CONTENTS

Doing Much...and Much Ado 12

Game after game, for six weeks and more, Pete Rose was unstoppable in chasing down consecutive-game hitting records
by Larry Keith

After resigning under fire, Billy Martin was rehired to manage the Yankees—but not until 1980
by Melissa Ludtke Lincoln and Kathleen Andria

Meanwhile, Back in the Real World 16
...a few of the other big names—non-baseball, that is—were getting their acts together to show that life isn't all hitting and hiring

A Towering Success 20
The first National Sports Festival took place in the shadow of Pikes Peak and 2,165 athletes had their day in the sun
by Joe Jares

No Ride into the Sunset 26
At 62, Jockey Mel Lewis has more than 15,000 races behind him, but he's still booting home winners in California
by William Leggett

The Battle Is Rejoined 30
The Giants' return to contention has rekindled the Los Angeles-San Francisco rivalry and memories of past feuds
by Ron Fimrite

In an Orbit All His Own 58
Bill Lee, baseball's Spaceman, takes a different track, whether he's "retiring" from the Red Sox or lofting a Leephus
by Curry Kirkpatrick

The Departments

Scorecard 7
Baseball 41
Boxing 46
Pro Basketball 50
Harness Racing 54
For the Record 71
19th Hole 72

Credits on page 71

Cover photograph by John Iacono

Next Week

The casualty lists in football are growing alarmingly long, and it's high time someone became concerned. In the first installment of a three-part series, John Underwood indicts the helmet, at once a lethal weapon and inadequate protection.

The specter of career-ending arm injuries has haunted pitchers ever since baseball began. In a study of the causes of and the cures for sore arms, Ron Fimrite tells why Tommy John was able to come back and why Steve Busby may not.