The Daily Times from Salisbury, Maryland • 14

1 Hall Of Fame Doors Open For Wynn, Berra, Koufax Winner Of 300 Elected After Three Rej Rejections NEW YORK (AP). to Baseball's Hall of Fame surprised Sandy Koufax, excited Yogi Berra and interrupted Early Wynn's tomato-picking. Wynn, a 300-game winner who had failed three times previously to be elected to the shrine that houses the sport's heroes, was notified of his election while picking tomatoes at his home in Nokomis, near Sarasota. Wynn was grateful. "I'd been hoping for it," he said, "but I didn't want to build up my hopes too high.

It's like being placed up there on a pedastal, not like getting a gold watch for your longtime efforts. It's recognition I was waiting for for a long time." But, said Wynn, he would have been happier if the honor had been bestowed when he first became eligible. "I don't think I'm as thrilled as I would have been if I had made it the first time," he said. "Naturally, I'm happy. So is my wife.

We have had a long wait. I was disappointed the first year and disappointed the second year. The third year I just shrugged it off. "I would have liked to have joined Stan Musial, Ted Williams and Walter Johnson as players who gained the honor the first year they were eligible." Koufax did exactly that, becoming the ninth player to make it his first year of eligibility. Others who did it were Jackie Robinson, Bob Feller, Ty Cobb, Babe' Ruth, Honus Wagner and Christy Mathewson.

Koufax was surprised by the honor, embellished by a record vote total. "I'm a little surprised I got as many votes as I did." explained. "I didn't have as many good years as some others in the Hall and I thought that might count against me." Koufax pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers for 12 years before an arthritic elbow ended his career. But it's the last four that made him a Hall of Famer. From 1963 to 1966 he had records of 25-5, 19-5, 26-8 and 27-9 with earned run averages of 1.88, 1.71, 2.04 and 1.73.

also pitched a non-hitter each year, including a perfect game in 1965. And that made him, at 36, the youngest player ever to be elected. "This is the biggest honor I've ever been given, not just in baseball, but in my said Koufax. Berra was even more excited. "My fans and friends were really pulling for me," said Berra, who missed out by votes last year when he was eligible for the first time.

"My kids are happy about it, and 1 feel great." Koufax led the balloting with 344 votes while Berra received 339 Wynn 301. A record 396 votes were cast with the play. ers needing to be named on three-quarters of the ballots, or 297, to be elected. NO CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER. Mrs.

Yogi Berra plants a kiss on former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax after wher husband, left, former Yankee's catcher and Koufax won election to Baseball's Hall from the sidelines of Fame in New York yesterday. Early Wynn, former American League pitcher, was also named to the Hall of Fame but was not present at the announcement ceremony. (AP Wirephoto) By RICK CULLEN, Times Sports Editors CHECK The call is placed to the Park Sheraton Hotel in New York City. The telephone in room 2267 rings three times before there is an answer. answers the victim of the early (9 a.m.) call.

After explaining my business and purpose for calling, Bobby Fischer reluctantly agrees to a brief interview. And brief it was as if were paying for the call. In almost any other country, Bobby Fischer would be rated a genuine sports hero on a par with Joe Namath, Ted Williams or Jerry West. But in this country, outside of a few blurbs in the newspapers and a spread in Life, Bobby Fischer is virtually "unknown. Mysterious and controversial, famous and infamous, one time child prodigy and current U.S.

chess champion, Fischer lives in hotel and motel rooms. He has no permanent residence, even though he was born and raised in Brooklyn. Some time before June 30, he will challenge the reigning world chess champion, Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, for the title. The date the time and the place has not yet been determined. There is little doubt that at age 28, Bobby Fischer is one of the best chess players in the world.

Before meeting Tigran Petrosian for a match that ended recently, Fischer had won 20 straight games, most of them against fellow grandmasters. That is an incredible feat; it would be compared, to bowling 20 "straight 300 games or pitching 20 no hitters. In Argentina, where the Petrosian Fischer match was held, fans lined up for tickets 12 hours before match time. The enthusiasm is everywhere except the U.S. How does Fischer feel about.

the lack of interest in chess in this country. 00 "I think it's pathetic. Everywhere in the world chess is regarded highly, but not here. I don't suspect it will ever really catch on here, even if I do become the champion." Fischer feels chess is a national sport and should be recognized. "I feel it's comparable to basketball.

Basketball players pass the ball around until they find an opening. Like chess, like the mating attack." He also believes a champion chess player must be in top physical condition. You have to and MATE Bobby Fischer Bobby Fischer concentrate in a tournament for five hours at a time, day after day. And when's there's an adjournment, he said, you've gotta stay up late analyzing strategy. The tension and the need for stamina are brutal.

One mental lapse and you're through. At the age of 40, he said, most chess players are over the hill. Just can't hack the strain. "Are we about through?" Just a couple more questions please. "OK, but get on with them." At what age did you first become interesed in chess? "Six." Understand you are a high school dropout.

