Galesburg Register-Mail from Galesburg, Illinois • Page 23

On The Rebound Pete Webet Guest Columnist Crusaders, POMPAN0 Beach, Fla, On what )g the te assembled at a fiiajor league iprtfif (raining camp that year, Oaletburg's Jim tadtarf appears to have a -spot, oil the fliajof league rwtet of the Tesai 1 Of the 54 players listed in Rangers spring training press a total of 31 are 25 years of age, or younger, Including 17 former first-round draft choice, one of whom Is Sundberg. Average age of the others Is 29.5, the oldest of whom Is Leo Cardenas at 35, who is one of three former All' Star shortstops on the ers. Jim Fregosl, who is doing the bulk of his work at first and third bases, and young Toby Hnrrah are the i others. Suiters is one of six catcher brought to camp, all of whom are In the 25 -0r-older bracket, with the exception of regular, 31-year-old Dick Billings. All of them have had at least two years of pro- fesisonal experience with the exception of who opened his play -for -pay, career in 1973 with Pittsfield In the A A Eastern League.

Of the young catchers, 24- year-old Bill Fahey was counted upon as Billings' back-up, at least initially. However, a broken nose suffered on the first day of training camo and subsequent arm problems seem to have him ticketed for bis fourth tour of Triole-A this time at Spokane, Wash. Rich Revta is fighting for a spot in Double-A and Sundberg's teammate at Pittsfield last season. Dave Cris- Purchase Of Texas Team Progresses DALLAS (UPI) Depending on who you listen to, Bdb Short could be a very rich man this week. And the Texas Rangers, Which' have had the worst record in the major leagues the past two seasons, could have new owners.

Bradford G. Corbett, the Fort Worth industralist who heads a combine which says it has a commitment for 90 per cent of Short's sole ownership, gave reporters two different versions of the status of negotiations during the weekend. In his first appearance on the scene since the sale talk Sta -faced Corbett said he didn't think the sale would be finalized until sometime after opening day of the season next Thursday. But later Corbett was reported by the Dallas Morning News as saying, "We plan to deliver the money to Short on Monday." Sources close to Corbett said Short would be in Dallas today to meet with the Corbett group and that certain moneys would be deposited in an escrow account. clone, has definitely been tabbed for more seasoning in the minor leagues by Texas manager Billy Martin.

Local baseball fans may remember the other backstop Ron Prultt of Michigan State verajtft who played with the BtoemingtOfi Bafcatj In the Central Illinois Collegiate League. Ron did manage to hitlw in Triple A oampetltlon last season, but his defensive shortcomings behind'the plate prompted the Texas organization to see what he can do at first and third. AH of which would lead one to believe that the breaks have gone Jim's way. That they have, but the former University of Iowa star has been able to capitalize upon his good fortune by virtue of his own play. Sundberg has seen action in virtually all of the Rangers' spring contests, going as few as three innings and.

as many as 10 the latter in a I4-in- ning affair against the Montreal Expos in which Jim scored the winning run. His defensive play has drawn the raves of many of his team's "staff, but when he managed to pick Expo runner off third base Immediately after faking: another back to second, the home plate umpire even managed to slip in his congratulations. At the plate Jim is not very happy with his performance. "I've proven I can handle the job defensively; but I just haven't started to hit yet." At the time he said that, Jim was (and still if) the leading hitter among all the catchers. Numbered among his hits is the only homer struck by a Texan catcher all Spring.

Jim is confident he will start the season with the big when it' opens at home against the World Champion Oakland A's this Thursday night. "They have given me no indication that they will send me down, though am not going to lose any sleep over it if they do." The possibility exists that with such an inexperienced catching staff, Martin may wish to swing a deal, as was the rumor in the Texas camp here. The two names men. tioned most frequently as coming to the Rangers are a pair of Sims, who played for Martin in Detroit, and Bill Sudakis, whom the Rangers sold last winter reportedly to provide owner Bob Short's coffers with the $30,000 necessary to complete the transaction for utility man Cesar Tovar. Neither of those two are known for their defensive work, however.

