BASEBALL'S WEEK

AMERICAN LEAGUE

"If I didn't know who was leading the American League before I got there, it didn't take me long to learn," said Cub Manager Leo Durocher after a charity game in CHICAGO (3-3) against the White Sox. "Eddie [Manager Eddie Stanky] calls me and says, 'Come over to my office, I'd like to talk.' It wasn't too long ago that he'd come to my clubhouse." The White Sox continued to reap the benefits of fine pitching (Gary Peters won his 10th game) and clutch hitting (Gerry McNertney's hits won two games, Tommy McCraw's homer decided another). DETROIT (3-4) pitching also remained as consistent as ever, in its own negative way. Reliever Fred Gladding faced just one batter all week, giving up a game-winning homer to Mickey Mantle of NEW YORK (3-2). Denny McLain of the Tigers lost to the Yankees 3-1 when he gave up three home runs. That left him with a total of 22 home run pitches and caused him to say that he would open a restaurant called The Upper Deck. Steve Hargan of CLEVELAND (4-3) won twice, but Sonny Siebert's record slipped to 6-7. Trying to explain a strange malady that has been bothering him, Siebert said, "You can't pitch when you're half drunk. I've felt that way for two weeks. I'm afraid to go out to the mound because everything starts spinning around." MINNESOTA (3-3) was bolstered by three-hit shutouts from Dave Boswell and Dean Chance (his 10th win), plus four homers by Harmon Killebrew. BOSTON (4-1) got complete-game wins in a row from Gary Bell, Jim Lonborg and Lee Stange, the first time that the Sox accomplished that since last July. Jim Palmer, Wally Bunker and Dave McNally of BALTIMORE (3-3), who pitched shutouts in the final three games of last year's World Series, all had woes. Palmer was sent to the minors and McNally to the bullpen, both with sore arms. Bunker, for the sixth time in six tries, failed to pitch a complete game. WASHINGTON (3-3), without a home run in 12 games, beat the Orioles when Paul Casanova hit a three-run drive, and when Mike Epstein, in his first at bat in Baltimore since being traded, hit a grand slam. Adding to the Oriole frustration was the fact that they lost that first game to Phil Ortega 3-2 even though they could "read" all of his pitches (two fingers over the ball for a curve, four for the fast ball). Jim McGlothlin of CALIFORNIA (4-3) pitched his fifth shutout of the season, one of three by the Angels last week. KANSAS CITY (1-6) squandered much of its good pitching because of lack of offensive support.

Standings: Chi 39-26, Det 36-31, Bos 35-32, Minn 34-33, Cleve 34-34, Cal 35-37, Balt 32-34, NY 31-35, KC 32-38, Wash 31-39

NATIONAL LEAGUE

It just wasn't Dave Bristol's week. The CINCINNATI (2-4) manager was forced to add Don Pavletich to a list of six other Reds' regulars who were out with injuries. Pavletich had paid the price for hitting two home runs in one game: he was hit by a pitch the next day, causing his arm to swell from the fingers to the shoulder. Even Bristol's 34th birthday was spoiled. When the Pirates loaded the bases and tied the score in the ninth inning, Bristol called in Reliever Bob Lee and told him, "No breaking stuff, just Powder River." Lee dutifully cut loose with his very best Powder River, a fast ball that flew over the plate, the batter and the catcher. By the time it finished ricocheting around, it was in the Pirate dugout and Pittsburgh had the winning run. ST. LOUIS (6-2) capitalized on the Reds' misfortunes as Roger Maris won one game with an 11 thinning double, another with a homer. Then Maris, like Pavletich, had to pay for his home run. He was nailed by a pitch the following day and had to leave the game. Revitalized CHICAGO (6-1) was the highest-scoring team in the majors and also among the slickest-fielding. Shortstop Don Kessinger fielded a ball while on his back and flipped it to second base for a forceout. The newest Cub, Relief Pitcher Chuck Hartenstein, won twice. Mike McCormick of SAN FRANCISCO (3-5) brought his record to 7-3 with two wins, and Juan Marichal pitched a pair of five-hitters. Marichal picked up his 10th win in the first game but lost the other 2-0 to Bill Singer of LOS ANGELES (4-3). One reason why the Giants were limping was the 85 runners who had reached third base with less than two out, only to die there. Maury Wills set up a PITTSBURGH (3-3) victory with a clutch hit the very same day that Dodger GM Buzzie Bavasi said, "If I could arrange last winter's trip again, I would go to Japan and have Maury room with me. I'd see to it that he didn't leave the country." ATLANTA (5-4) missed a chance to move into the first division when it lost a doubleheader to NEW YORK (3-3). Tom Seaver of the Mets beat the Braves 9-1 in the opener, and Tommy Davis homered to win the second game. Davis also got a double against Larry Jackson of PHILADELPHIA (3-3), which was noteworthy only because it was the lone hit the Mets got off Jackson. HOUSTON (0-7) pitchers gave up hits to four batters on whom they had 0-2 counts as the Astros lost four one-run games.

Standings: StL 42-24, Cin 42-29, Chi 38-28, Pitt 35-30, SF 36-33, Atl 36-34, Phil 31-35, LA 29-39, Hou 26-45, NY 23-41

PHOTO

HIGHLIGHT

Last week was one big fight night in the major leagues. Henry Aaron and Rico Carty of the Braves traded punches during a plane trip to L.A. "He called me a dirty name," said Aaron, who took a swipe at Carty, missed and almost decked Pitcher Pat Jarvis. Tony Oliva of the Twins also showed he is less of a slugger off the field. After some back-of-the-bus horseplay, Oliva and teammate Ted Uhlaender exchanged words but no punches. "The idea of the game," said Manager Cal Ermer, "is to fight the opposition, not each other." That is precisely what the Red Sox and Yankees did when a beanball argument erupted into a brawl. Joe Pepitone of the Yankees came out of the fracas with a sprained wrist, but was more concerned about his coiffure. Said Pepitone, "Someone messed up my hair."

Like so much of the feuding and fussing that went on, the argument shown at right was slightly ridiculous. It started when Umpire Al Salerno called Paul Blair of the Orioles out at second base, a decision that brought Baltimore Manager Hank Bauer out of the dugout like a Miura bull. After the two had spent a few minutes in a routine umpire-manager debate, Hank Soar, the senior umpire of the group, decided to intervene. In a scene reminiscent of the Keystone Cops, a heated Salerno turned on Soar and ordered him back to his post at first base. He appeared to be tossing his fellow umpire out of the game. Through it all Bauer stood by somewhat incredulous and more than slightly amused. The fans got a final kick out of the situation when Salerno made an emphatic gesture with his right arm as Soar headed back to first. Explained Salerno with a straight face: "I was just throwing my chewing gum away."