Kansas City Times - October 15, 1980

Phillies take first game from Royals, 7-6

Rookie, McGraw overcome two home runs by Aikens

By Mike Fish, A Member of the Sports Staff

PHILADELPHIA — Rookie pitchers and World Series games aren’t supposed to mix. You don’t send a boy out to handle a man’s chore.

The Royals were supposed to blister Philadelphia rookie Bob Walk. The 23-year-old starter wasn’t supposed to stand a chance, not against the Royals and certainly not in Game 1 of the World Series.

But Walk stood up to the Royals’ bats Tuesday night, lasting seven innings as the Phillies won 7-6.

A Veterans Stadium crowd of 66,312, the largest to see a Series game since 1964, went wild as the Phillies won their first World Series game since 1915.

Walk accomplished his mission of keeping the Phillies — their pitching staff burned out after a grueling 5-game playoff series with the Astros — in the game. Relief ace Tug McGraw allowed just one hit over the final two innings.

"They had a good night with the bat; we made a few mistakes,” said Royals’ Manager Jim Frey, who called a 3-run homer by Bake McBride "the key hit."

“The young kid (Walk) was struggling for control, but we hit the ball well off him. We just couldn’t hold the lead.”

“I just tried to overpower the hitters early and I really didn’t have the fastball,” Walk said. “After that I changed styles and got the ground ball.”

The American League champions made one last run at the Phillies with Willie Aikens’ 2-run homer in the eighth — his second 2-run homer of the night. But with the crowd roaring on every pitch in the ninth, McGraw retired the Royals in order.

Walk “kept us in the ballgame.” said Phillies’ Manager Dallas Green/ “He’s calling himself ‘Boom Boom’ now because of the home runs. That’s not Bobby.

“He’s generally got the control, but it’s tough any time you haven’t pitched in 11 or 12 days.”

Royals’ starter Dennis Leonard was cruising along with a’4-0 lead in the third, but the veteran right-hander saw his early success turn into a nightmare as the Phillies took the lead with five runs in that inning.

After Leonard had retired the first seven Phillies he faced, shortstop Larry Bowa bounced a single over second and then stole second. Bob Boone scored Bowa with a double to left.

That’s where life started to get miserable for Leonard. With Boone at second, rookie Lonnie Smith singled to left and tripped as he rounded first. George Brett had Smith caught in a rundown after he took Willie Wilson's throw from the outfield.

But when the Royals’ third baseman turned his back to Boone, the Phillies’ catcher took off for home and scored.

“I was screaming at the top of my lungs (for Brett) to throw home,” Leonard said. “But once he committed himself the play was dead.”

Leonard compounded matters when he hit Pete Rose with a pitch and walked Mike Schmidt on four pitches.

Boone's run "didn't really rattle me that much, but then I go out and give up a walk and hit another guy. He (Rose) never tried to get out of the way. It was a breaking pitch and he knew it wouldn’t hurt. I wish I had thrown him a fastball, or hit him in the knee.”

The Royals' 4-2 lead evaporated when clean-up hitter McBride homered over the 371-foot sign in right field.

The National League champions scored again in the fourth, sending Leonard to the showers. Manny Trillo beat out a slow roller to second, advanced to second when Leonard's pick-off throw skipped past Aikens, and scored on Boone's second double of the night.

Leonard, 13-4 since the All-Star break, was replaced by Renie Martin. He worked out of the fourth-inning jam, but the Phillies reached him for another run in the fifth.

It was Walk who was expected to self-destruct. After all, Green handed the ball over to the rookie out of desperation — he was the only available starter.

After an easy first inning Walk’s early demise appeared imminent. The Royals reached the rookie for a pair of runs in both the second and third innings. Amos Otis hit a 2-run homer in the second and Aikens, celebrating his 28th birthday Tuesday, followed with another 2-run homer.

It looked as if the Royals were going to run away from the Phillies — until Philadelphia's 5-run third inning turned the game around.

At that point, the best the Royals could hope for was to head back to Royals Stadium after Wednesday's game tied 1-1. But that is easier said than done. In Game 2, the Phils will go with veteran left-hander Steve Carlton, 24-9.

“I have all the confidence in the world in Lefty,” Green said “Then's no better pitcher in the game.

“If he was rested, I’d want to pitch him three times (in the Series). I might just pitch him two more times if I have a chance.”

Frey will counter with left-hander Larry Gura, 18-10. Gura, who struggled in the last month of the season, snapped out of his slump in beating the Yankees 7-2 in Game 1 of the American League playoffs.

McGraw was gremlin who stymied Royals

At 36, Phils’ bullpen ace is still having fun

By Gib Twyman, A Member of the Sports Staff

PHILADELPHIA — It was before the game, maybe four hours before Tug McGraw had saved the Philadelphia Phillies' 7-6 victory Tuesday in the first game of the World Series.

However, Veterans Stadium already was nearly full, the crowd getting ready for the first World Series in Philadelphia since 1950.

The players were slowly warming up when the Imp that lives in — and controls — McGraw took over.

He gave it that gremlin grin. The one where he looks like a little boy with a frog in his pocket. The lad who just dunked the girl's pigtails in the inkwell and made off with the teacher's erasers.

The cherubic look on his face is indelible. He is innocence never lost. He is major league baseball's perpetual Little Leaguer.

Before a game be blows bubbles, juggles baseballs, mugs for cameras, frisks like a colt in the outfield and carries on a running repartee with fans, writers, other players — anyone who wants to listen and talk back.

A man stops him and asks to talk and McGraw stops in mid-step, like a tyke playing “freeze tag.” Thus frozen, McGraw continues to carry on the conversation.

"When I was younger they said I was immature," said McGraw. "Now that I 'm older and still doing the same things 1 did 10 years ago, they call me a veteran who just likes to have fun. I don't think I ever did grow up. I think I’m still pretty immature.”

Beneath that, however, lies the Tug McGraw that National League hitters have come to know and respect. Jokes, pranks, hijinks and all, McGraw is one of the best relief pitchers ever to play baseball. And at 36, he remains the ace of the Philadelphia Phillies bullpen staff.

He also is an ace which might have been trumped. He pitched in every game in the National League Championship Series victory over Houston, which went five games. McGraw also pitched in the last three games of the regular season as Philadelphia wrested the NL East Division title from Montreal.

McGraw ought to be worn slick. And he is one of the biggest question marks surrounding this 77th World Series. If the Phils hope to beat the American League champion Royals, they will need a strong showing from McGraw. Otherwise, they will suffer their third Series loss in three tries.

