Sports Page 14 University Daily Kansan, April 2, 1982 1982 Topps, Fleer strike out Donruss reigns as card king The King is dead. Topps, long recognized as the best- and only-maker of baseball cards, has been supplanted as king of the collector's hill. Last year, the Fleer and Donrusn companies won a court case which gave them the right to compete with Tops in the card market. The first series by both companies was well-made, and they were regarded as the best of the 1881 bunch. But the 1982 cards are out, and the verdict is in. Donruss is the superior set. Tracee Hamilton All three brands cost 35 cents for a package of 15, and all three brands offer "special" cards. The similarity offers "toppa." Toppas has as many of these specials as it does regular issues. Fleer's specials are, to say the least, corny. But Donruss' are definitely classy. THE FIRST 28 cards of the Donruss set are called Diamond Kings. The company has picked one player from each team and has had the Philadelphia Phillies' artist Dick Perez draw likenesses of each of the players. Pete Rose, for example, represents the Phillies, and George Brett the Royals. In addition, Donruss offers several special shots including, ironically, the "Bronx Bombers," Reggie Jackson and Dave Winfield, Jackson will be "bomming" from Anaheim Stadium this spring. Another card features "Philadelphia's Finest," Rose and Mike Schmidt. Fleer's specials are almost as silly as its football card series of last fall. The highest priced card at this moment is a special called "Pete and Re-Pete," with a picture of Rose and his famous son, little Petey. TOPPS'S SPECIALS include a series of All-Stars "In Action," cards depicting each 1981 All-Star and "Highlights" cards. Toppers, however, offers one thing no other company can—bubble gum. Toppers tried to put the other two companies out of competition, but won only a third. Collector collectors everywhere owe Toppers a debt of gratitude. Fleer's gum last year was so heavily powdered the chewer wore a thick white mustache after two pieces. And Donruss made bubble gum that world's first entirely tasty cheese. To make up for the missing confection, Fleer has made a series of stickers featuring the logos of all the major league teams. On the back of the sticker cards are pictures that, when put together just right, reveal a lovely blimp shot of last year's all-Star game. Houm. DORNUSR AGAIN comes to the forefront with its added attraction—pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, sixty-three pieces. Together to form a tribute to Baba Ruth. Donrusx also excels at presenting the statistics nearly. All the cards present the vital statistics such as height, weight and date of birth. But Topts puts the information in tiny type, and Fleer's isn't much bigger. Donrusx gives career highlights of the players, while Topts persists year after year, in telling us droll little facts that no one really cares about. Here's one for example: "Garry Templeton collected 100 hits from each side of the plate in 1979." That's wondersome, but it's written on damie Qurk's card. But for those of you who collect the cards not for the gum or the statistics, but for their overall appearance, there's hardly a contest. Fleer's photos are out of focus. Looking through several packs gives a collector a splitting headache. TOPPS PHOTOS aren't bad, especially their vertical shot of Carlton Fisk "In Action," diving after a ball. But tops Chops to make the cards very graphic, with colored, curved lines all over the card's front side. And the colors aren't even those of the team. Fernando Valenzuela, for example, is rimmed by a line of pink and a line of purple. Ugly pink and ugly purple. There are many fine ordinary cards in all three sets, but, as it goes with all collections, the oddity is often the most prized. In the Toops set, Yankee Dave Righett and his father Fleer's "Pete and Re-Pete" classic is going for 75 cents, as is one Donruss card that depicts—would you believe it? —the San Diego Chicken. KU opens Big Eight play tomorrow The 1982 baseball cards are the brightest ever. The cards from left to right are Topps' finest of George Brett in