Dayton Daily News from Dayton, Ohio • 17

17, Met Playoff Heroes Go to Bench for Series Opener By MIKE RECIIT NEW YORK UV-The New York Mets players who scored runs on 37 hits against the Atlanta Braves won't all be in the starting lineup against Baltimore in the first two games of the World Series. While nothing may succeed like success, Manager Cil Hodges of the Mcts has his own method of achieving it. It's called platooning. So, with Baltimore opening the series Satur day and Sunday with lefthanders Mike Cuellar and Dave McNally, Hodges hai decided to counter with his righthanded lineup of Ron Swoboda, Donn Clcndcnon, Ed Charles and maybe Al Weis. Of the four, Weis was the only one to get into a game against Atlanta's three right-handed starting pitchers.

He was a defensive replacement and went hitless in one at bat. REPLACING THEM on the bench will be: Rlghtfielder Art Sham.sky, the top hitter in the series with seven hits In 13 at bats after hitting a powerful .300 during the regular season. Second baseman Ken Boswcll, a late season hero who hit .279 and then was 4for-12 against the Braves, Including a two-run homer and run-scoring single In the finale. Third baseman Wayne Garrett, a .213 hitter during the regular season who came through with 5-for-ll ag.iin:.t Atlanta, including a two-run homer that put the Mets ahead to stay in the clincher; And first baseman Ed Krunepool, a .238 performer during the season and 3for-l2 In the playoffs. SWOBODA, IN right field, was another hero down the stretch, finishing with a .235 average, driving in 52 runs in only 327 at bats.

Clendenon, at first base, hit .213 with 16 home runs and 51 REI In only 331 at bats. Weis, at second base, hit only .215 with little power, and Charles, at third base, managed only a .207 average. However, Hodges said today that because Cuellar throws a screwball that makes him very effective against right-handers, he might make a platooning exception and stick with Boswell instead of switching to Weis. Si'imjs, by i4.Attx?y Si SmCdk DAYTON DAILY NEWS Wednesday, October 8, 196 ULY SPORTS IBITOK i I 1 7 Bciii Traded by llcds to Mets Best Tiling for Me, Shamsky Says ONE DAY AFTER the New York Mets com-lileted Part Two of a jwssible three-way 1969 miracle, Art Shamsky took time to discuss his up-and-down career as a professional baseball player. For the right fielder of the Mets, who led both teams with seven hits in the three-pame sweep of the Atlanta Braves for the National league pennant, it was a moment for counting blessings.

Arthur Louis Shamsky, native of St. Louis and a former University of Missouri student, will be 28 on Oct. 14, which makes him one of the club's elder statesmen. Among the 25 players who make up the new cham- pions, only six are older than Shamsky. 4 tfttvH on Tuesday.

Art still wasn't sure 1 v. mm 'vV'fr, 3- whether winning the Eastern division 3. title, in an AUgusi-aepiemDer unve ui overcame a 9'2-game Chicago Cub lead, provided a greater emotional lift than beating the Braves for the pennant. Now, Saturday will mark the begin V. I Oakwood Has A Kick Coming By TOM CARROLL, Daily News Sports Writer Mac Hummon, the retired Oakwood coach for whom the school's football field is named, was a recent visitor to Bluefield, W.

where he watched the high school team with 29 straight victories prep for its next game. I "I was surprised," Hummon was saying, "to find there were no goal posts around anywhere. When I asked why, the coach told me, 'We have plays to score touchdowns and we use the same plays to run or pass for two points. What do we need with goal "If I were still coaching," laughs Hummon, "I think I'd have somebody go for the one-ppint kick once in a I while. You never know when that one point will win for you." Oakwood Coach Howard Sales is putting the idea to work.

DOifG BAKER, six-foot, 220-pound senior tackle, Is getting his kicks for Oakwood. He has 10 straight conversion boots and is one-for-one in the field goal department. Baker's field goal gave Oakwood a 3-0 victory over Brookville last Friday and pushed the Lumberjacks to 3-1 in the Southwestern Buckeye league race, behind Van-daiia and Vest Milton, both running 4-0 atop the loop. And Baker's successful conversion following Oak-wood's first touchdown against defending champion Trot wood Madison two weeks ago was also a key boot. Because Trotwood, trailing 7-6 early in the game, elected to try for the go-ahead two points but failed.

The Rams got no more in losing to Oakwood, 28-6. BAKER AS given only one chance to convert in the Lumberjacks' opening game 21-6 loss at Centerville. A bad snap from center ruined that effort, but since that game he booted three against Northmont (21-6), the four against Trotwood plus three more which sent Oakwood to the dressing room with a 21-20 halftime margin over West Milton. The roof fell in on the Lumberjacks in the second half as Milton romped, 43,21. But Baker had done all that was asked of him, and did it again against Brookville.

The latter feat is all the more remarkable since the Blue Devils, bidding for a like field goal, had earlier failed from the 15-yard line. With five games remaining, Doug Baker will probably get more kicks for Oakwood. And they could make the difference. (- it ning of the team's, and Shamsky greatest adventure a chance to beat Baltimore for the World's championship. And who would count them out against the Orioles, considering the club's recent impossible From his mid-Manhattan apartment on the big city's plush East Side, 46 i 3 1 1JLJ WW: Shamsky 1 i 4 I A til "-4 1 Shamsky talked about his year ana career.

