Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 22

r1 w-s xkv'tixhhk wr -PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1971 Nelsen Picks on Steelers Again, 27-17 Sidelights on Sports By AL ABRAMS, Post-Gazette Sports Editor rf- ISeries Washout BALTIMORE What does the washout of the second game of the World Series mean to the Tttsburgh Pirates? Reprieve or a chance for reprisal? i canny Murtaugn pui aown me sun Dag ne I was carrying on his shoulder, shifted a chewed up cigar to the other side of his mouth and answered: "Well, it can't hurt us any. When a team gets only three hits in one game it is bound to do better whether it gets a day of rest or not." Murtaugn had just come in from Memorial Stadium, where he was informed of the postponement. When he entered 12 Al Abrams the Lord Baltimore Hotel lobby he was immediately surrounded by a dozen or more -Associated Prtu Wlrjphotoi A pennant vendor maintains an unflagging interest in his enterprise as he makes his way through a puddle in the upper rotunda of Baltimore's Memorial, Stadium yesterday before game was called. IC elementary here thai Danny Murtaugh, the Pirates manager, in gesturing to the dripping heavens, presages the ultimate rainout of yesterday's scheduled second game of World Series. O's won first.

lTD ill 7 TODAY BucsFaceQ's joaiue Night Proposal Nixed After Rain By CHARLEY FEENEY Post-Gozetto Soorts Writer BALTIMORE Joe Brown opposed the idea the Pirate players didn't like the idea and so the Bucs, down 0-1 to the Orioles in this rain-delayed World Series, won a battle off the field yesterday, about 30 minutes after Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn announced the rain postponement of Game No. 2. BwnynQB Superb In First Half By JACK SELL fett-Cotttt Swrti Writer CLEVELAND With ex- Steeler Bill Nelsen picking on his old club once more, the Cleveland Browns staved off a dangerous, second-half a 1 ly and emerged with an important 27-17 over Pittsburgh here yesterday before 83,391 fans in Municipal Stadium. 4 Coach Nick Skorich's victors thus broke a two-game win streak of the 3 lack and Gold (iiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiimimiiimiiiir. A Half Nelsen! ITIILIM Brown, Uwll, Atkion.

Smith, GrMnweod. Whit, lOCKItt K01D, j. Browne Holmtv, Guerdt 3. OovTl, MuHlnj. Ctnttri Manffleldf Clarrk.

1 Ham. Dflul. Alton. Rustol, StiWMr LmnKKn Brumtlotd, Blount, Cot- lend, wqenor, Edwwdt, Auitln, W4don toOTwot namrni StoMon, RowMT HI A Grosory, Brlog, Morln. Clou.

Tockitt Setwtrqth, MeKov, Johraon, W. Johnson, Dlokon; Shork. Guard Coootood, Hlckor-an. Conttp Hodattfi. Linotaackorft Houston aVowt, Holl, Klnorw, Gorltrigt LlfldHV.

An. iron. K. Brown, ComoM, C. Scott.

dji.hb nrisoTi. rniuni ova rrts. Howtll, scon, i B. Dovls. Sumnor.

Ktltormon, Cockroft, Collins. Stnltri iniwil a i 7-17 J-V rntr quaiitcr .7:13 Browns: Scoft v-onvfrs on 174 Cockroft (Kick). Brown, l-var run I from Brodshow). Convorilon Gorila StM4-i: imlth (W.wvd eoso (Kick). Browns, 17-7.

flold WOl). Brown, Drowns; i.gcKnm iiu vura I9 tlr: Otnlm field pool. Browns, -10. ct eereto (JJ-voro Diuwn), v-tv. FOURTM aUADTCB 2:15 Steoters: Shonkltn (11-vord pass from Brodshow), Conversion Grelo Browne, 20-17.

4:55 Steelers: Gerela (Missed 43-vord field ooal attempt). Browns, Browns: Kelly (7-yord run) Conversion Cxkrott (Kick), frowns, Mh AttfBdMCt SMfl iiimimiimiimiiiiimiiiimilHii and assumed sole possession of first place in. the Central division of the NFL's American Conference 1 with a 34 mark. Rooney U. a i very much in contention in the second spot with a 2-2) report card.

