European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 25, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday september 25,1977 the stars and stripes Page 17 royals Clinch Al West title yanks botox win Baltimore loses in East by Barry Wilner a sports writer the Kansas City royals who a Little Over a month ago were in fourth place wrapped up the american league s West Ern division title with a 7-3 Victory Over California Friday. The royals have won 32 of their last 36 games including their last five. Meanwhile in Toronto Graig Nettles two out two run Homer in the ninth inning boosted the new York Yankees past the Blue jays 5-3 and into a Zzz game Lead Over Al Roundup Baltimore in the East. The orioles were beaten by Cleveland 3-2 while third place Boston Defeated Detroit 5-1 to move to within one half game of the orioles. In other Al games Seattle beat Chicago 3-2 and Texas edged Oakland 6-5. Milwaukee s game at Minnesota was rained out. Al Cowens drove in five runs with three doubles and Dennis Leonard pitched a five hitter for Kansas City. Last year we backed into it because Oakland lost on a Day we were off and we clinched it said Kansas City manager Whitey Herzog. This year we were a Dif Ferent club. Last year we were scared and looking Over our shoulder but not this year. It does t matter to me who we play added Herzog whose team lost the Best of five Al playoff to the Yankees last year 3 2. I am just looking Forward to being in the playoffs and the world  Yankees 5, Blue jays 3 i knew it was gone the minute i hit it said Nettles of his 36th Homer of the year. I Don t usually hit line drives. Usually it takes until i get to first base before i know if it s out or  getting the Doc s of or. A. Harry Kleiman examines Muhammad Ali top and challenger Earnie shavers during preflight physicals Friday in new York. The two fight ers will meet in a heavyweight title bout thursday. A photos recovered Ali and tense shavers both pass physical before title go by Steve Wilstein new York up Muhammad Ali showing no signs of the neck injury he suffered earlier last week when he was knocked Down twice in training and Earnie shavers a Little bit tense both easily passed preflight physical examinations Friday at Madison Square Garden six Days before their heavyweight championship fight. This is the finest physical examination i be had the privilege of performing on Ali said new York state athletic com Mission or. A. Harry Kleiman. His blood pressure is excellent 120 Over 80, and his pulse at rest is 70, 94 after exercise and re turns quickly to 70 a few minutes later. I will examine his neck More thorough Frazier wants to take on Winner of Ali shavers bout Southern Pines . Up former world heavyweight Champion Joe Frazier has committed himself to coming out of retirement but Only if the Winner of next thursday s Muhammad Ali Earnie shavers fight agrees to take him on. A spokesman for ringside promotions de Mcmarthy said a Telegram was sent to both shavers and Ali in new York Friday night telling them of Frazier s intentions. Frazier 33, said earlier this week a chief reason for wanting to return to the ring was his displeasure with the Way the Guy who has the title Ali is living. He hurts the image of the  ringside promotions president Joe Flynn said the location for any Frazier fight would be open to discussion based on openings in television  Flynn indicated earlier last week he would like to schedule a fight at the Omni in Atlanta. By next tuesday just to satisfy my own mind. I found no evidence of injury but i will perform a radio Gram of his neck just to make  asked to compare Ali and shavers after their examinations Kleiman said he Felt Ali was More relaxed. I would have to say Ali is a Little bit More championship experienced Klei Man said. Shavers is slightly More tense but it does t mean a thing. This is quite common. He is a Little More anxious and Ali is a Little More relaxed. But that is to be expected. Shavers is fighting for the title for the first time and Ali has been Here  shavers blood pressure was somewhat higher than Ali s at 130 Over 86 but his pulse was about the same at 72 while rest ing and 100 after exercise. Ali was examined first surrounded by newsmen and television cameras while shavers waited in his dressing room. Shavers handlers seeking to avoid the usual confrontation with Ali that might upset their fighter had requested that shavers be allowed to stay in the room until Ali and continued on Page 20 Don Gullett 13-4, surrendered just four hits but two were Home runs to Otto Velez and Dave Mckay. He struck out 11. The biggest trouble i had was keeping my Arm warm said Gullett. That s the reason for the homers. My Arm was tight ening up and they were getting hold of  indians 3, orioles 2 Cleveland Pitcher Rick Waits had a four hitter going into the ninth but Baltimore loaded the bases with none out. Reliever Jim Bibby struck out Andres Mora and Doug Decinces before Al Bumbry doubled to make the game close. Bibby then struck out Pinch hitter Terry Crowley to end the game. We be got to hurry up and need the Yankees to have a losing Streak said Baltimore manager Earl Weaver. Red sox 5, tigers 1 Boston won for the first time in Tiger stadium this season As Bill Lee threw a four hitter and Butch Hobson smacked his 29th Home run. We just gotta Hope Toronto gets hot and Al East at a glance9 w l pet. Go new York 94 59 .614 Baltimore 2 62 .597 2 a Boston 1 62 .595 3 games remaining new York 9 Home 7 Cleveland 4, sept. 26,27, 28, 29 Detroit 3, sept. 30, oct. 1,2 away 2 Toronto 2, sept. 24, 25. Baltimore 8 Home 3 Detroit 3, sept. 27, 28, 29. Away 5 Cleveland 2, sept. 24,25 Boston 3, sept. 30, oct. 1, 2. Boston 9 Home 7 toronto4, sept. 26, 27, 28, 29 Balti More 3, sept. 30, oct. 1, 2. Away 2 Detroit 2, sept. 24,25. Detroit gets hot when they play the Yan Kees said Lee. I said we could Only lose one More before yesterday and we got that one out of our system  Hobson said he hates to play against the scoreboard. I wish they would t even put the scores up there the Young third baseman declared. We gotta think about winning our own  mariners 3, White sox 2 Home runs by Dave Collins and Lee Stanton led the mariners past Chicago. Tom House and John Montague combined on an eight hitter for the Winner with Montague pitching four shutout innings in Relief. Rangers 6, a s 5 Gaylord Perry hurled a three hitter but one of the hits was a grand slam Homer by Tony armas As Texas rallied to nip Oak land. Two turning Points noted in pc season by Doug Tucker Kansas City a clutch pitching Speed defense and timely hitting made the Kansas City royals the american league Western division champions again this year. But fans and analysts who look for such things will discover two turning Points in their 1977 season. The first came on june 17 when they came Home to launch a three game week end series with the Minnesota twins. The royals were demoralized. Playing Raggedy they had fallen three games below .500 and were in sixth place,.seven games behind the first place twins. Adding to their misery the Trade dead line had passed a few hours earlier and the royals made no deals while California continued on Page 20