One of the geratest pitching duels in baseball history--McLain Vs. Gibson--will highlight the first game of the 65th World Series which opens today in St. Louis.

The outcome of this classic pitchers' confrontation has been debated tirelessly for weeks. Everyone has an opinion: no one has an answer.

Pitching for the Cardinals, champions of the National League and defending World Champions, Bob Gibson has earned the reverence of opposing hitters. The 32-year-old right hander, who won three games in last year's series, strung together 15 straight victories this summer, including 10 shutouts. Gibson set a National League record by posting an ornery 1.12 earned-run average while winning a total of 22 games.

Dennis McLain, who carried the Tigers to their first pennant in 23 years, is a shoe-in for MVP in the American League. The brash 24-year-old right hander won 31 games this season, the highest total any major league pitcher has posted since Lefty Grove won 31 for the old Philadelphia Athletics in 1931. McLain, equally renowned for his musical virtuosity and his big mouth, has never played in a world series.

But the 1968 World Series is much more than Gibson against McLain. Both the Cardinals and the Tigers are exciting, balanced ball clubs with a multitude of star performers.

St. Louis' greatest assets are its lightning speed on the basepaths and its spectacular defense. Detroit counters with its awesome power and its never-say-die attitude. Pitching and bench strength are about equal for both clubs.

Decisive

The controversial decision of Tiger manager Mayo Smith to shift Mickey Stanley from center field to short-stop could decide the series. Smith will be sacrificing defensive strength to allow Al Kaline to move into the lineup. Kaline, one of the most respected outfielders of all-time, saw only limited action this season. But his bat will buffer an already potent Tiger attack.

Both St. Louis and Detroit turned pennant races into jokes by mid-season. Since the first of August, however, the Cardinals have hardly looked like Champions, losing four more games than they won.

Detroit, by contrast, streaked down the homestretch. Its pitching staff looked sharp, running off 12 straight complete games, and its hitters slugged the ball with authority.

The Tigers will never forget how they choked away the pennant during the last few games of the 1967 season. They gained great determination by losing and that determination made them the most exciting team in baseball this year. In one-third of the games they won, the Tigers were trailing in the seventh inning or later.

If McLain tops Gibson in the series' opener, nothing will stop the Tigers. Watch Detroit sweep by St. Louis in five or six games. Otherwise, hold on to your Bud and watch the Tigers come-from-behind to win in seven.