Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 15

DETROIT FRET'. PRESS Thursday. Mar. 25, '73 ID ti 0 tti CUT. ame One orth 3 Hoovers a Babe Ruth Is BY JIM BENAGH Fret Pres Sports Writer Except for the signature Charlie Sanders puts on a Lion contract each year, he gives his autograph freely to all comers.

The same for Joe Coleman of the Tigers. They, like other big-time athletes, sign their lives away figuratively for autograph seekers who hound them at games, interrupt their meals at restaurants and track them down through Che mails. Hardly a day goes by when they aren't asked. Sanders estimates that he gives out about 12,000 to 13,000 annually, the The value of sports autographs with the exception of a few standouts such as Babe Ruth is not high. A Ty Cobb signature on the 8x10 photo reproduced here is worth about $35 on a slip of paper, $5 to $7.50.

But that doesn't deter packs of autograph hounds. A 1 4 9 1 4a count driven up by the 200 or so items he signs at each of the 35 basketball games he plays in the off-season with a touring Lion team. Coleman says his total is around 2,000, half in person and half through the mails. BOTH PLAYERS feel it is part of their jobs. "Some guys won't sign, but I think it is a responsibility," says Coleman, the player representative for the Tigers.

He has been affixing his signature to autograph books, baseball cards, photos, and programs since his junior year of high school, when he attended a sports banquet. "I feel it's part of my job as a professional athlete," says Sanders, who has been asked to sign everything from "my favorite recipe to a pair of old, dirty tennis shoes." Sports autographs, in general, have little marketable value, according to Julia Sweet Newman, a autograph broker from Battle Creek. According to her inventory, an 8x10 inch signed photograph by Joe Louis might be worth $35, depending on its condition. A "cut signature" an autograph on a scrap of paper by Ty Cobb would probably range in value from $5 to $7.50. A Jackie Robinson would be worth about $10.

"Anyone seriously wanting to can put together a fine sports collection for a moderate investment," she said. BOTH Mrs. Newman and Charles Hamilton, a former Flint native who went to New York to become one of the most prominent brokers in the country, list the Babe Ruth autographs as the most expensive among sports celebrities. A handwritten letter signed by the home-run slugger could make the holder $350 richer. An autographed ball by the man who ripped so many of them apart is valued at $150 to $300, depending updn condition.

Hamilton, who has been a collector for 50 years and a broker in New York for the past 25, likes to tell the story of the youngster who once wrote Herbert Hoover at the White House to ask for three genunie autographs of the president. The re-quest didn't bother Hoover so much as the explanation by the ft I A Sheila Makes Us All Feel Like Winners when you consider the interest in sports and the availability of the (athlete's) autographs," said Hamilton. "They are not comparable to presidents. You can't compare a man like Muhammad Ali with the president of the United States he's not as significant." Hamilton does concede that a hand-written letter by Ali could bring as much as $75 to $100 at an auction and that a Joe Namath letter might bring in $35 to $40 "because these two men are already part of the history of sports." DECEASED sports heroes are more in demand, naturally. Mrs.

Newman noted a recent surge in the value for Roberto Clemente items. Still, youngsters and adult hobbyists alike pursue big-time athletes for signatures with the same dogged determination that Please turn to Page 6D, Column I youngster that he needed three Hoovers so he could trade them for one Babe Ruth. To this day, that youngster's calculations nave mm up. According to Hamilton, a Babe Ruth signature is now worth about $50 compared to $15 for a Hoover. Hamilton rates the value of Ruth autographs highlv because of the world-wide popularity of the baseball great.

"You might not believe it," said Hamilton, "but the two most famous Americans in Mongolia, for example, are Jesse James and Babe Ruth." Other than Ruth, only a Jim Thorpe, a John L. Sullivan, a Lou Gehrig, or a Christy Mathewson will command over $50 or $100, and then the autograph will have to be the signature on a letter written by the person. A Jack Dempsey is worth only about $5 because the boxing champion signed so many postcards at his famous Broadway restaurant over the years. "Sports autographs are only as valuable as one would expect Woul Even Sue LP 1 I 1 I By the time you get this far, Sheila Young, who is rather quick, too, will be gone. Hello, goodby, Sheila, you doll.

She is Florida-bound, there to begin pursuit of still another world championship even as the applause from her last still rings. Cycling beckons the most honored American athlete of any Winter Olympic Games gold, silver, bronze medals in speed skating and she is eager to get at it. She has, after all, paused an entire week in her flights about the amateur sports world. The pause was one of those necessary things to come home for the embrace and honors of the city. They laid it on her in fine fashion, beginning with a 29-horse, 10-motorcycle.

20-car mini-caravan down Woodward Ave. to the City-County Bldg. There were declarations all around naming Wednesday "Sheila Young Day" In Detroit, Wayne County, the State of Michigan, and messages, too, from the President, senators, the Legislature, the Council. We have had wilder civic sports demonstrations, such as when the Tigers last won the World Series. But nothing I find reveals similar honor paid an individual athlete.