Why? "Why what?" Why did you drop out of school? "The tournament demands became too pressing. Are we about through?" Any plans for retirement? "Retirement! What could I do if I quit playing chess. No way. Are you through now? I was up all night and don't feel like an interview this morning especially at this CLICK! MM SHOWING OFF THEIR MENDED KNEES. left, Johnny Unitas of the Baltimore Colts, Three pro athletes indicate that they have and Tommie Agee of the New York Mets, overcome knee problems by kicking out their right, gathered for the launching of American right feet with American Airlines stewardess Airlines' sixth annual golf classic in which York.

Kathy Joe Dunn at Namath a of midtown the New restaurant York in Jets, New the Rico three early next athletes month. will compete (AP at Wirephoto) Puerto THE DAILY TIMES 14 THE DAILY TIMES Salisbury, Jan. 20, 1972 Only one other player besides Koufax, Berra and more Wynn ever has received than 300 votes- Stan Musial who collect317 in 1969. Berra and Wynn, like Koufax, had considerable credentials. Berra' hit 358 homers while batting .285 for the New York Yankees while Wynn was one of only 14 pitchers in history to win 300 games in a 23-year career with Washington, Cleveland and Chicago.

All three have kept some connection with baseball following their playing days, Berra as a coach for the New York Mets, Wynn as scout for the Minnesota Twins and Koufax as a broadcaster for NBC. Rounding out the top 10 in the voting were Ralph Kiner, 235; Gil Hodges, 161; John Mize, 157; Slaughter, 149; Peewee Reese, 129; Marty Marion, 120, and Bob Lemon, 117. Hall Of Fame Votes Sandy Koufax 344: Yogi Berra 3394 Early Wynn 3011 Raiph Kiner 235; Gil Hodges 161; John Mize 157, Enos Slaughter 149; Pee Wee Reese 129; Marty Mar. icn 120: Bob Lemon, 117 George 115; Allie Reynolds 105: Red Schoendienst 104; Phil Rizzuto 103: Hal Newhouser 92: Duke Snider -84: Nellie Fox 64; Phil Caverretta 61; Alvin Dark 55: Dom DiMagai 36. Bob Newson 31; Keller 24: John Sain 21; Mickey Vernon 12 Richie burn 11; Ted Kluszewski Bobby Thomson 10; Bobby Shaniz.

Harvey Haddix and Roy McMillan Bobby Richardson end Walker Cooper 8. Don Newcombe Dutch Leonard and Harry Brecheen Carl Erskine. Billy Pierce, Gil McDougald Vic Wertz and Bic Raschi 4. Vic Power and Roy Sievers 3: Preacher Roe. Eddie Lopat and Carl Furillo Jackie Jensen 1.

Pro Basketball Standings W. L. Pet. G.B. Boston 32 16 .667 New York 26 19 .578 Philadelphia 20 28 .417 12 Buffalo 13 31 .295 17 Central Division Baltimore 20 25 .444 Atlanta 17 30 .362 4 Cleveland 15 31 .326 Cincinnati 14 31 .311 6 Western Conference Midwest Division Milwaukee 38 10 .792 Chicago 32 14 .696 5 Phoenix 27 21 .563 11 Detroit 17 30 .362 Pacific Division Los Angeles 41 5 .891 Seattle 29 19 .604 13 Golden St 27 19 .587 14 Houston 16 30 .348 25 Portland 12 37 .245 Yesterday's Results No games scheduled Today's Games Houston at Cincinnati New York at Phoenix Only games scheduled Friday's Games Houston at Boston Golden State at Atlanta Chicago at Buffalo Portland VS.

Philadelphia at Hershey, Pa. Baltimore at Detroit Cleveland at Milwaukee Phoenix at Seattle ABA I East Division W. L. Pet. G.B.

Kentucky 26 10 .783 Virginia 30 18 .625 7 New York 22 27 .449 Floridians 20 28 .417 17 Pittsburgh 19 30 .388 Carolina 17 31 .354 20 West Division Utah 33 15 .688 Indiana 28 19 .596 Memphis 21 28 .429. Denver 19 27 .413 13 Dallas 20 32 .385 15 Yesterday's Results Virginia 138, Kentucky 132 Carolina 108, Floridians 104 Utah 143, Memphis 118 Denver 116, Dallas 92 Only games scheduled Today's Games Pittsburgh vs. Floridians at Tampa Kentucky vs. Virginia at folk I By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Carolina at New York NBA Memphis at Indiana Eastern Conference Only games scheduled Atlantic Division Friday's Games Pittsburgh VS. Carolina at Greensboro Indiana at Kentucky Denver at Kentucky Dallas at Utah Only games scheduled Majors Will Be Offered Coaching Job At Ga.

Tech ATLANTA (AP) Iowa State Coach Johnny Majors will be offered the head football coaching job at Georgia Tech within a week and will accept, The Atlanta Constitution said in today's editions. The newspaper said Majors has notifed Iowa State President W. Robert Parks he intends to visit Tech, and Tech officials have contacted Athletic Director Lou McCullough for permission to talk to Majors. The paper said Parks confirmed Majors was' planning to visit Tech. Majors guided Iowa State to an 8-4 season including a trip to the Sun Bowl.

