1.
GV players on diamond
0.05

2.
SV spectators
0.13

3.
SV Green Beret M/SGT Daniel Pitzer throws first ball
0.13

4.
GV spectators
0.14

5.
GV Rokkie shortstop, Tobby Harrah hits first single to left
0.26

6.
GTV Flood got baseline ball and Harrah moved to second
0.37

7.
GV Frank Howard struck out by Vida Blue.
0.45

8.
GV first baseman Mike Epstein singles to left, scoring Harrah and moving Flood to second
0.58

9.
GTV Joe Foy singled - and bases were full
1.09

10.
GV Paul Casanova singles, Harrah gets home but Epstein is nabbed at the plate by a throw from Reggie Jackson
1.26

11.
SV Dick Bosman strikes out Gakland for Senators to win S - nil.
1.34



Initials PS/1830 LD/PS


SPORT: BASEBALL
TELERECORDING original colour on 3822/71 65ft

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The United States baseball season began officially yesterday (Monday) with a game between the Washington Senators and Oakland Athletics at Washington's Kennedy Stadium. The Senators scored eight runs and Oakland fell to the pitching of right-handed Dick Bosman - giving the home team an 8-Nil victory.

The first ball was tossed out by Green Beret Master Sergeant Daniel Pitzer, and former Vietnam prisoner of war. Traditionally, the first ball is thrown by the President " or his representative" - in a message read out before the game by Defence Secretary Laird. President Nixon said that he had asked Pitzer to represent him because " as he performs this American ritual.....he does so as a reminder that there are still a great many of our men in uniform... who have not seen ball game in a long time, much less seen their homes or their families."
SYNOPSIS: The Washington Senators and Oakland Athletics diamond in line up on the Kennedy Stadium in Washington on Monday for the official start of the baseball season. The first ball is tossed by Green Beret Master Sergeant Pitzer - representing President Nixon.

Senator's Rookie shortstop Tabby Harrah hits the first ball to left - but only singled after looking as though he would make a double.

Curt Flood making his return to the game after a year - got a baseline ball and singled, moving Harrah up to second.

Southpaw Vida Blue struck out Frank Howard - in one of the Senator's few mistakes in the game.

First baseman Mike Epstein singled to left- Rokkie Harrah slid home for his first major league score, and Flood reached second.

Third baseman Joe Foy again singled - and the bases were full. Twenty-one-year-old Blue not living not up to the no-hitter he pitched last year after coming up form the minors.

Paul Casanova did nothing to help the Oakland hurler - taking his pitch for a single. Harrah roared home from third. But Reggie Jackson caught in left field and sent a beautiful throw to pate - nabbing Epstein as he tried to make home from second base.

Senator pitcher Dick Bosman shut out the Athletics to end the game in a home-town eight-nil win.