Baseball Talks Set a Standard for NFL

With NFL owners and players scheduled to meet at the bargaining table, it is hoped the dialogue will reach a higher level than it did before the last strike in baseball.

Wrote Larry Guest of the Orlando Sentinel after owners representative Ray Grebey and players’ representative Mike Marshall of the Minnesota Twins squared off in 1980:

“When Grebey made what Marshall considered a ludicrous point, the pitcher with the Ph.D. in physiology reached into his advanced educational background and shouted across the table, ‘Bullbleep!’ Or something very close to bullbleep.

“Momentarily taken aback, Grebey regrouped, summoned his years of experience in rational labor debate and returned serve. ‘Bullbleep!’ he shouted.

“ ‘Bullbleep!’ Marshall echoed.

“Before this warm dialogue ended--when Grebey stalked angrily out of the room--he and Marshall reportedly had fired off six consecutive bullbleeps, believed to be a major league record.”

From defensive end Jay (Psycho) Roberts of the University of Washington, explaining his problems in the classroom: “Hey I thought I was on an athletic scholarship. I didn’t see anything in there about academics.”

Add Forgettable Quotes: Said pitching coach Art Fowler of New York Yankees’ pitcher Doyle Alexander in 1983: “How can I make Doyle Alexander a winner? He’s a great person, he makes $1.8 million. I love him. But he can’t pitch.”

The next year, Alexander was 17-6 at Toronto, leading the American League in winning percentage. In 1985, the next year, he helped the Blue Jays win the AL East with a 17-10 record. Today, he is 4-0 for Detroit, which is a half-game out in the AL East.

Note: In the past four seasons, Alexander has compiled a record of 17-4 in September and October.

Trivia Time: Sharon McLain, wife of Denny McLain, is the daughter of what member of the baseball Hall of Fame? (Answer below.)

The subject was skulduggery in baseball, and Ira Berkow of the New York Times told this one on Ty Cobb: “Once, when he retired, he coached a high school all-star team. He gave a speech about fair play to the boys, and, as the lads trooped to the field, he pulled the catcher aside. ‘Remember,’ he said, ‘just before a batter swings, flip a little dirt in his eye.’ ”

Atlanta announcer Skip Caray, on Pittsburgh’s Mike Diaz who is hitting .223: “His nickname is Rambo, but he bats like Brigitte Nielsen.”

Andre Dawson of the Chicago Cubs, leading the National League in home runs and runs batted in, doesn’t think he’ll win the MVP because his team is in fifth place, but it’s happened before.

Hank Sauer, in 1952, and Ernie Banks, in 1958 and 1959, were MVP winners for the Cubs, and all three teams finished fifth.

76 Years Ago Today: Rookie Grover Cleveland Alexander of the Philadelphia Phillies won a 1-0 pitching duel from 44-year-old Cy Young, who was closing out his career with the Boston Braves.

On this date in 1984, Dwight Gooden of the New York Mets struck out Ron Cey of the Chicago Cubs in the second inning for No. 228 to set a National League record for a rookie pitcher. He broke the record set by Grover Cleveland Alexander in 1911.

Trivia Answer: Lou Boudreau.

Quotebook

Tommy John, asking writers to try to avoid references to his age in stories: “My wife doesn’t like it. She says everyone thinks she’s also 44.”