Jackson Ties Mantle; Angels Beat Brewers

Two quests for the ages were culminated at last at Anaheim Stadium Sunday afternoon. Reggie Jackson tied Mickey Mantle and the Angels beat the Milwaukee Brewers.

History will have to decide which event was of greater significance.

You could have gotten odds on which would happen first. Jackson hadn’t homered in more than two weeks, but the Angels hadn’t defeated Milwaukee since 1985. Jackson began Sunday in a 3-for-31 slump. The Angels began Sunday 0 for 5 against the Brewers.

The smart money was on Jackson. Mantle’s home-run total of 536 wasn’t going anywhere. All Reggie had to do was put one more baseball over the fence.

For the Angels, catching the Brewers had proved somewhat more elusive. Just as the memory of their last triumph over Milwaukee--July 24, 1985--had begun to fade into nothingness, the Angels recollected their senses and put together a 5-1 victory in front of a crowd of 35,418.

On the verge of their second straight sweep at the hands of the Brewers, the Angels remembered.

Jim Slaton remembered--allowing one run in six strong innings after suddenly being cast into the role of a stopper, a role he hadn’t played since he was a Brewer in 1983.

Doug Corbett remembered--saving his third game in three appearances, bringing back that old feeling he last had as the ace of the Minnesota Twins’ bullpen.

And Jackson remembered. Homerless since April 25, Jackson had made more headlines off the field than on. He blasted the Minnesota Twins for having as many black players as the Minnesota North Stars--two. And he allegedly assaulted an autograph-seeker in a Milwaukee pub.

The Angels were waiting for Jackson to inflict some damage on a baseball.

It finally happened in the fifth inning Sunday. Jackson got a fastball from Bill Wegman, up and in, and sent it up and over the wall in right field.

“It was a pretty good pitch,” Jackson said. “If I don’t execute good technique, he breaks off my bat.

“That’s the place to pitch me, but it doesn’t work every time.”

For the 536th time since 1967, a pitcher’s choice of pitches hadn’t worked against Jackson. But this one was one Jackson had awaited a long time--the one that would tie him with Mantle for sixth place on the all-time list.

“Mickey Mantle is an American institution,” said Jackson. “I was a fan as a child. When I started playing, I wore my pants, my socks, my stirrups just like Mantle.

“The Mick is the one. In my era, it was Mays, Mantle and Snider. Before that, it was Musial, Williams and DiMaggio. This one is special. The Mick is a name. A ‘sir’ name.”

The fact that Jackson and Mantle both played for the Yankees heightened the essence of the moment for Jackson.

“They’ll feel that the record didn’t leave home, anyway,” Jackson said. “They still consider me a Yankee.”

A couple other home runs helped the Angels snap a three-game losing streak. The 37th home run of Rob Wilfong’s career accounted for the Angels’ first run. The 10th home run of Wally Joyner’s career gave the Angels their fifth run.

That left the Angels’ fate in the hands of Slaton and Corbett. For the first time this season against Milwaukee, the Angels happened upon the right combination.

“We always knew how to beat ‘em. At least we did last year,” Angel Manager Gene Mauch said. “When you pitch that good, you’re going to beat a lot of people.”

Slaton, again, was the Angels’ rubber-band man; he bent, but he didn’t break. In six innings, he allowed nine hits--but just one run.

Corbett then came on to pitch three innings of one-hit relief, lowering his earned-run average to 1.35.

Slaton is now 4-1, owning twice as many wins as any other Angel starter. The Angels are 6-1 in games he has pitched.

Two months ago, he was a long shot to even make the Angel roster. One month ago, he had resigned himself to another season of long relief. Then, John Candelaria went down and Slaton moved into the rotation.

And now? Would you believe Stopper Slaton?

Slaton laughed at the word association.

“Yeah, they called me ‘stopper’ last year,” he said. “Every time we had a winning streak, I stopped it.”

But patience is a virtue. And Sunday, that virtue was rewarded for Slaton, for Corbett, for Jackson.

Slaton looked across the clubhouse at the mob scene in front of Jackson’s locker.

“Unbelievable,” he mused. “Mickey Mantle.

“Of course, he’d be about seven shy if it wasn’t for me. I was pitching against Reggie in 1971. I think I’m second on his all-time list. He hit 10 (home runs) off Wilbur Wood and seven off me.

“He probably was sorry to see me get traded here.”

But for one Sunday in May of 1986, Slaton and Jackson combined to make history. Mantle and the Milwaukee Brewers conquered at last.

And all in the same afternoon.

Angel Notes

Reggie Jackson talked about the knee injuries that cut short Mickey Mantle’s career. “If Mantle had today’s medical practices, like arthroscopic surgery, he could have hit 100 more,” Jackson said. Jackson’s home run was his 60th all-time against Milwaukee. That is the most by one player against any American League team. . . . Jim Slaton had an unusual Mother’s Day gift for his mom--a dinner at his own restaurant. Slaton is the co-owner of a steak-and-seafood restaurant which opened May 1 in Lancaster. It is called Clubhouse 41, after Slaton’s uniform number.

After making just three appearances, all in long relief, during April, Doug Corbett has saved three games in the last week. “There was a time in April when I didn’t think I’d pitch at all,” Corbett said. “I’ve been so intense, I only got into three games but, mentally, I had been in another 10. I was frustrated not to be getting the call. Now, I’m filling the role (Stewart) Cliburn had last year. It’s nice to come in and know the Horse is getting the rest he needs.” The Horse is Donnie Moore, who sat out the Milwaukee series with a tired shoulder. “I could have pitched (Sunday),” Moore said. “But I’m happy Doug is doing the job; he’s worked hard and he’s got it together. Now, let’s hope he keeps it together. I can’t pitch in every game.” . . . Gene Mauch said Gary Pettis (bruised knee) should be able to play tonight. “He ran with the pitchers before the game and he ran quite well, under control,” Mauch said. “I still want to see if he can explode. I don’t want a little of Gary. I want all of him.”

Preston Gomez, assistant to general manager Mike Port, just returned from an eight-game scouting trip of the team’s Edmonton affiliate. “Jack Howell has been outstanding,” Gomez said. “In eight games, he only made one bad throw, he made the plays to his left, to his right, and he’s hitting over .300. This spring, he was tight, but now he’s playing the way he did last year. More relaxed.” Center fielder Devon White also impressed Gomez. “In Tucson, he hit a ball over the center-field fence, stole second and third, and scored from first on a ball down the line,” Gomez said. “We were watching the game on TV when Pettis collided with (Brian) Downing. I told Devon, ‘Be ready.’ ” Gomez also reported that disabled relief pitcher Cliburn has been playing long-toss and will throw off the mound next week. “Two weeks after that, he’ll be ready to pitch again,” Gomez said. “He’ll be going through spring training again.”