Corvallis Gazette-Times from Corvallis, Oregon • 19

O-otwttt Timt, Corvolfi Oregon, Sofardoy, jVn 8, 974 Oakland A ttendance Drops Finley Suspected television contract and a 20-year lease on a county-built stadium. The team itself had been a perennial tail-ender, but he had stocked it with outstanding young players who are today's Reggie Jackson, Catfish Hunter, Sal Bando, Joe Rudi, Bert Cam-paneris, Rollie Fingers. The attendance was never great, but It climbed past the 900,000 level as the team became a winner. Last year, after winning the 1972 World Series, the team drew 1 million for the first time, balancing the drop In television income from $1.1 million to W00. 000.

Finley had boasted that the team had made money every single year In Oakland. Those who have seen the figures say the profit has been $8.5 million In six years. league refused permission In 1962. In 1963 he explored Atlanta, then tried to move to Lakeland, and was checked again. In 1964 he actually made an arrangement to move the team to Louisville, But was forced by the league to back down and to sign a four-year lease in Kansas City.

Finally, after the 1967 season, he was given permission to move to Oakland a step that forced the American League to expand from 10 to 12 teams because Kansas City had to be awarded an expansion franchise under threat of congressional antitrust action. To balance the new Kansas City team, Seattle was also added, and after a one-year failure there, the Seattle team became the Milwaukee Brewers. In Oakland, Finley had waiting for him a five-year radio-' New York limes New Service OAKLAND The Oakland A's, winners of the World Series the last two years and currently carrying the best record in the American League, are 134,624 behind last year in home atten- dance. Even San Diego and Texas, baseball's two weakest situations the last two years, are drawing more people than the world champions and their star-studded roster. At their present rate 179,948 for 28 games the A's will draw fewer than 600,000.

How can that be? Well, when Charles O. Finley wanted to move his A's out of Kansas City during the 1960 be embarked on a ticket-selling slowdown, and the pattern now is strikingly similar. Four steps to be involved: abandonment of promotions that have proved popular, no ticket-selling effort between seasons. minimizing television exposure and refusal sell the team to local interests despite legitimate offers. Why would an owner want to decrease his own team's in-.

come? To make a point. If he wants to move the team to another city, he has to "prove" that this one can't or won't "support baseball." Finley denies vehemently that be intends to move the A's to New Orleans, where a domed stadium Is Rearing completion, or to Seattle, where a smaller domed stadium is also being built, or anywhere else. ButTie also dehievehemently, af various times, that he wanted to move the team out of Kansas City- Finley bought the A's, from the estate of Arnold Johnson, in 1960 and acquired full control in 1961. He immediately explored the possibility of moving the team to Dallas-Fort Worth, but the Smith Says Times Errors Agreeable things happened in Baker Bowl. In a single season -a marriage was performed in a lion's cage on the pitcher's mound and a baby boy was born In the ladies' room.

Seldom, however, did the showplace witness anything as bizarre as victory for the home forces. (Reach's team started in 1883 by win- Robnett's Wins In ASA Ball Robnett's Hardware and The McLagan Co. each posted opening round wins as the A.S.A. League got under way last night at Pioneer Park. Robnett's thumped Richey's 17-1 behind the 4 for 4 hitting performance of Mark Lasswell and a 3 run inside the park home run by Roy Humphrey.

Tom Brady led The McLagan bo. to a 13-6 win over 7-Eleven Stores with four hits which included 2 homers. Ralph Hansen blasted 2 home runs for the losers. In National League action, First Christian Church blasted Philomath Dairy Queen 11-1, Valley Mobile Homes got by Everybody's 7-2 and Zion Lutheran topped Don's Den 6-3. SIH1 lining 91 MIU IllipiUVClircill WM UUl Will.