McGraw tosses off such questions like dust off his britches.

"I feel great, really," he said through a chaw of Red Man tobacco. “Look, this is the World Series. If I'm needed, I’m needed. I'm not worried about it. When it's my turn, I'll be out there.

"My arm feels good. I think it's interesting that nobody asks a shortstop how his arm feels. He has to throw every day too. A catcher has to throw the ball back every time a pitcher throws it. Nobody wonders if his arm is tired.

“That's why we're relief pitchers. We count on having to go out there any time, all the time, whatever's necessary.”

McGraw had to go out in the eighth inning Tuesday. Earlier in the inning, Willie Aikens had hit his second 2-run home run, cutting the Phillies' lead to 7-6.

With one out and John Wathan, a .306 hitter, waiting at the plate, McGraw was in a jam.

Four Royals batters later, the game was over. Wathan hit into an inning-ending double play and McGraw retired the Royals in order in the ninth.

"Emotionally when I'm out there I can't get enough of it,” McGraw said. "I love it. I thrive on it. I was pumped sky high. I just told myself I’ve been here before. I'm at home. We're the Phillies. I've gonna work with Boonie (Bob Boone the catcher). Get the ball over the plate. Use what got me here. Get the job done."

McGraw has gotten the job done time after time like few people ever. He holds the National League record for most career saves,, 144. In the last decade, only three pitchers — Rollie Fingers Sparky Lyle Mike Marshall — have saved more games.

McGraw was on the disabled list from June 26 to July 17 with tendinitis in his pitching shoulder. But after he came back, the hitters were disabled.

McGraw didn't allow a run his first seven games after being activated. In August, he had six saves, gave up two earned runs in 17 innings. It was just a warmup for an amazing September. He gave up a run his first two-thirds of an inning in September. After that, he went through 15 games and 26 innings without allowing an earned run. He had four victories and a save in September and added a victory and two saves in October. Since he came off the disabled list, he had an earned-run average of 0.52. He gave up three runs, struck out 41, walked 10 and saved 13 games. He wound up with 20 saves for the season.

However, recent history also is the source of doubt about his ability in the 1980 Series. He went eight innings in the five games against Houston. He had an 0-1 record, a 4.50 ERA. He saved two games but the last two times out he looked tired and he was hit hard In the final game.

“The only other time I had a stretch like this was in September of 1973 when I was with the Mets," McGraw said. "But I'm in better shape now (laughing) — a finely tuned machine. Seriously, I worked harder in the offseason last year than ever before. I was spreading myself too thin with writing my cartoon strip (“Scroo-gie") and personal appearances. I used to say yes to everything and everybody. This last winter, though, I worked out on the Nautilus machine. I took better care of myself.”

When the Phillies needed him Tuesday, McGraw was ready.

"I don't have enough brains to know if I’m in trouble or not," McGraw said. "As a reliever there’s always a situation where you may be tired, but you have to reach back for a little extra and this was it tonight.

“Basically, I got one day of rest. And when I got out there I felt strong tonight. Somebody asked me if pitching wasn't much more mental than physical. I told him I've never been paid for my brains in my life. If that was the case I'd be soaking my head in a bucket of ice instead of my arm."

Before the game, McGraw said the emotional drain from the dramatic NL playoffs would not affect the Phillies.

"The funny thing is that one of the criticisms of the ballclub always has been that we weren't emotional enough. But after going through the last three games of the season and winning them against Montreal, and then the experience against Houston — all of a sudden we discovered how excitable we can be. It wasn't something for the fans. It was something for us. Rather than hurt us, that series opened the door to a whole range of emotional resources we didn't know we had."

Letting the emotions go? All they had to do was look at Tug McGraw to see how that works.

"This series is going to be fu-u-u-un!" Tug said with a huge grin across his face.

Then, long before it was time for him to work, he skipped off to shag flies in the outfield like a little boy at recess.

‘Weak’ arm fools Royals

Smith’s throw kills rally

By Gib Twyman and Mike DeArmond, Members of the Sports Staff

PHILADELPHIA — Lonnie Smith flung back the towel draped around his neck. On his right shoulder was a gash, etched into the flesh below the collarbone.

"Chronic bursitis," Smith said. "I had an operation in 1974. I’m sure that’s why they tried to go on me. My arm is not too good. Guys I've played with for a long time have known my arm is not too good."

But it was good enough. Enough to throw out Darrell Porter for the third out in the third inning. It stopped the Royals’ production that inning at two runs. Willie Aikens had hit the first of his two homers with two outs in the inning, giving Kansas City a 4-0 lead. After that, Porter walked and Amos Otis beat out an infield hit. Then Clint Hurdle singled sharply to left. Too sharply. Smith picked the ball up in shallow left and threw a strike to Phillies’ catcher Bob Boone. Porter was out by 20 feet. He didn’t slide. He didn’t try to knock Boone over.

It seemed to take the steam out of the Royals. Next thing they knew, the Phils had rallied for five runs in the third. It sent them on the way to a 7-6 victory in the first game of the 1980 World Series Tuesday night at Veterans Stadium.

"He was out from here to the coaches’ office," was the way Phils' third baseman Mike Schmidt put it.

Why did he go?

Royals' third-base coach Gordy MacKenzie, who waved Porter home, said "He's supposed to have an erratic arm. Anybody that's got an erratic arm, you figure they're going to make that throw one out of 10 times. That one was right on the money.

"But compounding the problem was the fact that Porter stumbled at the third-base bag and never seemed to get back on track.

"I was just completely messed up in my footwork," Porter said. “I hit the third-base bag and my foot kinda slipped and I never really got my rhythm back. I wanted to go down; that was in my mind. I just couldn’t get down."

McKenzie said, "When Darrell stumbled, that just killed it. And he (Smith) just threw a bleeping bullet."

Mike Ferraro, the Yankee third-base coach, was criticized for a somewhat similar play that broke the Yankees’ back in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series, helping the Royals to a 3-0 sweep.

"I’ll have to call him up and say Steinbrenner (George Yankee owner) doesn't want me either,” MacKenzie said.

Ewing Kauffman, Royals' owner, was asked why he didn’t rush into the Royals' dressing room, a la Steinbrenner, to criticize his third-base coach. "Absolutely not," said Kauffman. “I'd never think of it. Jim Frey s the manager and it’s his job to take care of it.”

Hal McRae said, "Smith's supposed to hive a poor arm. It didn’t look too poor on that one."

