News-Journal from Mansfield, Ohio • 36

News Joornal, Mansfield, O. Sunday, June 30. 1985 4-e Sports was wrong, but he did the 'logical' thing Ask Hal Hal Lebovitz VZ 1895 to 1897. Ruth, of course, finished with 714 and Aaron topped him with 755. ANSWER TO LAST WEEK'S PUZ-ZLE: With Red Sox runners on first and second, Brett Butler jumps over the fence to catch Jim Rice's fly, catches the ball on the other side before he lands and holds onto it after landing.

This is a legal catch and Rice is out. The ball is dead and the runners are permitted to advance only one base. They are now on third and second. Nice going, Brett. TODAY'S PUZZLE: Now that we know whose career mark Babe Ruth passed, whose season mark did he break when he hit 60 homers in 1927? (Answer next week.) I get your paper out here, having read it for years when I lived In your area.

A scorekeeping situation arose in a slow pitch softball game that requires your assistance. One out, runner on third. The batter hits a short routine fly to left center. The runner leaves the moment the ball touches the left fielder's glove. Umpire Question This happened la a Colt Hardball Game played mnder high school roles.

One out, tuners on second and third. The batter grounds to the shortstop. The shortstop looks the runners back and then throws to first for the oat. The first baseman throws home and the runner from third breaks for the plate. The runner on third Is called safe at home on a slide and the catcher throws to third to get the runner coming from second.

The runner is obviously out at third. However, before the play at third is completed the plate umpire calls time as he believes the runner who slid into home is injured. The umpire admitted he did not see the throw nor the play at third and, after much discussion, sends the runner back to second. Can the umpire call time for any reason while the ball is till in play as In the above Niebes (the catcher), Mentor. Answer The umpire made a mistake.

The rules book clearly instructs him: "If an injury occurs during a live ball, time shall not be called until no further advance or pu-tout is possible." But since the ump, being human, DID call time he halted further play. Besides he can't call what he didn't see. So, he did the only 2-1. Dave Hostetler hit a home run for the Rangers and Odell Jones saved the game for them. I would appreciate your Thomas, Lorain.

A The Indians DID lose, 2-1. Hostetler DID hit a home run, in the fourth inning and Jones DID earn a save. You memory is perfect except for one thing. Wilkins hurt his arm in 1981 and never pitched again, as a promising career went poof. Your friend is right.

Blyleven started the game, pitched seven innings and Dan Spillner finished up. Sorry about that. Everyone knows that Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's All-Time career record of home runs but whose record did Babe Ruth Trankiva, Mansfield. A During the 1921 season when the Babe hit his 137th home run be broke the career mark of 136, held by Roger Connor who was socking homers in the National League from Expect Kosar, Browns to agree on contract Hal Lebovitz A little bit of this and a little bit of CLOSING IN Youngstown sources close to Bernie Kosar's representative, Dr. John Galetka, tell me lengthy contract negotiations with the Browns are now under way all this weekend and are progressing well enough for a contract to be signed shortly, probably within the next 24 hours, although it won't be announced until after Tuesday's supplemental draft.

It's said to be a multi-bucks contract calling for a guaranteed base pay, plus several performance incentives. A large portion will be paid up front in the form of a signing bonus. But it won't be a no-cut contract. Art Modell refuses to give-any player a uniform when his ability no longer is Kosar Coming already is posing a problem for the Browns' public relations department. It has received requests from newspapers, magazines, TV and radio stations from California to Boston for interview time with the rookie quarterback.

Each wants approximately one-half hour with Bernie and Chuck Fisher, of the PR staff, says, "If we granted every one he'd be tied logical thing in returning the runner to second. Once he does something not covered by the rules such as call "time" when he shouldn't the book gives him the power to do what be thinks is proper and fair. Which is exactly what he did. He made a mistake, didn't compound it by allowing something he didn't see. Sorry, you lose the triple play.

