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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 3, 1979)
eaver: the baseball wizard THE BATTALION Page 13 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1979 United Press International BALTIMORE — You look at Earl laver and see how everyone is nping on his bandwagon now, I it’s hard to imagine you’re look- | at a man who could go into the orcl books as one of baseball’s latest managers. IVhat makes it so hard to think of in that context is because he bsn t fit into the same general lid as the vast majority of great Jnagers before him, men like nnie Mack, John McGraw, Miller [grins and Joe McCarthy. Vor the most part, all of them jre austere, solemn and not Idily given to laughing or joking land with their players. Earl [aver does both. It doesn’t seem to impair either ] or their effectiveness, though. |Veaver begins participating in sixth American League playoff |h the Orioles against the Califor- ] Angels tonight in Baltimore, in [at he hopes will lead to their [rth pennant and second world ampionship under him in 12 lis winning percentage of .597 J that period, representing 1,101 Itories compared with only 743 losses, is higher than the figures compiled by Mack, McGraw or Huggins and isn’t that far off McCar thy’s astronomic .614. Weaver becomes a bit self- conscious whenever someone asks him how it feels to be regarded the best manager in baseball. “I try not to think about it be cause there’s a lotta people in the country who don’t think so,” laughs the Orioles’ stocky little pilot. “Generally, the only thing I ever think about is how to win the next one — like tonight’s game with California.” If Weaver does go on to rate with the greatest managers after he’s all finished, he’ll have one thing in common with Joe McCarthy. Neither ever played a single game in the major leagues. “That was my dream — to be a big league ballplayer,” says the 49- year-old Weaver. “I never made it.” Weaver grew up in St. Louis, which had two big league clubs at the time, the Cards and the Browns. His father, Earl, Sr., had a dry cleaning shop not far from old Sportsman’s Park and the senior Weaver did the uniforms for the players of both clubs. “I was a pretty fair second base- man around St. Louis as a kid and my Dad wanted me to sign with the Browns,” Weaver says. “I worked out with them. My Dad was a good friend of Freddie Hofmann, who was a scout for the Browns, and after Freddie watched me for awhile, my Dad said to him, T want you to tell me the truth — how good is he?’ “Freddie told him, ‘Class A — tops.’ “My Dad was so mad, he didn’t speak to him for over a year. ” Weaver and his father then went over to the Cardinals where Walter Shannon, now with the Brewers, was overseeing the club’s farm sys tem. “Shannon is a helluva salesman,” Weaver says. “He took me over to one of the windows in the office where I could look down onto the field, and he said to me, ‘See second base out there. You’ll be playing there in four years.’ That was all I had to hear.” Weaver’s father felt they should check the Browns once more, so they did. Jim McLaughlin who was the farm director was completely up front with him. So was Bill DeWitt, who was running the club. “They told me they didn’t know if I could hit good enough,” Weaver remembers. “They said ‘Your speed is questionable and we don’t know if your arm is good enough, but we ll give you a Double A player’s con tract with San Antonio. That’s the best we can do.”’ Weaver decided to sign with the Cardinals, who optioned him to West Frankfort in the Illinois State League. He didn’t break down any fences there as a rookie in 1948 nor at St. Joseph or Winston-Salem the following seasons. When Red Schoendienst, the Cardinals’ regular second baseman, held out early in 1952, Weaver was invited to spring training with St. Louis. “I hit .260 or .270 in spring train ing and had some outside hope, but after Schoendienst signed, I was sent back to the minors and never got another shot,” Weaver says. “Now I look back and say Jim McLaughlin and Bill DeWitt were just being honest with me. As a manager, I appreciate that more than ever now. I’ll tell you one thing about my not making the big leagues as a ballplayer. Nobody could’ve tried harder than I did. ” oto by I itching could decide AL, series United Press International ALTIMORE — California’s bn Ryan, scheduled to pitch day aniilflinst Baltimore’s Jim Palmnsays American League playoffs, like st short series, will turn on pitch- ll think our pitching is going to [e to keep us in the ballgame,” 1 Ryan, the righthander, who can I fling a baseball close to 100 mph despite his 32 years and a history of occasional injuries. “Baltimore pitching has been very tough on us all year,” he con tinued. “Our pitching is going to have to give our hitters a chance to score some runs.” Baltimore, which won the East Division by eight games with 102 victories, most in baseball, features n said. 11 :tion out (I hitey isn’t rehired 1 58.4 per; I United Press International attempt! KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kan- lan he’si |City Royals, who failed this sea- are sprt I to make the American League >ption to«yoffs for the first time in four ie ball mu lars, said Tuesday manager liitey Herzog would not be re- ics have 'Bed for the 1980 season, of the Ag R Royals’ spokesman said Herzog ed out tk It with executive vice president a thetesml general manager Joe Burke ackles ol Irh in the day to discuss his situa- ■ads thei on. e Little e IWe did not offer Whitey Herzog Tying Wilsoil OTH WORKING? a contract, the spokesman said. “Joe said he made the decision for the best interests of the Royals or ganization. The coaches are also free to seek employment elsewhere.” This season the Royals finished second in the American League West, three games behind the front-running California Angels. Herzog had guided Kansas City to the Western Division championship in his three previous full seasons at the Royals helm. a deep, well-balanced pitching staff that includes not only Palmer but lefthander Mike Flanagan, the fa vorite for the Cy Young Award. By contrast, the Angels are the hittingest team in the game, scoring 866 runs or 5.3 per outing en route to an 88-74 record and their first- ever divisional title. Nevertheless, Ryan feels pitching is the key. “I have the feeling that every thing is coming together at the right time,” said Ryan. Lefthander Frank Tanana and righty Chris Knapp, two starters who endured virtually lost seasons, are both healthy and pitching well. Mark Clear, the 23-year-old reliever who was in the running for the Rookie of the Year Award until he hurt his shoulder, says he feels nearly 100 percent. Still, the Angels’ No. 1 hope is Ryan, who has not had good success against Baltimore. “They’ve been one of the tougher teams in the American League for me,” Ryan admitted. “I don’t have any reason for it. But I feel very comfortable starting this game.” California will be without infiel der Willie Aikens (knee surgery), outfielder Joe Rudi (right Achilles tendon), and pitcher Jim Barr (bad knuckle on pitching hand). For Baltimore, outfielder Gary Roenicke was examined Monday after being struck in the left elbow during batting practice Sunday and X-rays proved negative. He should be able to play Wednesday as should shortstop Mark Belanger and outfielder John Lowenstein, both of whom have been injured. Let Wyatt’s Do The Cooking ^FAnd The Dishes! Here’s Something Special We’re Cooking For You. Wednesday, 10/3 Salisbury beef steak with mushroom sauce with mashed potatoes and green beans $1.99 Thursday, 10/4 Diced Creole franks with spaghetti and fried okra $1.39 Friday, 10/5 Fried tenderloin of fish with french fries and tartar sauce $1.95 Saturday, 10/6 Baked meat loaf with Creole sauce, hash brown potatoes and green beans $ 1.89 Wyatt’s Cafeterias TEXAS HALL OF FAME presents WEDNESDAY NITE (7-12) “SILVER CREEK” Ags get in free w/current I.D. Lone Star Draft $2/pitcher THURSDAY NITE (7-12) “DEBONAIRES” $2/person FRIDAY NITE (8-1) “JESS DEMAINE & AUSTIN” $2/ person IVEAHOOT? DON'T POLLUTE Woodsy Owl. ToKeepUbur Summer Tan From Fading This Winter: Acapulco, Mexico 91,250.00 for one week. Kaui, Hawaii 91,700.00 four days/three nights TUntrific Sun $35.00 twenty visits ftiftiSUi Tanning Salons 779-6301 2511 Texas Ave. Next to Allen Olds Two free visits with this ad A&M-Tech to he seen in G. Rollie Tickets are on sale now for the closed-circuit showing of the Texas A&M-Texas Tech football game Saturday night in G. Rol lie White Coliseum. The tickets are $3 for A&M students, faculty and staff and $5 for the general public there will be no reserved seats and the coliseum can accommodate about 7,000 fans. The game will be in color and shown on a 16- foot screen. The ticket office in G. Rollie White Coliseum will be open from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 4 through Friday. Tickets will also go on sale at the coliseum at 6:30 p.m. Satur day, one hour prior to the game’s kickoff in Jones Stadium in Lubbock. StargelFs homer and Pirates beat Reds, 5-2 The Pittsburgh Pirates won the first game of the National League playoffs, beating the Cincinnati Reds 5-2 on a three-run home run by Willie Stargell in the 11th in ning. Phil Gamer started the scoring for the Pirates when he blasted a home run over the right-field fence in the third inning. Then Omar Moreno scored o nificyto ight field giving the Sues a 2-0 lead. The Reds tied the score in the bottom of the third on a George Foster home run and the score re mained tied until the 11th nning whemy Pirates’ Tim Folud off with a single. Dave Parker followed with a single. Stargell brought both of them icqh his three-run shot oxf Cincinnati reliever, Tom Hume. * \ The Reds loaded the bases in the bottom of the 11th but the threat was killed when Ray Knight struck out to end the game. The second game of the best-of-five series will be played in Cincinnati again, starting at 2:15 (CDT) today. Volleyballers host Horns The Texas A&M women’s vol leyball team, ranked eighth in the nation and second in the state, will host the University of Texas tonight at 7:30 p.m. in G. Rollie White Col- The Aggies are 9-7 on the year and defeated the Longhorns in Aus tin earlier this year, winning three out of five games. “Texas had a very strong, hard hitting team,” said A&M coach Dave Schakel. “We will have to play good defense and be consistent to win.” Tonight’s match is free to the pub lic. BUY, SELL, RENT, ANNOUNCE . Battalion Classifieds 845-2611 The AMERICAN PARACHUTE CENTER takes great pride in joining with the TEXAS A&M SPORT PARACHUTE CLUB in announcing the names of the people that experienced sport parachuting for the first time during the month of September JIM ADAMS JAMAL KHATTARI BOB AREND RAY ARNOLD BRUCE AVELLANET MATT BAKER JIM BELL RICHARD BERTHELSON GRADY CARLILE TERESA CARTER CHARLES CASTEEL CHRIS COLDWELL MYLES COLEMAN CHRIS CRAIG KRISHAND DAS RICHARD ELLIS ALISON ELLWOOD GREGG FALCONE DENISE FARES BILL FINK FADY JOSEPH FREM PATRICK R. GORDON ROGER GREMILLION DALE L. HARBER RICHARD B. HARRIS HOLLIS HILTY GLENN HOLLOWELL DWAYNE HURST JORGE H. JAIME PAUL M. LANE JOSE LARDIZABAL DAVID MCKENZIE ROBIN MARTINEZ JOHN MAYBIN STEVE MEYER JOHN MOTLEY BERNARD MOUSSALLI LEO PHELPS BARTON W. ROFFEE JONATHAN SANCHEZ STEVE SCALES MICHAEL SISSON PHILIP E. SMITH PAUL STIRLING ROBERT WAGNER GLEN D. WALDIS LARRY WHYDE TEXAS A&M SPORT PARACHUTE CLUB Next scheduled regular meeting is at 7PM Room 201 Rudder Tower on October 3rd for information on 1st Jump Classes please attend or call 846-9038 or 693-3317 evenings J* DIAMOND IMPORTERS & WHOLESALERS 693-1647 SUMMER SALE Special Offers Extended thru Oct. 15,1979! .32 Shield AAA $ 192 .33 Shield AAA 198 .34 Pear AA 550 .41 Oval AAA 750 .42 Heart AA 450 .42 Oval AA 600 .44 MO AAA 836 .45 MQ AAA 855 .45 MQ AA 720 .49 Oval AAA 950 .49 MQ AA 768 .50 Pear AA+ 850 .51 Heart AA 550 .53 Pear AA + 900 .57 MQ AA 950 .67 Heart AA 700 .69 Oval AA 975 .69 Oval A+ 750 .70 MQ AA 1900 .75 Pear AA 1450 .76 Oval AAA 1850 .75 E.C. 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