action, the drawing of Bret, Donnaux' special issues of Phillies Finest and Bronx Bombers, and the San Diego Chicken card. By MIKE ARDJ Sports Writer The Kansas baseball team starts conference play this weekend hoping to get solid performances out of everyone. KU will take on Oklahoma Saturday and Sunday with both double-headers starting at 12:30 and 1:00, the previously announced time of 1 p.m. The probable starters against Oklahoma are Randy McIntosh, 1-3 and Chris Ackley, 1-1, pitching Saturday, Jim Phillips, 2-2, and Kevin Kroeker, 1-1, will pitch Sunday. Oklahoma finished fifth in the Big Eight last year with a 11-13 conference record. They were 40-15 and lost to Oklahoma with a 12-11 record and 32-12 overall. One of the brightest spots for the Jayhawks is their hitting. Four of the Jayhawk starters are hitting well, as all sevenleaders the starters at 409. ONE OF the problems for the 'Hawks this year is their inability to get pitching, hitting and fielding together in a double-header. KU has split three of their last four doubleheaders. "We need to go out and play solid fundamental baseball," Coach Marty Pattin said. "We should have a chance. We're not as ready as we could be." "I THOUGHT it was bad luck," he said. Centerfielder Dick Lewallen said concentration was one of the Jawhayhs' problems. Wallell noticed his eyes were giving him trouble last summer. Last season, though, he didn't think they were lowering his batting average. Last fall, hitting figured to be the Jayhawks' weak spot as they returned that one pitcher from a loss led Big Eight in earned run average. "My eyes aren't that bad," he said. "If I wasn't playing baseball, I wouldn't need them." Lewallen hit .248 last year after hitting .316 his freshman year. Over Christmas Lewallen got contact lenses and his hitting came around. "The defense is better than it has been," he said. "You have games like that. It happens to everyone." Instead, it has been the hitting, with a .316 team average, that has won games for the 'Hawks. Although he has played well, ultimately, Pattin said he wasn't worried. "You can't do that against Big Eight teams and expect to win." SOME OFF the players have also been taking extra batting practice this spring. "Dick has worked awfully hard," Pattin said. "He goes out and hits every day. That's good. It shows that a guy is working." One of the keys to the Jayhawks' hitting is extra batting practice. The player's parents donated a batting kit and equipment to get extra practice in over the winter, Pattin said the Jayhawks need to play more like a team to get better consistency. "We've got to get more team spirit, pride," he said. "We don't have enough pride. I want these guys to have a better attitude. "When they pull together, it rubs off on the whole team. We just can't go out there and think we're going to win. We don't have the talent. We have to have a team effort. One guy can't carry the team." Randy McIntosh delivers a pitch to the plate in the *Jayhawks* game against Concordia. McIntosh will be the winning pitcher tomorrow against Oklahoma. Tennis team attempts to break losing streak The Kansas Jayhawks men's tennis team will try to get back on the winning track this weekend after having lost two straight matches, dropping its record below the 500 level for the first time since last season. The team's record is now 3-4 "This team never gives up. As long as we keep pushing, things are going to stale." breaks lately," Hall said. "We've been playing real well." The Jayhawks kick off the weekend by hosting Drury today at 2:30 p.m. Northwest Missouri State will be the opposition tomorrow in a i.p.m. match. On Sunday, they will play Southern Illinois in a i.10. m. match. "We can't get down on ourselves for losing to Division II schools, because both of them were good teams with solid tennis programs," senior Ed Bolen said. "We've just got to make it a learning experience." The Jayhawks are coming off two tough 54 setbacks. Both were to NCAA Division II schools, Southwest Missouri State and Northeast Missouri State. "Our season is half over, and we need to start getting ready for Big Eight play. Thankfully, we've been