I was watching a recent game between the Chicago Cubs and the Montreal Expos. The Expos' pitcher, Bryan Smith, was batting, runners on first and second. Smith tries to bunt twice and misses. Then Smith bunts again and the ball rolls foul. The ump calls him out.

Is Smith out, or is it still Strike Jeff Tipton, Perry. A When a batter tries to bunt after two strikes and the ball goes foul he's automatically out. You probably weren't aware of this rule because batters seldom bunt after two strikes for this very reason. I would appreciate your looking into a question we have been arguing about. My friend and I attended a game at the Stadium on April 12, 1983, Indians vs.

Texas. My friend is convinced Bert Blyleven pitched. I argue It was rookie Eric Wilklns. If my memory serves me, Texas won, up through September and wouldn't be able to practice. It's a good problem and we'll have to sit down with Bernie and figure out some way to handle it.

We've never had anything like this. The closest was when we signed Tom Cousineau and that didn't even compare. from Miami papers already have asked the Browns for credentials to cover their games. They'll be disappointed. Kosar figures to see little or no action at least through the first half of the season.

He'll be 22 on Nov. 25. STAR BILLING Of course, there's no way the Kosar buildup could be avoided, considering the circumstances, but there's also no way any athlete could live up to it. The Browns' highlight film won't be available until July and its production was delayed to include spectacular footage of Kosar, pitching for the University of Miami. True, the Browns had little to highlight last season so they can't be knocked for selling 1985 there's plenty of Marty Schottenheimer in it, too, including some vintage stuff of him as an NFL player yet highlighting a quarterback who is expected to be No.

2 or Browns' both in time and money. He'll remain in the limelight with a radio job, yet he shouldn't be under too much pressure. With two play-by-play men the final details aren't worked out, but an announcement is expected within a week Dieken won't have to say as much as would be necessary with just one man in the booth. The only problem will be jamming everybody into the booth. The one atop Cleveland Stadium is tiny.

It was barely big enough for Mueller and Gib Shanley, his partner before Shanley moved to California. An engineer and weatherman Dick God-dard, who spotted for the announcers, also jammed into the little booth about half the size of an RTA bus shelter. "That's why I lost 20 pounds," cracked Dieken. The games will be broadcast on 1100 AM radio and WDOK FM, the two stations recently purchased by Browns owner Art Modell. WHITE LIGHTNING Charles White might soon be resurrected in Los Angeles, the city in which his football career zoomed while playing at the University of Southern he is allowed to proceed once the ball touches a glove rather than once the out is made.

Is this true, although that's not the main Issue here? Now, the ball, after hobbling around in the left fielder's glove, falls right Into the glove of the center fielder. The throw to the plate was too late and the run scored. Some observers felt that from so short a distance a normal outfielder, with a clean catch and a quick release, would have thrown the runner out at home. With this in mind, what is the batter cored with? My opinion Is that he would get an official time at bat and not a sacrifice or an RBI and that it wouldn't be an earned run. How do you score Slmms, Aurora, Colo.

A In softball it MUST be a sacrifice fly and an RBI and the pitcher is charged with an earned run. The soft-ball rules are extremely lenient on sacrifice flies. Also, the runner can leave his base the instant the ball is touched. He doesn't have to wait until it is caught. Otherwise, outfielders would juggle every fly into the infield.

In the recent U. S. Open, Jay Haas had a difficult approach shot to stay alive in order to add legitimacy to its huge lawsuit against the NFL. The USFL can't claim a monopoly against the NFL if it folds without an attempt to compete against the established loop head-to-head in the fall. FORGET IT Those who see a merger between the NFL and USFL aren't being realistic.

