He Got the Message but Not Right One

When John McGrath of the Denver Post tried to contact Sammy Winder in Mississippi to get his reaction to the acquisition of Tony Dorsett by the Denver Broncos, he got a recorded message.

“Hi, this is Sammy Winder of Winder Construction,” the message said. “Isn’t it about time you add more gravel to the potholes in your driveway? Or don’t you need that back 40 cleared so you can sit on your back porch and gaze across those rolling hills? Please leave your name and number and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank yooouuu.”

For What It’s Worth: Cy Young, the only pitcher besides Nolan Ryan to win 100 games for teams in both leagues, won 239 for the Cleveland Nationals and 193 for the Boston Red Sox. He averaged 25 wins a season. In 1908, at the age of 41, the same age as Ryan, he was 21-11 with the Red Sox and had a no-hitter. He pitched 295 innings. Last year’s leaders were Charlie Hough of the Texas Rangers in the American League with 285 innings and Orel Hershiser of the Dodgers in the National League with 264.

Trivia Time: Fifty-four years ago today, when Carl Hubbell struck out Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons and Joe Cronin in succession in the All-Star game, who ended the streak with a single? (Answer below.)

A pair of one-liners, courtesy of Tim Kurkjian of the Baltimore Sun:

--Red Sox outfielder Brady Anderson, on his most unforgettable moment in baseball: “There was a groundskeeper in Mexico who set himself on fire three times trying to dry off the field with gasoline.”

--Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andy Van Slyke, on whether he has any pregame superstitions: “Only calling Nancy Reagan before every game.”

Add Kurkjian: “Last week, the Cubs’ Vance Law was hit on the elbow by a pitch from the Dodgers’ Tim Leary. ‘I wanted to lay down and cry, it hurt so much,’ said Law. Said teammate Ryne Sandberg: ‘Wanted to? You did.’ ”

Notre Dame football Coach Lou Holtz, doing promotional bits on NBC on how golf should be fun, says, “I don’t play well enough to be allowed to throw my clubs.”

He once said: “My father-in-law and I have a great deal in common. We both love football, golf and his daughter, not necessarily in that order. My wife is a great mother but doesn’t know if the ball is blown up or stuffed.”

Don Budge, the first tennis player to win the Grand Slam, did it with dispatch, taking the four finals in an average time of just over an hour.

“That’s one thing I like about Steffi Graf,” he told the New York Times. “No delays. She doesn’t fuss around. She plays with a purpose. Most of these players today, by the time the match is over, your clothes could go out of style.”

Cleveland Manager Doc Edwards, on Brook Jacoby, who has a reputation of playing through pain: “Jake comes from the days of iron men and wooden ships.”

Trivia Answer: Bill Dickey. Despite Hubbell’s feat, the American League defeated the National League, 9-7, at the Polo Grounds in New York.

Quotebook

Wally Backman of the New York Mets: “My wife bought me a tie for $135. For $135, it should tie itself.”