The Kansas City Star from Kansas City, Missouri • 175

SPORTS FINANCIAL FARM THE KANSAS CITY STAR SPORTS OUTDOOR RECREATION SECTION KANSAS CITY SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 15 1968 Chiefs Tangle With in Opener New York the last two seasons will use the same revamped defensive line-up that shut off vaunted running attack at 55 yards This gives Kansas City a big front four of Jerry Mays at 246 Ed Lothamer at 257 Buck Buchanan at 232 and Ernie Ladd at 299 The defensive front wall features highly-regarded Gerry Philbm and slimmed down Verlon Biggs (6-4 and 268) at ends and ex-Chief Paul Rochester and John Elliott second year pro at tackles Linebackers Larry Grantham Ralph Baker and A1 Atkinson are all veterans Atkinson is listed as doubtful because of a bruised leg Young Randy Beverly teams with veteran John Sample on the corners Adding to the offensive potential of the game are kickers Jan Stenerud of Kansas City and Jim Turner of New York Stenerud went 4-for-4 on fielders against Houston after hitting 9-of-12 in exhibitions Turner was 9-for-ll as the Jets concluded their pre-season plav at 3-2 New York Hayes Curtis McClinton and Bert Coan all of whom ran well in the victory over Houston Biggest w'orry for the Chiefs as well as all New York opponents is minimizing the effectiveness of Namath passes After the Houston game the worry about their secondary was primary Since then Johnny Robinson all-league safety has been pronounced ready to play after a head injury and replacements Ceaser Belser and Willie Mitchell have made progress toward complete recovery from ankle and leg injuries respectively The injury worry has shifted to the offensive unit where Arbanas the regular tight end has been bothered by a broken finger on his left hand There was still doubt on Fred's condition yesterday but he is expected to be able to play Frank Pitts wide receiver behind Taylor and Richardson has been slowed by a pulled leg muscle However the report on Pitts yesterday was that he will be able to see action The Chiefs who have won three straight from The game shapes up as an offensive show with Joe Namath who passed for a record 4007 yards last year leading the Jets who are opening their season and Len Dawson the A passing consistency leader over the last six seasons directing the Chiefs Namath is working with top receivers Don Maynard George Sauer and Pete Lammons for the third straight year and to augment his passing the Jets have returned Emerson Boozer their flashy ground gainer who was put out of action at midseason in the 1967 meeting here The Chiefs have been making most of their offensive headway on the ground in recent weeks while waiting for their passing game to come around But they have the potential for the air strikes in Otis Taylor Gloster Richardson and Fred Arbanas Leading the rushing attack against the new look front four will be Mike Garrett Wendell By Bill Richardson (A Member of The Star's Sports Staff) BEFORE what is expected to be another record turnout here the Kansas City Chiefs open their home season this afternoon against the New York Jets potential Eastern division title contender the second game within a week for the Chiefs with an American Football league East power and if they do as well today as they did last Monday night in defeating Houston 26-21 they'll be in good shape in the A West A victory would put the Chiefs in an early favorable position Their next four games are against Denver Miami and Ruffalo all second-division teams in 1967 and Cincinnati an expansion entry About 48500 are expected to pack the Municipal Stadium for the 3:05 o'clock kick-off The game is being nationally televised with the Kansas City area blacked out but it will be broadcast over radio station KCMO Tigers Within 4 of Pennant Detroit Aided by Danny Cater's Error Comes From Behind for Two Runs and 5-4 Victory Over Oakland as Pitcher Makes Baseball History HORTON DRIVE ENDS IT Reggie Jackson Drills Two Home Runs but They Are Overcome as Dizzy Dean Watches His 1934 Feat Matched Detroit (AP) Denny McLain won his 30th game as Detroit