It just isn't going to happen and the NFL doesn't figure to take in even a few of the USFL franchises. There is one major reason none of the major sports is eager to expand: It would cut down the TV pot. The Browns alone would lose $1 miilion a year forever if the NFL added two the NFL eventually does expand it will award new franchises to Baltimore and Oakland, the two cities that lost clubs via the moving van. But it is unlikely the franchises would be awarded to the existing USFL teams in those cities. The NFL, sources say, would pick its own owners for a fresh start in those cities.

MAIL BAG In a recent column I suggested increasing the circumference of the basketball to what it was years ago, an expansion of about two inches. William E. Schubert of North Ridgeville disagrees. He says, make the basket smaller instead, because he thinks a larger ball would be a greater handicap to the smaller player. He says the smaller player already has smaller hands.

The size of a person's hands (and feet, incidentally) are not directly proportional to his height. Although I'm tall I wish I did have big hands. I know many much shorter than I who can palm a ball. I can't. When the ball was bigger many of the best players were under 5-10.

They were excellent ball handlers. When the ball was slimmed down the jump shot was born. It's impossible to block a tall man's jumper, so let's make it more difficult to shoot. I wouldn't want the size of the basket changed. Meade of Mansfield, an admitted National League fan, throws a few harpoons at me for preferring the designated hitter rule.

After offering numerous arguments opposing it he writes, "Personally, I don't care if the American League does keep such a juvenile rule. I just don't want to see it ever invade the NL, home of real basebalL.As for you, Hal, try tearing yourself away from the hapless Tribe. Turn on the Super Station (Atlanta) and watch a baseball game. I UNIROYAl 589-9900 88 S. Illinois Ave Mansfield, Ohio FASTRAK RADIAL FREE MOUNTING the green that required be hit over several strands of TV cable.

After a lengthy discussion with officials it was determined that be might hit the cables, so several officials held them op about five feet off the ground while Haas attempted to hit under them, which he did. Suppose he had hit the ball which then hit the ground and bounced onto the upheld cables and remained lodged there? Or suppose the ball bounced up and landed in the jacket pocket of one of the officials holding the cables. What would the ruling Barker, New Philadelphia. A This comes under the "ball in motion, stopped by an outside agency" rule. The stroke counts for Haas, but there is no added penalty.

Haas would remove the ball from the cable or the official's pocket and drop it directly below the cable or the pocket and play it from where it comes to rest If it rolls more than two club-heads from where it hit the ground, or if it rolls closer to the hole he must drop it again. Oh, the hazards of TV. (Send your questions to Ask Hal, P.O. Box 18891, Cleveland Heights, 44118. For a personal reply include a stamped, sell-addressed envelope.) very soon betcha my 1984 Pete Rose card that you see a pitcher get a hit." I suppose I would if I could stay awake that long.

There are strong, valid arguments on both sides of the DH rule. Those who haven't watched it on a regular basis remain opposed to the DH. I was opposed to it initially for all the same reasons Greg still is, but having been exposed to the DH I have come to favor it, much to my surprise. It's as simple as that. HANGING ON Now that Pittsburgh is in danger of losing the Pirates civic committees are making a concerted effort to sell tickets and attendance has increased.

The big shocker came when a total of 15,207 attended a three-game Cardinals-Pirates series while the advance sale for a tractor pull at Three Rivers Stadium hit 35,000. It ended all the alibis about how tough it is to get to Three Stanton, former Indians' pitcher who has been with Seattle in recent years, took out a $6 million insurance policy on his arm, paying an initial premium of $6,000. The next day he was is ready to pass a tax on food and beverage, the money to be used to build a domed stadium. While Cleveland continues to fiddle Columbus to Harvey Greene of the Cavs. For the second successive season the NBA has awarded him the "Public Relations Director of the Year Eastern Conference." The honor comes through a vote of his peers.

Kevin Sullivan of the Dallas Mavericks won it in the Western sympathy to Mel Turpin, Cavs' center. His mother died last B. Free had to miss the Cavs' clinics because of a death in the family. John Bagley filled in as an instructor for World. Barry Carroll is so unpopular in the San Francisco area the Golden State Warriors are being second-guessed for matching the contract Milwaukee offered the big center since it contains a no-trade clause.

