The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 51, No. 25, Ed. 1, Friday, April 24, 1964 Page: 8 of 8
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PAGE 8
THE OPTIMIST
APRIL 24 1964
STUDENT VIEWS PRO
BASEBALL SEASON
By ANDY McCOWN
"Play ball!" This is the shout that will be heard across
tho nation this week as the nation's favorite pastime the
wonderful game of baseball begins another long season that
will not reach its climax until the October World Series classic.
The Dodgers whipped the Yanks in four straight last year and
this writer looks for another L. A. world championship.
SINCE MOST of the nation's ex-
perts have ventured their opin-
ions on how the races stack up
this year I thought it would
only be fair since ACC has the
best expert on baseball right here
on its campus to give my views
on the subjects. Any dissenting
opinions can be mailed to me and
they will be promptly disregard-
ed and thrown in the wastebas-
kct. LET'S TAKE National League
first since it is my favorite league.
I look for a tight three-way bat-
tle here between the Dodgers
the Cincinnati Reds and the San
Francisco Giants with the super-
ior pitching of the Bums win-
ning out. Here is a team by team
analysis.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Pitching will once again carry the
West Coast team to the pennant.
MVP winner Sandy Koufax
along with Don Drysdale Johnny
Podres and reliefer Ron Perran-
oski arc as talented a foursome
as ever assembled on one ball
club. Rookies Pete Richert and
Dick Calmus and veteran Bob
Miller will battle it out for the
fourth starting spot. Hitting will
not be exactly a weak spot with
the league's leading hitter Tom-
my DWavis and some other hef-
ty swingers like Ron Fairly and
Frank Howard helping him out.
CINCINNATI REDS If L.A.
falters the Reds will be right
there to take over and might do it
without a Dodger failure. The
Rcdlcgs had a bad season last
year with many of their star
players having sub-par seasons.
In 1962 Joey Jay and Bob Pur-
key combined for 44 wins. Last
year they won only a total of 13.
Frank Robinson one of the games
great hitters batted only .259
83 points below his 1962 average.
First baseman Gordon Coleman
dropped 30 points and hit only
half as many home runs. If Jay
and Purkey return to their old
form they will combine with Jim
Moloney 23-7 and Jim O'Toole
17-14 to give the Reds a staff
equal to the Dodgers.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
Hitting is the long suit for the
Giants and when you take a look
at their pitching staff it is easy
to understand why. The Giants
probably have the best hitting
team in the majors with the two
Willies Mays and McCovey plus
Orlando Ccpeda and Jim Daven-
port which is enough to give any
pitcher a bad case of shock. Af-
ter one gets past 25 game winner
Juan Marichal though the pitch-
ing leaves a lot to be desired.
Jack Sanford Billy O'Dell and
Billy Pierce are all on their way
down the ladder of success. Bob
Hcndlcy a young lefty obtained
from Milwaukee for Felipe Alou
could be a big help. Giant offi-
cials arc high on two rookies
outfielder Jesus Alou younger
brother of Felipe and third base-
man Jim Hart. The letter's only
problem is to stay healthy. He
was beancd twice last season and
once in spring training this year.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
This is n young team on the rise
and they could rise way up. The
Phils chief assets are one of the
best outfields in the majors and
a promising young pitching staff.
The outfield of Wes Covington
Tony Gonzales and Johnny Cal-
lison are all capable of hitting
.300. Richie Allen a much-heralded
rookie could be the answer
to the Phils third base problem.
For pitching there is ex-Detroit
star Jim Bunning Art Mahaffey
Ray Culp and Dennis Bennet.
Jack Baldschun ranks as the
league's best right handed re-
liefer. If everyone stays healthy
and has good years Phllly fans
might get a chance to see a
World Series.
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS The
Cards made an amazing run for
the pennant last year finishing in
second place. To do it almost
everyone on the club had one of
their best seasons. The outfield
will be woefully weak with only
Curt Flood sure of a job. The
infield and catching is solid but
it is doubtful if its members can
soar to their 1963 heights again.