Nelsen was superb in tht first half when the sluggish Steelers fell behind 20-7. Then he regrouped the Browns for a final drive that ate up the clock and also brought a clinching seven-yard TD run by the brilliant Leroy Kelly. Nelsen passed for one home TD, 19 yards to Tight End Milt Morin, a favorite target afternoon. He finished with 18 of 27 for 236 suffered one costly interception. Bo Scott scooted 18 yards for the other Cleveland TD.

Don Cockroft added the PATS as well as fielders of 25 and 18 yards. Young Terry Bradshaw hurled for both Steelers touch- downs, 22 yards to Dave Smith and 11 to Ron Shanklin. Roy' Gerela converted twice, boot- ed a 33-yard fielder but missed a 43-yarder which would have tied the score in the final Bradshaw's log showed 12 competitions in 27 attempts for 126 vards. He was inter crpted once. Kefy a the eighth leading rusher in NFL history as he passed the 5,417 mark set by Dirk Bass, formerly of the Los Angeles Rams.

Leroy gained 63 ywterday and sports a total of PrestonPearson of the Steel-' -ers tied Bo Scott of the winners for most yards, rushing with 73 apiece. Coach Chuck Noll of the Steelers brought up Burt Ask-sonadefensiveend from Texas Southern instead of acti- vating Guard Bruce Van Dyke as expected. He also waived Halfback Rocky Bleier as injured. The Browns won the (Continued on Page 24) Pro Football SUNDAY'S RESULTS Cleveland 27 STEELKRS 17 Miami 23 Cincinnati 13 Sasningion a Houston i altlmore 43 Buffalo 0 Detroit 31 Green Boy 21 Chicago 35 New Orltoni 14 Minnesota i pniioaeipma New England 20 New York Jett St. Louis 2s Atlanta Kansas Cltv 31 San bleaa Ooklond 27 Denver 14 Ann.

vn Ann i-rnnr i AMERICAN CONFERENCE STANDING OP THE CLUBS tenirai Divistori Baltimore Miami N. England N.YT Jett Buttaio r.nv?rM...::::l IMt'f New York Giants O.m. Cleveland at Cincinnati New York Jets, New Enpiond at uffat San Dieao at Denver, Di Denver, Detroit Ot Heus. ilo at Oakland. Baltimore.

ot New York Giants, Chlcaoo at San ton. Philodeleni FranclscOi rsl kl Anaen Atlonta, Minnesota at Green urienns, Los Ml is or Washington, STEELE P. Ot a.m. ONDAT'S 1CHIDULB Kansas City (TV), Cleveland nj I .750 91 STEELERS 5 1 0 .50 71 Cincinnati 3 5 ffi 71 It Houston 0 3 I .000 42 $6 astern Division Pet. PF PA i rcr.

rr rn 1 1 0 .750 101 17 i i in NATIONAL CONFERENCE T.Tfo -f i6l ff.Ur?.:: Philadelphia 6 .000 24 XO betrolt .50 11 19 3 I 8 brien nay i iu iw "Tw'Hd pp pa New J. A 'M 71 Wt TONIGHT 1 ICNEDULI at Dallas (TV), iiiMiigtr'ipi) iMPPlii ii in nrmmmmswmmmmsmmmmimsmm reporters. His answer above to the first question put to him was both frank and had a touch of double talk. This didn't stop some of the scribes from taking notes. Danny did say, however, that he would have liked it better if yesterday's game had been piayed.

This would have enabled both the Pirates, and Orioles to go to Pittsburgh the same night afrd have a full day of rest today. Now, they play hjere today and resume the Series at Rivers SJtadium tomorrow. That is, if it quits raining. There was no way the game yesterday could have been played. It poured all Saturday night and all through yesterday morning.

We know what they do in Brazil when it rains. Here it causes a mess. Especially, if you are an oiit-of-towner attending a World Series. First, you pack and check out then you check bick in again at the hotel and unpack. And, all those travel arrangements! They went down the dfrain, too.

dine Break For Pirates Depending on one's viewpoint, I thought the Pirates got one break out of the rainout. This wfcs in not getting back to their hotel in time to vw a hurriedly arranged TV showing of high- lights of the 1970 World Series between the Orioles and Cincinnati Reds. This replaced part-of the time yesterday's game would have taken on the tube. If your memory is somewhat short, the mighty and Birds of Baltimore were seen expertly dismantling what everyone believed then tJ be a powerful Big Red Machine. This is a painful reminder that the Pirates here Saturday and also lost.