With Ranger starter a veritable butcher behind the plate, it may be that he is the one to go in any deal which would provide Texas with a known major league commodity at the plate, leaving Sundberg as the backup. With the American League's designated-hitter rule, a club could afford to carry a young catcher trying to find himself as a hitter, at least one that has already established a solid defensive identity. Playoff Spots Clmlairt CrwadeTS and thr Toronto Toroe are safely iMffnttf bt tha fJttoft of the World Hotkey Aaaodatlon. Hit Cnawders, lit fat the. East, Golcsbtiro RjOistgf'Mciil, QolesburQ, 111.

Mondoy, April 1, 1974 ,21 tows'nipped the Lot A nail down their place. two goals by Skip Krake. the first breaking a l-l tie and the other the eventual winner, were the Mg factor in the Crusaders' victory. Cleveland led 3-2 in the late going when Ron Ward scored the wrapup goal Into an empty net with 10 seconds left. The Toros and Sharks were tied at 4-4 in their game at Toronto when rookie Pat Hlckey beat goalie Paul Hogan son at close range for the winning goal, his 26th of the season, at 14:11 of the third period.

In other Sunday games: Fran Huck scored at 2:00 of sudden death overtime on pass from Bobby Hull, who had scored two give the Winnipeg Jets a 4-3 victory over the Vancouver Blazers; the Minnesota Fighting Saints scored three goals in the first period and cruised to a 5-2 victory over Houston at St. Paul, the New England Whalers nipped the Quebec Nordiques, on Tommy Webster's bullet shot under the goalie's arm in a 1-on-l situation in overtime; and the Edmonton Oilers trimmed the Chicago Cougars, 4-1, prevented the Cougars from overtaking the rww-comoleted third place Nordiques. Chicago, one point behind Quebec, has two games left. Odds Given On Aaron Hitting 714 CINCINNATI (UPI) A University of Cincinnati mathematician says the odds of Atlanta's Hank Aaron hitting his history matching 714th home run opening day against the Cincinnati Reds here Thursday are 7 to 2. Dr.

Charles F. Pinzka says the odds against Aaron swatting epic No. 714 to tie Babe By united Press International A jaauasWl iiit ii asflaaaaaMi dozen more prayers got inc bad news today thai they-trul not be in major league uniforms when the 1974 big league baseball season opens on Thuraiay; One oi John Jeter, balked when given ticket to the minor leagues. The 9-year-old Jeter, who Wt 241 al a reserve outfielder lilt year, was one of five players assigned by the Chicago White Sox to their Iowa farm as the Pale Hose joined other cluba In getting' down to the 25-nian limit which goes Into effect on opening Jeter, who was obtained by the White Sox two years ago from Pittsburgh, told the club he won't report to and asked them to trade him to another major league team or find him a job playing baseball in Japan. Catcher Hal King, who hit the run that was regarded as the second game of the season jumD to 5 to 1.

"So, iM were a betting man, his best chance." Pinzka correctly predicted Aaron would not equal Ruth's record last year. According to Pinzka, the odds are 35 to 1 against Aaron hitting his- record-breaking 715th homer in the same game he hits No. 714. Pinzka says the odds aire only 11 to 1 against Aaron knocking No. 715 in his fifth game.

the turning point In the CfrwfimaU Reds' Mason last was another veteran given the axe. King; so now, fast; year between the Redi and their Indianapolis farm club and is being sent back to Indianapolis. King pinch-hit a three-run for the Reds eft Don Sutton in the flrtt game of a July 1 doubleheader to beat Lot Angeles, a that marked The start of the Reds climb from games out of first place to the National League West title. King batted only 1W for the Reds, getting only eight hits in 43 pinch at- bats, but four of those eight hits were homers. Here are the players cut Sunday; Hal King and pitcher -Dick Bariey, to Indianapolis.

New York Stanley, to Syracuse. Kansas City-prtcher Steve ers John Jeter and Bill Sharp, Chicago Cubs outfielders Mingori, to miner league base catcher Pete Varney, and Jim Tyrone and Gene Hiser for pitchers Dave Lemonds and and pitcher Willie Prall, to Chicago White Sox-outfield- Stan Perzanowski, to Iowa. Nick Varner Wins 9- He never could be mistaken for Minnesota Fats, but he knows his way around the pool table. Nick Varner, a 1970 graduate of the University of Purdue, took the first place prize in the first annual Midwest 9-Ball Open Tournament held this weekend at Custer Hotel's new Sports Arena. Varner, a fj-foot-7, 105-pound player from Owensboro, defeated Harold Petty, Davenport, 11-3 in thejinals Sunday evening.

