A Roundup Of The Sports Information Of The Week

BASEBALL—Catcher ELSTON HOWARD was voted the American League's Most Valuable Player for 1963 to become the fourth New York Yankee in a row to win the award.

In the first significant post-season trade, the New York Mets gave Pitcher ROGER CRAIG (5-22 in 1963) to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for left-handed Outfielder GEORGE ALTMAN (.274 in 1963) and minor league Pitcher Bill Wakefield.

The YOMIURI GIANTS defeated the Nishitetsu Lions four games to three to win their sixth Japanese World Series since 1950. The Lions had tied the Series at three games apiece on 28-game winner Kazuhisa Inao's two-hit shutout (he also won the first game with a six-hitter and lost the third). But Inao started again the next day and failed to last four innings; the Giants got 19 hits (including five HRs) and easily won the deciding game 18-4. Thirdbaseman Shigeo Nagashima, the Central League's Most Valuable Player, was the Giants' leading batter (.391 BA, three HRs, three doubles, seven RBIs).

BASKETBALL—BOSTON extended its winning streak to seven games with an easy 139-121 victory over Cincinnati, and then finally lost one—to the Royals 116-115. The Celtics had led by 14 points midway through the final period, but Cincinnati tied up the game and won it on a jump shot by Bob Boozer with only five seconds left to play. The next night Boston smashed St. Louis 113-91. CINCINNATI followed up its split with the Celtics by defeating Detroit I 18-109 to remain two games behind in the East. NEW YORK (1-3 for the week) became the first team to score less than 90 points this season when it lost to San Francisco 110-88. The Knicks then made it three in a row by defeating the Warriors 89-84 and losing to the Lakers 104-79. ST. LOUIS and SAN FRANCISCO each dropped two out of three games, while LOS ANGELES won three straight to move into first place in the tight Western Division race. BALTIMORE lost its fifth straight game before defeating St. Louis 108-106, while both PHILADELPHIA and DETROIT broke four-game losing streaks.

BOXING—Heavyweight Champion SONNY LISTON and Louisville contender CASSIUS CLAY signed a contract in Denver to meet in a title match next February (see page 26). The date and site have not yet been chosen.

Eddie Machen of Berkeley, Calif., who also hopes to fight Sonny, knocked out Bill McMurray in the seventh round of a scheduled 10-rounder in Sacramento to record his third KO in as many fights since he started his comeback two months ago.

FOOTBALL—NFL: The faltering Cleveland Browns were edged by PITTSBURGH 9-7. for their second loss in three games. The Browns had led 7-0 at the half but the Steeler defense took charge after that and held Jimmy Brown to seven yards, caught him in the end zone for a safety and in the last quarter retrieved a Cleveland fumble that led to the winning touchdown. As expected. NEW YORK easily won its fourth game in a row by pounding Philadelphia 42-14 to tie Cleveland for the Eastern Division lead. Charley Johnson kept ST. LOUIS in the race, a game behind in third place, with three TD passes in a 24-20 win over Washington. In the Western Division CHICAGO edged Los Angeles 6-0 on two field goals by Roger Leclerc. GREEN BAY won its eighth straight by defeating Minnesota 28-7 to remain tied with the Bears for the lead. Johnny Unitas threw two long passes (64 and 42 yards) for touchdowns in the first quarter, as BALTIMORE beat Detroit 24-21. SAN FRANCISCO came from behind on Lamar McHan's three TD passes to defeat Dallas 31-24 for its second win of the season. Don Meredith, who completed 30 passes for 460 yards, had thrown three of them for touchdowns in the first half to give the Cowboys a 21-10 lead.

AFL: HOUSTON moved a half game ahead in the Eastern Division by coming from behind in the last quarter to defeat New York 31-27. Jack Kemp accounted for all the Bills' touchdowns with three passes and a run as BUFFALO beat Denver 27-17 and climbed into second place. Western Division leader SAN DIEGO pushed Boston from a share of the lead in the East to third place with a 7-6 win. Lance Alworth, who caught 13 passes for 210 yards, scored the game's only touchdown on a 23-yard pass from Tobin Role in the first quarter and George Blair kicked the extra point to offset two Gino Cappelletti field goals in the third quarter. OAKLAND scored 19 points in the second period and went on to beat Kansas City 22-7. It was the Raiders' fourth victory in a row and the Chiefs' fifth straight defeat.

GOLF—First-year pro FRANK BEARD, 24, of Louisville, whose older brother Ralph was a three-time All-America basketball player at Kentucky, won his first tournament—the $50.000 Frank Sinatra Invitational at Palm Springs, Calif.

Returning from France the long way around ARNOLD PALMER and Jack Nicklaus entered the Wills Masters pro tournament in Sydney. Australia and reversed their recent Canada Cup finish. Palmer won with 285 and Nicklaus was two strokes behind in second place.