But, for a couple of errors behind him, Dave McNally might hfcve shut them out. Now, all the Buccos have lt to face are Jim Palmer, Mike Cuellar and Pat Dobson. Birds Respect Pirates Like the Cincy Reds, the Pirates don't appear tJ have the pitching to cope with Earl-Weaver's afj-around championship club. This doesn't mean the Pittsburgh team will roll over and give up. It won't.

The players are loose despite the first setback. And, they're fighters. I Weaver knows this. So do his players. They hive a lot of respect for the Pirates.

Some have gdne on record as saying that Murtaugh's outfit is; better than "Sparky" Anderson's Reds of 1970 both in hitting and pitching. The unexpected defeat Baltimore suffered at trie hands of the New York Mets in 1969 taught the Orioles a lesson the players will tell you. "We don't underrate anybody any more" is a quote from the great Brooks Robinson. The Mets did it with great pitching and several breaks in 1969. The Pirates need a combina-ti6n of both the rest of the way if they expect to win.

i Potpourri A writer here devoted a whole column the other day on how out-of-town scribes will devote more space to knocking Baltimore and Pittsburgh as run down cities than they will writing about the Series. Roberto Clemente told a couple of writers who want to "ghost" the book he has in mind to write that he will talk into a tape recorder to make sure everything printed "will be the way I say it." Orioles will stay at William Penn Hotel. Writers' hospitality room will remain at'-Allegheny Club. Thousands of people left town after the second game today was rained out. They either gave their tickets away or sold them; for half price.

Among those who had, to leave early was Bill Powers, Pitt Park official, to be on hand for the first flat racing meeting in Western Pennsylvania history when it opens Monday night at The Meadows. Frank Seneca, former Charleroi fighter back in the late Cuddy DeMarco days, is the host at Si Bloom's restaurant here. Stan Musical was being squired around the Lord Baltimore Hotel by one of its owners today, 'causing a Pittsburgh friend to ask, "Are you interested in buying the place, Stan?" The Hall of Farrier just smiled. 'Tie" and Eve Tray nor tre having a ball during the Series. The great third sacker of yesteryear is recognized everywhere he goes.

Gene Litman must have been mistaken for a baseball oldtimer in the Lord Baltimore lobby today. He had to sign a few autographs. Bob Prince was telephoned to substitute for Mayor Pete Flaherty last Friday and was presented a key to the city by Mayor D'Allesandro. Just as Prince was about to say a few thousand words, the Oriole players showed up and the mob howl drowned out "The Gunner" a no mean feat at any vhne. A -Associated Press Wlreohoto Steeler' Terry Bradsliaw, behind Dave Smith's block, breaks away for 12 yards, 1st down, against Browns.

TOMORROW'S GAME Oliver and Hebner May Face O's Cuellar Sabers Punch Pens Again, 2-1 By JIMMY JORDAN Post-Gozette Sports Writer BUFFALO-George (Punch) Imlach has been called a lot of things during his long tenure in hockey-wizard, Simon' Legree, magicianbut nobody ever has called him a hypnotist. Yet, since taking the reins of the Buffalo Sabres in last year's National Hockey Sabre Dance! PENGUINS Gool-Rutherford. Defense Burrows, B. Watson, Norls, Edestrand, Horton, Kanneolesser. Forward-Robert, Polls, Ados; Fontevne, McCreary, Harbaruk, Schlnkef, Schock, Pronovost, Hextall, Perrault, SABRES Goal Crozler.

Defense Robltallle, McKov; J. Watson, Pratt, Barrie, Hamilton. Forwards Lawson, Perrault, Shock, Martin, Luce, Govette, Zaine, Meehon, Anderson, O'Shea, sMkinson. Referee Brvan Lewis. Linesmen -Ron Ego ond Ron Finn.

FIRST PERIOD Scorlno-1. Buffalo, AAehan 1 (Atk n-sonl 1:40. 2. Buffalo, Zalnt 1 (Atkln- son, IVleehan) 18 03. Penalties-Robi.

(elbowing) 5:56: J. Watson, (holding) 9:00. SECOND PERIOD Scorlns-3. Pittsburgh, Norls 1 (Schin-kel), Hextall) 3:35. Penalties Barrie crass-checklna) 12:32: Loiter (hooklnp) 13:03: Konneaiesser (slashing and high-sticking) 13:07: Sheo (slashing, high-sticking ond 10-mlnute misconduct) 13:07: B.