Pitching is not the best in the
world with ony Bob Gibson and
Ernie Broglio being counted on
for dependable performances.
Curt Simmons and Bobby Shantz
are in their late thirties. One of
the trio of Ray Sadcckl Ray
Washburn or Rookie Harry Fan-
ok will have to win big to 'make
the Cards contenders.
CHICAGO CUBS The windy-
city boys were one of the most im-
proved teams in the majors last
year. The loss of second baseman
Ken Hubbs will hurt but the
Cubs should keep on improving.
Pitching was a bright spot with
lefty Dick Elsworth a 20 games
loser in '62 posting a 22-10 re-
cord. Veterans Bob Buhl Larry
Jackson Glenn Hobble and re-
liefer Lindy McDaniel give added
support. The hitting load will be
in the capable hands of Ron
Santo Billy Williams and Ernie
Banks. Rookie outfielder Billy
Cowan might be the regular right
fielder.
MILWAUKEE BRAVES The
trouble with the Braves is a case
of super-stars and duds. Hank
Aaron Eddy Mathews Warren
Spahn Felipe Alou Joe Torre
and Denny Lcmaster would be
welcome additions tov anyone's
ball club. But when you get past
these players there is not much
left. If old age finally gets to
Spahn and Aaron was to have a
bad season the Braves might be
battling the Mcts for the cellar.
HOUSTON COLTS The 45's
have come up with a solid infield
with the addition of Nellie Fox
and Eddie Kasco. Pete Runnels
has always come back strong af-
ter a bad year and this should
help Rusty Staub by giving him
the rightfield position by himself.
Big Walt Bond obtained from
Cleveland migh move someone
out of the outfield. Pitching is a
Colt strongpoint. Dick Farrel
Don Nottebart Ken Johnson and
Skinny Brown are a capable ex-
perienced crew of starters. Lefty
Hal Woodcshlck developed into
one of the league's top reliefers.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES The
Pirates fell and they fell hard.
Their pitching staff was one of
the worst in the league. Hitting
was just about as bad with Ro-
berto Clemente carrying the load
almost alone. Unless a couple of
youngsters like Don Clendonen
and Bob Bailey develop fast it
will be another rough season for
Pittsburgh fans.
NEW YORK METS What can
you say about the Mets quality
ballplayers are few and far be-
tween. Outfielders George Alt-
man Jim Hickman catcher Jesse
Gonder and second baseman Ron
Hunt are good hitters but tho
pitching staff can boast of only
Dyes Captures Decathlon
Title at Kansas Relays
Talented Abilene Christian
senior Jerry Dyes was suc-
cessful in his first attempt at
a decathlon title. Last Satur-
day at the Kansas Relays he
swept a strong field of com-
petitors in the 10 event test
to capture the title. His long
range aim is a berth on. the
United States Olympic team
completing in Tokyo this fall.
DYES the halfway leader Fri-
day by 296 points over six-time
winner Phil Mulkey of Birming-
ham Ala. fell behind in the sixth
event the 110-meter high hurdles
Saturday morning and trailed
Mulkey by 514 points going into
the ninth event the javelin
throw.
A TREMENDOUS javelin toss
was the key to Dyes' victory at
the Kansas Relays. The javelin is
his best event and he took ad-
vantage of this talent. While Mul-
key and J. D. Martin the Pan-
American champion and third-
place winner here were still polo
Alvin Jackson Carl Willey and
Larry Bcarnarth.
The American League will be
the same old story everyone try-
ing to catch the Yankees and
failing.
NEW YORK YANKEES The
only problem new manager Yogi
Berra will have is too many good
ball players riding the bench. The
Yanks are strong at all positions.
They have good hitting the best
pitching staff in the American
League good speed and just the
right combination of youth and
experience. Jim Bouton Whltey
Ford Ralph Terry and Al Down-
ing arc all potential 20 game win-
ners. Mickey Mantle Roger Mar-
is Tom Tresh Elston Howard
Joe Pepitone and Tony Kubck
form a solid batting lineup.
