Page 10 THE BATTALION
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1979
Big hitters head leaders list
United Press International
NEW YORK — Fred Lynn of
the Boston Red Sox and Keith
Hernandez of the St. Louis Car
dinals are the new major-league
batting champions.
Lynn, the Red Sox’ center
fielder, spent the final day of the
season on the bench Sunday —
as did runner-up George Brett —
and won the American League
batting crown with an unofficial
.333 average. Hernandez, the
Cardinals’ slick-fielding first
baseman, went 0-for-3 Sunday
but wrapped up the National
League title with an unofficial
.344 mark.
Hernandez had 210 hits and
Lynn 177.
Dave Kingman of the Chicago
Cubs won the major-league
home run title with 48 while Mil
waukee’s Gorman Thomas led
the AL with 45.
California’s Don Baylor led the
majors in RBI with 139 and Dave
Winfield took the NL crown with
118. The last AL player to have
more than 139 RBI was Harmon
Killebrew of Minnesota with 140.
Kansas City speedster Willie
Wilson won the overall stolen
base championship with 83 while
Omar Moreno, center fielder for
the NLEast champion Pittsburgh
Pirates, led his league with 77.
Baltimore’s Mike Flanagan,
who will pitch the second game
of the Oriole-California playoff
series, was the major league’s
biggest winner with 23. The
Niekro brothers, Phil of Atlanta
and Joe of Houston, the first
brother combination ever to win
Super Service Specials To Keep
Your Car Running Right!
FRONT-END
ALIGNMENT
(Most
American &
Foreign-
Made Cars)
$99
BALANCE
4 TIRES &
LUBRICATION
(Most
American
& Foreign-
Made Cars)
$11
Special Offers Good Through Fri., Oct. 5
University Tire & Service Center
509 University Dr. “Next To Wyatt’s
846-5613 Sportin9 Goods ”
ft
X
m
WE PUT
YOU FIRSI
ft
X
m
r
X
ft
X
m
r
X
ft
X
m
E
X
i
ft
s
S
X
ft
X
m
x
s
NOW THROUGH
OCTOBER 15th
PILGER’S TIRE
WILL FEATURE
f
X
X
m
20%
X
S
OFF
I
x
SUGGESTED RETAIL
ft
X
m
ON ALL
MICHELIN
TIRES
X
x
n
IN STOCK
(TIRES IN STOCK ONLY)
PILGER’S
s
E
*
TIRE & AUTO CENTER
400 E. UNI VERITY DR.
846-1729
20 games in the same league dur
ing the same season, paced the
NL with 21 apiece. Each won No.
21 on the final day of the season.
Houston’s J.R. Richard was
the overall leader in earned run
average with a 2.71. Ron Guidry
of the New York Yankees easily
led the AL again with 2.78. The
last time an AL pitcher won con
secutive ERA titles was Hal
Newhouser of Detroit in 1945
and 1946.
Richard was also the leader in
strikeouts, with 313, while
California’s Nolan Ryan, who will
pitch the opener against Balti
more Wednesday, led the AL
with 223, despite missing a por
tion of the season with an injured
elbow.
Bruce Sutter of the Cubs tied
an NL record with 37 saves while
Minnesota veteran Mike Marshall
paced the AL with 32.
Astros come home to crowi
pack up gear until next p
Playoff schedule
95
By United Press International
National League
j Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh
| Best of Five (All Times EDT)
Oct. 2 — Pittsburgh at Cincinnati,
8:30 p.m.
Oet. 3 — Pittsburgh at Cincinnati,
3:15 p.m.
Oct. 5 — Cincinnati at Pittsburgh,
3:15 p.m.
x-Oct. 6 — Cincinnati at Pittsburgh,
8:30 p.m.
x-Oct. 7 — Cincinnati at Pittsburgh,
1:15 p.m.
American League
Baltimore vs. California
Best of Five (All Times EDT)
Oct. 3 — California at Baltimore,
8:30 p.m.
Oct. 4 — California at Baltimore,
3:15 p.m. or 8:30 p.m.
Oct. 5 — Baltimore at California,
8:30 p.m.
x-Oct. 6 — Baltimore at California,
3:15 p.m.
x-Oct. 7 — Baltimore at California,
8:30 p.m.
x-if necessary
United Press International
HOUSTON — The Houston As
tros returned home without a divi
sion title Monday, but a noisy crowd
of boosters and the relaxing chore of
packing away athletic gear helped
sooth some of the disappointment of
falling 1% games short of their goal.
Manager Bill Virdon said his
winter of handball, quail hunting
and working around his Springfield,
Mo., house would be a happier time
because of his team’s surprising sea
son.
“You are never satisfied in
baseball unless you win,” he said,
slowly opening fan mail stufled far
back in his desk during a tense Sep
tember. “There’s always room for
improvement. But, yes, I 11 get
more satisfaction out of this season. ”
The Astros’ 89-73 record was their
finest ever, and they did it with a
.256 team batting average and a
major league season low of 49 home
runs. Houston was the first team in
30 years to hit more triples than
home runs.
Virdon said, however, that the
current Astros team could win a di
vision title in 1980 with the same
lineup.
“Well have to win more games
next year,” he said. “It’s hard to ex
pect our pitchers to do as well. You
can expect more run production
from the people we’ve got.”