Watson (10-mlnute misconduct) 15:13. THIRD PERIOD Scoring None. Penaities-Robltalle (slashing) 54 seconds. Barrie (crosschecking Goal saves Rutherford Croiler League expansion, he seems to have mesmerized the Penguins completely. The Sabres nipped Coach Red Kelly's club, 2-1, here last night.

The Penguins- never have defeated Imlach and Co. Tonight, two first period goals by Meehan and Rod Zaine were all he needed for another victory over the Penguins, this one in the Sabres' season opener before 15,429 howling fans irt the refurbished Coliseum. The Penguins never were in contention in those first 20 minutes, and only the heroics of Jim Rutherford, in goal for Pittsburgh, prevented score from climbing to the new roof of the Coliseum now the highest above the ice of any in the NHL. His acrobatics and aero-hatics in stoDDine shots on goal even won the plaudits of the largest crowd ever to get into this shinny pen. When it came around to picking the stars of the game, he was listed No.

3. which isn't bad at all in hstiIe surroundings. He stopped 17 shots in that wild first period as the Fa-bres, psyched up fo win this opener of their second senson In the league and continue their mastery over the Pitts: burgers, controlled the puck three-fourths of the time. It was their fourth victory in seven NHL games with Pittsburgh. The other three ended in ties.

And in five a games there were four ties. Buffalo handled the Kellymen their only defeat along the exhibition trail. Meehan scored his goal after just a minute and 40 seconds of play in the first period when he took 'a pass from Steve Atkinson right in front of the net and flipped it past Zaine, who scored (eight (Continued on Page 28) World Series Summary .1 Baltimore PIRATES Pd. l.oot First Com, Oct. PIRATES 3 000 -J 1 I Baltimore (11 010 00x-l It 1 Ellis, Moort (3), Miller (7), ond Sanglillen; McNally and Hendricks.

W-McNallv. L-Ellis. Home runs-Baltimore, P. Robinson, Rtttenmund, Buford. REMAINING SCHEDULE Today, at Baltimore, 1 p.

m. Tomorrow, at Three Riven Stadium, 1 p. m. Wednesday, at Three Rivers Stadium, 1:15 p. m.

Thursday, at Three Riven Stadium, (If p. m. Saturday, at Baltimore (If necessary), 1 p. m. Sunday, Oct.

17 ot Baltimore, (If necessary), 2 p. m. FINANCIAL FIGURES First Gome Gross Receipts, 955.00: Net Receipts, Players' Share, Commissioner's Office fhnre. nd Clubs Share, American League) Short, National League Share, Baltimore Club Share, Pittsburgh Club Share, $43,541.31. sioner.

Hoffberger also was there and the two league presidents, NL boss Chub Feeney and AL boss Joe Cronin, plus representatives of NBC, which ielevises the World ff held a closed-door meeting. Hoffberger pointed out the pluses of his 7 p. m. start. Brown said he listened, then reminded the people present that the "quality of the product" should be considered.

"If we played a night game," Brown said, "then both clubs would not arrive in Pittsburgh until maybe two o'clock Tuesday morning with a 1 p. m. game scheduled in Three Rivers Stadium Tuesday afternoon. After hearing both arguments, Kuhn decided to stick with the 1 p. m.

start. "The Orioles' idea had some merit," Kuhn said. "It was their, idea all the way. No, the people had nothing to do with the decision. There was no vote.

I made the decision." t' There is a' good weather report for today's game. However, if it is postponed, then Game 2 will be played here tomorrow at 1 p. m. The first night game in Series history is scheduled Wednesday in Pittsburgh. "Wednesday," said "is the night game.

There will be no change on that. If it should rain in Pittsburgh Wednesday, then there won't be any night gam in this Series." The night game was arranged for TV purposes. They expect an audience Of two hundred million, Kuhn said. A postponement here today would cause confusion among fans who bought reserved and general admission, seats in Those seats were sold on a single game basis, unlike box seats which were sold in sets. fan who purchased reserved or general admission ticket for game No.