MINNESOTA TWINS It hit-
ting was all it took to win ball
games the Twins would be world
champs. Harmon Killebrew Bob
Allison .Jlmmy Hall Earl Battey
Don Minchcr and Rich Rollins
had a total of 172 home runs .The
team hit a total of 220 homers
the second highest amount ever
hit in the majors. Camilio Pascual
and Jim Kaat are about it as far
as pitching goes though. Rookie
Tony Oliva may win the right
field berth moving Allison to
first base.
BALTIMORE ORIOLES The
Birds will have a fair hitting
team and will be strong on the
mound and in the field. Steve
Barber Robin Roberts Milt Pap-
pas and reliefer Stu Miller were
all brilliant last season. Manager
Bauer hopes Chuck Estrada's sore
arm will come around. First base-
man Norm Siebern obtained
from the Athletics should give
the lineup more stability and
will make the infield the best
fielding in the majors. Brooks
Robinson at third and Luis Apar-
icio at short are the best in the
business with the glove at their
positions.
DETROIT TIGERS A re-
vamped lineup will join such old
faces as Norm Cash and Al Ka-
line in the opening day lineup for
the Tigers. Centerfielder Don De-
meter was obtained from the
Phils and second baseman Jerry
Lumpe from the Athletics. Rookie
Don Wert Is scheduled for third
base and Bill Freehan will take
over the catching. Jim Bunning
is gone from the pitching staff
and a lot will depend on the
soundness of Frank Lary's right
arm and youngsters Phil Regan
Mickey Lolich and Bill Faul.
Dave Wlckersham and Ed Rakow
vaulting the Wildcat ace was
scaling their doom. Jerry let go
with a toss of 249-1 feet to gather
1192 points and go into the lead
for keeps. The event put him 36
points ahead of Mulkey 6000-
6864 going into the 10th and
final event the 1500-meter run.
The dog-tired athletes jogged
through the 1500 meters but Dyes
was able to remain ahead of
Mulkey and even pick up points.
THE MEW champion wound up
with 7059 points 98 points ahead
of Mulkey's 6961. Martin who
started out the day in seventh
place moved into third place with
6589 largely on the strength of
a 14-foot pole vault which earned
him 897 points.
WHILE DYES was never lower
than a tie for second in Friday's
five events he had a miserable
time Saturday morning until his
glittering effort in the javelin
which wiped out the old decath-
lon javelin record of 217 feet 6
inches set in 1963.
Mulkey went ahead of Dyes for
the first time after the hurdles
obtained from the Athletics
should help.
CLEVELAND INDIANS In-
juries hurt the Tribe in 63 and
things should be better this sea-
son. Third baseman Max Alvis
and centerfielder Vic Davilillo
had promising rookie years and
outfielder Leon Wagner pur-
chased from the Angels will lend
added power. Dick Donovan Jack
Kralick Pedro Ramos and Jim
Grant form a steady if not spec-
tacular mound foursome.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX A
miracle was produced last season
when the Sox finished second and
miracles do not happen too often.
Their big weakness is hitting.
There js not a single .300 hitter
in the lineup .Pitching is better
than average with Rookie of the
Year Gary Peters heading the
staff. He is joined by a supporting
cast of Juan Pizarro Ray Her-
bert and Joel Horlen. Don Bu-
ford at second base could make
it two consecutive Rookie of the
Year awards for the Chisox.
KANSAS CITY ATHLETICS
K.C. went for power in winter
trades and may certainly have
attained it with the acquisitions
of Rocky Calovito and Jim Gen-
tile. Other assets for the A's arc
Ed Charles at third Wayne
Causey at short and pitchers
John Wyatt and Orlando Pcna.
LOS ANGELES ANGELS
The big trouble with the Angels
is that they have a lot of players
who are world beaters at times
and complete flops at other times.
