Wedding Bells Ring In Dodger New Year

Spring being in the air for the Dodgers, diamonds of baseball and other varieties are prime topics of discussion.

Relief pitcher Ken Howell is getting married Saturday, and outfielder Mike Marshall is doing the same in a week. Third baseman Jeff Hamilton will wed Feb. 14, 10 days before reporting to spring training, and relief pitcher Tom Niedenfuer has announced his engagement to actress Judy Landers.

How sweet the off-season has been for at least some Dodgers. But when 15 of them returned to Dodger Stadium Thursday to begin winter workouts, there was still some unfinished business to attend to.

Pitcher Orel Hershiser, for instance, is contemplating a walk down the aisle to possible arbitration with the team for a second straight year. He is seeking a raise from the $1 million he was paid in 1986 after a 14-14 season.

“There’s always a chance because (arbitration) is a player’s main negotiating tool at this point,” he said. “Hopefully, after I file, there will be some movement and we can settle.”

Marshall, another Dodger without a contract, returned after missing most of the second half of the season with back problems. He said he has recovered. “Of course, in timing and strength overall, it’s still January,” he said. As he did a couple of years ago, he plans to wear glasses to correct an astigmatism in his right eye.

Outfielder Reggie Williams, coming off surgery to remove bone chips from his left ankle and bone spurs in his heel, ran extensively for the first time. His workouts had been confined to short sprints.

Dodger Notes Pitcher Shawn Hillegas, the Dodgers’ No. 1 selection in the January 1984, free-agent draft (secondary phase) signed for 1987. He was 9-5 at San Antonio and 1-5 at Albuquerque last season. Pitcher Tim Leary, acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in the Greg Brock trade, and infielder Larry See, who appeared in 13 games for the Dodgers in ‘86, also agreed to terms. . . . The Los Angeles-Anaheim Chapter of the Baseball Writers Assn. of America will hold its annual awards dinner Wednesday night, Feb. 11, at the Hyatt Regency in Long Beach, the only social function of the season that brings together players from the Dodgers and Angels. Tickets are $40 each and may be obtained by writing dinner chairman Terry Johnson at 7937 Glenties Way, Sunland, CA. 91040. Checks should be made payable to the BBWAA.