The 1969 season produced the low, as well as the high point, of his baseball life. "The best thing that happened to me, although I wasn't sure at the time, was being traded by the Reds to the Mets," Art said. (He was sent to New York for long-gone reserve infielder Bobby Johnson in one of Cincinnati General Manager Bob Howsam's less successful deals in November, 1967.) First Trade Always Tough "I'D BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL to have a cyst removed and was in bed at home when Mr. Howsam called. I couldn't even walk.

I thought he was calling to find out how I was doing," Art laughed. "So before he said anything I lied a little. I said, 'I'm feel- ing great, Howsam, and I'm sure looking forward to next And he'said, 'I'm glad you're feeling well, but I really called to tell you we've traded you to the "I wasn't feeling well enough to say I was elated. I'd been in the Cincinnati organization for eight years five in the minors. I'd grown up with most of the players and had played OAKWOOD KICKER DOUG BAKER DOES HIS THING His Field Goal Beat Brookville, 3-0 Horn Photo 9-Man Committee Pumps New Life Into Dayton Colts MANY FORMATIONS Angry Bulls Set For UD Saturday By HAL McCOY, Daily News Sports Writer Weird fellows, those Buffalo Bulls.

And, that's ml 1 games, including an Oct. 18 game at Bellbrook against Lackawanna, leading the Lakes division at 8-2. Next game is at Flint Saturday night. in several places for Dave Bristol. I guess tne nrsi iraae is always tough on a player.

"But I'd had a bad year. I batted only 147 times, and I didn't think I had much chance to win a starting spot. I figured the Mets were one club that could use me. If I couldn't make it with a lOth-place expansion team, I wasn't going to do it anywhere. So I wasn't too sad." In three Red seasons, Shamsky had come to bat only 477 times.

In his first Met year, he batted 345 times, played the outfield and first base, but wasn't exactly sensational. He hit 14 homers and drove in 48 runs; his average was only .238. No Promises "I'LL NEVER FORGET the day I went to the minors last April 29," Art recalled. "It was the lowest point of my whole life. Like the end of the world.

But the way things turned out, it was probably the best thing that ever happened to me." Early in the first week of exhibition play in Florida, Shamsky slid into home plate and felt a pull in his back. The next day he could hardly walk. His left side was killing him and there was pain down his left leg. A St. Petersburg doctor said he had ruptured a disc, which had affected the sciatic nerve.

He had orders to take complete rest. No batting, no running. Just sit around and hope it gets better. "On doctor's orders, I didn't play another inning all spring," Art recalled. "The club went north and I stayed behind with the minor leaguers.

You can't imagine how I felt, physically and spiritually. "When the season opened, I was placed on the disabled list. That meant three more weeks without any action. I began to take some batting practice. Then Gil Hodges told me I'd have to join the Tidewater club (Norfolk, Va.) and try to play myself into shape.

Gil was logical. He said, 'If I play you now, it'll be like admitting spring training doesn't mean Gil didn't say anything about bringing me back if I did well. There were no promises. "I was really sick at heart the day I left for Norfolk. But I decided I had to make the most of it.The first day, I got three hits.

One was a homer with the bases loaded. But I admitted to myself that it was a pretty small park, compared to Shea stadium." Uulls, tans, not Bills. I 161 I Lord knows University of Dayton football coach John McVay is problem plagued By TOM CARROLL Daily News Sports Writer The Dayton Celts started this season with four straight victories and were riding atop a 19-game winning streak in the Midwest Football league before they were ambushed 12-8 at Lackawanna, N. on Aug. 30.

Two more losses followed on successive weeks, culminating in a disastrous 48-7 shellacking at Pontiac. But things have gone better in recent weeks, thanks lo a new script, and the Colts are back in contention for the league's Lakes division title with a 7-3 record. The new script revolves around finances. Ed Fischer, the former general manager, has been replaced by a committee of nine, eight of whom teach data processing at the National Cash Register Co. here.

There's not a lot of financial data in hand, but every attempt is being made to inert the weekly payroll. Matters pot so bad that Coach Ed McCracken hod only a few offensive regulars on hand for th3 Pontiac debacle. LEAGUE Commissioner John Abel of Berkley, took a personal hand in the Colts' fortunes several weeks ago. After a hurried trip here, Abel appointed Daryl Thompson, a former offensive tackle with the team, as the league's representative in Dayton. Home games were switched from the University of Dayton back to Bellbrook high school stadium and the team went on to score victories over South-w Michigan, 62-6, and Grand Rapids, 35-9, both at home.

A third victory, via forfeit over Detroit, which dropped out of the league, counts toward the seven victories. The trial balloon floated by Thompson and company, while not a resounding success at the gate, has assured the league of continued operation for the balance of the season. Working with Thompson, 1061 graduate of Baylor university, are other NCR data processing instructors Peter Lord. Howell Woener, Grant Blount, Jim Rosenau, Jerry Cobcwgh, Curry Pender and Dick Diana, plus Dr. Jim Quinn, They'll handle the front office for four more jilt FORT.

