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Ltzwimu Wuww Ploy ball iinx and all By ED HARPER Chay Another major league baseball season has started Without the umpires even though it hardly seems like baseball weather Christy Mathewson great pitcher with the New York Giants in the early 1900s called baseball the child of supersitition He said jinx can make bad pit Ether out of good one and blind batter out of 300 hit er As far as the ball players are concerned this is just as true today as it was in Mathewsons time Baseball players are probably more superstitious than any other grup of athletes and their superstitions are acted upon in the clubhouse on the field and in the dugout Baseball players are mostly individualists and since baseball is personal game rather than an intense team sport the mental attitude is allimportant Baseball is also fairly leisurely sport which gives the player too much time to indulge in their supersititions Some players will talk openly about their superstitions others will only admit that they follow certain habits or rituals Jim Palmer strong hitter with the Baltimore Orioles has always sat on the exact same spot in the dugout through the first five or six innings of play He wouldnt change unlifss the Orioles failed to score Then hed look for another sea Habits of hurlers teammate of his pitcher Mike Cuellar believed it was bad luck for anyone but catcher to warm him up between innings and he would wait on the mound till the catcher was ready and refuse to throw to anyone else Another pitcher Doug Rau of the Dodgers has ncvci touched baseball with his pitching hand the day before he pitched He would go to the length of weariiiga batting glove onhis throwing hand so hed be forced to use the other hand When Jackie Robinson was with the Brooklyn Dodgers he always walk ed iii front of the catcher to reach the batters box If the catcher happened to be on the mound talking to the pitcher Robinson would wait in the ondeck circle for him to come back Others such as Bud Harrelson of the Mcts have never walked in front of tiie umpirc and catcher when walking up JIM PALMER to the pm has dugout ritual Some superstitions involve lucky charms such as the rab bits foot which is an ancient charm The rabbits foot once affected the outcome of baseball game It was on June 1951 when the Cleveland Indians faced the Ncw York Yankees at Cleveland Stadium Quite feet Tthe pitcher for the Yankees was to be Ed Lopat who had an excellent curveball and an impressive record against the Indians beating them 30 times in 36 games He was also boasting an 11 game winning streak against the Indians The local fans and local newspaper decided that the situatoncalled for drastic measures and it was decided to give rabbits foot to everone attending the game On the night Lopat was scheduled to pich 15000 rabbits feet were distributed among 20217 fans rabbit was also presented to Lopat on the mound after he had finished his warmup throws Lopat managed to get the first man out but then the Iii dians got single double and two more singles and two runs were scored The next batter flied out but then Bob Kennedy homered and the score was 50 The crowd was lovr ing it After Lopat gave up another run in the second inning manager Casey Stengel took him out of the game and as he made his way to the dugout the Cleveland fans waved their rabbits feet in the air The Indians went on to win the game 82 and the rabbits foot was firmly established in the minds of Cleveland fans as source of good luck But to Eddie Lopat the charm took on very different meaning Hes encountered potholes that look more like the grand canyon but his luck is starting to chonge Worlds best will meet head on Filion Waples coming to Barrie Two of the top harness racing drivers in the world will meet in headtohead competition at Barrie Raceway April 25 Herve Filion of Angers Que winner of more races than any other driver in the world and Ron Waples of Toronto the first Canadian driver to win over $1 million in purses in singles season in Canada will duel for $1000winnertakeall prize in the Centennial Plymouth Chrysler Battle of the Best The competition will cover all of the ten races on the April 25 card and one point will be Period splurge nets win for Bell One of hockeys old adages says the game is three periods long Barries Bell Canada Midgets tried to prove it wrong Thurs day with one period effort that gave them 42 win over Stratford in the fourth game of their provincial filial series in Stratford Barrie exploded for four goal in the second period after Strat ford took 10 lead early in the game Stratford came back to score once in the closing moments of the third period on powerplay The win gives Barrie 53 points lead in the eightpoint Ontario Minor Hockey Associaton championship final Mikc Hoffman sparked Bar ric to their winning effort with the first goal from Gary White and Rhys avill Iom Jackson Brian Smith and Rob McNabb scored the other goals Assists on the three goals went to Bill Maguire Hoffman Jackson and Peter thlaii Wayne Lynn stopped 20 of 22 shots on the Barrie goal while his teammales sent 25 drives at the Stratford goal chl game in the series is 330 pm Sunday at the Barrie arena on Dunlop St SALMING NOMINATED TORONTO Pt Defan cemaii Borjc Salming is To ronto Maple Leafs nominee for the 1979 Bill Masterton Mc nioriai Irophy that goes to the National Hockey League player who exemplifies the qualities of perseverance sportsmanship and dedication Voting on the award which commemorates Bill Mastcrton Minnesota North Stars winger who died in 1968 after