Dodger Prince Arrives With a King’s Ransom

For a small town, ‘tis the season for sightings of the rich and famous. First, it was Prince Charles, who dropped by for a polo match Saturday, although the mayor of Vero Beach, Kenneth Macht, boycotted the event. He went to the Little League opener instead, where--shades of the World Series--Orel and Millie Hershiser threw out the first ball.

That royalty business, Macht said afterward, was a little too snooty for his taste.

“The invitations even instructed us on what to wear--smart little blue blazers,” he said disdainfully Sunday night. “To me, it’s more important to deal with the local parents and children than something as frivolous as that.”

But this morning, local hoi polloi are expected to come out in force to celebrate the first appearance of Orel and Millie’s son, Orel Hershiser IV, since he signed the contract on Thursday that made him No. 1 on baseball’s Fortune 500.

Hershiser, wealthier by $7.9 million, arrived in town after dark Sunday night. Reports that he was transported from Los Angeles in a style befitting his new status--via space shuttle--did not check out. Hershiser arrived on a commercial jet, and planned to attend his first workout this morning, three days after the Dodgers’ other pitchers began spring training.

Hershiser said last week he would have liked to have reported on time, but contract negotiations prevented him from packing. Unlike Boston pitcher Roger Clemens, who signed for $7.5 million one day before Hershiser came to terms, Hershiser has not complained that there isn’t anybody around to carry his bags.

The full squad is due to come in Tuesday, with the first workout scheduled for Wednesday. New second baseman Willie Randolph is due to arrive today after driving his family down from New Jersey, while Kirk Gibson--whose sore right knee will limit his activity for a while--is due to come in Tuesday. Because they were coming off injuries from last season, both players had permission to come early.

And what of Eddie Murray, the eagerly awaited slugger acquired last December from the Baltimore Orioles? Officially, he has until March 1 to report, although team officials are saying they expect him to show up Tuesday. The most recent Murray sighting came Saturday night in the L.A. Sports Arena, where he was a judge for a kids’ slam-dunk competition at halftime of a Clippers’ game.

At least one Dodger--Rick Dempsey, who played with Murray in Baltimore--is predicting great things for the new first baseman.

“He’s very, very excited about spring training,” Dempsey said. “He’s in good shape right now, way ahead of where he’s been for 10 springs. He’s ready to hit right now. He’s well ahead mentally and physically, and ready to put some big numbers down.

“He’s one of the greatest hitters I’ve ever seen. By mistake he can put some regular numbers down, so to hit 40 homers at Dodger Stadium isn’t out of reach.”

It wouldn’t be spring training without some visa problems, and two Dodgers--pitcher Ramon Martinez and catcher Gilberto Reyes--are stranded in the Dominican Republic until Tuesday.

An early arrival--even though he can’t work out until Wednesday--was outfielder Mike Marshall, who pulled into town Friday night.

“He worked like a dog all winter,” Manager Tom Lasorda said. “He signed that new contract (three years, $3.5 million) and got into the best shape of his life. I don’t think he missed a day.”