1970 FOUNDER'S CUP
Dallas Retains Founders Cup
Texans Top Detroit 4-2 in Final, Turn Eye Toward Pennant Race
SAN FRANCISCO (July 10) -- The Dallas Texans used a pair of pitching gems, by Tom Hall and Jim McAndrew, and the timely hitting of two Willies--Crawford and Kirkland--to defeat Atlanta and Detroit and claim their second Founder's Cup in a row.  Dallas shut out the Hilltoppers 2-0 behind Tom Hall's eight two-hit innings, and leadoff hitter Willie Crawford was 2-for-4 and drove in both runs, in the 5th and 9th innings, to beat Marcelino Lopez.  Reggie Jackson's fourth inning, two-run homer was enough for Detroit to edge Boston, 2-1, as Pedro Ramos held the Boston Federals at bay for his 10th win of the year, and Tex Clevenger nailed down the ninth for his 17th save.

The final was a matchup of the winners of the last three Cups.  Detroit won in 1967 and became the first to repeat in 1968, while Dallas won their first Cup at Fenway Park last year.  Joey Jay pitched for Detroit, while McAndrew took the hill for the Texans.  The Griffins struck right out of the gate, taking an early lead on Reggie Jackson's RBI single to score Cesar Tovar.  But Dallas responded with a two-out rally in the bottom of the first: Rod Carew singled and Boog Powell crushed a two-run blast to right to put the Texans ahead 2-1.  The score held at 2-1, as Jay and McAndrew settled into a pitchers duel, but Detroit tied it up in the top of the seventh  on Johnny Edwards' RBI double.  But the Texans again wasted no time in responding.  Bill Consolo drew a leadoff walk and right fielder Willie Kirkland launched a two-run dong to left-center to put Dallas ahead 4-2.  Detroit threatened in the 8th: Tovar doubled and Reggie Jackson walked with two outs, but Frank Howard flied out to shallow center.  Edwards singled with two outs in the ninth, but was left stranded as Dave Sisler picked up the save to secure the second Founder's Cup, and the accompanying $3 million in prize money, for the Texans.

Dallas now turns it attention to the West Division pennant race.  As of July 20, the Texans trail Chicago by seven games, and with their starting rotation decimated by injuries, GM Eric Clemons may turn to the trade markets to bolster his pitching down the final two months of the season.

Rookie Rooker Beats Singer, Now 16-2
Colts Ace Win Streak Ends at 9
BOSTON (July 13) -- Chicago Colts ace Bill Singer's Triple Crown bid took a hit this week, as the 25-year-old righthander dropped to fourth in strikeouts, but his stranglehold on the league win title remains intact, despite a 5-4 loss at Boston July 13 in his worst outing of the year.  Singer was 15-1 with 9 wins in his last 10 starts coming into the game, in which he surrendered nine hits and five runs in four innings, his shortest outing of the season.  Boston's Jim Rooker, a 26-year-old rookie who was a 4th round pick in 1969, gave up six hit and four runs, but got the win.  Rooker was 4-3, 3.68 in 9 starts last season, and is 3-5, 3.89 in 17 starts in 1970.

Singer, the lanky Californian, bounced back with a 3-2 win at Dallas July 18, extending his record to 16-2 even as his ERA ticked up to 1.70, its highest mark since June 1.  Still, Singer sits 0.29 ERA points ahead of Bob Anderson and five wins ahead of Jerry Koosman and Pedro Ramos, and he is still on pace for one of the best seasons for a pitcher in UL history.