Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 11

DETROIT FREE PRESS Friday, July 25, '75 1-D Fire's Miller Coleman, 5-2 Out! OAKLAND DETROIT ib ab bl Cmpnert 4 0 0 0 MSlanlcv cf 3 0 0 I Wathngln cl I 1 0 Knox 2b 4 0 11 Rudi If 4 0 10 Ogilvie 2 10 1 RJackson dh 3 I 1 2 Horton dh 4 110 Bando 3b 3 0 0 0 Freehan 4 0 2 0 Tenaca lb 2 0 0 0 Pierce lb 10 0 2 Garner 2b 2 0 0 0 LRobertt rf 2 1 0 0 ewillamt Ph 1 0 0 0 ARodrgei 3b 3 1 1 0 TeMarlni 2b 0 0 0 0 Verviar 3 110 Manaual rl 3 0 0 0 Coleman 0 0 0 0 Hanev '3 0 0 0 Miller 0 0 0 0 J.Perry 0 0 0 0 Lindblad 0 0 0 0 Todd 0 0 0 0 Fingers 0 0 0 0 223? Tolal 26 5 5 010 000 100- 2 003 101 00- Tolal Oakland Detroit Pierce. LOB-Oakland 2, Detroll 3. 122). SF-Oeiivie, Pierce .2, R.Jackion. ip ER BB SO J.Perrv IL.4-M 3 4 4 13 in hi mmim IIIIWII IIIH ill I jinirnimnnr rn im Lindblad 2 0 0 Free Press Photo by JIMMY TAFOYA 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 3 2 1 0 0 3 J.Perry Todd- 2 11 Fingers 1 10 Coleman (W.t-12) 6 2-3 3 2 Miller 2 1-3 0 0 Save-Hlller (14).

HBP-by (M.SIanley). 1:55. the ball, and a put out on attempted steal Phil Garner had something waiting for John Knox in -3d inning WHITEY HERZOG NEW MANAGER KC Gives McKeon the Ax BY JIM HAWKINS Free Press Sports Writer John Hiller continued to be an indispensable part of Joe Coleman's pitching repertoire, rescuing the Tiger righthander once again Thursday afternoon to preserve a 5-2 victory over the Oakland A's. And, successful as Coleman has suddenly become, one can only wonder what his record would look like if he didn't have Hiller on his side. The Tigers' most reliable reliever didn't allow a hit Thursday.

But that's nothing new. Hiller has not given up a hit since June 27, 10 trips to the mound and 16 2-3 innings ag. Thursday's was the 14th save of the season for the Tigers' lefthanded bullpen ace one more than he got all last season when he set an AhieHcan League record for relief pitchers by winning 17 times. What's more, Hiller's last four saves have resulted in four victories for Coleman, who has now won five in a row to raise his record to a considerably more respectable 8-12. AND TO THINK THERE was a time, not so terribly long ago, when the Tigers starters almost hated to see the mustachioed lefty trudging toward the mound.

"I hate to say the difference was luck, but there was a time when my control wasn't what it is admitted Hiller, recalling those gloomier days. "I was trying to be too fine. I think I was giving the hitters too much credit, i Maybe I'm challenging them a little more now than I was before." Manager Ralph Houk credited the marked improvement in Hiller's performance to the fact that "he's getting his change-up down and his breaking ball over now." "That's the difference," the Tiger manager said. "All the hits they were getting off him before were bloop hits and bleep hits. He did go through a period where everything they hit went through.

But his record speaks for itself." Speaking of Hiller's record, in addition to those 14 saves tops in the American League and his two wins, he has struck out 81 batters. Only Mickey Lolich with 84 among all the Tigers has struck out more. And bear dn mind, Lolich has pitched 146 innings, compared to Hiller's 69. It makes for a most remarkable statistic, indeed. "I've never struck out people like this before," admitted Hiller.

"There's no reason for it. It's just happening." COLEMAN PERMITTED JUST ONE HIT Reggie Jackson's wrong-way home run to left leading off the second through the first six innings. In fact Jackson was the only Oakland runner to reach base until the seventh as Coleman simply overwhelmed the A's with his new accelerated style of pitching. Aside from Jackson's home run his 22d of the season the A's only hit two balls out of the infield before Claudell Washington singled to right to start the seventh. Joe Rudi followed with a single of his own sending Washington to third from where he scored easily on Jackson's sacrifice fly.

Coleman got Bando to fly out, but he walked Gene Ten-ace. And when the Tiger righthander went 3-0 to Phil Garner, manager Ralph Houk hollered for Hiller. Hiller got the Tigers out of that inning on a ground ball to second and a good play by John Knox. And they never did get so much as another single as Please turn to Page 2D, Col. 2 I Could Watch Reggie Play All Bay Sorry, but' the old game was better lin the old days.

