You’ll Have to Read All About It

Except for Bret Saberhagen, it’s been tough going for Kansas City starters, but reliever Dan Quisenberry promises it won’t last.

“It just can’t continue,” he told The Sporting News. “All the top guys, the Steve Carltons, the Don Suttons, had tough times. Tommy John has been half dead before. The good ones always bounce back. As to how they did it, you have to buy their novels.”

When Minnesota signed Terry Forster to a minor league contract, former Twins owner Calvin Griffith wasn’t impressed.

It seems that Forster has returned to his David Letterman “tub of goo” dimensions.

“I’m in better shape than he is,” Griffith said.

When somebody complained about Pete Incaviglia’s numerous strikeouts, Texas Manager Bobby Valentine said: “The road to the Hall of Fame is paved with guys who led their league in strikeouts.”

Gerry Fraley of the Atlanta Journal and Constitution looked it up and found that Valentine was right. Babe Ruth, Jimmy Foxx, Hank Greenberg, Mickey Mantle, Harmon Killebrew, Hack Wilson, Ralph Kiner, Duke Snider and Eddie Mathews all were league leaders in strikeouts.

Trivia Time: The Pittsburgh Pirates announced they will retire Ralph Kiner’s No. 4 this year. How many other Hall of Famers can you name who have had No. 4 retired? (Answer below.)

Steve Marcus and Steve Jacobson of Newsday, reviewing the career of Tom Seaver, had some unflattering things to say. Excerpts:

Marcus: “Seaver sought perfection, and on the mound he made a good argument for it and it was quite often a thrill to watch him. Seaver the man did not covet perfection or even, at times, civility. He was intelligent, but not witty or engaging. He was perhaps the only ballplayer or fan not to like Yogi Berra. Seaver looked down on Berra, and on others, too. He may have been well-read, but at times seemed ill-bred.”

Jacobson: “I wrote a book with him in 1972. In the midst of our work together I was hospitalized, essentially, for six weeks. There was no note or card or phone call from Seaver. My mistake was in expecting one.”

50 Years Ago Today: On June 29, 1937, Chicago Cubs’ first baseman Rip Collins played an entire game without a putout or an assist. The Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 11-9. The winning runs came off Dizzy Dean who relieved for St. Louis in the ninth. The runs scored on consecutive errors by rookie catcher Mickey Owen and shortstop Leo Durocher.

For What It’s Worth: Steve Howe, pitching for Tabasco in the Mexican League, relieved Sunday and struck out two in a 3-2 win over Campeche. Others in the league include Tony Armas and Aurelio Rodriguez.

From Richard Justice of the Washington Post: “Some of the Chicago White Sox thought it was a joke this spring when new General Manager Larry Himes sent out a 32-page dress code memo. They found out it wasn’t after a 13-3 victory over Seattle last week. Himes walked into the clubhouse and fined three players for not wearing socks.

“Himes is showing a lot of guts for a man who has made one bad move after another since he was hired to replace Hawk Harrelson.”

Trivia Answer: Lou Gehrig, Mel Ott, Duke Snider, Luke Appling and Joe Cronin.

Quotebook

Boston Red Sox pitcher Bob Stanley, after being ripped in a Boston newspaper: “I’m going to cancel my prescription.”