Star Tribune from Minneapolis, Minnesota • Page 29

Kaat Homers, Twins Win 4-0 Team Must Show Fans and Orioles A III I II ml ftZilfAv Killebrew Billy Martin gave orders from dugout while he wat manager. Rigney, Twins on Brink, By JON ROE Minneapolis Tribune Staff Writer The regular season was over, ending with a 4-0 victory over Kansas City Thursday, and amid handshakes, shouts and congratulations the Twins celebrated. Jim Kaat was kidded about hitting his annual home run. "You wish you could gel off the lee like that," said Tom Tischinski. "You're not kidding," replied Kaat.

"But, the chance to hit a home run was just about gone. Say, how far away was I from hitting the $10,000 sign out there." "Just a few inches," said Tischinski with a grin. Kaat actually was about 150 feet away, but his pitching was close to perfect. The left-hander worked the first seven innings and allowed only three hits. He struck out seven and gave up only one walk.

He didn't give up his first hit until the fourth. "I had good command of all my pitches," said Kaat. "Most of the time when I threw the fast ball I knew the batter was going to hit it on the ground." Ron Perranoski was kidded about getting his 34th save of the year. Me entered the game with two out in the ninth and got Cookie Rojas to ground out to end the regular season. (Stan Williams had relieved Kaat and was replaced by Ron.) "Well," said Perranoski, "at least that's a helluva lot better save than Tuesday." Perranoski had turned a 9-5 lead into a 9-9 game Tuesday.

But. yesterday he tied a major league record for fireman points (victories plus saves). He has 41, tying Boston's Dick Radatz and Cincinnati's Wayne Granger. "It means something to me," said Perranoski, "because Radatz and 1 were college roommates at Michigan State." After the game Tony Oliva was carrying his infant son and a big smile. He finished the year with a .325 average, the highest in his each other.

"At no time has Reese or Cardenas let his batting trouble affect the way he fields. This has been a team." On that team three stand out. Harmon Killebrew, who was the Most Valuable Player in the league in 1969, is a candidate again. Tony Oliva again challenged for the league batting ti Somewhere, e-how, they have found a way to win. It hasn't been easy but they have.

here has been talk that this is a bunch of individuals. But each man does his job. Collectively, they have become a unit. There may be people who do not associate off the field, but when they are on the field they are pulling for tle. And Jim Perry was one of the top pitchers, with 24 victories.

"This team finds a mammoth, quiet strength in Harmon," said Rigney. "They feel that when he is in the lineup and we are tied or a run behind late in the game we can win if he gets to Rigney Continued on Page 28 and young Tommy Hall has been a left-handed pitching find. But Rich Reese, who hit .322 last year, is hitting .263. And Leo Cardenas, who hit .280 last year, is hitting .250. "The players could have turned on themselves," said Rigney.

"They could have used the injuries to Carew, Boswell and Tiant. But they didn't. who- a in to the Twins with Tiant, has been even more than expected in compiling a 10-1 record with 15 saves. Yes, Brant Alyea, also acquired in a trade just before the season started, has hit near .300 and driven in many key runs. Yes, 19-ycar-olcl Bert Blyleven has won 10 games, and second-year pitcher Bill Zepp has been a help, By JON ROE Mlnnf spoilt Trlbutif Staff Writer Bill Rigney admits American League play-off starting-Satur-flay at Metropolitan Stadium is the biggest thing for him in his 32 years in baseball.

But it Is more, too, and Rigney knows it. "This is going to mean so much for this club," said the manager of the Twins. "You could sense it in Orlando during spring training. All year long you knew it was somewhere around. This club wants one more chance at Baltimore." The play off may mean even more.

Rigney may not admit it, but it is impossible to think he is unaware of it. Billy Martin, whose charisma in 1969 captured Met Stadium fans, won the West Division the same as Rigney in 1970 did. Both managers won the title on the same date of the season, but Rigney won one more game than Martin. Rigney hasn't really proved to Met Stadium fans that the change in managers has meant anything other than to Calvin Griffith's patience. Rigney could be ahead in the fans' minds by getting the Twins to the World Series.

The strange thing is 1969 and 1970 were different in many ways for the Twins. "Rod Carew, the American League batting champion in 1969, played in only 50 games in 1979. Dave Boswell, who won 20 games in 1969, was 3-7 in 1970 and was no help after the All-Star break. Luis Tiant, who was acquired in a winter trade for four players who helped the Twins win the 1969 title, won his first seven decisions but has tbeen injured almost every day since. 1 1 Yes, Stan Williams, tithe jflmneapolis tribune 27 Crossword 45 Horoscope 45 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1970 Crippled Host to Stars Blues By DWAYNE NETLANO Minneapolis Tribune Staff Writer Still crippled by injuries, the North Stars head into the home stretch of their exhibition schedule by meeting St.

Louis at. 805 p.m. tonight at Metropolitan Sports Center. The Puck Night game launches the final pre-season series for the Stars, who will play their Cleveland farm club Sunday night at Cleveland, Ohio, and close out the 10-game exhibition schedule Tuesday night at St. Louis, Mo.

Youngsters 17 and under will be given a National Hockey League puck at i Minneapolis Tribune Photo by John Croft Twins manager Bill Rigney made a point. VY -1 seven years with trie Twins but still four points short of A.L. leader Carl Yastrzemski. "I wanted to get two hits today (which he did)," said Oliva. "When you think that I had only two hits in New York this year you know I could have won.

