LET'S FACE IT . . .
WE'RE 'AMONG THE BEST'

It always has been the opinion here -- despite the presence of Major Hoople -- that our sports staff is one of the best in the nation when the game of predictions arises.  That theory was borne out by statistics and a letter from Nelson E. Slagle, 12617 Clark Ave., Downey, who spends countless hours producing Slag's Annual Baseball Ratings, which this year was a six-page, single spaced, typewritten document.

"Five of your staff writers have predicted superbly over the last three years.  Their percentage placing is good enough to place them in the top 35 of those 256 predictors that have predicted at least three years," noted Slagle.

The five were Dave Lewis (8th), Rich Roberts (16th), Ross Newhan (22nd), Jim McCormack (32nd), and Gary Rausch (35th), now serving Uncle Sam.
I shudder to mention who leads the pack -- Judy Price, a school teacher from Tiffin, Ohio.  But that shows how all-inclusive is Slag's ratings.

Nelson pointed out that our 1967 major league selections were "slightly better than average, but quite a bit below last year"s exceptional Long beach predictions."  Ah, well, you can't win 'em all.
Anyway, on a national basis, our staffers finished the season in these positions: George Lederer (12th), Newhan (62nd), Roberts (62nd), McCormack (81st), Rausch (117th), Al Larson (123rd), Chuck Medick (128th) Bill Wasserzieher (147th) I, P-T consensus (164th), Lewis (178th), Hank Hollingworth (182nd), John Dixon (182nd), Doug Ives (251st), Loel Schrader (259th), and Dave Daniel (310th).

It's a good thing Hoople can't read or I'd be in trouble.  We'd better check out Daniel, too.  Only eight of the 318 prognosticators finished behind him.

Interestingly, and of some balm to personal wounds, is that the Associated Press and United Press International finished in a dead heat -- for 190th spot.  The baseball players consensus also was included in the 190th bracket.

Our Mr. Medick, the man with the pleasant voice you usually hear on the telephone, gained a measure of fame by ranking fifth in National League selections.  Chuck tabbed correctly St. Louis to triumph, Philadelphia to finish 5th and the Met to bring up the rear.
But wait 'til next year, friends.  We'll have a few surprises awaiting.  Hak-kaff