Hundreds lined the curbs along Woodward. There was no tolling how many of them were there specifically to see Sheila Young, or simply happened by. cheered for a tremendous young woman athlete who caught the world's attention as she flashed over the ice at Innsbruck, Austria, six weeks ago. She did something more, something more important than that, for some in he crowd. Den! To Stay in Lions "I like it here I listen to the other comments, they talk about the bad things.

Other cities are the same, but people don't reflect on the bad things. I'm tired hearing bad things about Detroit" Denny Franklin (left). Even Sheila Young, Detroit's own Olympic heroine, has allowed as how she never was all that wild about living in "The Arsenal of SO HERE COMES young Denny, a product of Massillon, saying he'll sue to stay in our midst. Better give that man a cigar, Mayor Young. "I just like it here I like the people in this area" Franklin expanded.

"I listen to the other comments and they talk about the bad things. "Other cities are the same, but people don't reflect on the bad things. Sure, Los Angeles has the weather but the industry potential is on the same level. "I'm tired hearing bad things about Detroit," Denny said, emphatically. "I've been in this area five years and I like it." Bob Rossman, whose law firm represents Franklin, confirmed that they would, indeed, sue if neoessary.

"If they draft Dennis they're going to draft a lawsuit too," Rossman promised. "I hope they'll take that into consideration. Basically, the Cullen Bryant case is the precedent. I feel there is reasonable restraint of trade." WITH THE NFL already up to its shoulder pads in lawsuits, 'That Was a Grabber BY JACK SAYLOR Fr Presi Sports Wriltr Found: An athlete who likes playing in the Detroit area. Dennis Franklin, the erstwhile Michigan quarterback, sat out most of his rookie year with the Lions last fall, but what taste he got for Motown, he liked.

The 22-year-old wide receiver flashed enough promise before being sidelined with a viral infection to show he has a future with the Lions and that's where he wants to spend it. Franklin issued what amounted to a warning to the Seattle and Tampa Bay teams Wednesday that he didn't want to move west young man or south either, in any expansion draft. "I understand the Lions may not be able to protect me," Franklin told the Free Press. "I was a rookie and got hurt in the second game maybe they don't know enough about me. "AND I KNOW they have a lot of other players to protect.

But anything I can do to stav here, I will, if that includes suing I might have to sue." That should raise eyebrows of folks like Ron Jessie and Altie Taylor and how about that, Cullen Bryant? Taylor has clamored to be traded from Detroit. Jessie chafed through an option year until he could got out of town. And when Bryant was awarded to the Lions as compensation, he legally told Pete Rozelle and r.ill Ford where they could go while he stayed in Los Angeles. Hockey's Marcel Dionne fell over himself to leave Detroit, too, and Terry Harper dragged his feet somewhat before reporting to the Red Wings, it would figure that Seattle and Tampa would want to avoid further litigation. On the other hand, they probably don't like being intimidated.

Rossman admitted he had talked to the Seattle people and although they were guarded in their comments for fear of a tampering charge, there was interest expressed and Rossman advised the Seahawks of Denny's feelings. He did not talk to Tampa officials. Even though there might be an opportunity to play at quarterback, which Franklin would dearly love, he prefers to stay in Detroit. "The organization is competent and has some good people Please turn to Page 9D, Column 1 I am talking to a cycled cop in the nrr.van and he says he docs nit remember, or ran1, particularly, what it was that Sheila Young won at the Olympic Games. What he remembers and will not forgpt.

he says, is the picture of this pretty, unpainted gal with the Ion? flowing hair as she stood smiling proudly, biting her lip, fighting brick testrs, while they played the Star Spangled Banner, and draped the WHAT WOULD YOU EXPECT TO COME BACK WITH THE VESTED SUIT? THE OXFORDCLOTH BUTTONDOWN. Olympic gold around her neck. "Tfrit was a grabber." he said. At Cobo Hall, 900 came for the Sheila Young I unchcon, all of them there for a rare moment, a tip of the hat and cheers for one of the few world-class champions we have reared in recent years. Among thein and typienl were businessman-types Erank Rob and Eudd Schaefcr, who vire tied in with the Chamber of Commerce, which errranged the celebration.

"These things drm't happen often enough," says Rob, "and when they do, we ought to them as the very things that happen fnr the cirv." i. i I few, LI Sheila Young And it looks marvelous. Fuller than before, with a nice sexy curve that frames your tie knot. Romelli tailors this handsome new dress shirt in a well-bred blend of Dacroncotton, in white, blue, mint or ecru, with a single-button cuff. The price is a comfortable $10.