Said Smith, “I was really lucky I got it on a big hop and it came right to me. If it had been off to the side just a little bit, I probably couldn’t have thrown it well. Needless to say, that's the best I've thrown one in a long time."

Frey said, “It looks now that he (Porter) shouldn't have done it. I thought I saw him stumble a little coming around. The left-fielder was playing normal. There was a base hit in the hole. And I thought he made the right play."

Porter’s dash toward free agency runs aground

By Author, A Member of the Sports Staff

PHILADELPHIA – The World Series puts the Royals on center stage.

It's Frank White and UL Washington finally being appreciated by baseball's critics. And it's George Brett emerging as one of the game's superstars — perhaps even dethroning Mr. October, Reggie Jackson.

But for catcher Darrell Porter, the critics' reviews are even more important. In his case, it's a matter of dollars and cents. As a free agent at season's end, an outstanding World Series might enable him to name his own price.

But Game 1 didn't turn out like he wanted it to.

Tuesday night in the Royals' 7-6 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, Porter ran through a stop sign at third base and went toward home. There, he was met by Phillies' catcher Bob Boone, who tagged an upright Porter out to end what had been a 2-run inning.

Porter did not slide in his attempt to score from second on Clint Hurdle's single to left field.

And the pressure he had felt prior to the game was magnified.

“It's just so hard to put all that stuff (contractual problems) behind you," Porter said prior to Tuesday night's game. “This (World Series) is a great opportunity. I'm just trying to lessen the pressure.

"There's no question you want to perform well. You really want to do good, but then that leads to pressure. You look back and a lot of guys who were in the last year of contracts had bad years. The greatest enemy is yourself.”

Porter willingly admits pressure led to his sub-par season, one which included a .249 batting average with seven home runs and 51 runs batted in.

"If they (Royals) don't want me, fine," he said. “I’ll go somewhere else and beat them.

"I think it'd be absolutely stupid not to put my name on the free-agent list. It doesn’t mean I want to play somewhere else. Ideally, I’d like to come back here."

During the Series, Porter can atone for his poor season. A couple of key hits and a strong defensive showing would raise his market value. He is also well aware of the fact that the only catchers to sign as free agents — Milt May (San Francisco Giants) and Gene Tenace (San Diego Padres) — were both rewarded with lucrative contracts.

"Even with as bad a season as I've had, I'm better than most (catchers)," Porter said. "I feel like I'm as good an all-around catcher as there is. You might have some guys who hit a little better or who are stronger defensively, but I feel like I ’m the best overall."

Against the Phillies, he will have to prove it. Although they don't have a speedster in Willie Wilson's class, they do have three or four legitimate base stealers. His arm will likely be tested – after all, the Phillies stole seven bases in nine attempts in their five National League Championship Series games against the Astros.

"They'll probably try and run," Porter said. "I saw that they had decent success against Houston. I read the scouting reports over, and I expect they will run.

"There's not much I can do. I can't unload it (ball) any faster. I struggled on the baseball field this summer, but I've got the opportunity to change it into a pleasant situation."

Royals’ Aikens needed just one more thing for a perfect birthday

By Mike Fish, A Member of the Sports Staff

PHILADELPHIA – If only Willie Aikens could have rewritten the ending. Everything else went according to schedule for the burly Royals' first baseman.

For openers he celebrated his birthday by starting in Game 1 of the 1980 World Series. Not bad for a guy who just a year ago — while with the California Angels — missed the American League Championship Series because of an injured knee.

But Aikens did more than just show up at Veterans Stadium Tuesday night. He launched a pair of 2-run homers in his first World Series game.

Here was Willie Mays Aikens, born during the 1954 Yankees-Giants World Series and named after the great Giants’ centerfielder, strutting his long ball power on national television.

The only drawback was the final score — Phillies 7 Royals 6.

"It coulda been better if we won the game," Aikens said. "I was just so glad to go out do well, and have it be on my birthday.

"The first time up I hit a fastball out over the plate (a flyout to center). Next time, he (Phillies' starting and winning pitcher Bob Walk) was behind in the count, so I kinda guessed on the pitch. I was looking for a fastball inside and it was there.

 "I kinda had an idea from what he did the first time. If I get an idea, there's no way in the world you can throw me a fastball and get me out.”

The Phillies' starting pitcher, the first rookie to start the opening game of a Series since Joe Black opened for the Brooklyn Dodgers against the Yankees in 1952, is now a believer. But then, Walk wasn't privy to any pre-game scouting information on the Royals.

Phillies' Manager Dallas Green figured Walk was better off being kept in the dark.

"I didn't have any of that stuff (scouting reports)," said Walk. "I guess they just wanted to take all the worry away from me. It wasn't something I had to worry about.

"I just did what Boonie (catcher Bob Boone) said. Maybe I gave him ( Aikens ) too much to hit."

As Aikens sat half undressed in the Royals’ clubhouse, the opening game slugger was being quizzed about his name and the Hall of Fame player after whom he was named.

"I was kinda disappointed tonight that the announcer was calling me by my full name," Aikens said. "This is the first time it's happened this year… I wanted to send him (the announcer) a message, 'cause I have a middle name just like everybody else.

"He didn't call anybody George ‘Something' Brett or Hal Something' McRae. He just wanted to make a big deal out of it, excite the crowd and all that stuff.

“I feel like I'm Willie Aikens. I'm not Willie Mays or something ridiculous. I’ve never met the man.”

When Aikens faces lefthander Steve Carlton tonight you can be sure he'll be pitched differently.

The scouting reports were likely tossed out after Tuesday night's performance.

"We might have to pitch Aikens differently tomorrow said a relieved Green. "He showed us a lot of power tonight."

How deep are Royals in the hole?

The Morning Line By Mike McKenzie

PHILADELPHIA – The first time Bob Walk threw a pitch in a major league stadium, it was a tennis ball from the stands aimed at Cesar Cedeno of the Astros. A stadium cop saw Walk and escorted him from the stands. At the time, Walk was a teenage Dodger fan.

A year ago, Walk, 23 and a rookie pitcher for the Phillies, was pumping gas in California during the World Series, earning extra money because minor league pitchers aren't paid much.

Tuesday night, he was pumping high fastballs at the Royals in the opening game of the 1980 World Series.

After he was pulled from the game, ahead 7-6 and reeling, he paced the dugout calling himself, "Boom Boom."

That was in honor of Willie Aikens, who crashed two towering home runs on his 26th birthday, and Amos Otis, who hit one of Walk s pitches out of the park.