And there was the series last week in Kansas City when 1 didn't hit either. "But I'm happy because we win. That means a lot to me, The other stuff is just nice to have." Cesar Tovar was smiling, too. He went l-for-2 yesterday and raised his average to an even .300, the first time in his six years in the majors he has hit .300. And in his office manager Bill Rigney also was smiling.

He had finished with his first major league title in 15 years of managing. His sense of humor was sharp. A Baltimore writer asked him what, with the American League Playoff against Baltimore starting Saturday, he thought of momentum. "My God," said Rigney, "does he play for them, too?" TWINS TOPICS: The Twins will work out this morning, Baltimore this afternoon, in preparation for Saturday's 3 p.m. playoff start.

Jim Perry (24-12) will pitch for the Twins, left-hander Mike Cuellar (24-8) for the Orioles. Perranoski celebrated his 10th year in the majors yesterday, and Rod Carew turned 25 yesterday. Tovar and Oliva tied Kansas City's Amo Otis for the league lead in doubles 36 Mrs. John Clark, of Minneapolis, won the Twins' over-all Queen of Twins baseball for 1970" as part of Ladies and Senior Citizens days. She will receive a week's vacation for two to Hawaii (TWINS SCORECARD Page 28).

2 PAN SUITS CHIEFS MUM ABOUT REPORT OF BIG FINE KANSAS CITY, Mo. The Kansas City Chiefs were silent Thursday about a report that they have been fined $5,000 by the National Football League for sending an ejected player back into an exhibition game. Coach Hank Stram said he had "no comment." General manager Jack Steadman said any comment would have to come from the NFL. The NFL said in an official statement: "Disciplinary action has been taken in a matter regarding the Kansas City football club." The incident reportedly occurred Sept. 12 in a game with the St.

Louis Cardinals in St. Louis. The Cardinals won 34-24. Reserve guard George Daney of the Chiefs and Chiefs Continued on Page 28 (WHERE ELSE BUT AT EKLUND'S?) the game tonight, and plenty oi tickets in all ranges are available. The North Stars will go without center Tommy Williams, defense man Fred Barrett and probably wing Bill Goldsworthy.

Williams is recuperating from a sprained back and will likely be out another week. Barrett has a broken toe which will keep him out 10 days and Goldsworthy is suffering from an infected heel blister. That would be cause for enough concern, but the Minnesota situation is compounded by the fact the North Stars have lost their last two starts and did not perform well in either. They were beaten 2-1 by Toronto last Sunday at Winnipeg, Ontario, and dropped a 4-2 game to Cleveland Wednesday night at Thief River Falls, Minn. In addition, they experienced a rugged trip home from their Winnipeg camp.

It began with a Wednesday afternoon bus North Stars Continued on Page 28 v-s life il r-vr- 9 Your Minnesota Minneapolis Tribune Photo by John Croft Last Game for a Regular For 16 years Bob Allison has been a regular outfielder and sometime first baseman for Calvin Griffith, first in the minor leagues, then with the Washington Senators and finally with the Minnesota Twins. Thursday in a corner of the Twins dugout, from where Allison watched the game, it all ended. Allison saw the Twins defeat Kansas City 4-0, before the announcement of his retirement, in a letter to Griffith. He played his last Twins game Tuesday, going hitless in two times at bat, but reaching first on an error the first time up and scoring. In his career he hit 256 home runs.

He ranks 44th on the all-time home run list. 55 few BUTTON THRU FLAIRS Hundreds of pairs to choose from! You'll want several for school and sportswear. In Twills, Riblos Coidu-roy, and Stripes. All Ptvinfii'P'if ffr.ss S8andM0 Some Gophers Will Miss Nebraska Tilt The University of Minnesota football team may have a new punier Saturday tight end Tom Biene-inann against Nebraska. Walter Bowser, the Gophers No.

1 punter, is still on the injured list and isn't expected to play. Mike Perl'etti. another punier who started at a defensive backfield position last week, also is sidelined. Bi-enemann was punting for about a 50-yard average in practice Thursday. Ron Anderson, who started the Ohio I) game, will -place Perfeiii in the starting lineup Saturday.

Paul Wright, brother of Gopher captain Jeff, has continued to run in Bowser's safety position this week. John Craustoi. lenuuns at lell tackle, where he has replaced John Thompson and Malt Herkenhnff will start at defensive right end for the injured Jack Babcock, who will sit out his third straight game because of an injured shoulder, loin Chandler has been playing as first siring linebacker, in place of Rich Crawford. I he Gophers had a spirited practice Thursday on the Tartan Turf, where they, also worked out Monday. "We're going to face the biggest offensive line I've ever played against," said linebacker Bill Light of Minnesota.

"Nebraska has a gie.it oi tensive team with good running ami passing. But I'm sure we'll be ready to piny our best game of the year." Eklund'i it THE store to head for when you're ready for the purchase of a 2-pants suit. These impeccably tailored 2 pant, 2 button center vent models come in a myriad of stripes, plains and muted patterns of brown, green, blue A greys. In regulars, shorts, longs, extra longs and portlies. $9950 Rtstmlionv Call NOW'.

(612) 545 0441 Sell 3 Stores for MEN 4th AND EAST HENNEPIN t.ii in Ittt kthind (Kit OPEN MONDAY I FRIDAY NIGHTS Amoassaaor At 5th Hennepin 335-1241 At Knollwood Ploio At Crystal popping Center RESORT MOTOR JjlOTEl FREE cX7. Woyiata Blvd. ot Hy. 1 00 Minneapolis, (612) 545 0441 fm o. 4.