed to "The Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates Welcome You to Game One of the 1979 World Series." Both teams said they would stay with the pitchers and lineups previously announced for Tuesday night That means Bruce Kison for the against Baltimore's Mike Flanagan.

Kison posted a 13-7 record during the regular season, but has particularly been effective in September and October. He won four games last month for the Pirates, pushing his eight-year career record for September to 23-6. He has never lost in October, setting a career 4-0 record for month. i Flanagan was the top winner in the majors this season, with a 23-9 "They wrote about how relaxed I was," says the World Series pitcher nobody ever beat "They didn't know I'd thrown up in the clubhouse." They still talk about it During the National League playoff last week a broadcaster cited Gomez as the sine qua non of nonchalance because, preparing to pitch to the menacing Mel Ott in one of the games between the Yankees and New York Giants in 1936 or 1937, Lefty stepped off the mound to gawk at a plane flying over the Polo Grounds. Tense fans expelled one great big breath.

and laughed. But Joe McCarthy, the Yankees' manager, was not amused. 'You left-handed he told me," Gomez was saying Tuesday, could have hit a home run because you weren't paying I said, 'Joe, the day somebody hits a home run off me when the ball is in my hand, I'm VERNON AND June O'Dea Gomez are grandparents now. Lefty has been through open-heart surgery, but whatever the doctors took out they did not remove the laughter. The old Senor looks great, and his World Series record seems as indestructible as he.

From Old Hoss Radbourne to Mike Flanagan, none but Lefty Gomez could boast of six World Series victories without defeat "When did you win those games?" Clow Until TUESDAY'S CAME HlUkurtRMmort(rln) TONIGHT'S GAME 7:50 Pittsburg (Kison at 6tlUnort(FIM9M2V) THURSDAY'S CAME 7 JO ftJH. ntttburfh Baltlmort FRIDAY'S CAME 7 JO m. Eallimort at Pittsburgh SATURDAY, OCT. 13 Moor, Uumor at Pittsburgh SUNDAY, OCT. 14 3:30 p.m.

Baltimore at Pittsburgh MCtssary) TUESDAY, OCT. 16 7:30 p.m. Pittsburg at tahlmort tctssary) WEDNESDAY, OCT. 17 730 Pittsburgh at Baltlmort of (if of MCftsary) record, and the Orioles hoped he could neutralize Pittsburgh's left-handed hitters Omar Moreno, Willie Stargell and Dave Parker. The Pirates switched to right-handed swingers Bill Robinson in left field and Steve Nicosia catching, in place of left-handers John Milner and Ed Ott The Orioles sought to get more left-handed strength in their lineup against Kison by inserting Billy Smith at second base in place of Rich Dauer and John Lowensteln in left field In place of Gary Roenicke.

Baltimore Manager Earl Weaver, who previously had announced Jim Palmer and Scott McGregor as the starting pitchers for Games Two and Everyone By RED SMITH IW mm Vark Tkit BALTIMORE, MD. There was rain with thunder and lightning during the night Morning was fairly clear but after noon the climate turned Kuhnish with temperatures plunging, rain spitting and a Bowie wind ripping out of the Northwest Bowie Kuhn weather is the contribution the baseball commissioner and the televi- lbpty sion programmers omh made to the World Series when they decided that players and customers preferred raw October nights to autumn sunshine and that cold-stiffened fingers would Improve the quality of competition. They could not get the 76th tournament for the championship of North America started Tuesday night on schedule. Before Bowie Kuhn called the game off, the baseball hierarchy fretted, searching the frowning sky. "Cold and showers," the forecasters kept saying, and holders of 54,000 tickets shuddered.

In their homes and hotel rooms the Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates fidgeted while inexorable tension took hold. At the World Series everybody is nervous everybody, the legend goes, except Lefty Gomez. and want to learn," said Kirk, who was an assistant coach of the men's basketball team at Wisconsin-Eau Claire last season. "Lot of Ability" "I don't think anybody has spent a lot of time working with them and they haven't had to work hard. We are trying to get them to be more physical.

