Giants Sign Vida Blue for a Year

Vida Blue, impressive in three spring training exhibition games, Saturday signed a one-year contract with the San Francisco Giants.

Blue, 35, came to the Giants’ training camp as a free agent after serving three months in jail for possession of a controlled substance.

A six-time All-Star and the winner of the 1971 Cy Young Award as the American League’s best pitcher, Blue will be used as a spot starter and long-relief man for the Giants.

“I felt I would make it with the Giants,” Blue said. “They invited me and gave me a chance. I hope I can contribute. I still have a long way to go to be back where I was when I was with Oakland.”

Tom Haller, the Giants’ general manager, said he had not expected Blue to make the team.

“I felt he had maybe one chance in 10, but he looked better every time we saw him,” Haller said. “He convinced us he could help when he pitched well against San Diego.”

Blue said he did not expect any negative reaction from fans or opposing players because of his past drug problems.

“If it happens, I’ll have to deal with it,” he said. “I’m not here to preach about the past. I’m happy to have a chance to pitch again.”

Blue made his major league debut with the Oakland A’s in 1970 and has a major league lifetime record of 191-143.

Indianapolis 500 great A.J. Foyt took the lead as darkness fell Saturday and piloted his Porsche 962 to a four-lap victory -- his first ever in the 12 Hours of Sebring.

The 50-year-old Texan teamed with Frenchman Bob Wollek to cover a record 1,365.66 miles at an average speed of 113.98 m.p.h. over the rigorous 4.86-mile course built on a World War II airport runway.

They covered 281 laps to hold off a challenge by Al Holbert, Derek Bell and Al Unser Jr., who finished second in another Porsche 962 in the 33rd running of the event.

Porsche 962s took the first three places as the team of Indy car veteran Pete Halsmer, Rick Knoop and Austrian Dieter Quester were third.

Arthur C. Allyn, a former president of the Chicago White Sox who preferred butterflies to baseball, died after a long illness at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Florida. He was 71.

Allyn, who was president and director of the club from 1961-1969, admitted he did not know much about baseball. He said before becoming president that he had attended only two baseball games in his life and that he preferred his hobby of collecting butterflies.

Wayne Webb won his 15th career bowling championship with a 198-192 decision over top-seeded Marshall Holman in the title game of the $150,000 Lite Beer Championship at Milwaukee, Wis.

Webb collected $27,000 in winning his first title of the year, while Holman won $14,000. Mike Aulby finished third, Mark Baker fourth and Jeff Bellinger fifth.