suffering head lll juries in game is conducted among members of the Profcs sional Hockey Writers Assocr ation awarded each driver for ever horse he beats in each race Race Secretary Grant Wade said this event is one of the most prestigious ever to be held at Barrie Raceway Taking nothing away from our own horsemen who in my opinion are the best group of drivers anywhere its great thrill to have the two greatest names in Canadian harness racing together on our pro gram Gord Coatcs president of Centennial Plymouth and owner of several horses which race at Barrie Raceway an nounced his offer of the prize to track management Thursday The drivers were then con tacted and both consented to the challenge The 38yearold Filion win her of 6705 races in his career has collected more than $258 million in purse money second best in the world His best year was 1974 when he won worldltrecord I37 races and $3474315 in purse money Filion who now lives in Westbury NY has won the North American Dash title 10 sports calenda FRIDAY Hockey Barrie Rotary Major Peewecs vs Chatham Third game of their bestofseven ntario Minor Hockey Association championship series Barrie leads 20 urling Simmons Trophy finals Barrie Curling Club Essa Rd Also election of officers for next season SATURDAY Figure Skating pm and 730 pni Two shows the Barrie EigureSkating Club presents its 28th annual Ice Revue Barrie arena Horse Racing 745 pin Raceway Essa Rd Regularlyrschcduled Itirace card at Barrie Softball aln The Barrie and District Girls Softball League is sponsoring coaches clinic Georgian College room 147 of the Business Building To 430 pm urling The Bank of Montreal Mixed Bonspicl Barrie urling Club Essa Rd Basketball The Simcoe County Elementary School Basketball chain pionships scheduled for today at Banting Memorial Iliin School in Alliston have been postoncd to April 14 Simcoe ounty Mens Intermediate Basketball League championship games postponed until further notice NFL announces dates for second long season NEW YORK Ali tional Football League will open its Stith season on Saturday Sept with Tampa Bay Buccaneers as iiost to Detroit Lions in night game Defending Super Bowl chain pion Pittsburgh Steelers make their 1979 debut on Sept meeting New England Patriots in onboro Mass Sandwiched between those two openers on the pro football seasons first weekend will be 12 Sunday afternoon games This will be the second year of thc NELs expanded schedule in which each of the 2M teams plays 10 games By the time the final gun sounds in the last regular season game on Iicc I7 224 games will havc been played Postseason play will begin on Dec 23 with tirst round gamcs involving two wild card tcanis from each conference The winners will join the division champions in the Art The Na and NEC divisional playoffs Saturday and Sunday Dec 20 30 with the survivors meeting in the AFC and NH chain pionship games Sunday Jan ti Him The conference champions play in the Super Bowl at llic Rose Bowl in Pasadena alit on Sunday Jan 20 Blizzard says no to strike TORONIO Ii Players for Toronto Blizzard of lllt North American Soccer LeagUe votcd Ihursday not to support proposed strike by NASI play eis said Hilliard coach Keith Eddy Reprcsciitativcs tor the play ers were not iminuliatcly availablc for comment It was just thing they lid themselves coinincntcd IIddy IIIIRYE IlllON recordholder Royals send chilly fans home with ninerun inning over Joys KANSAS CITY Mo Ali When Kansas ity Royals scored nine runs 111 the second inning of their American League baseball season opener lhursday night against Toronto ltliic Jays that war enough for large portion ol the an nounccd crowd of 38000 fans shivering who braved cin pcraturcs and strong north winds bet 10000 left in the second inning said Royals manager Whitey llcrog Then another 10000 left in thc tourth Ity the ninth when Kansas ity put the wraps on an 1172 rout fewer than 3000 hardy souls remained to scc what many coaches and players agreed was their coldest cx pcricncc in major league bzisc ball It had several of the Blue Jays reminiscing about another opening day April 1077 at lorontos Exhibition Stadium where temperatures hovered around the fretling mark and sprinkling of snow covcred lllt field pilchcd llI sonic pritty chilly weather winn was growing up in New York said Royals starter cnnis Leonard But thats Illt coldest Ivc cvci bccn Ill prolcssioiuil baseball Leonard 11 gaiiic wlnncr RON WAILES topanadiaii the examlner Frlday April e1 979 times has been top money winner seven times and is the youngest harness racing driver ever elected to the Harness Racing Hall of Fame He has also won the Lou Marsh trophy as Canadas top athlete Filions major stakes victories include the 1978 Cane Futirity Pace with Armbro Tiger the 1971 Little Brown Jug with Nansemond the 1973 Shep pard Pace with Southamption and the 1974 Sheppard Pace with Southamption and the 1974 Sheppard event with Nero Filion drove Isle of Wight to the Ontario Provincial Cup title in 1972 and 1973 He also has world records for most singledash victories on one raceway program eight at Hinsdale in 1978 and the most twominute miles on Editor David Fuller7266537 last year scattered six hits in the six innings he worked Re liever Steve Mingori finished up ERROR OSTLY AI owcns walked Hal Mcltac reached first on an ror by Roy Howell and Darrell Iortcr walked to load the bases in the second Then John Wathan drilled triple into the Barrie ice surface to remain until BMHA playoffs over Hy GARRY FORBES Of The Examiner The ice at Barric arcna will remain until all Barrie Minor Hockey Associaton