4 bought thinking it was a night game If rain washes out today's game here, the second day's delay would make Game No. 3 the night game and the ticket holders for Game No. 4 would (Continued on Page 24) It It will be played at 1 p. hi. today at Memorial Stadium here and both managers plan to stick with the same starting pitchers; It will be Bob Johnson for the Bucs against righthander Jim Palmer of the.

Orioles. The starting time of today's game caused almost as much confusion as the all-night and all-day rain which forced Kuhn to call off yesterday's game at 12:30 p. m. Baltimore owner Jerry Hoff-berger suggested to Kuhn that game No. start at 7 o'clock tonight.

Hoffberger felt' that the sellout crowd purchased tickets for Game 2 feeling it would be played on Sunday afternoon. Hoffberger contended that since most of the fans are working people it would be a service to them to schedule the game at night. When Brown, the Pirates' general manager, first heard of Hoffberger's proposal, he treated it like a rumor. "Horsefeathers," Brown said. "The game will be played at 1 p.

A few minutes later, Brown learned that Hoffberger was serious in his proposal. Brown, (Baltimore weather ore-cast: Variable cloudiness with sunshine and temperatures in the middle 60s.) who had been in the Pirate clubhouse biding time until the team bus returned to the hotel, heard that Hoffberger was making his proposal to Kuhn in an office within the stadium. Brown left the clubhouse and when he was gone, Joe Rei-chler, Kuhn's PR man, entered Danny Murtaugh's office. Relchler sounded out Murtaugh on the possibility of the 7 p. m.

start, tonight. "We would prefer to play in the day time," Murtaugh said. Reichler left Murtaugh and when he returned to Kuhn, he found Brown with the Commis- West, Cheryl White, Edith Hin-sley and Sandy Schleifers. King's Inn, the "king" of Gale Osborne's cumbersome stable, has been assigned top weight Of 122 pounds for the. Pitt Park Handicap' on tonight's program.

The Canadian-bred gelding has a string of four straight victories at Finger Lakes, in New York State, going for him right now, and because of that drew the top inpost when Racing Secretary Eddie Smith made up the race. King's Inn also drew the No. (Continued on Page 24) BALTIMORE Danny Murtaugh indicated yesterday that lefty swingers Al Oliver and Richie Hebner will be in the lineup tomorrow when lefthander Mike Cuellar starts for the Orioles at Three Rivers Stadium. Gene Clines and Jose Pagan replaced Oliver and Clines in Saturday's game. Each went zcro-for-four against Southpaw Dave McNally.

Cuellar's best pitch is a screwball which breaks in on lefthanded hitters. "I never batted against a lefthander who threw a screwball," Hebner said. 1 "I think there is one der in our league who throws a pro screwball," Oliver said, "but I can't remember his name." Cuellar's pitch is supposed to be tougher for righthanded hitters to handle than lefty swingers. "I'm thinking of using one of the lefthanded batters," Murtaugh said yesterday. "Maybe both of them." With the rain pouring persistently, most Pirates sat around their clubhouse in their underwear waiting for official word.

They had a 90-minute wait after arriving at the park shortly after 11 a. m. Bob Johnson, today's starter, said the delay won't bother him and he doesn't expect it to disturb his mound opponent, Jim Palmer. "It really makes no difference," Johnson said. "We have to play sometime." Johnson, when he was with Kansas City, last year, pitched two strong games against the Orioles.

He earned today's start because of eight strong (Continued on Page 24) 'spunooS ai uo 'ftpedua bjs and there will be several internationally known jockeys among the 35 or more who will be doing the riding. Among the latter will be Tony Agnello, who ranked second nationally in 1970 with322 successful mounts. There also are four "jockey-ettes" registered for the 70-night meet, which continues through New Year's Night with six racing programs each week until then except Christmas week when the track will be dark Dec. 24-25. it The gal jockeys are Patty LONG MEET OPENS TONIGHT Flat Races On at Meadows I Si-i.

MEADOW LANDS, Pa. -The sprinters, the route-goers and the handicap horses all will be out tonight as the Pitt Park meeting at The Meadows inaugurates pari-mutuel thoroughbred racing in Western Pennsylvania. Nine races, topped by the Pitt Park Starter's Handicap, will mark the inaugural, which for reasons unknpwn arrived at the Tartan-topped facility down in Washington County several years late. There will be around 1,000 horses, taxing The Meadows' a 1 ,3.