There is a lot of ability on the team, but nobody is near their potential" The Cornets began conditioning and weightlifting Sept. 17 and opened practice Oct 1. "They were in poor condition last year, and you have to be strong and in good condition to win," Kirk said. Tsssssiissj 41 4- UTCM UMY VAN MIDA KOLPP COTOLLO news items. The media will love van Breda Kolff because he is very quotable.

No doubt the referees soon will wish the man had not returned to pro ball. While on the subject of referees, John Nucatola, former supervisor of officials with the NBA, has taken a similar position in the WBL. Van Breda Kolff, alone, will keep Nucatola's boys busy. WHILE COSTELLO and van Breda Kolff are the biggest names, other well-known basketball people have signed on. Dean "The Dream" Member, a former Marquette ail-American and New York Knick, is the head coach of tad SoriiiBfs hope noiglnfe pay big dividends VEECK SAYS WHITE SOX NOT FOR SALE CHICAGO, ILL (AP) Chicago will have an American League team in 1980 the White Sox not the old Oakland A's, Sox President Bill Veeck said Tuesday.

Veeck denied reports that his team would move to Denver, enabling the Oakland A's to come to Chicago. He confirmed that Denver oilman Marvin Davis has approached him about buying the team, but said the White Sox are not for sale. "It's a bunch of garbage," Veeck said. "He (Davis) approached us maybe six months ago, and we told him no and that's it" "No negotiations are going on. There are no discussions.

What else can I say," said Veeck, who added he has never been close to selling the club. Meanwhile, the Denver Rocky Mountain News reported that Davis, whose attempt to purchase the A's a year ago failed, is about to buy a major league team and move It to Denver. The newspaper said unidentified members of the major league baseball executive committee attending the World Series in Baltimore, confirmed "movement" on the franchise question. In Baltimore, John McHale, a member of the committee, said the possiblity of a sale wu a rumor. He said the committee has not discussed a sale nor is it on the agenda for future discussion.

"There's a logical reason why Davis failed to get the Oakland team and a logical reason why all this talk keeps coming back to Chicago," said Veeck. "He couldn't buy the A's from Charlie (Oakland Owner Charles Finley), because of the existence of contract obligations (involving the stadium) between the team and the City of Oakland," Veeck said. "The White Sox are the only team in baseball which doesn't have such an agreement or a lease of some kind. The team owns the ball park, so naturally we were approached." Bears' Harper' out for season CHICAGO, ILL (AP) Fullback Roland Harper, who hasn't played a game yet this season, will be out for the rest of the year, Chicago Bear Coach Neill Armstrong said Tuesday. Harper, who rushed for 992 yards last year and has been the chief blocker for Walter Payton, suffered a knee injury during the exhibition season.

He underwent minor arthroscopic surgery and was placed on the injured reserve list Armstrong said Harper will undergo major surgery for cartilage damage and will be replaced by Robin Earl, recovered from a foot injury, in the New England game Sunday. Brand Now Pontine or GM '80 LEASING Wt are one of the area's oldest and largest leasing companies. We'll tailor a closed end, open end, buy back or VIP lease to your particular needs. Also, maintenance refund plan. Call Ray Ackley for complete information.

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36,000 rrtlws tots. No dtpfwciotlon worrttt. All rst nirtlv aVHiinnrf Tab am kiutu i.ui rontiac Subaru Peugeot Always Showroom Parking athAKaoWav auui Gomez drive," said tie left-handed hitter. "I think I pulled it over the shortstop's head. "In that first Ail-Star Game, you know, Mr.

Connie Mack and Mr. John McGraw were the managers. Rogers Hornsby and Joe McCarthy were American League coaches. We had a half-hour meeting to discuss how to pitch to the hitters. Paul Waner, they said, fastball hitter.

Lloyd Waner, fastball hitter. Next guy, fastball hitter, and the next and the next 'May I ask a I said. Mr. Mack uid certainly. I said, 'You've named off five fastball hitters.