rallied for two runs in the last of the ninth inning and a 5-4 victory over the Oakland Athletics yesterday victory cut Detroit's magic number for clinch-American league pennant to four and marie the first 30-game winner in the majors in 34 years Two home run by Reggie Jackson left McLain on the short end of a 4-3 score as the Tigers came to bat in the ninth A1 Kaline batted for McLain who allowed six hits Kaline walked Stanley Keeps Rally Moving it Single After Dick McAuliffe fouled out Mickey Stanley singled to center and Kaline raced to third Then with the infield drawn in Jim Northrup bounced to Danny Cater at first base Kaline broke for the plate and Cater high throw sailed over catcher Dave head allowing the tying run to score With the outfield drawn in Willie Horton lifted a' long drive that soared over the head of Jim Gosger in left field and Stanley scored the winning run McLain raced from the dugout with the rest of the Tigers to embrace Horton McLain who became the first pitcher to win 30 games since Dizzy Dean did it in 1934 was rocked early by the hut allowed only two hits over the last five innings and struck out 10 Firs! limner a 2-run shot in fhe fourth snapped a scoreless tie hut fhe Tigers came right back to take the lead FANS DEMAND TO SEE M'LAIN Crowd's Cheering Brings Denny Back on Field Detroit (AP) Denny McLain was blinking at On the Rocky Road to 30 (W ircplioto) Mrl I) am rnnv BACK IN CONTENTION Jim Ryun (left) of Kansas runs second in the 1 500-meter race in the Olympic trials at South Lake Tahoe Calif Winner of the event was Roscoe Divine of Oregon (right) This photograph was taken on the final turn of the race (Wirephoto) Kirk of 51 Yards Pins NEEDS LONG GOAL COASTS IN 1 Nebraska-Wyoming Wyoming Nebraska 15 UA lid 44 20-2 9-43 1 122 R4 115 6-19-0 9-33 1 35 0 10 0 exon Norm 3-run homer in PlodmS flash bulbs and try-! the bottom half of the inning to contend with raptd-The tied it against McLain fire questions in the Dein the fifth when Duncan troit dressing room yester-walked movd to second on a dav after winning his 30th sacrifice and scored on Bert game when Sandv Koufax single grabbed his attention Jackson Tags No 28 The former left-handed great Then Jackson who had thrown of the Los Angeles Dodgers now a runner out at the plate in the' an announcer yelled to McLain: third tagged McLain in the "No left the ball park sixth for his second homer of the They're screaming out there for game and 28th of the season i giving the lead they held said McLain til the ninth want to McLain is the 13th major until we get some Ditcher to win 30 cautioned a Detroit of-since modern era be-i ficial and McLain complied gan at the turn of the century Thn he made his way through Dean watched McLain from the mob scene in the' dressing the stands Curiously both Dean and McLain had the same uniform numbers 17 and were the same age 24 in their respective 30-game seasons Robert (Lefty) Grove was the last American league pitcher to win 30 games a 31-4 had to be called to hold back a record for the Philadelphia Ath- large group of strong-voiced letics in 1931 youths who pounded on the De- The modern major league rec- troit dressing room and veiled ord of 41 victories was set by over and over again want Jack Chesbro of the New York Denny we want Highlanders now the Yankees While that noise echoed in 1904 Ed Walsh of the Chicago through the dressing room White Sox the only other mod- Lain finally admitted that he room and hark through the dug-out to step on (he field and know ledge the wildly cheering fans who still were massed in the stands awaiting one more look at latest hero At the same time more police Pit-si downs Rushing yardage Passing Return vardao Passes unts Rumole? lost vrds penal-zed Wvomina Nebraska FG Jacobs 35 HUY 54 pass (Jacobs kick: Neb FG Roger? 