To deal him, the Warriors would have to pay plenty more to buy out that 8's Nev Chandler, offered a three-year contract by radio station WWWE to split the play-by-play of Browns' games with Jim Mueller, opted for one year instead. The contract is about to be You can talk to Nev and to me this afternoon, 2 to 4, on WWWE (1100 well and see you somewhere, I hope. HOURS: 7f Mon. Thru Fit 8A.M.to6P.M Sat.BA.M.toiPM Wheel Alignment Set caster, $1795 set cantoer, a most where possible cars Deluxe Heavy Duty Shocks SQQ90 dJ pair installed Savings of $10.00 pr. NAPA brand, most cars Air Conditioning Service $2495 Clock tystM, titcute reckr( I Iks.

frees 1 1 11. til Lube-Oil-Filter 1285 most cars Up to 5 qts. 10W30 Pennzoil, NAPA oil filter-lube Doug Dieken busy preparing for new career in TV, radio However, he bobbles it a few times. The runner is now hesitating back and forth between third and borne. The runner then goes home without going back to third in the belief that were invited to a basketball clinic where they were shown new restrictions on the zone defense.

One eliminated a two-on-one isolation defense used extensively and successfully by the Cavs last season when it was quasi-legal. Karl was wounded by the new hear the Boston Celtics were about to draft John Williams, the Tulane player now on the hot seat for alleged point shaving, if the Cavs hadn't plucked him. Red Auerbach, the brains of the Celtics, never is afraid to take chances or of the media. Bird wore a tie for the first time in accepting the Player of the Year award. Also his blond moustache virtually NBA is considering dropping its Comeback Player of the Year Award in favor of a Most Improved Player Award, for the Comeback trophy now appears to go each year to a player who overcame a drug problem, causing the gagsters to point out it should be called the Drug Dependency Award.

HO HUM I keep hearing the words of Indians' chief Joe Klein, uttered at a recent SMACO luncheon: "It's easier to pick up good pitchers than top players at other positions." Wonder if he still thinks so. He's been picking 'em up and finding them lacking at a frightening just a fair staff the Indians would have had a successful trip to the west still can't understand why the Indians farmed out Roy Smith after a disappointing spring training. Spring training is merely a time to get in shape and Roy showed more promise last season than many of the pitchers the Indians took north. This is my biggest worry about the Indians' front office: it doesn't have a good history in judging the past draft the Indians selected more pitchers than ever before. They had 19 on their roster at Batavia last week and to establish some order on the staff, they sent five up to Waterloo.

Eventually they should get some arms out of all those numbers. At least, it's a start in rebuilding the franchise. LAST GASP The United States Football League needs exceptional TV ratings and attendance for its current playoffs to regain some credibility. The word is that the USFL is handing out pink slips at a rapid rate in order to avoid paying salaries while they spin their wheels until the fall of 1986, when they are supposed to resume Jacksonville franchise, trying to keep afloat financially, put out a public stock offering at $100 a share to raise a needed $12 million. Only a total of $5,000 was sold so the offering was taken off the source close to the USFL tells me it will try desperately to RICHMOND WATER HEATERS Gas and Electric 1 M28 M48 5 1 88 '128 '158 Gas 30 gal.

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9:00 P.M. CLOSED SUNDAYS I ALL SWALLEHS STORES I No. 3 while he learns appears to be a bit dad, Bernie doesn't think his son will be here for Tuesday's draft. He says, "I have a vivid imagination but I don't see that happening. Bernie is driving in from Miami and he's entitled to a leisurely will serve as one of the marshals in the Budweiser 500 Grand Prix parade, Friday, along with George Karl, the Cavs' wound up with a 3.3 average at Miami and his father appeared prouder of that than his football exploits.

