HiRw NEW YORK AP Nine teen years ago Father Her bert Redmond a Catholic priest threw away his sched uled sermon Instead he told the parishioners at St Francis Xavler Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn to go home keep the Command ments and say a prayer for Gil Hodges Sunday night father Red mond said another prayer for Gil Hodges - the Catholic prayer for the dead The 63-year-old priest long time chaplain for the Nursing Sisters of the Sick Poor learned of the death of Hodges manager of base baseballs ¬ balls New York Mets while watching television Sunday evening They flashed the news across the bottom of the screen he said I felt very bad and I Immediately said the Catholic prayer for the dead Father Redmond recalled that It was a hot muggy spring day in 1053 when he de cided to call off his sermon Hodges first baseman for Brooklyn Dodeers was mired Sports S sorts BY RON ALLERTON Today we head recklessly back out onto the prediction limb What better way to avoid tarnishing our predic prediction ¬ tion record than to let someone else forecast the baseball season That is presuming there will be a season In spite of all the strike problems baseball is simply too big a money maker for the owners to delay starting the season too long So with the talents of Associated Press baseball expert Hal Bock lets take a look at how the teams are likely to finish In the American league east Bock expects the Baltimore Orioles to repeat as division winners Even with the trade of Frank Robinson to the Dodgers the Birds are still too strong Baltimores biggest strength continues to be the mound staff of Dave McNally Mike Cuellar Jim Palmer and Pat Dobson who all won 20 games or more last season In the west division Bock sees the Oakland Athletics repeating with or without Vida Blue The Detroit Tigers should give the Orioles a run in the east and manager Billy Martin is convinced the Tigers can catch the Birds The New York Yankees improved at several spots are rated third with a chance to make a serious run at Detroit In the west the Chicago White Sox are expected to replace Kansas City as the runner up The Royals who finished a surprising second last season are picked for third The National league could again prove to be the most interesting of the two leagues In the west the Los Angeles Dodgers fell one game short of the San Francisco Giants but figure they have the horses to go all the way this time around In the east the Pittsburgh Pirates are solid favorites to repeat Their biggest problem is they have too many good players but can play only nine at a time The Bucs surprised a lot of people by beating Baltimore in the World Series and certainly havent developed any weakness since Bock thinks the Giants may also be passed by some other clubs particularly the Houston Astros and possibly the Cincinnati Reds Houston with a solid club has added several new faces while the Giants are a year older with questionable pitching depth The St Louis Cards are rated second to the Pirates in the east with the Chicago Cubs picked for third The Montreal Expos who escaped the cellar last season are again picked for fifth ahead of the Phila Philadelphia ¬ delphia Phillies The Expos home field Jarry Park is still more white than green and the club may have to open the season with snowshoes instead of spikes The strike could be a factor in the overall out outcome ¬ come Most training camps have closed and the players have headed home Some clubs were obviously coming along faster than others in spring training and when the strike ends some could be in better shape to get off to a quick start The Reds proved two seasons ago how much value there is in starting fast Winning 10 or 12 of the first 15 games can give a team a nice cushion for later in the season So this is how Bock and AP see the rounders season In the American league west 1 Oakland 2 Chicago 3 Kansas City 4 Minnesota 5 California 6 Texas In the east 1 Baltimore 2 Detroit 3 New York 4 Boston 5 Milwaukee 6 Cleveland In the National league east 1 Pittsburgh 2 St Louis 3 Chicago 4 New York 5 Montreal 6 Philadelphia In the west 1 Los Angeles 2 Houston 3 San Francisco 4 Cincinnati 5 Atlanta 6 San Diego Gil Hodges goes home In a batting slump a carry over from the 19S2 World Se ries when he went 0-for-21 and became the first player ever to go hltless In a seven game series It was Just spontaneous he recalled It was the only time I said anything without preparation There was a lit tie chuckle and everyone went home But there was a re porter present a member of the parish and he wrote the story I remember that Gil broke out of his slump that afternoon with two home runs Hodges who would have been 48 today collapsed and died Sunday at a motel in West Palm Beach Fla after playing 27 holes of golf The scheduled exhibition game be tween the Mets and Montreal Exios had been cancelled be cause of the baseball players strike The body will be on view Wednesday and Thursday at Our Lady Help of Christians Church in Brooklyn A high mass will be sung Thursday followed by burial In Brook lyns Holy Cross cemetery TIRE TOWN AUSTINS SAFETY SERVICE m irtdAv 197 fit AT W mj JffiBWWY aw v nmmmmmmmmnmm ux i Who says boxing is an all male sport When