26 Neb McFarland 17 (Rogers kck FG Rooers 51 A5018 from Svnakowski i'oler Weekend Pro Football LAST NIGHT AMERICAN LEAGUE Houston 24 Miami 10 NATIONAL LEAGUE Minnesota 47 Atlanta 7 TODAY'S GAMES AMERICAN LEAGUE New York at Kansas City 3:03 Oakland at Buffalo day Denver at Cincinnati day NATIONAL LEAGUE Cleveland New Orleans day Detroit at Dallas day New York at Pittsburgh day Philadelphia at Green Bay day San Francisco af Baltimore day Washington al Chicago day TOMORROW'S GAME NATIONAL LEAGUE Los Angeles at SI Louis night Minor Leaaue Play-Offs INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE Columbus iQ Rochester i (Columbus wins best-of-5 semifinal series 3-2) Minor League Football CONTINENTAL league Orlando 28 Charleston 14 OVI-bom-a 17 Michigan 7 indianaDohs 41 Las Vegas Orange County 45 Omaha 3 ATLANTIC COAST LEAGUE Bridgeoort 24 Pottstgwn 0 Richmond 20 Harrisburg 17 Showing No Signs of Fatigue the Kansas Distance Star Qualifies for Olympic Trial Semifinals With 3:583 South Lake Tahoe Calif Jim Ryun running without a trace of the fatigue that kept him from making the United States Olympic team in the 800-meter run qualified yesterday for the second round of the 1500-meter trials Ryun ran last at the Olympic track and held summaries on page camp until the final two laps and on the final turn rf shoes that may have cost John Carlos a world record sprinted up to lake second a( 2Qf) meters bettered the world to Oregon Roscoe Divine standard at 400 meters by four-who won the race in the tenths of a second finishing in slow time of 3 minutes 583 seconds Ryun was clocked in the same time Martin Liquori a Villanova sophomore won the second heat in the 1500 in an even slower time 4:009 as the runners in both races seemed more interested in conserving strength and jockeying for position than in moving fast Lee Evans wearing the same 44 seconds flat Other qualifiers for 1-500 semifinals at this 7377-foot altitude were Jerry Richey of Pittsburgh Brian Kivlan of Manhattan Dave Wilhorn of Oregon John Mason of Fort Hays State of Kansas Tom Von Ru-den of the Army and Dave Patrick of Villanova Jim Crawford and Preston Davis were the only casualties By Dick Wade Assuan Sports Editor of The Star) Lincoln Neb Only two weeks ago an assistant football coach at Nebraska said: day Paul Rogers is going to kick the ball out of sight" Yesterday Rogers drilled home a 51-vard field goal with 21 seconds and that kick deflated hungry Wyoming 13-10 It was an almost lievable ending one so 2: ns to when Bob Jacobs stunning the wildly pro- the Wyoming punter shanked an Nebraska crowd of 65018 lvard kick out of hounds on the was still in shock at the game's end It ended with In th(repf Pla-Vs- onpof them pass interference on Wyoming a Cornhuskei battle tl-at Nebraska bad the hall on the was uphill all fhe wav And vrmn fjr9( down and jt dulled a Wyoming defen-togo f'f'Oi kept the jen mistakes the fly in the Big Red red-faced Huskers' ointment all last sea- Not until Nebraska took frank son got in the Big Red act Patrick its starting quarter- again Mike Green smashed to back out of the game midway in the 10 but Nebraska drew a 15-the third quarter did it get its at- yard penalty back to the 25 for a tack in gear personal foul The clock showed And even after Ernie Sigler 5f seconds to plav the No 2 signal-caller who was Sigler calmly faded to pass in for only two Nebraska plays but the Cowboys blitzed line-all last season drove his club to backer Brent and a 10-all he with 10:48 to play it Sigler was dumped on the 34 appeared defense With 17 seconds to play tackle would get the Cowboys out even Larry Nels hatted down a Sigler The pay-off series started with pass With 32 seconds left Sigler JianAaA ac-1 passed lo Tom Penney his split end and in the end zone But Jim Keen the Wyoming safety-man who played his high school football at Wyandotte broke up the play There was left when Rogers placed the kicking tee on the Wyoming 41 Even if he had a 13-mile-an-hour wind behind him this was too much for the Husker fans to ask They silently stood to w'atch And they still stood silent when the ball went through: they acted as if their eves had deceived them From the game's start the 'Continued on Paze 5S- Continued on Page 2S) JianAaA Slate Progress Has Been Made Best Play Expected as each failed to get into the semifinals felt much better about the 1500 