Local fans hail winners while All State debates grow loud
The column reflects on coaching reputations like Merrill Gainer and John Chmara shaping expectations and fan bias across Bluefield Roanoke and Patrick Henry High. It notes Muhammad Ali’s earnings goal and critiques All State baseball selections amid political influence and ballot loading claims affecting youth sports coverage.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Merrill Gainer
Bluefield
Patrick Hnry
Roanoke
Patrick Henry
Gainer
John Chmara
Chmara
Beavers
Beaver
Ave Raese
Morgantown
WVU
Duke Raese
Dave
Kanawha Valley
Sports Writers Association
Rangers Teammates Lead AL All Star Balloting for Berth
Texas Ranger teammates Mike Hargrove and Toby Harrah top first AL voting for the 1976 All Star squad while Detroit’s Ron LeFlore and Rusty Staub trail closely. Results show strong showings across positions with Munson leading catchers and Brett atop third base. Voting runs through July with the All Star Game set for July 13 in Philadelphia.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
Mike Hargrove
Toby Harrah
Texas Rangers
Ron LeFlore
Rusty Braub
Detroit Tigers
Philadelphia
Hargrove
Boston
Carl Yastrzemski
Harrah
Belanger
Baltimore
LeFlore
Staub
Fred Lynn
Texas
Jeff Burroughs
Bobby Grich
Willie Randolph
Theew York Yankees
Dolph
Thurman Munson
Yankees
Carleton Fisk
Boston Red Sox
Kansas City
George Brett
Don Money
Milwaukee
Munson
Rod Carew
Minnesota
Yastrzemski
Johnny Bench
Cincinnati
Steve Garvey
Los Angeles
Joe Morgan
Pete Rose
Adelphia
Bake McBride
St. Louis
Dave Kingman
Purtzer and Dent Lead Kemper Open After Second Round
Rookie Tom Purtzer tied Jim Dent for the 36 hole lead at 136 eight under par as weather disruptions hit the Kemper Open in Charlotte. Dent, a power hitter and Masters regular, shot a 68 to stay close, while Coody Hayes and Groh trailed at 138.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dent
Jim Dent
Charlotte
N.C
Tom Purtzer
Quail Hollow Country Club
Purtzer
Philadelphia
Charles Coody
Mark Hayes
Gary Groh
Coleaders
Coody
Groh
Hayes
Mason Rudolph
Lon Hinkle
Joe Inman
Roger Maltbbie
Homero Blancas
Floyd
Arnold Palmer
Augusta National Golf Club
Roger Maltbie Mason Rudolph
Lou Hinkle
Homero Blancos
Grier Jones
Mike Hill
J.C. Snead
al Geiberger
John Mahaffey
Ray Floyd
Forrest Fezrer
Lou Graham
Gibby Gilbert
Bob Murphy
Tom Weiskopf
Rex Caldwell
Jim Simons
Larry Ziegler
Bob Wynn
Tom Kite
Dan Sikes
Eddie Pearce
Peter Oosterhuis
Jerry McGee
Don Bies
Don January
Terrance Dill
Cesar Sanudo
Larry Nelson
Gary Koch
Tom Jenkins
Dave Hill
Greg Powers
Wally Armstrong
Tommy Aaron
Frank Conner
Terry Diehl
David Graham
Bruce Devlin
Randy Erskine
Jim Masserio
Dennie Meyer
George Cadiel
Marion Heck
Perry Leslie
Steve Veriato
Bob Lunn
Mike Morey
Jack Ewing
Dick Lotz
Cubs Defeat Astros 8-3 in Chicago Showdown
George Mitterwald led the Cubs with four singles and two RBIs as Chicago beat the Houston Astros 8-3. Bill Bonham earned the win with help from Paul Reuschel in the seventh, while Mike Cosgrove took the loss after giving up four Cubs runs in the fifth. Rob Andrews doubled for Houston and Jose Cruz scored on an infield single.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chicago
George Mitterwald
Chicago Cubs