They played 'em all during the day and you could enjoy the sunshine with your hot dog and beer. Now we've got one midweek ball game' In the daylight and everybody treats it like a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. This is the way it always was back in the 40s. The Brownies would be in for three games, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thurs day afternoons, and they had that orange and brown piping on their uniforms and you had no trouble telling who was who. Harlond Clift played third, that's George McQuinn over on first, Don Gutteridge at second and Vern Stephens at short, and the battery was Denny Gale-house pitching and Rick Ferrell catch Whitey Herzog players, who vigorously denounced his dismissal last year.

All other coaches Harry Dunlop, Galen Cisco and Steve Boros, also a former Tiger will be kept for the rest of this season, Herzog said. McKeon was given a two-year extension on his contract last August, the first manager in Royals' history to receive more than a one-year contract. "Jack went out convinced he had done the best he could do for the Royals," Burke said. "Nothing has been offered to him in the Royals' organization and Jack didn't indicate he.wanted to stay in the organization." BURKE HAD JOINED THE CLUB on its just completed road trip Monday 'in Detroit after the team had dropped six games in a row. He said he didn't make the recommendation to fire McKeon until Tuesday.

The Royals, who have won three of their last four games, have a 50-46 record and are 11 games behind Oakland in the American League West. Herzog will make his debut with the Royals Friday night in a doubleheader against the Texas Rangers, who fired him as manager near the end of the 1973 season. Billy Martin, who replaced Herzog, was ousted by the Rangers earlier this week. Herzog joined the Angels as a coach prior to the .1974 season. A native of New Athens, 111., he served as interim manager for the Angels in June of last year before Dick Williams was named manager.

Herzog becomes the fifth manager in the Royals' seven-year history. Before McKeon, Joe Gordon, Charlie Metro and Bob Lemon managed the club. KANSAS CITY, Mo. (UPI)' The Kansas City Royals fired manager Jack McKeon Thursday because he couldn't get along with his players and replaced him with Whitey Herzog, the third base coach of the California Angels and a man with a reputation for understanding players as few other men in baseball do. The Royals' general manager, Joe Burke, said the major consideration for disnnissiing McKeon "was there was really no rapport between the team and iack or between Jack and the team." Burke said Herzog was given a contract through 1976, No terms were announced, but it was estimated 'Herzog will receive $50,000 a year.

"I think we have a very good ball club," Herzog said. "We're not out of this thing yet. I think we're still in the race and it's a matter of all of us getting together, including the fans." HERZOG, A MEMBER OF THE Tigers in the early '60s, appeared at the news conference after a flight from Baltimore and immediately announced he would bring back Charley Lau as hitting instructor. Lau, who was fired by McKeon during the final week of last season, has been working in the Royals' organization as minor league hitting instructor. He was in Waterloo, Iowa, with the.

club's Class A farm team at the time of the announcement. Lau's return is certain to be popular with the Red-Hot Red Sox Steam On Page 4D ing. All the games started at 1:30 and you'd be out by four o'clock, just in time to beat the downtown rush. You'd be home in plenty of time for dinner and you had the rest of the evening to yourself. Best of all, you could follow the schedule.

The Tigers would be home for two weeks and gone for two weeks and the Browns would ibe back again, as would the Senators, Indians, Yankees, Sox, Philadelphia A's and all the other clubs in the league. Jack McKeon Each came to Detroit four times, and if you missed them once or twice, you could catch them the next time, or in late i September, when the air began turning cool and the shadows lengthened in the ball park. Mow here it is the fourth week in July with all of August and September to go and we've seen the last of the Oakland i A's. From now on, you'll have to settle for them on television Greats Should Be on Display With almost 10 weeks left in the baseball season, we've seen the last of Campy Campaneris going from first to third and turning around as he goes into the bag to see if the throw got away; we've seen the last of Joe Rudi bent over in that awkward crouch and lining a single between first and second; we've seen the last of Reggie Jackson leaning into the ball and driving it against the roof in right or off the balcony in left, as he did in Thursday afternoon's game, This is sad. It's sad because these are the greats of our time, I the Yankees reincarnated, and they should be on display for more than a few brief moments.

Personally, I could watch Reggie Jackson play every day, all day long. If any man in this game has style, it is the slugger of I the Oakland A's. He gives you the impression he doesn't care a Lions 9 Weger Vows to Be No. 1 Again BY JACK SAYLOR Free Press Sports Writer Plainly and simply, Mike Weger is not a second-stringer. Thus it is that now, healthy once again, the Lions' veteran strong safety finds himself at the crossroads of his career as he starts his ninth pro season.

The 29-year-old Weger, a regular at his position for six years, suffered a knee injury in the final exhibition game last summer that required surgery, and sat out the season. The Lions acquired Charlie West from Minnesota and the Viking vet was a season-long standout. "Charlie did a real good job," Weger said Thursday as he hit ths practice field for the first time. "But I think I can play here hole lot by the way he trots in slowty from the outfield at the end of an inning, or the he stands at home plate for a moment after raising a high popup with runners on first and third. This is not a man who deals in false; 25 to 40 off on a group of famous brand suits by Hart Schaffner Marx, Eagle, Botany 500, other celebrated makers and designers suits that were $135 to $165 are now hustle.

