In This League, .280 Is Just About Average

More and more, major league baseball is drawing players from the college ranks, but it’s doubtful many of them majored in math.

Chicago White Sox Manager Jim Fregosi told this one to the Boston Globe: “Jerry Royster asked for the ball from his 4,000th time at bat. I’d never seen a guy ask for the ball after an at-bat milestone. On his next at-bat, he got his 1,000th career hit.

“Then one of our players says to me, ‘Royster has 4,000 at-bats and 1,000 hits. That means his lifetime average is about .280, doesn’t it?’ ”

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s . . . : From the Sporting News: “Gary Cohen, who wore the bird suit as the mascot for the Baltimore Orioles last season, has taken a new job--as an air controller.”

Quickie Quiz: Former pitcher Ralph Terry, now on the senior golf circuit, is called Maz by Chi Chi Rodriguez. Why?

Answer: It was Terry who gave up the decisive homer to Bill Mazeroski in the 1960 World Series.

Add Names: Asked why wide receiver Clarence Verdin of the Washington Redskins is called CNN, a teammate said, “Because he talks 24 hours a day.”

Trivia Time: Name an athlete who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hint: He was a running back at USC. (Answer in column four.)

71 Years Ago Today: On Aug. 15, 1916, Babe Ruth of the Boston Red Sox beat Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators, 1-0, in 13 innings at Fenway Park.

On this date in 1975, Baltimore Manager Earl Weaver was thrown out twice in one day to tie an American League record. He was thrown out by Ron Luciano in the first game of a doubleheader and was ejected before the second game.

Weaver tied the record set the year before by Billy Martin of the Texas Rangers.

Add Luciano: Of Weaver, he said: “I hate Earl Weaver with a passion. I met Weaver in my second year in baseball. I threw him out that first night and three nights after that. Our relationship has gone downhill since. He’s about 3-foot-1. I tell him to get his nose off my kneecap.”

Weaver on Luciano: “He’s sick. He stumbles and almost falls sometimes. Once I saw him show up late at second base with a Coke in his hand. I would suggest the league prescribe medical help.”

Would-you-believe-it Dept.: Jackie Joyner-Kersee, by tying Heike Dreschler’s mark of 24-5 1/2, became the first American to hold the world record in the women’s long jump.

The first officially recognized mark was 18-10 1/2 by Kinoue Hitomi of Japan in 1926. Since then, the record has been held by women from Poland, Germany, Holland, New Zealand, Soviet Union, Britain, Romania, West Germany and East Germany.

It was fun while it lasted, but Bill Parcells no longer will get doused with Gatorade after victories by the New York Giants.

“Enough is enough,” said designated douser Harry Carson. “Maybe this year, we’ll do something different.”

Parcells’ reply: “Good.”

Trivia Answer: Rex Johnston. He played 12 games with the Steelers in 1960 and 14 games with the Pirates in 1964.

Quotebook

Bob Stanley, Boston Red Sox pitcher, noting that Texas Rangers catcher Mike Stanley had thrown out only 2 of 51 batters attempting to steal: “It must be the name. His arm must be as bad as mine. But I’m having a better year. I’m 3-11.”