THE 1986 ALL-STAR GAME : Notebook : Strawberry’s Homers Draw Rousing Ovation

New York Mets right fielder Darryl Strawberry, the leading vote-getter for the 1986 All-Star game, undoubtedly won a few more constituents Monday.

Strawberry drew a standing ovation from a crowd of about 30,000 attending the Astrodome workouts when he slugged a mammoth home run to help the National League beat the American, 8-7, in a home run hitting contest.

Of Strawberry’s four homers, the most amazing caromed off a speaker hanging from the roof above a neon advertisement on the electronic scoreboard in right center. There was no official measurement, but it was thought that the drive carried at least 500 feet.

Strawberry wasn’t happy about it.

“That was one of those upper swings, one of those bad habit swings,” he said. “I don’t like to swing like that.”

He was surprised at the distance and said, “as long as they clear the fence I’m pleased. They all count the same.”

Cincinnati’s Dave Parker hit five homers for the National League, Montreal’s Hubie Brooks hit one and Gary Carter hit none.

Angels’ first baseman Wally Joyner led the American League with four homers. Toronto’s Lloyd Moseby had two, Oakland’s Jose Canseco one and Detroit’s Lance Parrish none.

On his failure to select Boston’s Dennis (Oil Can) Boyd for the American League pitching staff and Boyd’s ensuing response, Manager Dick Howser said:

“We only selected eight pitchers and it’s too bad the guy from Boston got left out. He’s an outstanding pitcher, but we couldn’t select everybody. I was a little dismayed, I guess that’s the term, to read where he threw his uniform down and left the park and all that.

“I think if you’d look at every year, and this is my 26th or 27th year at the major league level, there’s always been disgruntled people. I feel sorry for Oil Can Boyd, I really do, but we’ve got a job to do. We picked some extra people because I think we’ll need some bats off the bench.”

Howser’s National League counterpart, Whitey Herzog, picked 10 pitchers and said he felt badly that he didn’t have room for Jesse Orosco, Roger McDowell, Bob Knepper, Bob Ojeda and Todd Worrell, among others.

“I think we should expand the rosters to 30 players and be allowed to pick 12 pitchers,” Herzog said, “because there always seems to be at least that many who are deserving. I think we should limit the pitchers to one inning each, and that would leave a couple if the game went extra innings and eliminate managers getting upset when one of his guys pitches three.”

Wade Boggs will start at third base for the American League, replacing George Brett, who has been sidelined for a week by a strained right rotator cuff.

“I’m concerned because I thought it would be better now,” Brett said. “But it will be a week Wednesday since I’ve done anything at all and it is starting to feel better.

“If it’s still a problem when I try to play again, we’ll have to do more investigating.”

Why did he come to the All-Star game when he could have rested for three days?

“To start with,” he said, “I was voted on by the fans. This is also my 11th All-Star game and I’ve always had a good time at them. I came here hoping I’d have a good time again.”

The Astrodome Astroturf is considered baseball’s worst. Said Minnesota’s Kirby Puckett: “It’s dangerous. I’m going to try and get out of here without getting hurt.”

The National League has won 13 of the last 14 All-Star games, but some of the managers here believe the American League has more talent.

Detroit’s Sparky Anderson (who used to work in the NL): “There’s no question that the American League has more stars. I don’t think there’s any question anymore of what league is the strongest.”

Cleveland’s Pat Corrales (formerly of the NL): “There’s definitely a lot more guys over here in the AL who are power hitters. I’ve got 5 or 6 on my own team. Teams like the Tigers and Yankees also have that many guys who make you uncomfortable when you have a one-run lead in the ninth. There isn’t any NL team with five home run hitters like some of the AL teams.”

St. Louis’ Whitey Herzog (formerly of the AL): “The big stats are all in the AL. I don’t suppose there are any first baseman the Yankees would trade (Don) Mattingly for. And I suppose the only way Boston would trade Wade Boggs would be for Mike Schmidt and a real good prospect.”