than about the said Ryun who made it as far as the finals of the shorter race Wednesday only to run out of steam in the home stretch and loaf in doesn't mean make the team If I rest enough in two days better pack my hags and go Ryun 21-year-old senior at Kansas who suffered from mononucleosis this spring holds world records of 3:331 in the 1-500 in the mile and 1 :44 9 in the 880 8 Divine was not impressed by the fact that he came in ahead of Ryun saying I was in (Continued on Page 9S) Phone Sunday Want Ads In before noon Saturday BA 1-5500 Adv ern day pitcher to win 40 games did it in 1908 Cv Young Big Train Did It Several pitchers including Walter Johnson and Cv Young have won 30 or more games at least twice Christy Malhewson of the New York Gian's did it four times in six years between 1903 and 1908 McLain started his streak April 4th when he beat the White Sox at Chicago He was 15-2 at the All-Star break and had a winning streak of nine straight stopped by Baltimore July 20 The Orioles beat McLain twice His other three losses were administered bv New York Cleveland and Chicago PALACE RULER WINS Atlantic City (AP) Palace Ruler won a duel with Balustrade in the stretch and captured the $29125 Boardwalk handicap by iy lengths the answ-er to that last one difficult to tell when putting you on something he gets a kick out of doing at times Later though in a discussion of his statement several of those who had heard him claimed they definitely had noticed a twinkle in h's eyes at the time The Skywriters dropped the Jayhawks from third to fourth place in their post-tour predictions Still has been rated No Ifi in the nation by Playboy magazinp and No 20 by Sports Illustrated Rodgers has the answer for that when he says sure What Gibson is saying is this: He came to K-State under certain conditions New facilities were part of the terms Now the dormitory is completed and the stadium will be ready for the opener Saturday with Colorado State One Order Filled As Gibson drawls has kept its promise to Now how about the end of the bargain? What can he deliver this season? have fine he says I have fine juco transfers I even have some good seniors We think we will be better But let me tell By Dick Wade (Assistant Sports Editor of The Star) AST year Vince Gibson was in the same boat with the traveling salesman who lost his sample case all he could do was talk But this time around a different story: he has display merchandise and as the Kansas State football coach puts it I can show a prospect something He can see our new stadium: he can see our new athletic dorm I can tell him building something here You can be part of if You can be one of those who brought K-Slate something: we can be better and it may not any difference guess know out of the (the Southeast conference) They play some football down there But the Big Eight is the best league in the country I know' that now tell what I want: I want to be able to go anywhere in the Big Eicht walk out on the field and he as w'ell off personnel-wise as anybody we play Then he hesitated He was the salesman talking about next model And the (Continued on Page 9S) By Bill Sims (Assistant Sport? Ed'tor of The Star) air of disbelief swept over the room as Pepper Rodgers said probably is the most over-rated team in the Big Eight conference It was the final stop on the annual Skywriters' tour and the weary bedraggled waters and broadcasters thought the rigors of the 8-dav trip finally had caught up with them Surely their ears must be playing trirks on thpm he say underrated? one asked across the table he kidding us?" queried another No one but Pepper knows fhe reason we have been rated so high is fhat we have a few outstanding individuls who have gotten a lot of Although his statement that his team is over-rated caught everyone by surprise the Jay-hawk coach obviously isn't ready to concede without playing He Experts Progress time will tell but I'll be disappointed if we do pretty he says we have the same kind of improvement we had last year we could have a very good football team We're good (Continued on Page 6S) 1.