FIRST HALF REVIEW ISSUE
Sophomore Skippers Top Divisions at Break
Kohn, Graham Turn Clubs Around
by Eric Holthaus
DETROIT (July 4) -- Some good things just take time, as second year United League managers Douglas Kohn (Detroit) and Joanna Graham (St. Louis) can attest. Detroit and St. Louis are both leading their respective divisions as the first half of the 1975 season draws to a close. What's more, both entered the season as underdogs, being picked to finish toward the bottom of the league.  However, luck favors the diligent, and these two newbie managers have overcome their share of difficulties in their first season-and-a-half of play.

Finishing 16 games below .500 in 1974, Kohn's team was picked to finish dead last in 1975. After a torrid May, the Detroit Griffins have slowed their pace a bit in recent weeks, as the long term loss of SP Jerry Reuss to a torn labrum and the rise of Washington in the East have played against them. Still, as a recent 23-12 slugfest victory at Mile High Stadium shows, the Detroit offense brings some major pop to the field every night. Detroit ranks first in the UL in OBP, slugging, runs, walks, extra base hits, and home runs. Looking to the second half, the major question is: can they keep it up with a diminished rotation?

St. Louis had the fewest wins in club history in 1974. Attendance suffered. This year, the Maroons were picked to finish fourth in the west, but have risen to the occasion, showing consistent results and a balanced attack. Graham's offense and pitching are both in the top four in the league. However, a career ending injury to starting shortstop Jim Fregosi puts a question mark on the defensive anchor of the infield in the Gateway City.

Given the pitching edge St. Louis has, should these two clubs meet in the World Series this year I'd have to go with the Maroons.

600 for Frank!
DENVER (June 23) -- Mickey Mantle has company.  Frank Robinson connected for his 600th career home run today, joining Mantle in the elite 600-homer club.  Robinson, 39, was stuck in Manhattan's minor league system at the start of this season, but was signed by Denver on June 1 and has hit .343 with a 1.025 OPS in 14 games with the 14ers.  Robinson was Los Angeles' 1st overall pick in the 1956 draft and spent 17 seasons with the Outlaws, hitting 537 home runs.  He has bounced from team to team as a free agent the last few seasons: Brooklyn, Washington, Boston, Manhattan, and now Denver, where he figures to get the most playing time as he targets his next milestone--3,000 hits--just 87 hits away.

Return of the Moose
SAN FRANCISCO (July 4) -- San Francisco ace Bob Moose returned to the mound today after a year-long recovery from Tommy John surgery.  Moose last pitching on July 13, 1974 when his season was cut short after a 12-5, 2.15 start.  The 1968 Cy Young/Rookie of the Year made his return on June 16 at Sportsman's Park, where he went the distance for a three-hit shutout, edging Doc Medich and co. for a 1-0 win.  He anchored a two-hit shutout of Manhattan five days later and finally gave up his first run on June 26 in a 6-4 win over the Colts.  Moose is 3-0, with a 1.48 ERA and 0.90 WHIP through three starts, giving the defending champions new hope of returning to the playoffs and defending their 1974 title after a 30-27 start to the campaign.

All-Star Rosters Announced
PASADENA, Calif. (June 16) -- League officials unveiled the 1975 All-Star teams today in a ceremony at Arroyo Seco Stadium.  The Manhattan Gray Sox led all teams with seven selections, including three newcomers to the club this year: Steve Carlton, Bill Gogolewski, and MVP Tom Grieve.  Defending champions San Francisco got six All-Star selections, as did this season's Cinderella team, the Detroit Griffins.  Four players earned their fifth All-Star selection, Montreal's Bobby Grich, Los Angeles' Fritz Peterson, Atlanta's Joe Torre, and Dallas' Rod Carew.

The Classic takes on extra meaning this year as a rubber match; the all-time series is level at 6-6.  The Outlaws also become the first club to host the All-Star Game twice, having hosted  in 1964 a game won by the East 8-3 in a slugfest with a record five home runs.  The East won 3-2 last year in Brooklyn on a first inning home run by Orlando Cepeda, ending a four-game win streak for the West.  The league also announced today that the All-Star Game will return to Griffith Stadium in 1976 to coincide with Bicentennial celebrations in the nation's capital.
 

WEST DIVISION ALL-STARS SAN FRANCISCO SPIDERS (6) SP Fergie Jenkins (SF) SP Mike Hedlund (SF) CF George Foster (SF) C Thurmon Munson (SF) LF Jim Rice (SF) CF Larry Hisle (SF) ATLANTA HILLTOPPERS (5) CL Rawley Eastwick (ATL) MR Randy Moffitt (ATL) C Joe Torre (ATL) CF Juan Beniquez (ATL) RF Dave Parker (ATL) LOS ANGELES OUTLAWS (5) SP Dennis Leonard (LA) SP Fritz Peterson (LA) RF Ken Singleton (LA) LF Dave Winfield (LA) SS Chris Speier (LA) DALLAS TEXANS (4) 2B Rod Carew (DAL) 3B Dave Kingman (DAL) SS Dave Concepcion (DAL) 1B Chris Chambliss (DAL) ST. LOUIS MAROONS (4) SP Jon Matlack (STL) MR John D'Acquisto (STL) CL Jim Kern (STL) 1B Mike Hargrove (STL) CHICAGO COLTS (2) SP Ed Figueroa (CHI) CL Gene Garber (CHI) DENVER 14ers (2) MR Ray Lamb (DEN) C John Wockenfuss (DEN)

EAST DIVISION ALL-STARS MANHATTAN GRAY SOX (7) SP Steve Carlton (MAN) SP Bill Gogolewski (MAN) MR Ed Farmer (MAN) CL Ken Tatum (MAN) RF Tom Grieve (MAN) 1B Steve Garvey (MAN) 2B Craig Robinson (MAN) DETROIT GRIFFINS (6) SP Bruce Kison (DET) CL Dave Hamilton (DET) MR Bob Locker (DET) C Brian Downing (DET) SS Denis Menke (DET) LF Claudell Washington (DET) WASHINGTON MONUMENTS (5) SP Vida Blue (WAS) 1B Ron Blomberg (WAS) LF Al Bumbry (WAS) SS Dave Rosello (WAS) CF Al Oliver (WAS) BROOKLYN SUPERBAS (4) SP Dan McGinn (BRO) 3B Mike Schmidt (BRO) CF Fred Lynn (BRO) 2B Dave Cash (BRO) MONTRÉAL VOYAGEURS (4) SP Mike Nagy (MON) 2B Bobby Grich (MON) C Gary Carter (MON) CF Rich Coggins (MON) CLEVELAND BARONS (2) SP Burt Hooton (CLE) SP Rick Reuschel (CLE) BOSTON FEDERALS (0) none