But while the Royals were booming, they were also crashing. The question becomes now, will they burn?

They are one down, away from home, and facing Steve Carlton — the best pitcher in the National League this year in terms of winning (24) and strikeouts (286) and second only to Don Sutton in stinginess (2.34 runs per nine innings).

How deep is that hole?

"Like a needle right now," said Otis. "You can barely see daylight through it."

Designated hitter Hal McRae disagreed — for now. "It's not a hole right now, not unless they win tomorrow. They beat our ace so we can beat theirs."

It’s not likely to be by the boom-boom. Carlton gave up just 15 home runs in 304 innings this season. Besides, the Royals are at their best when they’re rat-a tatting and running the opponent ragged. The best example opening night was the third inning, after Aikens' first blast provided a 4-0 cushion.

Darrell Porter walked, Otis singled, Clint Hurdle singled. That’s their ticket, with power sprinkled in.

But on this occasion, they became a cross between Captain Crunch at the plate and Tinker Bell on the base paths. On Hurdle's single, Porter was waved around third by coach Gordy MacKenzie. With a 4-run lead and two out, MacKenzie wanted to test the allegedly erratic arm of Phillies left-fielder Lonnie Smith.

Porter stumbled at the bag however, and finished the play tip-toeing into home. The ball was waiting in catcher Bob Boone s glove, and any major league catcher would have expected a collision. At least a slide.

Porter slowed then stopped. “I got my feet wrong and couldn't slide right," he said later. "If I had tried to slide, I’d have broken my ankle or killed myself.”

After that, Walk stayed away from high fastballs and retired nine straight batters before Frank White singled. That was enough time for the Phillies to do what they do best — muster a big inning (five runs in the third) and signal for Tug McGraw.

These Phillies were supposed to be drained, sapped from five dragggy games against the Astros in the National League playoffs. The last four went extra innings, and the Phillies spent 7½ hours winning the last two in the Astrodome.

But Pete Rose and McGraw kept preaching the playoff struggle would serve as a "new tool" in the World Series.

Neither stands around waiting for action, either. Each creates it, in a frenzy of emotion and energy. Talk all you will about Bake McBride’s crusher of a home run off Leonard for three runs and a 5-4 lead.

But a seemingly unobtrusive hit-by-pitch, Leonard hitting Rose, might have had as much to do with swaying the game as anything. “I had two strikes on him," said Leonard, "and I swear he didn't do anything to get out of the way and stuck his leg out.”

Rose angled toward the mound shouting something to Leonard as he ran to first. Mike Schmidt, with the threat of his 48 homers foremost in Leonard’s mind, walked. Then McBride crushed one.

After the game, Phillies manager Dallas Green singled out the hit-by-pitch as a vital play.

"Good, that doesn't make it hurt as much," Rose said. "Dennis should know better than that (accusing him of not trying to get out of the way) because that's illegal and I never do anything illegal."

His view of the hole: "Our players love it when Lefty (Carlton) is pitching and the opponents hate it. So do the concessionaires, because he always gives us a 2-hour game."

Kauffman is expecting good Series

By James C. Fitzpatrick, A Member of the Sports Staff

For 12 years, Royals' owner Ewing Kauffman has been waiting for his team to be in the World Series. He thought it would be sooner, but now that the team finally has reached that milestone, he thinks they’ll be triumphant.

It'll be the Royals in five, Mr. K. predicted Tuesday morning in a telephone interview from his Philadelphia hotel.

Before the Royals had dropped the first game 7-6, the founder and owner of Marion Laboratories said he thought the Royals would wrap up the Series on Sunday afternoon in Kansas City. That would be the third of three weekend games here.

Kauffman, 64, said be thought the Royals had a slight edge over the Phillies because the Royals were fresh and the Phillies could be somewhat drained from their topsy-turvy five-game playoff series with the Houston Astros.

"Our pitching rotation is set up and our boys are not emotionally drained,” Kauffman said.

Kauffman also said he thinks the Royals possess "the nucleus of a longstanding winner.” Other comments indicated that the team would not change its policy of bringing most of its talent up through the Kansas City minor-league system. The Royals have no highly paid free agents on their roster, and many of the players are products of the team's farm system.

Kauffman said the team can continue to be successful by adding one or two players each year from the minor leagues.

Next season, he said, he would like to see the team augmented with another starting pitcher and at least one backup outfielder.

"This is a young team,” he said. "Amos (Otis) is one of our older players (at 33), and he still is a beautiful center fielder.”

Not surprisingly, Kauffman thinks this is the best team the Royals have had in their 12 years of operation. He noted that in 1976, the first year the Yankees beat the Royals in the playoffs, the Royals did not have Clint Hurdle, Willie Wilson, Rich Gale and UL Washington.

“Those people make a lot of difference,” he said.

Kauffman, who has owned the team since the league granted Kansas City an expansion franchise in 1968, isn't hoarding the first-place feeling for himself and his wife, Muriel. The fans have traveled the same journey — sometimes joyous and sometimes tortuous — and their rejoicing enhances his own satisfaction.

"I’m proud not so much for myself as I am for the people of Kansas City,” he said.

Kauffman said he felt the Royals' pennant-winning performance vindicated decisions such as the team's dismissal of Whitey Herzog as manager last year, and Kauffman’s own reluctance to jump with abandon into the money-filled free-agent waters.

Kauffman said first-year Manager Jim Frey is a good organization man, doesn’t panic when players get injured and doesn’t ask that young players be traded for older players who might offer short-term help.

Kauffman said he did not mean to imply that Herzog, who now is general manager of the St Louis Cardinals, was not a good organization man or that he panicked at times.

“Whitey is a good baseball manager,” he said. “He wanted to have a bigger say-so in running the team than I thought the field manager should have."

Kauffman, unlike some other owners, has refrained from dabbling in day-to-day team management. He delegates the authority to key officials like Joe Burke, executive vice president and general manager, and John Schuerholz, vice president in charge of player development. They and other club officials have done an excellent job, Kauffman said.

Kauffman said he felt sorry for Yankee owner George Steinbrenner, and he may be the only person in town who feels that way. He added, though, that he does not believe in criticizing the players and he didn’t want anyone in the Royals organization to criticize the players publicly.

Steinbrenner, in contrast, has lashed out in frustration at several Yankee players and at a coach whose judgment he questioned.

On another matter that is a sore point with many Kansas Citians, Kauffman said that what little he saw of ABC’s television coverage of the American League playoffs “wasn't as bad as it was made to seem."