Watch him when it counts, on the slide into second trying tf break up a double play, uncorking a long throw from the rightfield corner into third, or trying to- score from first base on a bloop single into center. Then you'll see a man with a deep passion for this bofy's game. He knows that any time he turns it. on, it can mean the end of the season for him. He knows he can tear up his Mx 'At or somewhere else.

Reggie Jackson suits that were $170 to $185 are now 7 iW "I've never been second-string in my life. If I'm not the best here I suppose they'll trade me," he shrugged. "No, I don't want to sit on the bench. If they didn't trade me, retire." Weger, however, has no intention of quitting without a fight. He is tanned and fit and his knee, he says, is good.

"I FEEL stronger than. I have in two or three years. I've been running and lifting weights. We just bought a new house with three acres at Oxford so I've kept busy garden-in and working on the house," he said. I've always felt before in training camp that I had to win my job back, and this year is no different.

We have several safeties, but it doesn't affect the way I look at it or the way I play. "I'll go in to win Jhe spot back. I don't expect to have it given back." "The competiion will make us a better ball club," said defensive backfield coach Jimmy Carr. 'Weger's a srong kid and he's an intense, tough player." But Carr, who coached West Mike Weger right leg with a slide or an extra lunge at the ball. This is Reggie's cross.

He has pulled the muscles in his right leg so often that much of his leg is' nothing but scar tissue. But that doesn't hold him back. He'Jl go barging into anyone if it means keeps an inning alive, fPm My Oivn Ty ran? Jackson Reggie Jackson is a helluva baseball player for my money. Even his strikeouts are classics the way he looks back at the umpire if it's a called strike, or the way he all but screws himself into the ground when he misses with that mighty swing. John Hiller fanned Jackson for the final out Thursday as Reggie 'took a lame swing at the ball.

Even then, it had a touch of drama to it, the feared home run hitter reduced to being a mere mortal. "I'm my own tyrant," Jackson was saying as he dressed before Thursday's game. "Baseball is my job and lama businessman and I try to conduct myself accordingly. That's why you'll always see me come out to the ball park in a suit coat. "I am fortunate because I enjoy what I do and I get fun out of what I do.

The thing that satisfies me the most is when I can do something that only five or six other men can do, like maybe hitting the ball off the roof or making a long throw to the plate. "But I know that I have to produce. I know I have to be among the home run and the RBI leaders. I have that kind of ability I've been gifted and it is my responsibility to get the most out of that ability. Otherwise, I'd be cheating myself, my team and my owner.

"So that's why I play as hard as I can. I don't like knocking fielders down at second, but I know I have to do it. I really don't get that much of a kick out of hitting one off the roof, as I did the other night, wnen the game is out of hand, but I know I have to do it. It is expected of me. Others ask it of me, and I ask it of myself.

"If you bust your gut and make a mistake, nobody can say anything to you. given it your best. That's why I play so hard. "I'd rather have the respect of the other players than anything else in this world and that's why I never let down. They can spot a phony in a moment." Reginald Jackson.

He'd have looked good out there with WaJIy Judnich and Chet Laabs in the Brownie outfield. Best of all, he'd be back two more times in August and September. Spring and summer suits by Eagle, Botany 500, as well as a group of suits by Pierre Cardin," Marshall Reed Bill Blass selling for way less than we intended. Luxurious Dacron worsteds, new texturizedwovens, some fine quality knits in plaids, stripes, neat patterns, solids. Lots of styles: traditional, conventional, contemporary, European.

(You won't find every style in every size in every store but there's a handsome selection wherever you shop.) Extra-special group of prestige suits by Hammonton Park, Eagle, Austin Leeds, Hart Schaffner Marx, were $190 to $275, now 139.85-159.85 Cleon Jones Still a Met -Barely NEW YORK-(AP)-Cleon Jones, the New York Mets recalcitrant outfielder, still-was member of the team Thursday, but he was hardly noticeable. trouble since refusing to play last Friday night, did not show up for Wednesday night's game against the Cincinnati Reds and was not scheduled to accompanied the Mets on a 13-game, 19-day road trip that starts Friday in Chicago. THETUCKIHEjES HLfiLTCIHIEES, at Minnesota, thinks Charlie can do the job, too. "He's a great athete and I think he's really looking forward to this year. He had a bad knee operation a couple Please turn to Page 2D, Col.

4 MOST HUGHES HATCHER STORES OPEN EVENINGS. MOST HUGHES HATCHER STORES OPEN SUNDAYS. .1 jMW 0t nawa. 0mn,.