"We may not be the best team in the league," an outfielder named Duff Cooley admitted, "but we don't intend to put up with Stallings any longer. For weeks he has treated us like cattle This was 1897, when the Phillies became.the first team to call strike against a manager. Reach and his partner, John Rodgert, had to fire George Stallings, who would be acclaimed at miracle man 17 years later for leading the Boston Braves from last place in July to the pennant. The years were as unkind to Baker Bowl as opposing hitters were to the Philadelphia pitchers. By 1973, bats and owls would have scorned to make a home there.

Yet there were some who lmMi it inrlurffnff the pluh'i 10th in-esident. Gerald P. Nugent, a By Red Smith New York Times Newt Service NEW YORK Having an illusion shattered is never a pleasant experience, and it is especially painful when someone or something near and dear is involved, like the woman a guy lives with or the newspaper he works for. Thus the discovery that the dear old New York Times, that citadel of exactitude, could err in the field of baseball history came as a blow. While it is true that the Old Lady Of Forty-Third Street has never claimed Infallibility in matters of faith or morals, it was the devout belief that she couldn't possibly be wrong in an area where records are preserved and venerated like the bones of a saint.

I Nevertheless, she booted one recently by relying on the record book. Along with a story about the Cleveland Indians' driving their customers to drink, a two-column box was published purporting to list all the major league ball games lost by forfeiture since 1905. The list was incomplete; there have been several more, including one stilt fresh in memory here. It happened on Sunday, June 6, 1937, when the St. Louis Cardinals were playing a doubleheader with the Phillies in a holy place known as Baker Bowl.

This was a stately pleasured dome in Philadelphia which Al J. Reach did decree in 1687 and when it opened with a capacity of 12,500 it set new standards of elegance for baseball. 7 Big Game Seasons Match Last Year's courtly man of silver-haired dignity who never raised hit voice except on grave provocation. One occasion when he was severely provoked had occurred early that season when the Phillies were losing gallantly to the Cubs, 17-4. In most ball parks the press is segregated In a detention pen tucked away up under the roof.

In Baker Bowl, however, the press box was a section about 10 rows deep in the second deck of the grandstand directly behind home plate, there, enclosed by fence of tall iron palingt, the flower of Philadelphia letter drowsed over scorebooks and whiled away the afternoon throwing peanuts at the head of Stan Baumgartner of the Philadelphia Inquirer, who sat in the front row. Running out of peanuts that day when the Cuba were In town, somebody started throwing paper cups of water. When water dropped into the box area below, Gerry Nugent hastened up to remonstrate. "You must remember," he said, "we have patrons downstairs." "My God!" said Warren Brown of Chicago. "What a story!" This, then, was the setting for a memorable battle of witi between Jimmy Wilson, the Phillies' manager in 1937, and the spirited leader of the Cardinals, Frank Frisch.

These two had been teammates in St. Louis and had roomed together on the road until Frisch succeeded Gabby Street as manager and, 1 aware that Wilson had had designs on Street's job, swiftly traded his pal to Philadelphia. Their friendship had cooled as a result, and since they owned two of the sharpest minds in the game, each encounter between them had come to resemble at John Lardner was to write later a collision of runaway razor blades. Only' five years had passed since God-fearing Philadelphia had left the gates of hell ajar by permitting baseball to be played at all on Sunday, and the law confined such profane activity to few hours between morning devotions and vespers. That Sunday I II A ,1 -J -1 I iL.

II 1 I 1 a Kiick At Ease About Suit MIAMI (AP) Running back Jim Kiick said he's not concerned about being named by the Miami Dolphins with Larry Csonka and Paul War-field in a $4 million suit against their signing by the World Football League. The Dolphins on Wednesday expanded a suit filed two months ago in Toronto to Include the three players. The trio is to leave the National Football League and join the Memphis franchise in the 1975 season in a package deal reportedly worth $3 million. a uiuuuuursi uui uciayeu uic suit ui uie rccvmi game nwue 11 unlikelv that nine inninn could he Dlaved before curfew Indeed Good Grab Texas Ranger for Texas. Cleveland outfielder Leron Lee makes a diving catch in the late innings of a Cleveland- Dolphins' attorney Dan Paul said the players were included, in the suit because "there's no way in the world to get damages unless the guys who were being induced are named." The basis of the suit is the allegation that induce-' ment took place.