Tigers Come From Behind, Top Cards, 8-6 BY TIM HAWKINS Fret Presi Sports Wrlttr ST. PETERSBURG Ask anybody in the Tiger organization about pitcher Bill Slayback and they'll tell you: You'll never meet a nicer guy. And that. Bill Slayback believes, may be precisely why he has spent so little time in the big leagues these last three years. But there was nothing nice about the way Slayback and the Tigers treated the St.

Louis Cardinals Wednesday afternoon, 'as they slugged their way to thiMr first exhibition win, 8-6. Non-roster rookie Jason V. n.JW V. Baseball Talks at Stalemate Sheila Young was rather rrwed. if not by it all.

"I never thought there wuld be this much recognition," she yaid, as the parchments and therefore, which is how declarations begin and end, piled in front of her. She is a pleasant, gracious but shy sort, and she seems uncomfortable with so much Mention focused on her. There is a reason for her reticence. She is unaccustomed to much attention, at least in this area, where little attention is paid anymore to speed skating or cycling. She acknowledged the fact with an unintended zinger: "The real champions," she said, "are people who come out and support not only our professional athletes, but the amateurs as well." Channel 7 presented Sheila with a film of her Olympic achievements first in the 500 meters, second in the 1,000, third in the l.liOfl, the best overall performance by an American in the Winter Games.

She was delighted. They showed the film to the luncheon throng, and it was all there for the memory the incredible start and finish of her SOO triumph, so swift and powerful it seemed to pound and echo with each stride, and then the cop's "grabber" scene, which silenced the crowd. They gave her all the tributes one can summon up for such an occasion, and something more. nd Free Sundaes for Life Tt wis mentioned in the Free Press last week that one of the things Sheila missed most in her extended training absences from Detroit was Sanders hot fudge sundaes. Would you believe she now possesses a lifetime pass for free sundaes and jars of her favorite goo, anytime the fattening thought occurs? She insists a lifetime of work toward world and Olympic has been welt worth effort, and who is to quarrel with her? She was unhappy, though well, she was mad about another impression of her dl.ich appeared on these pages last week.

The gist of it was that Sheila did not really consider herself a Detroiter anymore and saw no need for all this attention, s'nee she has "spent very little time here the last half-dozen years or so. "I don't sny 1 was misquoted, but! was certainly misunderstood," she said. "I've always considered myself a Detroiter and alwavs will: this is my home and I'm proud of it. "What' bothers me is that last night I opened my mail and found this letter from a sixth-grade girl who wondered what I had against Detroit, why I didn't want to live here, as the story said. "That's not what meant at all, but what am I supposed to My to thai little ghl? Later, she made clear her attachment to Detroit, and that should end any doubt: "I will come home to Detroit to be married," she said.

Probably in the fall. Meanwhile, who knows, at her pace. Sheila already is cycling around a track in Florida with Jim Ochowitz, who intends to be her mate in the world cycling championships this summer, and otherwise, in the years ahead. speed, Sheila, Thompson, touted to be the Tigers' first baseman of the future, cleared the centerfield fence with Mickey Stanley aboard in the top of the ninth to climax the come-from-be-hind wm. Rookie leftfielder John Valle also homered and Bill Free-han drove in two key runs with a clutch sixth-inning double for the Tigers, who collected a dozen hits in the cozy confines of Campbell Park.

Although the field was hardly big league in size, measuring only 362 feet to straigh-taway centerfield and considerably less down the lines, Tiger manager Ralph Houk couldn't help but be pleased by the way they battled back from an early 6-2 deficit. AND SLAYBACK, one of at least seven pitchers in contention for the three vacancies on the Tiger staff, did his part by holding the cardinals to one hit in the seventh and eight innings, while waiting for his Tiger teammates to catch up. "I'd hate to think the only reason I wasn't up here last year was because some people thought I was too nice," said Slayback, who at 28, can't see any point in spending another summer at Evansville. "But sometimes I think that must have been it, "Maybe I have been too nice a guy. I guess I don't yell at Please turn to Page 8D, Col.

1. NEW YORK (AP) Representatives of the Major League Players Association and the owners' Players Relations Committee met for five hours Wednesday in an attempt to settle their compli-c a problems, but no progress was reported. Altenvard, it was announced that Marvin Miller, executive director of the players union, and John Gaherinj the chief negotiator for management, would confer Thursday and set up another meeting date, the 33rd in the series. Wednesday's session, conducted at Gaherin's office, dealt with a review and discussion of all the issues under negotiation. No new ideas were proposed.

It was the first meeting between the two sides in 10 days and the first session of any kind since March 17 when the Executive Board of the Play-ers Association met in Florida. At that time, the union's executive board neither accepted nor rejected the owners' offer of March 15, instead calling for more talks and the opening of spring training. Mail and phone orders: 961-3060 MOST HUGHES HATCHER STORES OPEN EVENINGS. MOST HUGHES HATCHER STORES OPEN SUNDAYS..