---
Page 10
University Daily Kansan
Friday, March 27, 1964
Coach Likes Pitching With Opener Near
Considering that KU's baseball team lost the top three pitchers from its last season's staff, Coach Floyd Temple is optimistic about his team's chances.
"Overall, I think our pitching could be as good or better than it has been." Temple said.
Perhaps some explanation is necessary for one to understand Temple's bold remark. Claimed by graduation were All-Big Eight pick Carl Nelson, now signed by the New York Mets; Jerry Waldschmidt, a mainstay for three years, and Roger Brock, a left-hander who obtained good results over the past two seasons.
TEMPILE'S OPTMISM is based on the addition of four strong-armed sophomores, Steve Renko, football quarterback, who is working on his third varsity sport will be an important figure on the mound for the Jayhawks. Fred Chana, 6-6 reserve basketball forward, Charles Dobson and Steve King also reinforce Temple's hopes.
Three of these men—probably the first three listed—will open the season as starters as Temple sights the weekly three-game series against each Big Eight competitor. Here are his thumbnail sketches of each prospective pitcher:
- Dobson — Excellent fastball. Needs to improve curve.
- Chana - Satisfactory fastball and curve. Control average to good.
- Renko- Good fastball, good curve, surprisingly good control.
- King — Best control on the staff. Average fastball and curve.
Behind this foursome of hurlers, Temple will carry three more pitchers, Steve Lunsford, two letter lefthander and holdover juniors John Higgins and Fred Littooy. This is more depth than Temple has ever enjoyed since coming to KU.
THE PITCHING STAFF is not the only flexible part of the Temple baseball machine either.
Veteran Dick Fanning, Big Eight home run and RBI king as a sophomore two seasons ago, returns at first base, but may have to share time with another lefthanded hitter Steve McGreevy, who topped the club's batting average last year as he hit .303.
McGreevy is an outfielder and will be in center field when the Jayhawks open a six-game swing into Texas Wednesday.
Newcomer Sterling Coward, an all-American junior college player from Wilmington, N.C., has moved last year's regular, Dick Ruggles, from second to shortstop, where he will battle two-year starter, Don Miller. Whoever loses this job will be available for relief at second and third as well as shortstop.
"Up until this bad weather hit," Temple said. "I've been real pleased with the progress of our squad. All the pitchers have gone at least six innings and have looked all right. This sets us back a week. Worse yet, we haven't been able to get in any weekend intra-squad games and that's the only way to get a club ready."
In Texas, KU will face five clubs which started the season a month ago. Temple will fly a squad of 17 men, departing Tuesday.
Temple's major trouble at the moment is the cold weather which has driven his squad into Allen Field House.
The slated games line up this way: April 1—Randolph A.F.B. at San Antonio; 2—St. Mary's at San Antonio; 3—St. Edwards at Austin; 4—Texas Lutheran at Seguin; 6—Randolph A.F.B. at San Antonio; 7—Trinity at San Antonio
By Leo H. Petersen (UPI Sports Editor)
Yankees Favored Again in AL
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The New York Yankees come pretty close to death and taxes at rating as a sure thing.
They aren't counting the 1964 American League pennant in the bag, but they'll be mighty surprised if they don't win it.
"It may not be easy," admits their new manager, Yogi Berra, "but I can't see any club beating us out."
NEITHER CAN the vast majority of baseball experts.
The Yankee lineup for the coming season is set, with only a couple of pitching spots and outfield and infield utility berths open. And there are some promising rookies battling for the few jobs up for grabs.
Providing their two slugging outfield stars, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, are sound, the Yankees look like money in the bank. They won last year with Mantle and Maris out a large part of the season and despite the fact they had to re-organize their pitching staff. It was said of the 1963 Yankees that they won the pennant with their junior varsity and then lost the world series to the Los Angeles Dodgers in four straight games with their varsity.
Berra insists that that world series shellacking will have no effect on the team although rival managers feel it might have. Berra says that's wishful thinking on their part.
THERE'S NO chance of breaking into the regular lineup.
It features an outfield of Mantle, Maris and Tom Tresh; an infield of Joe Pepitone at first, Bobby Richardson at second, Tony Kubek at short and Clete Boyer at third with Elston Howard, the league's most valuable player last season, behind the plate
Although he played in only 65 games last season because of injuries, Mantle still hit .314 with 15 home runs and 35 runs batted in. An off season operation seems to have overcome his left knee trouble. Maris got into 90 games, hitting .269 with 23 HR's and 53 RBI's and shows no signs of being handicapped by a shoulder injury he suffered in the World Series. Tresh, as a sophomore, batted .269 with 25 home runs and 72 runs batted in.
If they are sound, they form the best trio of outfielders in the majors.
THE YANKEES believe their infield is the best, too. Pepitone, a goat in the Yankees World Series disaster, had a fine year otherwise, and is generally regarded as future great. He batted .271 with 27 home runs and 89 runs batted in. Richardson, Kubek and Boyer had only average seasons last year, batting .265, .257 and .251, respectively. But with Pepitone they form an impregnable inner defense.
There is little doubt that Howard is the best catcher in baseball. He hit .287 last season with 28 HR's and 85 RBI's.
Berra says that Johnny Blanchard, who also can play the outfield, will confine his duties to understudying Howard this year. Berra said he was in the market for a
third string catcher for it doesn't look like rookie Jake Gibbs is going to make it.
The infield utility men will be Harry Bright, Phil Linz, who would be the regular shortstop for most American League clubs, and Pedro Gonzales, up from Richmond where he hit 307. Gonzales has all the makings of a future star.
THE VETERAN Hector Lopez will be the first outfield replacement with two rookies, Elvio Jiminez and Archie Moore, fighting for the other spot. Moore is a bonus player who will count against the Yankee roster in 1964.
As outstanding as the Yankees are in the other departments, Berra believes that their pitching could be their biggest asset.
For starters he has left handers Whitey Ford (24-7) and Al Downing (13-5) and right handers Jim Bouton (21-7) and Ralph Terry (17-15).
Behind them are Stan Williams (9-8) and Bill Stafford (4-8), both right handers. Stafford was a big disappointment in 1963, but he is determined to make up for it this year and came to spring training camp 29 pounds lighter than a year ago. Until he ran into his 1963 troubles, Stafford was rated one of the most promising young pitchers in the game.
It's easy to understand why Berra isn't worried about his pitching or anything else except injuries. Unless the Yankees run into an abnormal amount of them, they appear a gold-edged bet to win their fifth straight American League pennant.
Special Reduced Air Fares To Europe This Summer
FOR Kansas University Students, Faculty and Immediate Family
$320
Round trip from New York to Manchester, England For those who want to visit Great Britain.
$356
Round trip from New York to Brussels, Belgium For those who want to visit the continent.
By BOAC and Sabena scheduled Jet Services Return by jet at end of summer
DEPART NEW YORK JUNE 16th and JUNE 17th
Limited Number of Seats Available on "First Come, First Served" Basis
For Information, Apply to Room 106 Strong PROF. E.E.HARRIS Ph.UN4-3977