Houston Astros
Mitterewald
Cubs
Bill Bonham
Paul Reuschel
Mike Cosgrove
Houston
Rob Andrews
Jose Cruz
BCC Golfers Win Second Straight Match at Bluefield
Bluefield Country Club hosted a four team junior golf league where BCC won with 309. Fincastle CC placed second at 311, Richwood third at 334, and Princeton Elks fourth at 393. Medalists included Kevin Tripper Thomas and Tracy Leatherwood for BCC with 77 each and Jeff Coppinger for Fincastle with 73. Next week’s match moves to Fincastle CC.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bluefield CC
Fincastle CC
Richwood
Princeton Elks
BCC
Kevin Tripper Thomas
Tracy Leatherwood
Jeff Coppinger
Fincastle
Steve Neale
Tom West
Princeton
Inoki Warns Ali of Japan Bout Preparations
Antonio Inoki told reporters in Tokyo that Muhammad Ali should bring crutches and arm slings to their June 26 World Martial Arts Championship. Inoki outlined his training, rules concerns, and strategy while touring Ali’s luxury Tokyo hotel suite and noting Ali’s claim of peak condition.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tokyo
Antonio Inoki
Muhammad Ali
Japan
Ali
Inoki
Masutatsu Oyama
Gene Lebell
Los Angeles
Hall of Fame Meet Opens in Charleston with 10 Inductees
Ten new Track and Field Hall of Fame members will be enshrined at 10 a.m. in Charleston. The day features a 2 p.m. Hall of Fame meet including the miracle mile and an Olympic hopeful lineup led by Mike Tyson and Wilson Waigwa.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Charleston
W.va
Montreal
Track and Field Hall of Fame
Hall
Dee Beckmann
U.S
J. Kenneth Doherty
Mae Faggs Starr
Forrest
State Capitol
Wilson Waigwa
Texas-El Paso
Phil Barker
Furman
Mike Tyson
William Joyner
New Bern
N.C
West Virginia
Stalent
Pirates Roll Over Braves 6-2 Behind Homers
Pirates end a three game skid with 6-2 win over the Braves as Bill Robinson Richie Zisk and Bob Moose homer. Al Oliver and Rennie Stennett drive in runs in the fifth, Robinson adds his 10th homer in the seventh, Moose hits first career homer in ninth. Candlaria starts strong before eighth inning rally.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Atlanta
Bill Robinson
Richie Zisk
Bob Moose
Pittsburgh Pirates
Atlanta Braves
Pittsburgh
al Oliver
Robinson
Oliver
Rennie Stennett
Roger Moret
Zisk
Tommy Helms
Moose
John Candlearia
Candlearia
Nettles Drives Five, Yankees top Rangers 7–5
Graig Nettles drove in five runs with two homers as the New York Yankees beat the Texas Rangers 7–5. Bert Blyleven, seeking his 100th win, took the loss after another rough outing. Roy White hit his 6th homer to erase a 5–4 deficit, and Nettles added a seventh homer with two outs in the eighth.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Milwaukee Brewers
Sal Bando
Oakland A's
Brooks Robinson
Baltimore Orioles
Buddy Bell
Cleveland
Gians
Dave Chalk
California Angels
Graig Nettles
New York Yankees
Jorge Orta
Chicago White Sox
Toby Harrah
Texas Rangers
Mark Belenger
Fred Patek
Kenses City Royals
Robin Yount
Bucky Dent
Bert Campaneris
Oaksend A‘s
Rick Burleson
Boston Red Sox
Frank Duffy
NEW York
Bert Blyleven
Blyleven
Rangers
Yankees
Tippy Martinez
Roy White
Carlos May
Royals Blank Orioles 4-0 Behind Bird's Sharp Start