Pam Von Hatten got tired of sitting alone at home while husband Tommy pursued his pro welterweight career she decided to work his corner as his second Not only does it reduce overhead the great figure in a hot pants outfit adds much color between rounds Von Hattens record was not reported but the husband and wife team is no doubt a fight promoters delight Lee Trevino mad at two incidents AUGUSTA Ga AP- Lee Trevino came back Monday to the Masters golf tournament he once refused to play and in a huff threatened to leave again Trevino first blew up when a security guard threatened to kick his black driver caddy Neal Harvey off the Augusta National course This is my driver man Trevino stormed If he goes I go too I can drive out the same way I drove In M T Collins of Atlanta chief of the security force gave Harvey a complimen complimentary ¬ tary parking tag The fiery Mexican-American who won the US Cana Canadian ¬ dian and British opens vowed two years ago never to play in another Masters saying the long hilly course wasnt suited to his game Later he apologized While the thoughts of many people are turning to spring and summer activities spring skiing is at Its best The current issue of the Hic Hickory ¬ kory Wing Ski Club newsletter reviews activities of the winter season and thanks many people for their efforts to make a var variety ¬ iety of events successful Bill Wonnacott retiring after two years as club president has urged all members to attend the spring general meeting and elec election ¬ tion of officers April 30 at 8 pm in the Simon Fraser Hotel ball ballroom ¬ room Reports wtll be heard from all committee chairmen and the club would like to hear comments and criticisms on events of this sea season ¬ son and those planned for next year This is your club and your participation is important says Wonnacott Prince George organizers re received ¬ ceived a high rating for staging the Pontlac Cup event in Febru February ¬ ary Although the races were run in poor weather the rating was 95 per cent for the giant slalom and 965 per cent for the slalom Dr Hugh MacLennan presi president ¬ dent of the CanadianSklAssocU tion says These are the highest of any race held this year and I heartily concur with the techni technical ¬ cal delegates remarks that the club and the race committee are to be congratulated in holding such a well run and high quality meet Club members who billeted competitors were singled out for thanks Several people were tanked for their efforts in organizing Trevino later had his fuse ignited again also over an in incident ¬ cident Involving credentials for Harvey The caddy driver and per personal ¬ sonal valet was watching Trevino practise on the No 8 hole when a security guard in intercepted ¬ tercepted Harvey I bought five season tick tickets ¬ ets and paid for them Trov lno said One of them was for Neal Now they say the season tickets are not good for Monday Tuesday and Wednesday If Neal goes I go Whos going to drive me otherwise right Ellis D Slater of New York an Augusta club member wearing an official green jacket told Trevino The season tickets are good only for the tournament Daily tickets are sold for the other days April 30 date for city skiers and running the recent Nancy Greene ski league zone cham championships pionships Lou Jewitt Dan Worn Al Fletcher and Lome McDonald During the Easter vacation C class junior racers are taking part in three days of racing and training at Osoyoos David Dittman Bob Knight and Dale Stephens are entered in the BC juvenile championships next Monday at Jasper and Sunday oth other ¬ er Juniors will be at Pine Pass for the Mackenzie Ski Clubs first meet Cross country skiing had a banner year Many people worked to bring about the success which includ included ¬ ed junior skiers coming home with many more trophies than ever before in a single season Prince George still has the strongest cross country team in the province and among the best in the country says the news newsletter ¬ letter Plans are already well advanc advanced ¬ ed for next years cross country program with improvements planned for the trails at Tabor and Otway The ski-a-thon held Feb 19 raised 2134 with 40 per cent going to the travel funds of al alpine ¬ pine cross country and jumping skiers Local prizes will be pre presented ¬ sented at the middle of this month and the national draw for skis takes place in Banff April 15 Membership now totals 804 516 families 110 couples 84 seniors 25 juniors and 69 ju veniles A large turnout of these people i at the April 30 meeting could go a long way toward ensuring an- other successful season on thej slopes beginning next winter Oh you mean Its just a matter of money Trevino asked No its not just money said Slater Then why dont you let ev e r y b o d y In for nothing Trevino retorted I dont mind paying the extra money but why didnt they tell me that there would be an extra charge for the other days in the first plact We will SLtJe this when I finish my round How much Is the first prize Im not sure I will be able to afford it Archer second NEW YORK AP - George Archer lias taken second place on professional golfs money winning list on the strength of Ms sudden death victory In the Greater Greensboro Open