Perhaps They Knew Just a Bit Too Much

They’re called The Oak Tree Gang. Their names are Bob Tway, Scott Verplank, Gil Morgan, Doug Tewell and David Edwards. All except Morgan went to Oklahoma State and they all live in Edmond, Okla., where they represent the Oak Tree Golf Club, scene of the PGA Championship.

Said USA Today before the tournament: “The PGA offers $1 million in prize money and this gang would like nothing better than to divvy up most of the pot.

“The winning prize is $160,000. The Oak Tree Gang aims to keep it in town.”

They came up a little short. Edwards was the best of the bunch, tying for 25th and earning $6,667. Tway tied for 48th and earned $2,231. Tewell was 70th and made $1,800. Verplank and Morgan missed the cut.

Meanwhile, golfers from Florida State, Jeff Sluman and Paul Azinger, went one-two.

So much for local knowledge.

Said Gene Mauch when asked if he missed managing: “I miss innings one through nine, but not Cleveland or Detroit.”

He’s not yet in a league with Jerry Coleman or Ralph Kiner, but San Francisco Giant announcer Ron Fairly is making a move in the malaprop department. Some of his latest:

--”He fakes a bluff.”

--”Last night I neglected to mention something that bears repeating.”

--”The wind at Candlestick tonight is blowing with great propensity.”

--”The Giants are looking for a trade, but I don’t think Atlanta wants to depart with a quality player.”

Add Malaprops: These are from Dodger announcer Rick Monday on Z Channel:

“He has no better reason not to smile.”

“They’ve just joined hands together, playing magnificently.”

“To throw all your eggs in one little cart, so to speak.”

Trivia Time: What two pitchers won exactly 300 games in the major leagues? (Answer below.)

Said Detroit Manager Sparky Anderson after the Tigers and Boston Red Sox scored all those runs last weekend: “Once the score gets beyond five runs, I call it an agents game.”

Agents?

Said Sparky: “All those numbers only help the agents and their players.”

Now-it-can-be-told dept.: Angel draft choice Jim Abbott told The New York Times that when he pitched the United States to a win over Cuba last summer in Havana, he actually had the fans on his side.

Said Abbott, who has one hand: “The first batter hit a high chopper right back to me and I made the play, a real bang-bang play. The Cubans went crazy. They had a ball with it. I think it was the nuttiest thing they ever saw. I got a standing ovation and they were on our side after that.”

Trivia Answer: Lefty Grove (300-141) and Early Wynn (300-244).

Quotebook

Peter Alfano of The New York Times: “Years from now, people in Edmonton probably will ask, ‘Where were you the day Gretzky was traded?’ ”