Now I'm a fastball pitcher and I'm your starting pitcher. Don't you think you might be making a "The way McCarthy glared at me, I thought I'd be going to Newark. They went on and got to Arky Vaughan, who was in the middle of a terrific year, hitting .400 and something. Mr. Mack and Hornsby and McCarthy, they're talking about how we should pitch to him, and I said, 'May I ask another McCarthy glowered but Mr.

Mack said yes. "I said. Vaughan is hitting .400 and something and this is July. In the National League they haven't learned how to pitch to him in half a season, we're not going to find out in half an hour. Let's go on to the next You should nave seen McCarthy.

He didn't have much sense of humor." Winfield-Lynn trade latest baseball rumor SAN DIEGO, CALIF. (AP) Discussions between the San Diego Padres and the Boston Red Sox, reportedly involving All-Stars Dave Winfield and Fred Lynn, are scheduled for today, a San Diego newspaper reported Tuesday. Padres Owner Kay Kroc confirmed the meeting. He said San Diego General Manager Bob Fontaine will meet with Red Sox General Manager Haywood Sullivan. Kroc told The San Diego Tribune that the Padres have had a number of feelers from major league clubs regarding Winfield, the 27-year-old slugger who led the National League In runs-batted-in this year.

Winfield's five-year contract expires after next season. Lynn, 27, won the American League batting title this season. He has informed the Red Sox he prefers not to be traded. Lynn's father lives in San Diego. Kroc said the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees are also interested in acquiring Winfield.

WASHINGTON GOES TO BUCKS MILWAUKEE, WIS. (AP) The Milwaukee Bucks have acquired forward Richard Washington from the Kansas City Kings in exchange for forward Ernie Grunfeld, a second round pick in next year's National Basketball Association draft and an undisclosed amount of cash. The trade was announced Tuesday. Washington, the third player chosen in the NBA's 1976 draft after he decided to pass up his final season of collegiate eligibility at UCLA, played In only 12 games last season because of a stress fracture of a foot bone and achilles and groin Injuries. The 6-foot 11-lnch Washington averaged 13 points per game in his rookie season and 12.8 per game in 1977-78.

The 6-6 Grunfeld, who starred at Tennessee, was the Bucks' third first round draft pick, behind Kent Benson and Marques Johnson, in 1977. be was asked Tuesday. "In 1932," he said, "and '36, '37, '38, '39, '41 no, Murphy was tired and I didn't pitch in '41." Johnny Murphy was king of the Yankees' bullpen In those days, and Gomes has always pretended that when he was winning 24 or 25 games a season it was always in collaboration with John. Actually, in the seven World Series games Lefty started, Murphy relieved him only twice and on one occasion it was because McCarthy had used a pinch hitter. "My memory can't be trusted," a guy said, "but in one of those games when you beat the Giants by 18-4 or something, didn't you make two hits?" "No," Lefty said, "the only hit I ever made in a World Series was a ground ball that handcuffed Burgess Whitehead at second base, and that winter he had a nervous breakdown.

"I did set a record at bat though. In 1937 I walked twice in one Inning, when we scored seven runs. It stood until 1968 when that little second baseman for Detroit tied it Dick McAuliffe." SINCE THE subject of bis hitting had come up, Lefty wu in no hurry to set ft down. "I did drive in the first run ever scored in an All-Star Game," he said, "with a single." "Where did that hit go?" "It must have been a hell of a line scorer, averaging 16.7 points per game. She scored a league record 53 points in one game.

Veteran players include Denise Sharps, Robin Tucker, Doris Draving, Debra Thomas, Connie Kunzmann, Sister Green, Nancy Rutter, Rhonda Penquite and Tanya Crevier, Among the newcomers is Charlotte Lewis, a 6-foot 2-inch center who was a member of the 1976 U. S. Olympic team. She played in France last year and averaged 27 points and 17 rebounds per game. Mo Eckroth, a former ail-American from the University of Utah, Pat Hodgson of Iowa State and Nancy Wellen of Luther also are new.