Al Cowens drove in two runs and Doug Bird worked seven near perfect innings as the Kansas City Royals shut out the Baltimore Orioles 4-0. Buck Martinez started the Royals scoring with a third inning single and Dave Nelson tripled, with Amos Otis driving in a run on a sacrifice fly. Hal McRae doubled in the sixth, Cowens added an RBI single in the eighth, while Cuellar took the loss for Baltimore.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Kansas City
al Cowens
Doug Bird
Kansas City Royals
Baltimore Orioles
Royals
Bird
Buck Martinez
Dave Nelson
Amos Otis
Nelson
Hal McRae
Cowens
McRae
Mike Cuellar
RBI
John Mayberry
Mayberry
Perez—Homer Lifts Reds To 8-7 Win At Home
Tony Perez hit a three run homer in the ninth off Al Hrabosky to lift the Cincinnati Reds past the St. Louis Cardinals 8-7. Reds trailed 5-0 after one inning but rallied to win their 15th in 20. Ken Griffey and Joe Morgan contributed RBI while Rawly Eastwick earned the win and Hrabosky took the loss.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cincinnati
Tony Perez
al Hrabosky
Cincinnati Reds
St. Louis Cardinals
Reds
Ken Griffey
Joe Morgan
Perez
Morgan
Mel Ott
Rawly Eastwick
Hrabosky
Cards
Aenati
Pat Brock
Willie Omens
Hector Cruz
Mike Tyson
Major League Standings and Schedule Highlights
American League games listed with matchups including Chicago at Cleveland and Boston at Minnesota, plus Oakland at Milwaukee. National League shows Houston at Chicago, New York at San Francisco and Montreal at Los Angeles among others with listed pitchers and start times.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chicago
Brett
Cleveland
Waits
California
Ross
Detroit
Runle
Boston
Tiant
Minnesota
Hughes
Baltimore
Alexander
Kansas City
Busby
Texas
Briles
New York
Pagan
Oakland
Mitchell
Milwaukee
Travers
Houston
Andujar
Burris
Swan
San Francisco
D'Acquisto
St. Louis
Falcone
Cincinnati
Billingham
Pittsburgh
Kison
Atlanta
Morton
Philadelphia
Reed
Underwood
San Diego
Freisieben
Montreal
Warthen
Los Angeles
Rneden
Associated Press
Wierksé
Ase
Oakiang
Vuckovich
Brown
Ryan
Fidiyen
Bigleven
Figueroa
Blue
Colborn
Cuellar
Bird
Pole
Singer
Louis
Also Mentioned on This Page
Sey
Ae Crean
OE Frazier
George Foreman
Joe
Frazier
Foreman
Ranger
Carlton Fisk
Jim Sundberg
Milt May
Brian Downing
Chiceg White Sox
Darrell Porter
Gene Tenace
Oaksend A's
Butch Wyneger
Minnesota Twins
Carl Yestrzemski
Boston Red Son
Mickey Rivers
Lenny Randie
Hal McRee
Ralph Gerr
Pirate
George
Doc) Medich
Outfielder Bill Robinson
Rudolph
Maltbie
Inman
Blancas
Hinkle
Astros
Hayes Jones
Billy Mills
Charles Paddock
Joie Ray
America
Pirates
Braves
Marty Perez
Rowland Office
Rod Gilbreath
Abrhbi
Taverasss
Helms
Gilbreath
Ziskif
Wynn It
Stargel
Hendersart
Aoliver
Ewiliamse
Paciorek
Wrobnsart Stennett
Royster
Dyerc
Chaney
Candiriap
Mperezss
Gaston
Moss
W.robinson
W. Robinson
Stennett
S—Gilbreath
Moret
Riverset
Randie Ib
Awhite If
Hargrove Ib
Munson c
Harran
Champlonis
Burognsrt
Cmay Dh
Howell
Alomar Pr
Grievedn
Gnettles Ib
Beniquer
Gambiert
Sundberg
Dineenrt
Randolph
Hoernerp
Mason
Gambie
Rivers
G Nettles
Royals Blank Birds
Shoulder
Orioles
Ebribi Ebro Bumory
Grich
Dmiller
Littell
Kensas City
G. Brett
Singleton
L.may
McRee
D.nelson
McRaee
S—Mcree
Otis
Miller
Homer
Esca
NAVY
Jim Rhodes
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