Ueberroth’s Plans Rebuked in Writing by One Media Critic

Kevin Horrigan, sports editor of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, wasn’t impressed when Peter Ueberroth spelled out a plan to combat the drug problem in South America.

Calling the commissioner’s plan simplistic and naive, Horrigan said: “Let’s just say that if Peter Ueberroth is serious presidential timber, Pat Paulsen should apply for matching funds.”

Jerry Reuss’ acquisition, along with that of Greg Minton, was ammunition for Angel Manager Gene Mauch’s critics, but the manager said he doesn’t worry about a pitcher’s age.

“I wanted to get Hoyt Wilhelm 23 years ago,” Mauch said. “The general manager said, ‘Ah, I’m not going to pay $40,000 for a 40-year-old pitcher.’ Eight years later, Wilhelm was still pitching.

“And I know in all my heart we would have won the pennant in 1977 with the (Minnesota) Twins if we could have gotten Woodie Fryman--and he was 40 years old (actually 37).”

When did Claremont dentist John McGwire, father of Mark McGwire, first know he had a home run hitter in the family.

“On his first at-bat as a 10-year-old in Little League, he hit the ball out of the park,” John McGwire said. “He was playing in the major league, against 12-year-olds, and he finished second in home runs that year.”

Trivia Time: Todd Phipers of the Denver Post asks: “What do Chris Evert, LeRoy Jolley and Ismael Valenzuela have in common?” (Answer below.)

Now-it-can-be-told dept.: Chi Chi Rodriguez told the New York Times that a boost from Jack Nicklaus helped prepare him for the Seniors Tour, both psychologically and financially.

“It was three years ago and we were playing at Pebble Beach,” Rodriguez said. “Jack had bought the MacGregor company and asked if I’d endorse his clubs. I was going pretty bad at the time, and I said, ‘Me, are you kidding?’

“He said, ‘No, I think you’d be great in selling the name.’

“Well, that made me feel very good that someone like Jack Nicklaus would still be interested in Chi Chi Rodriguez. At that time, at that age.”

Add Nicklaus: Son Gary Nicklaus, a former South Florida PGA Junior champion, has signed to attend Ohio State, his dad’s alma mater. Jack said he didn’t try to influence his son, but Woody Hayes did.

Said Ohio State golf Coach Jim Brown: “Gary was the last guy Woody recruited for Ohio State, and really did as much to help as anybody.”

At least one person must have known how Canada’s Richard Zokol felt when he stumbled to a 75 in the last round of the Canadian Open after tying for the third round lead.

Keith Clearwater had a similar collapse in the U.S. Open, finishing with a 79. He and Zokol were teammates at Brigham Young.

Everyone knows that Leo Durocher talked a good game, but how good a shortstop was he?

Said former announcer Red Barber, writing in the Christian Science Monitor: “Leo was rapidly graceful, never off balance, and I never saw a shortstop get rid of the ball as quickly as he did. It seemed Leo barely touched the ball until it was on its way to its needful destination.”

Trivia Answer: All three have been nominated for the Racing Hall of Fame. That’s Chris Evert the thoroughbred, not the tennis player.

Quotebook

Denver Nugget Coach Doug Moe, asked what he thought of being named coach of the All-Interview team as chosen by National Basketball Assn. writers: “No comment.”