Kirk said he hopes to get some strength In the front line from Lewis, who is recuperating from a foot Injury she suffered in France. A cast put on after ber surgery last summer was removed last week, and she started running Tuesday. Kirk hopes she will be ready for the opener Nov. 18 in Cedar Rapids. Schedule The Cornets will play half (nine) of their home games at the Five Seasons Center in Cedar Rapids and half at Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Des Moines.

The first game in Vets is Nov. 27 against Chicago. On Jan. 3, the team will play the New York Stars in Madison Square Garden prior to a National Basketball Association game between the New York Knicks and the San Diego Oippers. Player says he saw Kush punch TEMPE, ARIZ.

(AP) An Arizona State University football player claims he saw Coach Frank Kush deliver an uppercut to a former punter who has sued Kush and other ASU athletic officials for $1.1 million, the campus newspaper said Tuesday. The State Press quoted the unidentified player as saying Kush hit Kevin Rutledge after a bad kick during the Arizona State-Washington game last Oct 28. Kush has denied striking Rutledge, who has alleged mental and physical harassment and abuse By WAYNE GRETT The Iowa Cornets believe they'll be stronger, in better condition and more aggressive fa- the second season of the professional Women's Basketball League. New Coach Steve Kirk unveiled the 1979-80 team Tuesday at a practice and press conference at the Des Moines YMCA. There are four new faces, but Kirk "plans to rely on the returning veterans who tied for the WBL Midwest Division championship, then lost the first league title to Houston season.

"The girls are very hard workers Costello, van Breda Kolff join new faces in growing WBL "Some of them complained about the running, but they like it now." Kirk is trying to get his players to "claw and bump" on the floor. "They're getting to like it" he said. "They used to knock each other down and stop and apologize. Now they're beginning to realize you have to knock somebody down once in a while. Offense Changes "We'll use the fast break a lot" Kirk said.

"We want to get down the floor and get the ball to Molly (Bolln) for a Jump shot or layup. We will run under control and have people go to spots instead of run and gun." Bolln was the team's leading the New York Stars; Dave Wohl, a former Philadelphia 76er guard and assistant coach of the New Jersey Nets, is the general manager and head coach of the Washington Metros, another new entry, and Larry Jones, former assistant coach with the Detroit Pistons and once the leading scorer in the defunct American Basketball Association, is director of player personnel for the league (which at present pools its scouting services). The WBL has expanded from eight to 14 teams. Besides New Orleans and Washington, the new clubs are the Philadelphia Fox, St. Louis Streak, Dallas Diamonds, San Francisco Pioneers and California (Anaheim) Dreams.

The Dayton Rockettes folded and their player contracts were assigned to California. Three members of the 1976 Olympic team also have signed WBL contracts this season. They are Gail Marquis (New York), a 6-foot forward-center from Queens College; Nancy Dunkle (California), a 6-2 forward-center from California State-Fullerton; and Charlotte Lewis (Iowa), a 6-2 forward-center from Illinois State. By BOB DYER Rttfttar SM wmar Bill Byrne is the type of guy who would try to sell ice cubes to Eskimos. After conversing with the president of the professional Women's Basketball League, you get the feeling Byrne not George C.

Scott should have been cast as the lead in the movie "TheFlim-FlamMan." But give the guy credit Despite being a non-stop talker, Byrne's actions are speaking louder than his usual torrent of words. WBL has made some big-league moves during the offseason, the most startling the hiring of Larry Costello and Butch van Breda Kolff. COSTELLO guided the Milwaukee Bucks to the National Basketball Association championship in 1971. He'll och the Milwaukee Does. Van Breda Kolff wu a successful college coach at Princeton before holding several Jobs in the NBA, the last as head man of the then-New Orleans Jazz.

Hell coach one of the league's new entries, the New Orleans Pride. I The addition of the fiery Dutchman should be one of those good news-bad l.Lf.,flJ.... tr-.