“The thing is, we want recognition when we win," he said “This time we did it and we didn't get the recognition we should have. But we’re going to get it in the World Series."

Splittorff seethes, but accepts demotion to bullpen for Series

By Mike McKenzie, A Member of the Sports Staff

PHILADELPHIA — Paul Splittorff, the winningest pitcher in Royals' history, sat sullenly in the dugout before Tuesday night’s World Series opener, listening to some last-minute scouting advice about Phillies' hitters.

What bothered Splittorff is that he might not need the information. He might not pitch in the World Series. He is assigned to the bullpen.

“I can’t agree,” he said of manager Jim Frey’s decision to remove him from the rotation of starters in favor of a plan of Dennis Leonard-Larry Gura-Rich Gale and Leonard-Gura again. “He told me I might pitch the sixth game if there is one. But he also might not. I think he’s wrong."

Splittorff said he talked to Us wife long into Monday night after Frey informed him of the setup. “I thought a lot about what I should say," he said.

“It’s not the time of year to be making waves. This is much too important to the team, the organization, and Kansas City. But it’s unfair to me, and to my teammates.”

The reasoning Splittorff said, is he should not be called upon in a crucial situation in the Royals’ biggest series ever in an unfamiliar role. “That would be like asking Frank White (second baseman) to play shortstop, Amos Otis (centerfielder) to play left field or Clint Hurdle (rigbtfielder) to play first base,” Splittorff said. “If I'm called on in relief, I expect to do the job. But he (Frey) is taking a big chance.”

The rub to Splittorff is the investment he's made in helping the Royals get to s World Series. Among the players signed by the Royals when they formed in 1969, he was the first to get to the big leagues and second to play in a game. He holds several team pitching records that go with 11 yean of longevity, including most victories, 137.

"Based on the job I've done in the past and this year, I should get the chance to pitch,” Splittorff said. “I really think I will, one way or another, so I'll keep a positive attitude and be ready to do the best I can. Any more talk about it will take place after the Series between me and Frey and Joe Burke (general manager), if necessary."

Splittorff has relieved before, once this year after coining off a back problem that caused him to miss five starts in late May and early June. He was assigned full-time to the bullpen in 1975 when he was in manager Jack McKeon's “doghouse.” He made 12 appearances and earned the only save of his career.

Whitey Herzog took over the team in late that year and put Splittorff back in the starting rotation, where he has worked ever since, relieving only on special occasions.

One such time was the 1978 playoffs, after a 2 month injury layoff, and he saved a victory over the Yankees. “I’ve done OK in relief," he said, “but I'm not used to it.”

Splittorff acknowledged Frey's leaning to "percentages" — using more riglit-handed pitching against the Phillies' lineup featuring several right-handed power hitters. And Splittorff knows most World Series teams, because of travel days, go to three starting pitchers instead of the normal four or five.

“I just wish it wasn't me caught up in it," he said. "Coming down the stretch, I think Leonard and I were the best two starters. (Splittorff won three of this last four and was 9-4 after the All-Star break to finish 14-11.) I should get to start.

"But 1 didn't say a thing to him (Frey). I have to stay away from a bad attitude about it it… can’t be a personal thing.”

Although Frey told Splittorff of the pitching plans, the Royals’ manager told the press be hadn't decided how to go if the Series lasts more than four games.

Where are you now when we need you most, W.C. Fields?

Commentary by Dick Young, New York Daily News

PHILADELPHIA – Karl Marx was close to right when he said religion was the opiate of the masses. In this country, it's baseball, which has become the religion of many in the masses. Baseball has the people here thinking they live in Shangri-La.

Philadelphia wins one lousy National League pennant in 30 years, wins it staggering, in an extra inning of the last possible game of a playoff, and right away it becomes the Garden of Eden instead of Joke City. I can’t believe the overnight transformation that is supposed to have occurred.

Here's a town with a crime problem that's worse than the one in New York, if that's possible, and with subway cars so filthy they make the New York system look like a sterile operating room, but why worry about such trivia now that the Phillies are in the World Series?

Their school system is going broke, kids graduate counting on their fingers, but everybody was willing to forget it once Garry Maddox doubled home the run that beat Houston out of the pennant in the 10^th. Even Dallas Green suddenly thinks Garry Maddox is a great guy, and Green, the Phils’ manager, couldn’t stand him enough to play him in the final week of the season.

I can't believe some of the things I’m hearing here, or reading in the newspapers. One guy is challenging W.C. Fields to a duel, just because the droll baggy-pants comic wanted engraved on his tombstone that, all things considered, he'd rather be m Philadelphia. I guess Manny Trillo chowed W.C. a thing or two.

Too bad the Yankees didn’t get into this World Series. Then New York could ignore the bombs exploding in front of the United Nations Building, or that its hospitals are crippled by a nurse's strike. It would be nice to have Reggie Jax restore our civic stupor the way Pete Rose has done it down here.

Winning a big game does things to the logical processes of brilliant men. An editorial writer down here, who might otherwise be figuring out reasons why Reagan will beat Carter, has come up with a guaranteed explanation of why the Phillies will beat Kansas City's Royals. It seems that in 1915 the Phillies won the pennant for the first time, and that very year a filly won the Kentucky Derby. In 1980 a filly won the Derby for the first time m those 65 years so…

Of course, what the straining egghead fails to mention is that in the 1915 World Series the Phillies got their butts kicked by the Boston Red Sox, four games to one. Philly won the opener that year, with the immortal Grover Cleveland Alexander, and they haven’t won a World Series game since. Not a championship; a single lousy game. They lost the next four to Boston, then waited 'til 1950 to get into the Series again, whereupon they lost four straight to the Yankees.

The 1950 World Series did very little for the chauvinistic psyche of Philadelphia. Before the tournament began, the town was all charged up just as it is now. “They can't call us losers any longer"… "Who says this is Choke City?" Etc., etc., etc.

Buoyed by this reborn civic pride the Phillies scored five runs in four games, total. Two of the runs came in the ninth inning of the last game when Gene Woodling dropped a fly ball. Philly hitters earned 0.73 runs a game. Their batting average for the set was .203.

And so the people of Philadelphia crawled back into their terrible inferiority complexes for another 30 years, until Tug McGraw and friends played some mighty persistent baseball the other night in the Astrodome. Then, suddenly, the people of Philly came out of the closet again, rubbing their eyes, beating their chests and growling defiance, and proclaiming that the capital of the world is Philadelphia. If there were room, 1 million Philadelphians would be double-stepping up the tall stairway of the town s Art Museum, throwing their challenging arms skyward, the way Rocky did.