He added, "I'm happy with my three children. One (Bernie) has just finished college. Beth is doing fine at Hiram and soon will graduate and Bryan, 17, will be going to college soon." OUCH At the National Basketball Association meetings held last week in San Francisco, the coaches notes His college coach, John Robinson, now coaches the Los Angeles Rams. Robinson has given White a tryout and reportedly was very impressed. White is expected to sign with Los Angeles as a free agent before the Rams training camp opens July 14 at Cal State Fullerton.

If he makes the team he'll be behind Eric Dickerson and Barry Redden. White was waived by the Browns following Cleveland's mini-camp last month. Browns coach Marty Schottenheimer said White would have a better chance to play somewhere else and gave him his release, which White requested in February. Since no team claimed him in th 10 day waiver period White is a free agent. White, the Heisman Trophy winner at USC, was the Browns' top draft choice in 1980.

He gained 942 caeer yards with the Browns on 276 carries and caught 83 passes for 684 yards. He scored 10 touchdowns. BATTER UP The Browns soft-ball team has been deluged with requests to play games for charity. Today the group headed by Bob Golic will be playing in an all-star charity game against the Michael Stanley band at 1 p.m. at Byron Junior High in Shaker Heights.

in prison By Jeff Schudel Newt Journal correspondent CLEVELAND Doug Dieken is busy preparing for another football season, though not in the same way he prepared during the past 20 summers. Dieken was tracked down at the offices of Channel 5 in Cleveland, seemingly a foreign place for a man who's more familiar turf is left tackle on the Cleveland Browns' offensive line. Dieken retired as an active player in April. He played in 203 straight games in 14 seasons, and in a way will continue the string when the Browns open against the St Louis Cardinals Sept. 8 in Cleveland.

Dieken will be in the radio booth with Nev Chandler and Jim Mueller. Mueller and Chandler will do the play-by-play and Dieken will add the commentary. "I know I'll miss playing on game days," Dieken said, "but I don't miss getting ready because of all the lifting and everything. "This is more structured, though. When you're lifting weights and training you're usually your own boss." The situation will be ideal for Dieken, who has woven himself into the fabric of Cleveland society with his countless charitable contributions, McLain pitching again Size Price HSSIMIJ St.

eft fllSIOtli 41 ft tus'iau M.M PMS75IH M.M mimi mm WS'IWS M.eg veport, but didn't pitch again until last week, when he began preparing for Saturday's game between his namesake team and the Cardinals a squad made up of mostly young inmates that was established before McLain arrived at the Atlanta prison three weeks ago. When McLain suggested the Cardinals move a young outfielder with a strong arm to the mound, he was told they didn't want any outside interference. After the rejection, other inmates rallied around the 41-year-old McLain and asked him to pitch for a new team that would challenge the Cardinals. Most of the players are between 40 and 50 and want nothing more than to beat the younger team. "I told my wife about it and she said it sounded like that Burt Reynolds movie, "The Longest McLain said in an interview published in today's combined editions of The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta ATLANTA (AP) Denny McLain's 12-year absence from the pitching mound will end next Saturday when major league baseball's last 30-game winner strides up the hill for the Detroit Dennys.

Part of his audience will be armed guards who will make sure that only baseballs, and not people, go over the wall, which encircles the federal penitentiary in Atlanta where McLain is serving a 23-year sentence for gambling and drug convictions. McLain won 31 games for the Detroit Tigers in 1968, losing six and winning the American League Cy Young award. He also won the award as the league's best pitcher the next year with a 24-9 record. But his career began to slide, amid suspensions from baseball for consorting with bookmakers. It eventually ended in Atlanta in 1972 where he was 3-5 in eight games for the Braves.

In 1973, he pitched for a minor league team in Shre- AUTO BODY REPAIR FREE ESTIMATES FRAME STRAIGHTENING PAINTING-RUST REPAIR Closed JULY 4th.