WAYNE Deming last season after a summer shoukier operation. He's back, but he hasn't been good. 'They got mad at Murtha against Kent and put in sophomore Kim a 1 0 said McVay. Barton completed 9 of 10 passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns in the Bull spring game and led his team to a 36-19 victory. Will it be Murtha or Barton against Dayton? "They got mad at Murtha ing.

One guy McVay knows will start is tight end Paul Lang, a red-headed 210-pounder who loves cheeseburgers almost as much as he loves chopping down linebackers, even if they don't have mustard and onion on Sometimes, Lang makes them look as though they have ketchup all over them. "He's the best blocker on the team and our best pass catcher," said Deming. "He I makes the circus catch when you need it." Circus? That sounds like the whole Buffalo team. i ing and ceramics and he's been known to drown a few teams with their own tears after painting a picturesque touchdown run that left defenders holding the pottery. Anyway, you get the idea.

These guys do things you don't associate with football players. EVEN FIRST-YEAR coach Bob Deming gets into the act. Deming is an antique refurbishing nut. 's nothing antiquish about Deming's coaching. Dayton's McVay ushered a visitor into his office and pointed to a blackboard that covers one long wall.

The X's and O's on the board makes one dizzy if he stares at it too long. "Thirty-three different offensive formations," said McVay, pointing to the board. "We've seen Buffalo in two games and they've run from 33 different formations. Gosh, they must have more than 40." The Bulls are 2-2 after a loss Saturday to Kent State, 17-8, a team that whipped Dayton, 24-14 and it makes Deming and a bit unhappy. "We were 7-3 last year, and we really believed we could do better improve upon that this year," he said.

"We're surprised that we lost those two games this year (Kent and Ball State). We've got the people at least we think we ve got the people. And, of course, we're not misled by Dayton's 0-4 record. They've got some big people." McVAY IS going into the Buffalo game not exactly sure what to expect from the Bulls. Mark Murtha set five offensive records at quarterback in two seasons, then sat out all of EXHIBITION 7 P.M.CCT.

12h OPENING r.AMK OCT. 8 P.M. COM'Mlll'M HIi( KI'JIIS enough without playing the Buffalo Bills, known in some parts as the O. J. Simpsons.

The Buffalo Bulls represent the University of Buffalo and Dayton's 0-4 Flyers visit there Saturday afternoon in what was supposed to be Buffalo's homecoming game. But, the Buffalo Simpsons play Saturday night, so the Bulls changed homecoming to Nov. 1. McVay isntsulkingover that. Few coaches relish the thought of playing in another school's homecoming.

Anyway, about those weird Bulls. DEFENSIVE end TomVig-neau drove steel truck last summer and there are some quarterbacks who swear the 209-pounder carries some of his cargo in his body. Linebacker Jim Mosher sells ties in the off season and there are some halfbacks who will testify that Mosher used them to get a good stranglehold with a Windsor knot. Split end Richard Horn collects sunglasses, probably horn-rimmed sunglasses that he peddles to defensive backs to make it tougher for the defenders to watch him run his pass patterns. Defensive end Prentis Henley packed goodies in a bakery shop last year, but he's no cream puff at 226 pounds.

And, he's a cousin to New York Met hitting star Cleon Jones, so that automatically puts him in the star-kissed, do-anything class. Halfback Scott Herlan is a lifeguard with a yen for paint Great Experience TWELVE DAYS LATER, to Art's pleasant surprise, the Mcts recalled him. He had hit well and played with enthusiasm. He wanted to prove the doctor in St. Petersburg wrong.

The medical man had told him he might never play ball again. "It was a great experience, much as I hated it," Art said, with conviction. "When I came back, I appreciated things. I understood a little better than ever before what it means to be a major leaguer; how good this life is the hotels, the meals, the planes, the general atmosphere. Talk about adversity helping a man's point of view.

I appreciated the game, the team, the security. I learned to play even when my back and leg hurt. "I'd taken everything for granted even my wife, and my two little girls. When you have to battle your way back, it really gives you a better outlook on life." The experience also made Shamsky a better ball player. He quit trying to swing for homers.

Using a heavier bat, he was satisfied to meet the ball. His fielding and throwing improved. writer once said, 'The only thing Shamsky's arm is good for is wearing a Art laughed.) Despite his late start and though platooned in the cutfield and occasionally at first base, he appeared in 100 games, batted 3-15 times, had an even .300 average, smashed 14 homers, drove in 47 runs. In this record Met year, he was a vital cog in the pennant miracle. He isn't nervous about playing in the World Series; ht is grateful for the destiny that has made him a part of the miraculous Mets.

The obscure sub is now a big man in New York. And no one appreciates what has happened more than Arthur Louis Shamsky. Hudepohl brings you Football! WING Radio AFL WLW-D Kcewland Results I I mt i HudcpoEliukpolil 1. Sbow Ruler 22.40, 9.40, 5.40: Happy Gondolier 4.70, 3.60; Pitts Last Pick 3.1)0. 2.

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