The suit asks $3 million in actual damages and $1 million in punitive damages from the Memphis franchise, which was originally located in Toronto; from the WFL, and from player agent Ed Keating of International Management Inc. of Cleveland. The new suit seeks to enjoin the players from promoting the WFL while under contract to Miami. No monetary damages are sought from the players. it took something close to a miracle to get the second game started.

The storm broke with wild violence just as the Cardinals made off with the first game, 7-2. Gale-driven rain hissed through beneath the roof, sending the clientele Into panicky retreat. Gerry Nugent had patrons upstairs as well as down that day, and most of those on the second deck fled into the least exposed area, the press box. The whole dump swayed and shivered, shaking a half-century accumulation of filth onto the heads below. There were horrid memories of the time fans had climb- ed the bleachers to watch a fire across the street and the stand had collapsed, killing 12 and injuring 232.

At length the storm blew itself out. A rust-covered crowd watched in disbelief as groundskeepert spread sand over the infield and the second game started. Soon the Cardinals were far ahead but curfew was drawing near. They would have to play fast to get through the required five innings. "Time!" called Jimmy Wilson, and he strolled to the mound.

Move Over Evel Knievel, Super Joe Jumps Again Deer and elk seasons for 1974 will correspond in length with those of 1973, the wildlife commission decided following a public hearing June 1 in Portland. A reduction in the number of antlerless blacktail deer permits was made because field counts indicate a somewhat reduced population. Extended season deer hunts in the Willamette Valley will be limited to shotguns and archery equipment this year. The Commission passed the regulation because of concern expressed by landowners over the use of high-powered rifles in highly populated areas. The Commission said this restriction may improve access on many Willamette Valley farms and help achieve a better blacktail deer harvest in this area where major conflicts exist between deer and agriculture.

No management unit hunts for antlerless mule deer have been authorized. Mule deer populations, while still on the upswing from low levels following heavy winter mor-. tality in 1968-69, have not reached high enough levels to widespread harvest of antlerless deer. A number of special permit seasons were set in eastern Oregon to reduce herd size in areas where serious conflicts exist between mule, deer and agricultural crops. A new regulation in 1974 will close elk hunting areas to all other rifle hunting during the open elk season.

One exception to this would allow hunters with a valid elk tag to take a black bear while hunting elk if they also have a bear tag. Bear tags are required for the first time this year. Several new permit elk hunts for antlerless animals have been offered both in western Oregon and east of the Cascades. They are part of an effort to resolve problems of heavy agricultural damage from elk in certain Hunters who have their sights set on a trophy bighorn sheep will have an improved opportunity to draw a tag this year. Commission authorized' 17 tags In the Owyhee, Hart Mountain, and teens Mountain areas with a two-part iat FREE White Seta SufW vm lest rive Ifi IrrantDm-e Subaru 74 AUL'S AutoW.rijtatt out of I Moving season on Steens Mountain to allow removing a greater number of mature rams with no increase in the numbers of hunters on the area at any one time.

Bear season will extend over five months, with the only ma-, jor departure from last year the requirement of a $2 bear tag ($25 for nonresidents). Hunter kill report cards will accompany these tags and give the Commission better information on bear harvest than has been obtained in past years by sampling hunters through a questionnaire. A cougar season, with 75 tags confining hunters to specific areas' in northeastern Oregon, has been authorized. Females with spotted kittens are protected. No season was authorized for mountain goat.

Biologists know of only 23 animals in the Eagle Cap area and very low kid survival has been reported in recent years. Free regulations booklets detailing all big game seasons, application procedures, special restrictions, and licensing information will be available at license- agencies throughout the state in late July. License agents will have a summary of regulations by mid-June. Roach Hired PULLMAN, Wash CAP) -Dick Roach will become defensive coordinator atl Washington State University, -working with football Coach Jim Sweeney once again. Roach, now defensive coordinator at Fresno State, formerly held that same posi- -tion at Montana State Univer- -sity when Sweeney was head football coach there.