teams have completed their provincial championship series city parks and recreation department director Gary Stoncr said Ihursday Ihc BMHA informed Stoncr Thursday that its teams would not rcquuc the arena aftci April 12 The only other commitment the department has inadc for thc use of the arena is to llic teeth of the wind to clear the bases Fred Patek with the first of four singles brought home Wathan after Clint Hurdle then Frank White walked to again load the bases against loser Tom Underwood Second baseman Dave McKay hobbled Amos Otiss ground ball as Hurdle and Patek scored McRac pounded Barrie Figure Skating lub for its 28th annual Ice Revue Satur day All olhcr rcgularlyvscheduled usvrs of the Barrie arena ice surface may continue their allotted ice time requirements until April 12 and anyone else wishing to inquire about the availability of ice time until that date may contact the parks and recreation department Four BMHA teams are still llliltl in Ontario Minor Ilockcy Association playoffs and president Ray Heaslip said this is the latest date his Borries Doug Shedden still plugging away single raceway program five at Brandywine in 1971 Waples 34 now lives at his training centre in Rockwood Ont In 1977 he broke Canadian records for most wins and most purse money won in single season In 1978 his second con secutive season as Canadas Horseman of the Year he repeated as the top driver in the country in victories and money won Since he began driving in 1966 Waples has won 2015 races and more than $6 million in purses Waples major stakes vic tories include the Canadian Pacing Derby the Mohawk Gold Cup the Provincial Cup and the 1971 Graduate Series final with Dream Maker groundrule double then Darrell Porter singled home Otis and McRae to cap the nine run outburst The Blue Jays pushed across two runs in the fifth on John Mayberrys single following George Bretts second error John Schulock minor league umpire called balls and strikes and drew praise from everybody associations teams have re quired the 1159 of the arena Should due to unforsccn cir cumstances any of the series continue past the April 12 date Heaslip said his association would have to try to get ice time at in neighboring com munity The OMHA sets deadlines for the completion of playoff series and Heaslip said that he knows of no series which has been shortened tltit to unavailability of ice lllllt Operating costs of the arena are about $65 an hour Stoner said By SCOTT HASKINS Special to The Examiner Every Canadian youngster who has ever laced on pair of skates has had dreams of splitting the defence and scoring the winning goal in the seventh game of Stanley Cup final For most the dream remains just that dream The road to the National Hockey League is filled with potholes Most aspiring superstars fall in and are never heard from again However the chosen few manage to cling to the edge pull themselves out and continue along in their trek towards that pot ogold at the end of the rainbow sixfigure salary and national recognition Barrie native Doug Shedden has encountered potholes that look more like the Grand Canyon Still he has managed to persevere and his luck is starting to change Sitting near his locker after recent loss to the Niagara Falls Flyers the 17yearold Kitchener Rangers centreman talked about life in the OHA Major Junior Hockey League THINGS IMPROVING It hasnt been easy for the Coop Midget graduate In fact he has seen more low spots than the belly of snake The 197778 season Sheddens first in the league was disaster right from the opening faceoff He started as bench warmer for the powerful Hamilton Eincups was traded to Rangers shipped out to the affiliated Guelph Holody Platers and then asked back for the concluding 10 games of the season Sure it was pretty tough The Finciips had good team and there was no room for me he admitted was only 16 but despite what lot of people say didnt have any trouble with the coach Bert Templeton Shedden was in pretty classy company when drafted by Ein cups The only underage midget picked ahead of him was Wayne Gretzky Shedden got his share of coverage unfortunately not for scoring So far the only are the two youngsters compare is in their number of press clippings Unfortunately for Shedden his havent produced $1 million contract After becoming household name in only his first season of Junior hockey Gretzky opted for the riches of the World Hockey Association His critics said he was too small but re cent statistics show him leading the Edmonton ilers in scoring with 35 goals and 50 assists Shedden got his share of press coverage Unfortunately it wasnt because of his hockey ability League rules prohibit the trading of firstround draft picks and when Shedden moved on to the Rangers all hell broke lose He spent more time in court than Perry Mason School work and hockey both suffered until the problem was resolved and he was allowed tojoin the Rangers NEW LEASE 0N LIFE With the issue finally settled Shedden finally started to play the hockey everyone knew he was capable of He finished strong and reported to camp in good frame of mind Almost immediately Shedden established himclf as one of Rangers top players He finished fourth in team scoring with 16 goals and 41 assists Captain Paul Reinhart Doug Sulliman and Jody Gage finished ahead of him but Shedden is satisfied with his second season It takes most rookies year to get their feet wet in the tough highscoring league Write off Sheddcns turmoilfilled first season and hes right on target for firstround draft selection in June of 1981 guess Im happy With my year he smiled