Hey I'm all for it. I think it's wonderful that a baseball team can bring a populace together like this, and make the overtaxed suckers forget what is really happening to them. A guy would go nuts if he had to face the reality of city life every day, especially in Philadelphia.

There is a remarkable similarity, at the start of this World Series, between what faced the manager of the 1950 Phillies and the manager of the 1980 team. Eddie Sawyer had used up his starters in the struggle to beat out the Brooklyn Dodgers in the final days of '50, so he opened the World Series with his relief ace, Jim Konstanty, who hadn't started a game all season.

Green, having exhausted his frontline pitchers in the desperation games at Houston, found himself starting the Series with Bob Walk, who was pitching at Reading, Pa., a year ago and who will be all of 24 next month. Walk is a frightening name for a kid pitcher to carry into a World Series, but he has had the name for almost 24 years now, and it hasn't stopped him from making the bigs with a pennant winner.

This Series fever – it’s just elementary

Notes

World Series fever has hit one of Kansas City’s elementary schools — which was temporarily renamed Tuesday for George Brett.

Banners were strung through the halls and many of the 580 pupils at Southeast Elementary School wore buttons or carried signs supporting the Royals. Principal Les Shert said pupils were attired in the Royals’ colors — blue and white — and the first day of the Series was declared Royals Fever Day. He said pupils voted to name the school George Brett Elementary School for the remainder of the Series.

One fourth grader carried a Philadelphia Phillies sign. "The other kids made fun of him, but he said he's a Phillies' fan, so we let him keep it," Shert said…

Royals' catcher Darrell Porter is ready for “Charlie Hustle."

Pete Rose, the Phillies' rendition of a runaway truck, has a reputation for crashing into catchers. So when Porter was asked how he might handle the inevitable head-to-head confrontation at home plate, he replied: “I don't know what Pete weighs, but I’m about 220 and I've got some good padding on. You expect it. If he wants to try it, I’ll be ready…"

Rose might not be leery of sliding head-first into home, but he claims he's not about to do it going into second base. That's where U.L. Washington stands his ground — with his ever present toothpick clinched between his teeth.

“I just don't want to go sliding head first into second," Rose said. "I don't want to get caught with that toothpick…”

When Royals Manager Jim Frey and the Phillies' Dallas Green took the field Tuesday, they became the first rookie managers to face each other in the World Series.

Their appearance also assured that there would be the first rookie winner since 1961, when Ralph Houk managed the New York Yankees. The last rookie winner in the National League was Eddie Dyer of St Louis in 1946.

The last time a rookie managed in a World Series was 1977, when Tommy Lasorda guided the Los Angeles Dodgers…

The Phillies’ Bob Walk Tuesday became the first rookie pitcher to start the first game of the World Series in 28 years. The last rookie pitcher to start the opening game of the fall classic was Joe Black of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1952…

Philadelphia Mayor William Green has bet an “equitable” amount of soft pretzels to Kansas City Mayor Richard Berkley’s one dozen steaks that the Phillies will beat the Royals in the Series. When Green was asked what he considered an “equitable" amount of pretzels, he said he thought six was enough…

Philadelphia's restaurants hotels and merchants expect to score a business bonanza during the Series.

At least $1 million in business was predicted for Tuesday and today’s games. And if the Series goes the full seven games, the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau esti mates that the city should gross $4 million…

The National Weather Service says temperatures will be in the low 50s for tonight’s second game…

Only two Kansas City players, Hal McRae and Ken Brett, and three from Philadelphia — Pete Rose, Tug McGraw and Steve Carlton — have previous Series experience.

McRae was in the 1970 and 1972 World Series with Cincinnati, and Brett, George Brett's older brother, was with the Boston Red Sox in 1967.

Rose has the most World Series experience, in 1970, ’72, ‘75 and ‘76 with Cincinnati. McGraw was in the 1969 and 1971 Series with the New York Mets, and Carlton was with St Louis in 1967 and '68…

Begona Flores flew from Caracas, Venezuela, to watch the Royals play in their first World Series. But she’ll be watching the games from her motel, just a few miles from Royals Stadium.

The problem is that Series tickets have joined the endangered species list.

Royals' officials report all 17 lines at the Stadium switchboard were jammed for almost an hour early Monday and calls continued two and three at a time for the rest of the day.

During the regular season, 5000 general admission tickets are sold before each home game. But they are not made available during the playoffs or World Series.

Royals fans should have no beef with NBC experts

Commentary By Steve Nicely, Broadcast Critic

When the NBC World Series announcers had negative things to say about the Royals in Philadelphia Tuesday night, the Royals deserved it. It wasn't because the announcers were biased.

In sharp contrast to ABC announcers during the American League Championship Series, the NBC sportscasters called a welcome, neutral game. Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek and Tom Seaver kept the viewers informed about game developments that were adverse to the Royals without offending the sensibilities of Royals' fans.

The tone of the announcers was consistently positive in descriptions of plays by both teams. They registered the same level of excitement during outstanding plays for the Phillies as well as the Royals.

NBC, broadcasting its 32^nd World Series, displayed its seasoned experience in superior camera and video special effects as well. Split-screen action kept viewers informed of crucial developments in two parts of the field. Instant replays and slow motion frequently from three camera angles in succession, verified close calls by umpires.

If anything, the pre-game show seemed slightly biased in favor of the Royals. The pre-game television time was devoted evenly between both teams. They followed the network baseball tradition of featuring the visiting team first.

Much of the credit for the pictures sent out over the airwaves belongs to NBC director Harry Coyle. He has directed all of NBC's World Series telecasts, but because he does it from a truck outside the stadium, he has witnessed none of them.

NBC was made amply aware of Kansas City's displeasure with the bias of ABC during the Royals-Yankees playoff series. A wire service story about it appeared in Philadelphia newspapers early in the week.

But if the NBC announcers were tuned into the Kansas City displeasure they did not bend over backwards. When Royals’ pitcher Dennis Leonard made a bad throw to first in an attempt to pick off the Phillie player, the announcer said as much.

“That was a mental mistake not a physical one," one of them said.

It was an accurate statement.

It’s a safe bet you can find a World Series pool nearby

By Paul Vitello, A Member of the Sports Staff

Bettors say baseball would be a terrible bore if there wasn’t a little something on the line to spice up the final score.

Purists say money should never get between a fan and his lifelong love for the game.