Cesar Cedeno adjusted well to a
move from centerfield to first base
despite suffering a midseason ill
ness. But he hit only .262 with six
home runs and 54 RBI.
Rookie Jeff Leonard led Astros
regulars with a .290 average.
Virdon said he thought the
pennant-drive tension gripping As
tros hitters for the first time was a
factor in the poor run production
and 38-42 record after July 4, a date
Houston led second-place Cincin
nati by 10 games.
Cincinnati ended up winning the
division title and faces Pittsburgh in
the National League playoffs.
Even as the players arrived
sleepy-eyed at their lockers to pack
clothes and gear the day after their
final game, there was news of
another award won by the Astros’
pitching staff. J.R. Richard became
the fourth member of the staff
named as the National League
pitcher-of-the-month for his 4-1
record, 1.24 ERA and 69 strike outs
in September.
Ken Forsch won it in April, Joe
Niekro in May and Joaquin Andujar
in June.
Rookie pitcher Randy Niemann
paused as he packed his bags.
“I have mixed emotions about this
seiJson,” he said. “It’s nice to get
home. You’ve gotta consider it a
great year. But still, we- wanted to
Niekro became the
21-game winner Sunday, llii
one more win than Larry Dj
had in 1969 and Richard 1
1976.
“I’m disappointed, even»|
21,” he said.
A group of about 500 Astr#
greeted the team at Interconfo
Airport early Monday aftertl*
finished its season Sunday
Angeles.
”1 can t believe it," thirdly
Enos Cabell said. “Thisshor
there are some people whoc
The season marked a tremi
improvement in three seasu
since Virdon and presidett
general manager Tal Smitl
control of the team in latej
That season the Astros finistt:
games behind the leader
“That’s a 42 game swing,’’XI
said.
Their was also a noteofi
for some Astros’ fans as
Jesus Alou, 37, was released!
team Monday.
The club, which finished ill
son Sunday, offered no tea
the action
Alou coached at first has
pinch hit for a .246 average4
son, his second with the lean
being acquired as a freeagenli
1977.
Oliver likes Texas but may leai
United Press International
DALLAS — Al Oliver said
Monday he would hate to leave
Texas. And the management of the
Texas Rangers have said they want
him to stay.
So Oliver can be expected to re
turn to the outfield at Arlington
Stadium next season, right? Maybe,
but maybe not.
“Right now I just can’t say if I will
or not,” said Oliver, who hit .323 for
the disappointing Rangers this sea-
STEAKHOUSE T
A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE IN GOOD FOOD, FUN
AND FRIENDS.
2528 S. Texas College Station
son — fifth best average in the
American League. “I don t know.
“But when I make the decision
everyone willm about it, just like
when I get a hit everybody hears it.
Olivejynot been on the best of
terms with Rangers’ owner Brad
Corbett and wants to renegotiate his
contract with Texas. Corbett has
said he will not do so and Oliver has
hinted that he might asked to be
traded if things cannot be worked
out with the Rangers.
“I have an attorney representing
me and we hope to work things
out,” said Oliver. “I d say that there
are problems which are common
knowledge. But some things go far
below the surface.
“But I’ve been happy here. I
know I ve never been Ireali
fairly by the press. 1 could
sleep at night knowing tkh
ever I said that night wo
out right in the newsoapers.
“And the fans have treattj
very well which I apprecijie|
When asked whether he baj
appreciated hy the front (
Oliver said:
"I’d like to think so. Ill
they haven't appreciated iw|
there is something wrong will
understanding of the game,]
have said they don’t want met}
“It would be tough to 1
don’t know of a ball playen
come to Texas who has i
Governors put bull on lit
United Press International
NEW ORLEANS — Texas Gov.
Bill Clements and Oklahoma Gov.
George Nigh are betting more than
a steak on the outcome of the annual
Texas-Oklahoma football game to be
played in Dallas Oct. 13.
The two worked out their'
at a meeting of the Southern
nors Association.
Clements bet a Longhorn
that Texas will win the match,
Nigh is putting up a buffalob
the Sooners.
Const
hours
Univ<
althoi
Day students get their news from the Batt.
MSC Town Hall Presents
w*
Friday October 12
8:00 p.m. G. Rollie White
Tickets: $ 3.50, $ 4.25, $ 4.75
TICKETS & INFORMATION
M.S.C. BOX OFFICE 845-2916
IMSCI
Itown holll
Ask for thei
by name!
...the gold bead!
yoiFll be proud
to give., and shel
be proud to wear!
With
alcohol
fuel that
operatic
The (
vehicle
altemat
increasi:
Dr.
the Tex
said the
demand
for gaso
‘Start with one bead
on a chain.
Add a bead for other
gift occasions.’
The ORIGINAL...
the ULTIMATE...
in 14K GOLD BEADS
on a 14K GOLD CHAIN
Ask for them by name,
ADD-A-G0LD BEADS,
and ask to see our
Complete Selection, too!
YOUrueMELPYSTOK
415 University Dr.
Northgate
846-5816
u
to
HOI
scribed
himself
day pul
threate
himself
Assis
George
said th
away fi
papers
Lem
withhe
c
i
of I
mg
I
me
acc
1
tel<
rer
dri
cle
inj
1
cat