the Professional GolfersAssociation Tournament Players Division announced Monday Archer who defeated Tommy Aaron on the second extra hole Sunday at Greensboro won 40000 to boost his earnings to 96425 for the year Jack Nick laus continues to lead with 109473 Others in the top 10 are Tom Weiskopf 6463C Bob Rosburg 58750 Bob Murphy 58144 Grier Jones 57178 Tony Jack lln 54813 Jerry Heard 50356 Lanny Wadklns 40838 and Lee Trevino 44719 S Bulletin board Referees are needed for both senior and minor lacrosse in Prince George Play in both sections begins next month and anyone interested in officiating either senior or minor games is asked to contact Harvey Clark at 563 2103 The Centennials the newest club in the North Cariboo Soc Soccer ¬ cer League are practising Wed Wednesdays ¬ nesdays and Fridays at 6 pm at Rotary Stadium The Old Stylers of the Prince George senior B womens soft ball league is looking for a coach and assistant coach Anyone in interested ¬ terested can contact Ron Delorme at 563 C640 24 major league teams sched scheduled ¬ uled a strategy session in Chi cago tonight But even if the pension dispute were settled it was unlikely that Wednesdays traditional Cincinnati opener be between ¬ tween the Reds and Houston As Astros ¬ tros could be played Soccer starts soon The North Cariboo Soccer Lea League ¬ gue begins Its 1972 season in less than a month But before the first ball is kicked there are a few prelimin preliminaries ¬ aries to attend to An Important league general meeting is set for 7 pm Wednes Wednesday ¬ day at the Civic Centre The meeting room number is not known but league president Hans Westerhout will be there early to direct people to the proper place The meeting is for players managers coaches and even spectators A referee school is set for April 14 and 15 at a site to be announced Coming to run the school is Dan Kulai of Vancouver one of Canadas most knowledgeable soccer men and a former World Cup referee The clinic will involve both senior and minor soccer sec sections ¬ tions League play is due to start at the end of this month or early in May depending on the weather Last year six teams started and five finished but this year between six and eight teams are expected More sport on page 14 Rejection confirmed CHICAGO AP Minnesota Twins president Calvin Griffith in Chicago today for a meeting of owners or representatives from the 24 major league base ball clubs says the owners will reaffirm their rejection of a Major League Baseball Players Association proposal All of the owners will recon firm what our players relations committee has already de elded he said prior to going to Chicago I doubt that we will make any new proposals Were stand lng with our original offer to continue the present benefits at a cost of 400000 Griffith said Monday that the decision to turn down the pro posal to put the 490000 offer originally made by the owners for health benefit Improvements Into the pension plan was made after a conference call among members of the players rela tions committee We went over It and our ac tuarles advised us not to accept it he said It wasnt in the best Interest of baseball over all Thumped VERNON BC CP Vernon scored five unanswered Roals in the first period Mondaj night and coasted to a 10 3 victory over Pentlcton Broncos to take a 2 1 lead in Karnes in their best-of-seven British Columbia Junior Hockey League final Fourth game in the series is tonight in Pentlcton Alsco Siding with Super Tough Surface of DUPONT TEDLAR A Siding More Beautiful than Wood Forty Year Non Prorated Guarantee1 Li Pfi Aluminum I tri i fti va h wM m mm I V 1656 Quinn Street Phone 563 7166 THE CITIZEN Tuesday April 4 1972 13 First baseball strike will delay opening NEW YORK AP - Any chance that the baseball season could open as scheduled Wednesday seemed gone today as more charges and accuse Uons flew back and forth be tween striking players and club owners following the owners rejection of a proposed settle settlement ¬ ment by the players associa tion Sixteen other teams were slated to open Thursday the rest on Friday I doubt that well make any new proposals said Calvin Grlfflfth owner of Minnesota Twins Were staying with our original offer The owners rejected Monday night a proposal by the Major Meanwhile the heads of the f TT VVr UW VVt tkW UV been on strike since Saturday to fund the proposed 17-per-cent increase in retirement benefits mostly from increased interest which the pension plan is earn earning ¬ ing The plan Is designed to earn 42 per cent annual from its in investments ¬ vestments but in recent years the rate lias gone up nine to 9- per cent figuring out to an over all average of six per cent Marvin Miller head of the players group said the differ difference ¬ ence between 4 and six per cent is 660000 a year However both the players as association ¬ sociation and the club owners must agree to its allocation and Dick OConnell general man manager ¬ ager of Boston Red Sox said transfer of the funds would Jeopardize the entire pension plan OConnell said two owners Kuhn would like YORK Pa AP - Baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn would like to liave the players strike against major league baseball settled by the seasons