The defensive coach, who also has experience at Wyoming and Oregon State, replaces Ray Braun who resigned from the Cougars' camp to join Portland Storm of the World Football League. is an easy to handle Klickitat canoe from 0 track. "The only thing is, I don't know if it will -fly," be says. "I've'-only ridden it twice. The only way to tell if it will fly it to make the jump.

"I'm in trouble. This could be it. I'll do the jump again, if I live." w-- This life-and-death cliff-hanger existence is old stuff to the young Californian, who, at last count, had -100 or more bones during bis four-year career as a motorcycle daredevil. "I figure I've' got 30 more years, barring getting killed," be says. "But I don't think I'll make Is he suicidal? "I didn't used to think so, but' guess it must be something like that.

I'm a professional daredevil, not a stunt man. A Banned CHICAGO Super Joe Einhorn, the 26-year-old professional daredevil who has jumped farther and fallen more than Evel Knievel, is beginning to think he might just be suicidal after all. He ought to know. Super Joe, who holds the American Motorcycle Assn. jump record of 144 feet, is in towp to have a go at hurdling over 14 cars tonight.

The. last time he tried this feat here, he missed and wound up more dead than alive in the intensive-care section of the nearest hospital. Now that his bones are back together he's ready to roar off the ramp again. This time, he's going up on a new bike, an Italian Ducati 750 that he figures should give him the speed he "needs on" a short Lead Shot I Take The game. Duke Sims was the batter stunt has a predictable outcome.

What I do is risk my life and limbs for money. If they'll pay me some money, I'll do it. I live very hard and very fast. I never want to be an old man, all wrinkled up. other reason I do it is my life-style, I enjoy everything I do, except getting hurt.

-And every once in a while, that's not so bad. "People don't understand me. They don't understand me at all. If there's something I want to do or say I do it. That's why I have a personal bodyguard I'm having a bell of a good time today, because I might be all messed up tomorrow.

"I've got a 6-year-old son but no wife. She didn't understand me, not at all." The motor sports people are the real people, be maintains. RaiiySquadNwd 2 The Crescent Valley Raiders have selected their 1974-75 ral- ly squad. Chosen were: Joni Chase, Lynn Crawford, Pam Crawford, Vicki Roth, Diane Pitts. Nancy Westfall, Mary Garland, Lynn Pope, Lisa Meyers and Maleene Simmons.

Try-outs were held on May-30 to selection could be made. --1 When the is atl With You Big game hunting seasons for 1974 similar to last year were set June 1 by the Oregon Wildlife Conimission following a public Hearing in Portland. The Commission also approved a staff recommendation that News, sports, city, county and college coverage. activities and more! Plus special events, political iCorvallls Gazette-Times 600 SW Jafftrson Avenue Corvallis, Oregon 97330 lead shot be banned for shotgun use on Sauvie Island wildlife management units. The step was taken because of a study by Commission biologists which snowed Sauvie Island ducks to be suffering a higher level of ltad poisoning from ingested lead shotgun pellets than any other spot is the nation, The staff told the Commission mat the Fish and Wildlife Service has recommended states identify and treat specific problem areas as an alternative to sweeping federal action which might ban lead shot for waterfowl hunting in entire flyways.

Wildlife Commission staff assured the Commission that the major ammunition companies had been contacted and would be able to provide steel shot ammunition which will be sold at Sauvie Island check stations. The shells in 12 gauge only will cost about $4.60 a box. The sale of Camas Swale Management Area was tentatively approved pending a second public meeting to be held in the Eugene area. A final decision will be made at the next Commit- sion meeting on July 12. oe stall recommended sale of the area because of its high operation costs in relation to the amount of wildlife it supports -and limited recreation it provides.

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