Giant Nonplayers Give to Their Slusher Fund

With three New York Giants being represented by Howard Slusher, nonplayers in camp are rallying to the aid of General Manager George Young as he deals with America’s most feared sports agent.

According to Peter King of Newsday, the camp has established a Slusher Fund. Coaches, scouts, front office employees and even reporters are contributing empty cans worth five cents each to the fund. About $40 has been collected.

It’s a start.

Add Slusher: Owner Joe Robbie of the Miami Dolphins told The Sporting News: “The last time I tried to call Slusher, I was told he was in Bangkok and that he does more than football. In that case, I would suggest for his players’ benefit he would let someone else handle them.”

Would-you-believe-it dept.: In 1964, with 12 games left in the season, the Philadelphia Phillies had a 6 1/2-game lead in the National League. They blew it.

In 1985, with 12 games left until the strike date of Aug. 6, the Angels had a 6 1/2-game lead in the American League West.

Don’t tell Gene Mauch.

From outfielder Lee Mazzilli, on the plight of the Pittsburgh Pirates: “We’re going so bad, we don’t have Penthouse to read in the clubhouse anymore. All we have is National Geographic.”

Wait a Minute: Said New York Yankee knuckleballer Phil Niekro, only six wins away from 300: “If I get it, fine. If I get to 299 and don’t see 300, it won’t matter. What’s the difference between 300 and 299?”

Should we tell him? Put it this way. How many 299-game winners can you find in the record book?

78 Years Ago Today: On Aug. 2, 1907, Walter Johnson made his major league debut with the Washington Senators and lost to the Detroit Tigers, 3-2. The first hit he ever yielded was a bunt single by Ty Cobb. Exactly 20 years later on Walter Johnson Day at Washington, the Tigers beat him, 7-6.

If you’ve wondered just how devoted amateur golfers are to the game, the Associated Press reveals that the Golf Club of Lebanon still has 350 members, even though they have to tee off behind huge earthen mounds built to stop bullets and shrapnel.

Reported the AP: “Veterans still remember a U.S. diplomat who played 18 holes wearing a bullet-proof flak jacket and who was accompanied by three armed guards.”

Said Rocky Bridges, a coach for the San Francisco Giants, when asked if the players would vote for a strike: “You’d have a hard time convincing our coaching staff that they haven’t already gone on strike.”

Hustler Bobby Riggs told USA Today that the toughest bet he ever won was from Evel Knievel, who bet him $25,000 he couldn’t ride a motorcycle the 650 miles from Las Vegas to Twin Falls, Ida., where Knievel was to attempt to jump the Snake River on a rocket cycle.

Riggs: “Hardest part was passing the driver’s exam. Some women’s libber wasn’t going to pass me because I couldn’t do figure eights on the cycle.”

Quotebook

Mickey Mantle, asked why Billy Martin is such a good fighter: “Well, he don’t argue too long.”