Thirty-two players started cut in the double elimination tournament which began Dick Coffey, proprietor of the Hawks Blow Lead, Tic 2-2 CHICAGO (UPI)-The price for pulling within close range of a record they-don't want was mighty high for the Chicago Back Hawks. The Hawks blew a 2-0 lead Sunday night and wound up in a 2-2 tie with the St. Louis Blues, the 23rd deadlock of the season for Chicago, only one S-ni-ltae of, the MU, League record set by the Phila delohia Flyers three years ago. The tie, admittedly better rd -his still left, the Black 714th here on opening day, Hawks in a state of despera- assuming hs play's," 'said tion, more because of what Pinzka. "In any case, I'd say could bejwo vital injuries only he hits it in the first game he a week before the Stanley Cup plays this season because it is Playoffs begin.

Defenseman Phil Russell was taken to a hospital for chest X-rays because he could not breathe after he was checked into the boards so forcefully that one of the plexiglass panels And wing Dennis Hull pulled a muscle in the groin or hamstring and was a questionable performer for any of the Hawks' three remaining John Wooden Will Be Back As Bruin Coach Next Year ATLANTA (UPI) Mrs. John Wooden has told "the John Wooden" that his place is at UCLA'. That being so, the Bruins need, not apply for a new basketball coach. The most successful basketball coach in collegiate history, lugging off a trophy for absent center Bill Walton, said he will I be bade to coach the Bruins next year despite rumors to the contrary. "My wife told me she wants to be back, and generally speaking I try to follow her desires," said Wooden.

"After our loss (to N.C. State in the NCAA semifinals), there might be some people connected with UCLA who might want me to joked Wooden, Who has coached the team for las years. "But I definitely expect to be back at UCLA next year." Wooden attended the Atlanta Tip Off Club banquet where he accepted the James Naiamith Trophy (or his All-America Walton, who missed the show, was voted the best basketball player in the country by United Press International for an unprecedented third straight time. Wooden refused to offer excuses far his shy big man, who has been inclined to shrug off public meetings in the past. But he did aipologize for Walton's absence.

"It had nothing to do with our defeat," said Wooden. "So many people are after him that he told me before the tournament he was going to the mountains to get away from Sports Arena, says he plans to make. this, an annual affair and thinks it will be much bigger next year. The Purdue graduate, who the NCAA pocket billiard championship two years in a row, collected 1250 for hjs winning effort over the weekend, I while runner-up Petty took home $125. Tom won $75 for snaring thuxTplace and Larry Nelson, Bushnell, got $50 fpr placing who is the assistant golf pro at the Lake, Christmas ICountry Club fat Santa Claus, won six straight matches on his way to the championship.

Varner said bniy time he had any trouble was in the first against Galestyirg's Duane Garman. Garmoh lost to him It games to seven. In the final match, Varner started off a little Slow, falling behind 2-1 before taking a 4-2 lead. He was up by just one, t-3. but captured the last seven ih.a row.

Petty's other loss was to Varner in the finals of the winners bracket. Southern Cal Ousts Indiana Siyjmminff LONG BEACH, Calif. (UPT) The University of Southern California, second to Indiana four times during its six year reign of NCAA swimming, has toppled the Hoosier dynasty by one slim point to become the 1974 champion. The Trojans took a first day lead over Indiana and top contender Tennessee in the three-day event and staved off an 11th hour Hoosier rush to win the competition Saturday 339-338 the Belmont Plaza (Mymoic pool. USC's John Naber set the pace for the Trojans by establishing an American, NCAA and meet record in the 200-yaird backstroke at 1:48.95 to eclipse his own 1973 mark of 1:49.84.

On the second day of competition Naber set an American, NCAA and meet record of 50.51 in the backstroke. And on the first day he won the freestyle and upset three-time NCAA cirampion John Kinsslla of Indiana. The final of the championship competition was marked by Stanford's John Hencken setting an American, NCAA and meet record with 2:01.74 in the 200-yard breaststroke, erasing the 1972 record of another Stanford swimmer, Brian Job. U.S. CIVIL SERVICE TESTS! v.

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