His Cyclones finished fourth in the Big 8 behind Nebraska, Oklahoma and Colorado, the nation's one, two and three teams. Majors has been I mentioned for every major coaching job that has opened up this winter. Tech Athletic Director Bobby Dodd did not confirm that Majors was scheduled for a visit. He said only that Majors was high on the list of candidates. Dodd was given the task of finding a new football coach for Tech when Bud Carson was fired recently after five years as only the fourth football coach in the school's history.

Olypmic Checks Sex checks started this week for women athletes taking part in the Feb. 3 13 Sapporo Winter Olympics. Fourteen Japanese participants were the first to be checked out at the Olympic Village in this northern Japan I city. ELATED. Former American Early Wynn is jubilant with after being named to baseball's League pitcher yesterday.

For wife, Lorraine, up there on Hall of Fame being passed Wynn "it is like 1 being placed a pedestal," after three times over for the recognition. A.L. Attendance Decline Linked To Yankee Slide By MURRAY OLDERMAN SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (NEA) cold figures provide a crutch for instinct. The soul of baseball is in the National League.

The people respond to its brand of the game. This year, the NL outdrew the American League by 5 million folks (up from 4 million last year). Of the 12 teams in the National League, only San Diego failed to exceed a million in attendance, generally the breakeven figure. Of the 12 in the American League, only four made it. There's a theory rampant that the decline of the American circuit is directly to the decline of the New York Yankees.

The attendance gap has opened dramatically since the Yankees last won in 1964. "They said, 'Break up the grumbles one old baseball man. "They did, through the player draft, and they broke up the More than that, they destroyed an image. People loved to hate the Yankees. They were the greatest road attraction in the history of baseball.

Baseball front office men like Gabe Paul in Cleveland jockeyed with the schedule makers for Yankee Sunday dates in their home parks. There WAS a Yankee spirit which few teams in sports have been able to emulate maybe the Boston Celtics in basketball, the Green Bay Packers and' Notre Dame in football. It was all predicated on winning, and it reached its fruition at World Series time. Eddie Lopat, who has been a pitcher, coach, scout, manager, general manager (and now scout again), was talking about it at a Series convocation. Eddie's most gratjifying years in baseball were Ed Lopat the eight he pitched for the Yankees, joining them from four second division seasons with the White Sox.

"I HEARD of the Yankee spirit when I was in he reminisced. "But I didn't know what it was. Then I joined them in '48. Early in the season, Yogi Berra came to bat in a 3-3 game. Yogi had been around the club since '46 but was just then coming on as a regular.

He hit a blooper between the rightfielder, the second baseman and the first man. Yogi could fly in those days, but he just jogged down to first. When the ball fell in, he settled for a single. The next two batters flied out and there was a grounder to end the inning. No run.

"When he came back to the dugout, I was in the runway smoking a cigarette. I heard Charley Keller, say to Yog' in a straight voice way I'm talking to you 'why didn't you run that one Then Johnny Lindell hopped on him; then Billy Johnson. And DiMag looked. All DiMag had to do was look and Yogi cringed. "LATE IN the season, there was an important double header against Washington.

One "of those 95 degree days. The Yankee won the first game, but we need a sweep it was the year we barely nosed out the Red Sox. After the opener, Manager Bucky Harris asked DiMag if he wanted to sit it out and he said no. Yogi caught the first game and told Bucky he was a little tired. So Charley Silvera caught.

"He wasn't in the same hitting class. The game was tied 3-3 and finally called in the 10th. Charley, up four times with men in scoring position, failed to deliver. Yogi might have. When the game was over, Allie Reynolds and I had to actually carry DiMag to the dressing room.

He just sat. He was a moody guy, you know, who never said anything. "Yogi nearby was grinning, refreshed from the rest. What the heck, we'd won one. DiMag broke his silence.

'What're you laughing he said to Yogi. 5 heard "It was DiMag the say first anything. time I Then ever for the next minute he really ate his out: "Why didn't you play the second 'Aw, I was 'At 20? Tired? You should be able to catch double-headers. "Then the other guys on the team took over and took turns chewing Yogi out. Well, after that you could always count on Yogi.

For six straight years he always caught around 150 games a season." And that, folks, is what pulled them into the ball park. The Detroit Tigers will play 16 exhibition games in Lakeland, next spring, opening with the Minnesota Twins on March 4. FRONT DISC BRAKE SERVICE BE PREPARED FOR THOSE Install 4 New Front Brake Pads SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED STOPS Repack Outer Wheel Bearings Inspect Calipers, Rotors; and Rear Axle Brakes (Discs Machined and Calipers Re-built if needed) ONLY COMPACT STANDARD CARS B.E.Goodrich Delaware Tire Center, Inc. 952 S. Salis.

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