1974

We interrupt this football season, sort of, to return you to baseball. After four straight footballs (two college, two pro), an Evel Knievel, a tennis and a golf (from most to least recent), baseball returns to the Sports Illustrated cover in the form of Jim "Catfish" Hunter's smiling mug.

Press time was always a problem for me and SI, as sports-geek kid me simply wanted data on my favorite players and teams and SI was always a little bit behind what was happening now. For example, when the Oct. 7, 1974, edition had to go to the presses, SI didn't yet know which teams had won the Easts, so Ron Fimrite had to spend a little time on both the Yankees and (eventual champion) Orioles in the American League half of his playoffs preview and both the Cardinals and the (eventual champion) Pirates in the National League half.

I imagine, though, that delay might've helped SI find its thoughtful and sometimes-askew voice. Because it simply couldn't compete with your daily newspaper on telling readers who won and who lost yesterday, it stepped back and did more analysis and off-beat stuff. This issue has something on lacrosse and one of those long takeouts with sketches on bullfighting. Those long takeouts with sketches are always great to read as an adult now, but kid me knew to just stay away from those things.

Even not knowing which teams might advance from the East Divisions, Fimrite expects the two league-championship series to go to the West champions: "Neither team finished its season impressively. The A's backed into the American League West title, losing to the White Sox on the evening the tenacious Texas Rangers mathematically eliminated themselves by losing to Kansas City. And the Dodgers required the services of their season-long whipping boys, the San Diego Padres, whom they defeated Saturday night for the 16th time in 18 meetings, to clinch at least a tie for their division championship. Neither team was annihilating the opposition in the last days of the long season, but the demolition potential nonetheless exists. The major concern for the Westerners in the playoffs was that they would be confronting Eastern Division champions sharpened at the finish by far keener competition."

Fimrite refers to Charlie O. Finley as Oakland's "Mephistophelean owner," and I look forward to investigating this weekend what that might mean. He spends a little time, too, on the Washingtons of Oakland--designated pinch-runner Herb and Claudell, who didn't play baseball at Berkeley High School (which makes it pretty remarkable that he's hitting .280 as a 20-year-old rookie).


Baltimore is obviously a dangerous foe for Oakland, Fimrite writes, given that the Orioles took the A's to five games in 1973 and eliminated Oakland in 1971. With Jim Palmer's and Dave McNally's recoveries from injuries, Baltimore's pitching to match Oakland's. Manager Earl Weaver platoons outfielders, first basemen and catchers, but he tends to send out third baseman Brooks Robinson, shortstop Mark Belanger and second baseman Bobby Grich every day.


As for Los Angeles, Fimrite imagines that the Dodgers might've won 110 games had they not lost Tommy John at midseason to injury. Even as it is, "the Dodgers are simply hard to hold off," Fimrite writes. Los Angeles still has a 20-game winner in Andy Messersmith, Don Sutton has improved in John's absence and third-starter Doug Rau is promising.


They'll be tested, because, of Pittsburgh, Fimrite writes, "The Pirate offense consisted of having Rennie Stennett, Manny Sanguillen, Al Oliver, Willie Stargell, Richie Zisk and Richie Hebner pound the stuffing out of the ball. The Pirates were plainly the best-hitting team in baseball, and they swung at everything thrown in their direction, eschewing the base on balls as the coward's way to first base."


Games 1 and 2 of both series are Saturday, Oct. 5, and Sunday, Oct. 6, respectively. Curt Gowdy, Tony Kubek and new Indians player/manager Frank Robinson will be at Oakland-Alameda County Stadium this weekend to handle NBC's coverage. Jim Simpson and Maury Wills (who no longer holds baseball's record for single-season steals) will be at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh for Game 1 of the N.L. affair. NBC is not carrying Game 2, as it conflicts with the network's Week 4 AFC football coverage.

Speaking of which, I figured out the times on the schedules printed in the October Football Digest. They're all local to the home teams. I'm switching them here, however, to Paducah time:

-- Colts at Patriots, noon Sunday, Oct. 6;
-- Bills at Packers, noon;
-- Falcons at Giants, noon;
-- Saints at Bears, noon;
-- Redskins at Bengals, noon;
-- Raiders at Browns, noon;
-- Steelers at Oilers, noon;
-- Broncos at Chiefs, 3 p.m.;
-- Vikings at Cowboys, 3 p.m.;
-- Lions at Rams, 3 p.m.;
-- Cardinals at 49ers, 3 p.m.;
-- Eagles at Chargers, 3 p.m., and
-- Jets at Dolphins, 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7.

My guesses for what we'll get to see on Channels 6, 12 and 3 ...