But like it or not, the 1980 World Series is generating big betting bucks. Anywhere fans mix with money and pride there is going to be wagering — experts estimate about $50 million worth of it nationwide.

And the experts say the bets are heavy on the Kansas City Royals.

"The public is betting Kansas City like the World Series is over,” a spokesman for the Union Plaza Hotel betting office in Las Vegas, Nev. said Tuesday before the Royals dropped the first game. "We opened bets Monday with the Royals favored 11 to 10. Today odds are up to 13 to 10.”

A check with some other Las Vegas betting houses revealed similar odds.  

“The betting public saw the Phillies play a tough series,” said Bob Martin, the odds maker who set Monday's odds at the Union Plaza. "They saw the Royals sweep New York. They’re looking at Willie Wilson's speed, George Brett's power. And they’re looking at a tired, much older, Phillies team.”

In many cases they are Kansas Citians just looking at a home team that has never been in the Series before.

There is no way to be sure how many home-grown Royals fans are in Vegas to bet on the Royals, but an informal survey of the major airlines showed heavy bookings between Kansas City and Las Vegas this week. A spokesman for TWA said the route showed a 44 percent traffic increase over a randomly selected week of September.

"By comparison," the TWA spokesman said, “there is only an 11 percent booking increase in the Philadelphia Las Vegas route,” he said. “Seems like the high-rollers are coming out of Kansas City."

Yet for every high-roller boarding a plane for Vegas where the betting is legal, there are probably a dozen people supporting the betting economy right here at home — where it is not.

But do not panic. Unless you are what law enforcement officiids consider "organized" in your approach to this crime, you are not in serious danger of acquiring a police record.

"You can't go through an office building in this city that doesn't have a pot floating through it," Sgt Lee Gregory of the Kansas City vice squad said Tuesday. “And I’ll include the county courthouse across the street."

Would he include the police headquarters at 11th and Locust?

“I stand by what I said," he said.

Independent sources confirmed at least three World Series pools operating among employees at the police headquarters.

Law enforcement officials here concede that non-commercial sports pool betting exists in a kind of demilitarized zone of the criminal justice system.

“’De minimus non curat lex,’ is how us lawyers put it," said Anthony Nugent, first deputy US attorney which means ‘The law pays no attention to trifles.’”

Not that it isn’t clearly illegal to gamble in Missouri and Kansas. For placing a wager with your friendly office pool organizer, you technically commit a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1000 fine. By organizing that office pool. blind Justice classifies you as a Class E felon, for which you could get one to five.

For the neighborhood bartender who collects names and wagers, the threat is more serious than jail. For allowing any kind of gambling in his joint, he could lose his liquor license.

“This here’s your basic ‘one-through-10,’’’ a downtown bartender said through the side of his mouth, smoothing out a dog-eared sheet of paper containing 100 squares.

Inside each square is a name. Attached to each name is a $5 bet. And behind each bet is some baseball fan’s desire to get a cut of the money, if not the fame that goes to the winner of the 1980 World Series.

“This is the kind of pool anybody can play,” said the bartender eyeing the front door. “You don’t have to know a thing about baseball.”

Like most of the pools circulating in bars, barbershops, newspaper mail rooms, corporate suites and police stations, it is a simple wager. If your team wins by the score in your square, you take the pot — usually ranging from $100 to $300.

Penny-ante stuff in Las Vegas, where Martin says the betting is “very, very heavy." But that still is small-time compared with the big-betting sport: football.

“You’ll get maybe $50 million in bets on the Series, nationwide," Martin said. "On the Super Bowl, it’s more like hundreds of millions.”

It is $50 million too much for some people.

“We feel that betting is bad for baseball — period," says Arthur Fuss, a former FBI agent who is the assistant director of security for baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn.

"Money changes the whole tone of the fan’s interest,” he said. “Imagine a whole stadium in which everyone has placed a bet, and visualize the attitude of that crowd if there should be an error in the ninth inning. It’s not healthy. It’s not the way the game was meant to be watched.”

But the odds are that in Kansas City, it is the way of World Series 1980.

High schools adjust Friday starting times for football games

By Cindy Boren, A Member of the Sports Staff

How do you compete with Kansas City’s first World Series baseball game? Some local high schools admit it can’t be done, so they are leaving the Friday night sports stage to the Royals and Phillies who will play at Royals Stadium.

So far, all three high school football games set for Kansas City, Kansas, League teams have been moved up 90 minutes to 6 p.m. starting times. Those games are Washington at Ward, Harmon at Wyandotte and Sumner at Schlagie.

Another game between Turner and Bishop Miege, has also been moved to a 6 p.m. starting time at Miege.

Other schools are going ahead with their regularly scheduled 7:30 p.m. games. Still others don’t know what they’re going to do.

Two local Sunflower League games are proceeding as planned at the Shawnee Mission District stadiums, while officials of the 18 Suburban Conference and nine Interscholastic League teams won’t decide the matter until today.

"There’s no doubt it will hurt the gate," said Jack Hammig, supervisor of athletics and physical education in the Shawnee Mission School District. "We never really did consider moving the games to an earlier time, just to Saturday night. (SM) West and (SM) South decided between them to keep the game at 7:30 Friday (at South stadium) and (SM) East had a schedule conflict of some kind that kept them from changing their game with (SM) Northwest (at SM North) to Saturday night. (SM) North is still playing at Lawrence at 7:30.”

Jim Hess, interscholastic activities director for the Interscholastic League, said his schools hadn't even considered changing the schedule.

'‘This is the first I've heard of it," said Hess, “but if the Suburban (Conference) schools are thinking of moving up their times, it’ll put pressure on us to move ours up too.

"We only have two games, Paseo at East and Central and Northeast at Southeast. Westport plays at Fort Osage ( a Suburban Small Six team).”

Other games involving suburban conference teams include Ruskin at Raytown South; Rockhurst at Grandview; Truman at Chrisman; Hickman Mills at Center; Liberty at Blue Springs; and St Joseph Central at Lee's Summit.

Whatever the changes still in the offing, the whole operation might just be an exercise in futility.

"You just can’t please everyone. There's a music festival set for tonight (Tuesday) and some people wanted that reset because of the Series opener,” said Hammig, who added in mock seriousness, "We’re only asking for one night (Friday). I’ve called Bowie Kuhn…”

Fireman picked to toss out first ball at Friday’s game

By Cindy Boren, A Member of the Sports Staff

Three boosters — and beneficiaries — of the cardio-pulmonary resuscitation program initiated by Royals' owners Ewing and Muriel Kauffman have been designated to throw out the first pitch in the World Series game Friday night at Royals Stadium.