having some competitive matches lately, which should really help us on down the road." confidence," freshman Craig Tidwell said. "Hopefully, we will get a few breaks this time out." Head Coach Randy McGrath believes his team is steadily improving. "I'm really glad we have these matches this weekend," McGhrath said. "I think the only way you can improve is by playing a lot of matches. Senior Tom Hall believes the Jayhawks fortunes are due for a turnaround. Southern Illinois defeated KU 9-0 last year. The Jayshaw have not faced the Browns yet. "We just haven't been getting any Track team splits for weekend meets By DAVE McQUEEN The KU men's track team will be splitting in two this weekend, with 18 athletes traveling to Austin, Texas to compete in the Texas Relays, and 11 others going to the Southeast Missouri State annual meet in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Last weekend, the Jayhawks were down in El Paso, Texas, where they faced Texas-Esl Paso and lost 55-69. The Jayhawks won five events at the dua. Sports Writer At the Texas Relays, the first stop on the Midwest relays circuit, the Jayhawks will be entered in two distance relays and several individual events. Enter at the end of therundown. The fundraiser Greg Leibert and Tim Tayms. In the distance medley relay, Rodney Bullock and Leonard Martin will run with Gundy and Tays. Tays is also entered in the 10,000-meter run. IN THE FIELD, KU includes role pvaulter Jeff Buckingham, Clint Johnson in the discus and Paul Titus in the high jump. Two of the Jayhawks top athletes won't make the trip, however. Long. jumper Warren Wilhoite is out with tendonitis, and high jumper Tykie Peacock, who hasn't jumped since the 1980s. The injury, is still suffering from a knee injury. "We'll have a larger contingent heading down this year than we've had in the past," KU track coach Bob Timmons said. "This is simply a great meet. We've been there for many years and we're looking forward to going on this year. It is clearly one of the most outstanding meets in the country." should be tough too, with 74 teams entered from all over the country. Heading the list of Jayhawks entered in the meet is spinner Mark Rau. Rau, who is still somewhat bothered by injuries that kept him up on action last year, will be running the 400-meter intermediate hurdles. THE MEET in Cape Girardeau KU will have entered in the pole vault, with George Buckingham, Larry Metzger and Denis Malley competing. Other KU entries include Glen Foster, Dan Burke, Jump, Gary Lowrie in the shotput, and Eldred Williams in the high jump. JAYHAWK NOTES: The Arkansas State Court of Appeals Wednesday upheld the conviction of former KU coach TUJUHAM on a cruelty to animals charge. Cunningham, who competed in the 1932 and 1936 Olympics, was fined $500 for letting 12 horses on his farm starve. Women's tennis team hosts tourney By GARY GRIGGS Sports Writer The Kansas Jayhawks women's tennis team will be facing an oddity tomorrow—they will be playing a match at home. Actually, they will be playing two matches, as they host Northern Iowa and Denver in the KU In- The Jayhawks will face Northern Iowa at 9 a.m. and will play Denver at 1 p.m. "We've really been looking forward to this for a long time now." Head coach Johnny Manziel Merrison said the chief reason why the women's team is only playing one home match this season is because they have a fixed scheduling teams than the men do. kind of tough playing on the road all the time." "The men can schedule teams like Baker or Southwest Missouri State, because these schools have established tennis programs," she said. "Most schools around here don't have decent women's tennis programs." Men's Head Coach Randy McGrath, who coached the women's team last year, agrees with Merrion. The women are in a bad situation since they don't have the selection of schools to play like we do," he said. The Jahways are now 7-6 overall, and are coming off a second place finish in the Kansas State Invitational last weekend. "Actually, we have been somewhat lucky this season. The only reasons we are getting to play schools such as Iowa State and Texas, they called me up and asked to