First, Foyt Has to Pass Rookie Test

There will be a 50-year-old rookie in the NASCAR Southern 500 Grand National stock car race at Darlington, S.C., Sept. 1. His name: A.J. Foyt.

As a newcomer to Darlington, Foyt, the only four-time Indy 500 winner, will sit through the orientation meeting, be subjected to a series of track tests at specified speeds and will have yellow rookie stripes on his bumper. Also, Foyt won’t be able to qualify until the second day, which means he can’t earn the pole position.

Darlington officials offered to waive his rookie status, but Foyt said no thanks.

“I’m going to Darlington as a bona fide rookie,” Foyt said. “I don’t want anything waived. Why should I be different from anyone else? I know a lot of guys would have too much pride and ego to take the rookie test, but I’m not that type of person.”

Added Foyt: “Maybe I can win rookie of the race honors.”

Steve Sax of the Dodgers, talking about the Angels’ trade in which they acquired pitchers John Candelaria and Al Holland and outfielder George Hendrick from Pittsburgh: “I think they made a helluva a deal. Hendrick can help them a lot.”

Sax, reminded that Hendrick has been accused of dogging it this season, said: “I think he wanted to get out of Pittsburgh. It looked like all of them wanted to get out of Pittsburgh. I’ve learned never to call a player a dog any more.”

And why not?

“Because a dog is friendly, very understanding, and he listens to all your problems. A dog will never answer you back. A dog loves you.”

Add dog days: Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda was visiting Marge Schott, owner of the Cincinnati Reds, and told her dog, Schottzie: “I love you so much I think I’ll kidnap you.”

The dog’s reaction? “If I’m lying I’m dying, but that dog went grrrr,” Lasorda said. “Then she rolled over on her back as if she was waiting for me to say I was sorry.”

Add Lasorda: From Phil Elderkin of the Christian Science Monitor: “Manager Tommy Lasorda, whose mouth opens and closes more times a day than all the refrigerator doors in L.A. . . . “

Economic move: On Tuesday, the day the baseball players went on strike, the New York Yankees sent rookie outfielder Dan Pasqua to Columbus and brought up right-hander Mike Armstrong.

Armstrong, who makes $340,000 a year, thus became a nonpaid striker, while Pasqua, who makes $40,000, continued to get paid. Had it been a long strike, the move would have saved George Steinbrenner a considerable amount of money.

Quotebook

Art Modell, owner of the Cleveland Browns, on rookie quarterback and Ohio native Bernie Kosar: “No other player in any sport here has said he dreams of playing in Cleveland.”