According to Barbara Hodes, public relations director for CPR Now, three Kansas City Mo firefighters earned that honor when they saved two children by using the technique which combines mouth-to-mouttr resuscitation with cardio-pulmonary massage.

In late August, Captain Jay Rickets, Frank Tittone and Louie Wright saved the lives of two children who were unconscious and had stopped breathing after a fire in their home. "They'd finished the class about 10 p.m. and around 11, an alarm came through,” said Hodes. "They saved two children through CPR and a third died."

The firefighters’ training was part of a community project begun by the Kauffmans. Training courses were first offered to firefighters who, in turn, train citizens in classes offered at local fire stations. CPR is designed to restore breathing and heartbeat — at least artificially — until emergency help arrives. It is the Kauffmans’ hope to have 100,000 Kansas Citians trained in the technique in the next two years. Those interested in learning can register by calling 474-9200.

It’s Phils, or he faces cold winter

By Liz Reardon, A Member of the Sports Staff

Kansas City was ready for its first victory in the World Series.

The signs were evident around town, from the giant ‘R' at the BMA tower to the "Beat Phillies" banner at the Pershing Square office building.

But it was not to be. As Philadelphia downed the home team 7-6 in the first game Tuesday night, one of the few area residents who was cheering, albeit somberly, was Bill Lee.

The Kansas City, Kansas, firefighter stands to lose a lot if the Royals capture the World Series. But it's not money that concerns him. It's his mop of curly blond hair.

If the Royals come out on top, Lee's head will be shaved by one of his fellow firefighters at Fire Station No. 10 at 1166 Southwest Boulevard shortly after the final inning of the final game.

Lee said he “definitely" regret his brash statement of some time ago, a vow to have his head shaved if Kansas City wins the Series. “I'm kind of hoping Philadelphia wins," he said ruefully.

But the other firemen chuckle over Lee's concern, and point to a cartoon of the rotund Lee drawn on a chalk board m the station. In the caricature, Lee is bald.

"The Royals are going to win (the Series) on Saturday,” one of the firemen laughed early Tuesday night, even though the Royals had just fallen behind 5-4 at that point. "He'll get his head shaved Monday and he'll be divorced on Tuesday.”

The loyalty of the firefighters obviously was shared by other fans throughout the area Tuesday as they gathered in restaurants and bars to cheer for their team. A pattern of lighted windows formed the giant ‘R' on the BMA building on Southwest Trafficway. And at the Pershing Square office building, the command “Beat Phillies” is posted for all to see. At Antoine’s On The Boulevard restaurant at 423 Southwest Boulevard, more than a score of diners watched the game.

"You can interview anybody in here," one woman said, laughing. "They're all Royals' fans."

Despite Tuesday night's loss, optimism was strong.

Bob Willis sat at the bar at Antoine's and promised he would celebrate the Royals' eventual World Series victory there.

“Naturally, it's going to be the Royals," he said "It couldn't be anyone else."

Willis' comments were echoed by patrons at Kelly s Westport Inn.

“Philadelphia is a nice town to pass through," said Bob Chaffin. “But not to stay in too long."

Bill Claypool said, “We’re definitely going to win the Series. It'll be five or six games."

Claypool and Chaffin said it's best to watch baseball in a bar. “I think it's great to go into a bar and watch it," Claypool said. "You can talk it over with your friends."

Clara Saunders was doing just that as she sat with friends in the lobby of Crown Center Hotel, echoing Claypool’s sentiments on the series. “They 're going to win. No doubt about it."

Stadium, city prepare for Game 3 Friday

By Mark Fraser, A Member of the Sports Staff

Kansas City stepped into high gear Tuesday in its preparation for the World Series home stand.

As final touches were being made on the field at Royals Stadium, plans to drape the downtown and Crown Center areas in blue and white banners also were in the works.

Meanwhile, Mayor Richard Berkley and his wife Sandy, departed for Philadelphia to be on hand for the first two games of the Series between the Royals and Phillies. And city officials here, the Royals organization and the Police Department continued to draw up a blueprint for a celebration honoring the American League champions.

Plans for the team's return to Kansas City remained unclear Tuesday. The Royals are expected, however, to leave Philadelphia on a chartered flight as soon as possible after the game tonight. They would arrive sometime early Thursday at Kansas City International Airport.

The Parks and Recreation Department will begin putting banners today around the downtown and Crown Center. The banners measure 32 inches by 42 inches and are remnants of the City in Celebration, an areawide arts festival in the summer of 1979.

Country Club Plaza merchants are also working to decorate that area of the city with special banners marking the World Series.

At Royals Stadium, work was paced to end on Friday, when the third game of the Series will be played here. Crews from NBC, which is telecasting the Series, strung television cable as finishing touches were being put on the Phillies emblem — a 15-foot "P" contained in a circle — on the hill beyond the left-field wall.

The grounds crew also washed the outfield wall and tended to odds and ends.

“We've got a lot of little things to do,” said George Toma, director of fields and landscaping at the stadium.  “I’m so excited that I forgot we were in Philadelphia tonight (Tuesday)."

Plans for food, drink and novelty sales also were falling into place, according to Paul Laky, assistant general manager for Volume Services Inc., which handles concessions at the stadium.

The Series excitement is expected to keep fans riveted to their stadium seats, so the company is ordering a larger than normal amount of beer in bottles.

Why bottled beer?

Draft beer is served at concession stands — away from the action. Bottled beer, however, is the province of the vendors who sell the beer among the spectators, Laky explained.

The company also will be increasing its hourly work force at game time by about 50 percent to 700 employees.

"We’re not too worried about payroll,” Laky said, predicting that the Series would bring record sales. "You've got to cover yourself. That’s why you go overboard.”

Stadium security also is being bolstered for the Series. The team of police officers and security guards on around-the-clock surveillance at the stadium now stands at six. And Bill Trollope, a Kansas City Police sergeant who is helping coordinate security at the stadium, said the department’s usual contingent of 45 crowd control officers probably will be doubled for the Series.

"We don’t anticipate any problems, but we have to be prepared," he said.

Caterers and hoteliers will be among the businessmen sharing in the World Series bounty.

Anthony Treccariche, owner of Brother’s Meat, Liquor & Deli on South 71 Highway, said his business for today was up nearly 50 percent. He added that he expected the upsurge to last through the Series home stand.

Treccariche attributed the increase to baseball and the Royals, explaining, "There’s nothing to party about other than this right now."