BASEBALL'S WEEK

AMERICAN LEAGUE

While the Anaheim-bound Angels were changing their name from Los Angeles to CALIFORNIA (3-4) and denying premature reports that Manager Bill Rigney would be rehired, Outfielder Albie Pearson continued to conduct his private war for survival and salary. Pearson, who at 5 feet 5‚Öú inches is the smallest player in the major leagues, was hitting only .241 three weeks ago when he suddenly realized his career was in jeopardy. Since then he has had 29 hits in 63 at bats (.460)—nine for 23 last week including a home run that beat the Yankees 1-0. Explaining his recent drive Pearson said: "I live out in Riverside, only 35 minutes from Anaheim, but it's 1,000 miles to Seattle and the minors." Albie also needs a raise. "My wife had our fourth daughter last month," he said, "and I keep thinking about four weddings and all the clothes a young lady requires. I've got to swing the bat." Another Angel making a belated salary drive was Dean Chance, a bust most of this season after winning the Cy Young Award as baseball's best pitcher in 1964. Chance shut out the Yankees on six hits, beating them for the seventh straight time, and he had won seven in a row and nine of 10 in Chavez Ravine. Still, the seventh-place Angels led WASHINGTON (3-3) by only 1½ games. The Senators had won nine straight one-run games, including three more last week; one came on a two-run single by Pinch Hitter Bob Chance, batting for the first time since his recall from the minors. Reliever Ron Kline set a club record when he appeared in his 65th game. The two-month battle for ninth place between KANSAS CITY (4-3) and BOSTON (4-3) had a new top dog: the Athletics swept a doubleheader and, for the moment, moved ahead of the last-place Red Sox by one percentage point. To celebrate, K.C. Owner Charlie Finley bathed his team in champagne, gave each player $25 and rescinded, for that night. Manager Haywood Sullivan's curfew. Earlier Red Sox rookie Tony Horton beat the Senators in both games of a doubleheader; he drove home two runs in the first game and hit a three-run homer in the 10th inning of the second. It still was too early to celebrate anything in MINNESOTA (3-3). Despite a power failure, the Twins held their own against the Tigers and the White Sox, although against Detroit they left 44 runners on base, including 16 in one game. There was some good news for Twins' Manager Sam Mele: doctors gave Pitcher Camilo Pascual permission to start throwing again, and Tony Oliva returned after a one-week layoff with nine hits in 14 trips and seven RBIs. CHICAGO'S (3-3) Pete Ward ended a one-for-35 slump with three hits and three RBIs in a win over BALTIMORE (4-2). But the Orioles' Brooks Robinson homered in both games of a doubleheader to beat the White Sox twice. CLEVELAND (2-4) needed a one-hitter from Sam McDowell to gain a split in its season series with the Athletics. Denny McLain (virus), Jake Wood (fractured facial bones) and Don Demeter (broken finger) all joined the lengthy DETROIT (3-3) injured list. NEW YORK (3-4) has apparently conceded the obvious: in one game last week Manager Johnny Keane started four rookies. Al Downing pitched a five-hit shutout and the Yankees won 9-0 as Horace Clarke had three hits.

Standings: Minn 86-52, Chi 79-58, Bait 74-59, Det 75-61, Clev 74-61, NY 68-70, Cal 63-75, Wash 61-76, Bos 53-86, KC 50-85

NATIONAL LEAGUE

In 1953 Ernie Banks of CHICAGO (2-3) began his major league career by going 0 for 3 against Phillies Pitcher Curt Simmons. Last week it was Simmons against Banks again—but this time Ernie hit his 400th career home run to beat both Simmons and the Cardinals. "Back in 1953 Ernie was scared because I had a fast ball," said Simmons. "Now I'm scared because I don't have a fast ball." Frank Thomas joined his fourth team in a little more than a year when he was sold from HOUSTON (4-3) to the Braves. In July, Thomas hit a pinch-hit home run for the Phillies, then was sent to the Astros on waivers. Last week he hit two home runs and had five RBIs for the Astros in a doubleheader, then was sold to the Braves. The Astros, meanwhile, completed their most successful road trip in history with a 10-5 record and took their season's series from the Mets 14-4. NEW YORK'S (2-4) Jim Hickman hit three successive home runs against the Cardinals. For the season ST. LOUIS (2-2) pitchers had given up 157 home runs, and Cardinal batters had hit only 97, including four by Pitcher Bob Gibson. Walter Alston used seven LOS ANGELES (3-2) pitchers to shut out the Astros in two straight games. Second Baseman Jim Lefebvre braked the Dodgers' three-game losing streak with a double, two singles and four RBIs in a win over the Pirates, then accounted for all three runs in a 3-0 win at Houston. Rookie Tommy Helms, just recalled from the minors, powered CINCINNATI (4-2). Pinch-hitting in the first game of a doubleheader, Helms tripled home the tying run and later scored the winning run against the Braves. Starting at shortstop in the second, Helms hit a triple, double and single as the Reds temporarily took over first place. Jim Pagliaroni's 11th-inning double beat Sandy Koufax, and Bill Virdon's three hits (ending an 0-for-19 spell) beat Don Drysdale as PITTSBURGH (2-3) swept a doubleheader from the Dodgers. But Pirate pitching aces Bob Veale (15 stitches in his foot) and Vern Law (sore right elbow) were hurting. Juan Marichal of SAN FRANCISCO (3-3) made his first start since being suspended and lost to the Phils. MILWAUKEE (4-2) Reliever Billy O'Dell, 9-2 and 1.78 against the rest of the league, had an 0-4 record and a 5.14 ERA against the Reds. Shortstop Bobby Wine hit two homers last week—as many as he had hit all season—but PHILADELPHIA (2-4) continued to struggle.

Standings: LA 78-59, Cin 76-59, SF 74-59, Mil 75-60, Pitt 73-65, Phil 69-66, StL 67-69, Chi 65-74, Hou 59-78, NY 45-92

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PLAYER OF THE WEEK: ALBIE PEARSON