For example pitchers Bo Belin-
sky Dean Chance Ken McBride
firstbaseman Lee Thomas and
catcher Bob Rodgcrs. Gone is
Leon Wagner and Joe Adcock
does not figure to do too much in
taking his place.
BOSTON RED SOX The Bo-
sox have a solid hitting lineup
with the likes of batting cham-
pion Carl Yastremskl Dick
Stuart and Frank Malzone. Bill
Monbouquettc and Dick Radatz
are about it though as far as
pitching goes.
WASHINGTON SENATORS
If Washington finishes anywhere
higher than last it will be a big-
ger upset than the Clay-Liston
fight. There is not too much hope
cither at the plate or on the
mound. Moose Skowron bought
from the Dodgers might help at
first and outfielders Chuck Hin-
ton and Don Lock are fair hitters.
Tom Cheney .Claude Ostecn and
Bennie Daniels are all the pitch-
ing staff has to offer
in which his winning 15.2 was
far superior to Dyes' 17 flat
Mulkey led by only 40 points
at that point but widened it to
225 as he tossed the discus 145-
11 to 124-8 for Dyes.
THINGS looked dark still after
the pole vault as Martin cleared
14 feet and Mulkey 13-6 and Dyes
made only 11-5V4 and Mulkey led
Dyes 6222-5708 and Martin
pulled within nine points of Dyes
at 5699.
Dyes also had a 23-5 broad
jump for 828 points a 47-1 shot
put for 807 ran the 100-meters
in 10.9 for 948 and the 400-metcrs
in 50.7 for 739.
HI8 OTHER performances and
points included: 6- high jump
(807) 5:17.3 1500-meters (159)
124-8 discus (573) 17.0 100-
meter hurdles (428) and 11-5
pole vault (512).
FLYING CATS .. .
(Continued from Page 7)
gross has been excellent this year.
We have started from nothing
and have progressed to the point
that we now know many of the
fundamentals of gymnastics."
Barker credited this year's results
to Coach Ben Zickefoose.
"Coach Zick" Barker comment-
ed "really knows what he is do-
ing and he's interested in us as
individuals. He enjoys coaching
and projects that enthusiasm to
his students. You might say he's
a great coach."
COACH ZICKEFOOSE also ex
pressed his feelings about the
team when he stated that "I've
really enjoyed working with the
team this year and especially
with those boys who have worked
hard. Progress is the element
that makes gymnastics interest-
ing." Aside from the Flying Cats
Coach Zickefoose complimented
the girls' progress in the P.E.
majors tumbling class.
In relation to next year's pro-
gram: "We are limited to a cer-
tain extent because wc are not
considered as a varsity sport.
However we are anxious to get
more pieces of equipment to
make our program more complete
for both men and women.
THIS YEAR we acquired a
new side horse and a new Reu-V
ther take off board. However we
are still in need of a new set
of parallel bars new still ring a
horizontal bar balance beams
uneven parallel bars and mats."
Turning to the subject of gym-
nastics and tumbling in relation
to physical education for every-
one "As far as physical educa-
tion is concerned it is good for
the whole body in general. What-
ever an individual weighs that
is what he is working with plus j
the amount added from twisting
and turning."
ONE WILDCAT Flyer summed
it pretty well when he said
"Tumbling is an all around body-
builder. The different pieces of
equipment build up the different
parts o fthe body. Gymnastics
develop agility grace strength
flexibility rhythm and quick
thinking.
Coach Zickefoose challenged
those interested in gymnastics to
come out for the team. "We'll
teach them tumbling and gym-
nastics starting with the funda-
mentals." "FROM THE officerspoInt of
view" commented President
Mike Barker "Anyone interested
and willing to work out is more
than welcome to try out for the
team.
Anyone interested in a contact
sport? '
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The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 51, No. 25, Ed. 1, Friday, April 24, 1964, newspaper, April 24, 1964; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth99345/m1/8/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.