Rose Put Himself on Hot Seat Long Before Rumors Started

At the 1988 major league managers luncheon, the National League skippers were summoned for their annual group portrait.

Naturally Tom Lasorda was put in the front and center position--and the 11 others were asked to take adjacent positions.

Pete Rose noticed that Atlanta Braves’ Manager Russ Nixon was positioning himself right next to Lasorda.

Rose said to Nixon: You’d better switch spots with me because the last four guys who stood next to Tommy in this (annual) picture lost their jobs next season.

“Me? Don’t worry. I’ve got a two-year contract.”

Trivia: When the Oakland Athletics beat the New York Mets in the 1973 World Series, which reliever became the first pitcher to work in all seven games of a fall classic?

For What It’s Worth: Players who aren’t taken in the high rounds of this year’s National Football League draft can take heart. Forty-nine of the 82 players elected to the Pro Bowl weren’t first-round picks. Ten weren’t drafted at all.

Add NFL draft: This was the first time in Dallas Cowboy history that Tex Schramm was not in the team’s draft room on draft day.

Although Schramm had some input in helping to persuade new owner Jerry Jones to take UCLA quarterback Troy Aikman, that was his only role.

“It’s probably best that I get out of Dodge,” Schramm said.

Outrageous Philly: Charles Barkley is racking up the one-liners almost as fast as he’s scoring points this season.

The 76ers’ forward had this to say to an official after being assessed his fifth foul and replaced by sub Bob Thornton: “You think these people are paying money to see him play?”

He’s already on his way: Anthony Hembrick of Detroit, who was disqualified from the Olympic boxing competition in Seoul after showing up late for his opening match, had a second-round knock out in his pro debut Saturday night.

“I don’t want to be just one of the boxers,” he said. “I want to be one of the legends of boxing.”

How times have changed: Staffer Earl Gustkey came across this item on Babe Ruth while researching a story in The Times library. RUTH’S EARNINGS REACH $1,372,900. June 1, 1941: “George Herman (Babe) Ruth’s climb to all-time top earnings as a baseball player now looks as if it will never be equaled.

Note: Orel Hershiser will earn $2.4 million this season, the first year of a three-year contract worth $7.9 million.

Trivia answer: Darold Knowles.

Quotebook: Royals’ pitcher Bret Saberhagen on his role as pinch-runner in a game against the Baltimore Orioles in which he scored what turned out to be the winning run: “I enjoyed it. I ran for George Brett one year. I’ll probably run for (Bo) Jackson next.”