The Last One to Try It Was Vic Janowicz

If Bo Jackson signs with the Raiders, he will become the first athlete since Vic Janowicz to play baseball in the major leagues and football in the National Football League in the same year.

Janowicz, Heisman Trophy winner at Ohio State in 1950, was a third baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates and a running back and kicker for the Washington Redskins in 1954.

He batted .151 in 41 games for the Pirates, who finished last in the National League.

He carried 6 times for 13 yards, a 2.2 average, and scored 21 points on 4 field goals and 9 extra points for the Redskins, who finished next to last in the Eastern Conference with a 3-9 record.

In 1955, after giving up baseball, Janowicz led the Redskins in rushing with 516 yards, averaging 5.2 yards a carry, and was the leading scorer with 88 points. The Redskins finished second in the Eastern Conference with an 8-4 record.

Janowicz was injured seriously in an off-season automobile accident, ending his athletic career.

Add Bo: Said Kansas City teammate Willie Wilson when he heard that Jackson was looking at pro football as a hobby: “Do you think Lawrence Taylor is going to think it’s a hobby?”

Said Chi Chi Rodriguez, after Arnold Palmer teed off in front of him in the third round of the U.S. Senior Open: “I hope Arnie doesn’t take all my fans with him. I call my gallery Arnie’s Leftovers.”

Add Chi Chi: Of his style of play, he said: “I’m an aggressive kind of player in golf, but in real life I wouldn’t hurt a fly. I’m like Anthony Perkins.”

Trivia Time: Who is the only golfer to win the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Open and U.S. Senior Open? (Answer in column four.)

San Diego’s Eric Show, after apologizing for the beaning of Chicago Cubs slugger Andre Dawson, calling it accidental, blasted Chicago Sun-Times columnist Ron Rapoport, who had called him a “mediocre pitcher and a worse liar.”

The Padre pitcher said Rapoport was an “amoeba-brained so-called writer with mental vertigo.”

Asked his reaction, Rapoport said, “The man does have a way with words.”

Now-it-can-be-told Dept.: Cincinnati pitcher Ted Power, an ex-Dodger, told The Sporting News that after he beat the Dodgers, 6-0, last month for his first big league shutout, he celebrated by dining at Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda’s restaurant.

“Tommy wasn’t there,” Power said. “There were only six people there, and five were at our table.”

Ohio State guard Dennis Hopson, drafted No. 1 by the New Jersey Nets, said he used to fantasize about driving to the basket against Magic Johnson.

“Magic is my idol,” he said, “but I guess I’m going to have to stop idoling him.”

36 Years Ago Today: On July 12, 1951, Allie Reynolds of the New York Yankees pitched a no-hitter to beat Bob Feller and the Cleveland Indians, 1-0. Gene Woodling hit a home run for the only run. He and Reynolds both were former Indians. It was the first of two no-hitters by Reynolds that year.

For What It’s Worth: Mark McGwire hit his 33rd home run in Oakland’s 86th game of the season. Roger Maris hit his 33rd in the 82nd game. Babe Ruth hit his 33rd in the 95th game.

Trivia Answer: Arnold Palmer.

Quotebook

Minnesota Twins Manager Tom Kelly, on Friday night’s 13-12 loss to Baltimore: “We missed the extra points.”