scheduled opening Wednesday but said he would be surprised if it was settled that fast Kuhn told the York Chamber of Commerce Monday that the position of the commissioner in the situation is frustrating The commissioners proper role has not been to play the role of advocate for the players but rather to protect the good name of baseball My role up until this point has been to fol follow ¬ low the events very closely to learn where the parties stand and to work behind the scenes Kuhn said he would most likely go to Chicago late today to join in negotiations between the owners and the players as association ¬ sociation Three years ago there was a similar situation in baseball where the players and owners had ceased to talk to each other I suggested then that they sit down and talk Now the situation is differ different ¬ ent The clubs and players have been meeting almost dally Thus far neither side lias acted out of anger If there is to be a solution either sooner or later It Is important for all to avoid Inflammatory remarks Vida Blue on screen NEW YORK AP - Vida Blue his job with a steel prod u c t s firm four days old launched a iosslble movie car career ¬ eer Monday and admitted to a news conference he wished it were a baseball contract he was signing I would have preferred to have told you that I had signed a contract to play baseball the 22-year-old unsigned pitcher of the American League Oakland Atliktics said The news conference was called to announce his signing to appear In a planned series of films about a fictional detective called Shaft Blue winner of the American League most valuable player and Cy Young awards last sea season ¬ son is seeking 75000 to sign with Oakland Owner Charles FInley has offered 55000 Griffith and August A Busch Jr of St Louis Cardinals indi indicated ¬ cated the players latest pro proposal ¬ posal would take money away from players already retired Miller called those charges outrageous The owners have offered 400000 for the health care seg segment ¬ ment of the pension package plus 90000 to pay for the in increased ¬ creased coverage cost for re retired ¬ tired players who must buy the coverage themselves This would bring the owners total annual contribution to the over overall ¬ all plan to 594 million Miller said an Independent ac actuary ¬ tuary hired by the pension com committee ¬ mittee which consists of two owners and two players re reported ¬ ported that an annual 594 mil million ¬ lion contribution together with the plans earnings would pro provide ¬ vide ample money for both the health care Increase and the 17 per cent in retirement bene benefits ¬ fits Miller said that since most of the assets of the pension plan are in long term mortgages at the nine to 9a per cent rate even If that rate went down say to eight to 81 per cent the average rate would continue to rise as long as the yearly rate stayed above six per cent We are not asking for any more money than the owners of offered ¬ fered In our final meeting at Phoenix March 29 Miller said Monday in making the new pro proposal ¬ posal We have said all along that money Is not the Issue We are accepting the owners money offer 594 million and in ad addition ¬ dition offering to guarantee the difference between the 4a per cent interest the plan Is de designed ¬ signed to earn and the six per cent It Is earning Its the same amount of money but the difference Is how we apply the money After the rejection Miller said the owners wanted the players to bend down and kiss their shoes The owners have now taken on the full responsibility for pro prolonging ¬ longing the strike right Into the season Asked what chances there were of settling the dispute be before ¬ fore Wednesdays season opener he replied None Kelly wins 30 km INUVIK NWT CP Fred Kelly a 20-year-old from Inuvik won the 30 kilometre race at the fifth annual Top of the World ski championships Monday It was the second win in as many days for Kelly who posted a time of one hour 28 minutes and two seconds He won the 15kllometre race Sunday in 5577 minutes Nils Gryth of Sweden placed second with a time of one hour 29 minutes and two seconds while Ulrlch Wenger of Swltzer land was third 11 seconds be hind him Auslaug Dahl of Norway who won the womens flve kllometre Sunday captured the womens 10 kllometre race Monday with a time of 31 minutes 31 seconds She was followed by Sharon Firth of Inuvik and Hlroko Takahashi of Japan Shirley Firth Sharons twin sister was fifth in 33 minutes and 12 seconds Twentytwo skiers competed in the womens event Mon Monday ¬ day while 17 contestants vied for top spot In the mens race More than 200 skiers from seven countries actively Involved In Nordic skiing are competing in the week long event which also Includes the last two races on the 1971 72 Trans Am circuit Skiers take a day off today for a tour to the Arctic coast but will resume competition Wednesday In Fort McPherson NWT for one day COLLEGE OF NEW CALEDONIA WELDING COURSES BEGINNERS WELDING Mon Wed April 5 WELDING UPGRADING MonWed April 5 MIG TIG MonWed April 5 21 sessions 7 10 pm 21 sessions 7 10 pm 15 sessions 7 9 pm 4000 For further information phone Continuing Education at 562 2131 Registration 630 pm 2001 Central St 4000 3500