was kind of hoping for few more goals 20 but got more assists than thought would It all cvcned out With the events of last year itd be almost too much to ask to expect season of smooth sailing It wasnt Hc endured 21 game scoring drought after hrist mas and was suspended by Ranger management for his part in postgame celebration After loss to Niagara Falls Elyers Shedden and eight of his teammates felt it was gmd time for little party Obviously Ranger management didnt agree with lhctiming Coach Bob Ertel and general manager Mike Penny decided to put an end to the nonsense The nine players were suspended for two games Shedden pleads innocence when asked about the incident saying he was victim of circumstance The guys wanted to go for beers ihod car so agreed to drive Now he said Ill tell you what really happened ioe Scherers parents Were away and the guys wanted to go over for few beers had the car so agreed to drive them over and stay for one The management found out about it and we were all suspended he added Now wouldnt that brown you off FOUNDTHE SPARK The suspension occurred in the midst of his slump and he came back in style immediately regaining his scoring touch wasnt going to let it get me down he said was moved back to the fourth line and had to work harder He did work harder and coach Ertel noticed Shedden was moved back with his regular lincmates Gage and Barclay Haddad and inserted on the powerplay was on the poweiplay after that he says with broad smile It really helped my confidence Junior hockey is big business There are no favorites If player doesnt produce hes liable to find himself on another team or even worse spectator Scouts pour into the games to look at the future superstars player known as trouble makcror guy that chokes when the pressures on will likely be found in factory or digging ditches when his junior hockey days are over General manager Penny doesnt forsee any trouble for Shedr den In fact he wishes he had few niorcjust like him Hes good boy and just had little probleh at the beginn ing Penny says like proud father He lis lot of natural hockey ability and should score 50 goals before hes through He put on lot of Weight and is starting to mature so hell continue to improve Penny added Hes threat every time he touches the puck No Im not worried about him at all If Shedden has one glaring weakness its his defensive game He even admits it was brutal He certainly isnt great defensively but like everything else itll improve as he gets more experience Penny claims Scouts may look at the goal totals but they also concentrate on players ability to handle his check think Ive really improved since Christmas but theres long way to go yet he says like to watch the other players and try to learn from them Rod Seiling former pro with the Leafs Blues and Rangers was in camp for few days and he taught me lot Every little bit helps TEAM ON THE MOVE Rangers have surprised lot of people in the playoffs After disposing of the Toronto Marlboros in the preliminary round the team took the firstplace Elyers to seven games in the quarterfinals Barries Doug Shedden gives goaltender something to uggle In game with Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds Sheddens Major Junior career has been fraught with troubles but he sur vived and continues his quest for place in the One of the reasons for the success has been the play of Shed den He scored twice in the secondgaiiie win over Marlics and added one more in 53 loss to Itlyers Rangers won the opening game of the series 170 in Niagara Falls However hoincicc 53 loss took away the advantage they had gained We had to win our remaining home games and hope for break down there Shedden said The Rangers went on to lose the eightpoint quarterfinal 80 Regardless of what happens to Shedden one fan will always be on his side Mother Joyce is regular at the games and loves to talk about her Dougie He got off to slow start but he had to prove himself Joyce says think hes been their Rangers most improved player since Christmas He has his confidence now she added He should do real ly well next season NO IREDHTlONS With the playoffs over Shedden is headed for Florida after which hell head home for season of fastball and golf However hockey won conipletcy be forgotten dont want to predict how Ill do next year but hope to continue improving he said Ill be working ou with the National Hockey League Playing for Kitchener Rangers Shedden feels he has improved this season and looks forward to learning even more next year Photo courtesy The Kitchener Woterloo Record weights and getting myself ready for another year possible pro hockey contract is still two ears and 100 goals away but the recent merger of the WIIA an NHL attracted his attention The merger will probably spell the end of bidding wars and underage juniors Shedden for obvious reasons was hoping the two leagues would continue their pointless war for few more years No didnt like the idea Now theres no bargaining power for ithe players They dont have choice where they play he saw Penny on the other hand is overjoyed by the decision After all it means the end of the annual raids on the best juniors iii the country Iennys gain is Sheddens loss hand shake between John Ziegler and Howard Baldwin may end up costing the Barrie Minor Hockey Association lot of money Shedden is content to cross the bridge when he comes to it First he has to prove he belongs on the same ice as the Guy Lafleurs and Bobby Clarkes of his day As Eddie The Entertainer Shack would say Look after the nickels and dimes and the dollars will look after themselves