play us." "We've been improving steadily all season," Merrion said. "We really played some super tennis at K-State. I just hope we can keep the momentum going into the Big Eight Championships." Eagles linebacker retires from NFL PHILADELPHIA—Inside linebacker Bill Bergey, who had not played a National Football League game that counted since the Philadelphia Eagles' Super Bowl appearance 15 months ago because of a knee injury, retired yesterday and embraced Coach Dick Vermell in a tearful goodbye. By United Press International "I gave it my best shot," Berger told news conference. "I know I can't fail." "I know I look like I'm 28 to you people," he leaked, "but I was 37." Bergley, a 13-year veteran who played in four Pro Bowls and was a three-time choice by his teammates as the Eagles' Most Valuable Player, said he would continue to do charity work for the Eagles. "I don't really want to divorce myself from the game," he said. "I really don't know how I'm going to channel my interests. "I was never asked to retire. I never would be in retirement" out of Dick Vernick's mouth. Bergey, a 6-foot-3, 245-pound Arkansas State product, was a second-round draft choice of the Cincinnati Bengals in 1969. He spent five seasons with Cincinnati and was named by the Philadelphia on July 10, 1974, in exchange for two first-round draft choices in 1977 and 1978 and a second-round pick in 1978. Vermil, unsuccessfully fighting back tears, praised Bergery as the "foundation" of the Eagles and said the veteran "has given me strength." Basketball NBASTANDINGS Eastern Conference Atlantic Division Team W W L Pct. GB — Boston 42 50 1.76 — — Philadelphia 50 22 0.67 — Washington 37 37 5.51 19 New Jersey 37 38 60.67 19 New York 32 31 41.84 24 Milwaukee...50 23 685 Atlanta...36 49 856 Baltimore...34 10 18% Indiana...33 43 652 Chicago...15 40 177 Cleveland...15 57 908 Scoreboards Western Conference Midwest Division San Antonio 44 39 .603 Oklahoma City 42 38 .591 1½% Houston 42 38 .591 1½% Kansas City 26 47 .386 19% Dallas 26 47 .386 19% Yallows 19 53 .384 24% Los Angeles 50 23 685 San Antonio 49 21 666 3/4% Phoenix 40 26 656 3/4% Golden State 40 33 548 10% Chicago 40 33 548 10% San Diego 77 38 126 34% YESTERDAY'S RESULTS RIGHT STANDING New York 111, Cleveland 101 Dallas 122, Detroit 120 Milwaukee 173, Atlanta 113 Los Angeles 107, San Diego 113 Baseball Team BM HOU LSU Oklahoua 1 0 1,000 Pct. GB Oklahoma State 2 1 .500 % Oklahoma State 2 2 .500 % Iowa State 2 2 .500 % Kansas State 0 0 .500 % Kansas 0 0 .500 % Missouri 0 0 .000 1 Hockev NHL STANDINGS Wales Conference Team W 3 L 15 T GF 77 Pts. 11 NY Islanders W 3 L 16 T GF 79 Pts. 18 Philadelphia 37 D 10 T 113 315 85 Pittsburgh 37 D 10 T 113 315 85 Baltimore 30 D 11 T 305 366 71 Montreal 46 15 17 17 355 215 109 Boston 41 15 27 31 311 109 27 Buffalo 38 25 15 298 289 82 91 Quebec 32 18 15 16 385 81 80 Québec 28 14 15 17 360 81 80 Campbell Conference Campus Conference Nerrix Dukeson Minnesota 36 22 10 33 282 92 Winnings 33 22 10 34 338 822 Wilmington 31 13 14 318 389 90 Chicago 38 38 12 12 321 368 64 Chicago 38 38 12 12 321 368 64 Toronto 21 16 14 16 389 584 New York 38 16 12 12 368 368 Edmonton 47 17 15 15 415 294 105 Calgary 47 17 33 143 334 105 Vancouver 28 33 17 17 277 282 63 Los Angeles 28 33 17 15 310 76 53 YESTERDAY S RESULTS Quebec 8, Boston 10 Philadelphia 3, New York Islander 3 Calgary 11, Colorado 0 Soccer MISL STANDINGS Western Discus Team W L T Pct. GB New York 27 7 1.74 - Texas 27 14 1.58 Baltimore 23 13 659 % Buffalo 21 18 628 % New Jersey 14 12 389 14 California 14 12 389 14 Philadelphia 10 28 363 12 St. Louis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 . 10 . 730 -- % Wichita . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 . 15 . 534 -- % Wilmington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 . 18 . 468 -- % Denver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 . 22 . 388 -- 12%* Denver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 . 22 . 388 -- 12%* Kansas City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 . 18 . 468 -- % Kansas City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . YESTERDAY'S RESULTS New Jersey 4. Philadelphia 2