Reggie Smith Couldn’t Keep Giants Out of Double Jeopardy

Milt May, Pittsburgh Pirate batting coach, and Reggie Smith, Dodger minor league hitting coach, were teammates on the San Francisco Giants in 1982.

May told Bob Hertzel of the Pittsburgh Press, “When Reggie came to the club that year, he went to management and told them he wanted to have a little meeting with the hitters to show them how to avoid the double play.

“They said fine, and he held the meeting. He took about 30 minutes, going through the different tricks you can use to keep out of the double play.”

And?

“Then the year started, and he hit into 29 double plays and led the league.”

Bad wheels: Angel Manager Doug Rader told Tim Kurkjian of the Baltimore Sun that he has three cars, all with more than 100,000 miles on them.

“I’ve got ‘For Steal’ signs on all three,” Rader said. “I leave the keys in the ignition. And no one takes ‘em.”

Trivia time: What three men, playing on teams based in the Polo Grounds, hit 50 or more home runs in a season?

It’s wild: Former Dodger pitcher Ken Howell has thrown 16 wild pitches with the Philadelphia Phillies this season. The major league record is 30, by Leon (Red) Ames of the New York Giants in 1905.

“I’m going for it,” Howell said. “Everyone has got to have one stat to single him out. If I get 16 more in the second half, I’ll have a glorious record that should stand for a long time.”

Now hear this: Pete Rose, on newspapers: “I don’t read many truths in the newspapers. But I hear about it. It would scare me to read the paper. I didn’t know I had enough time to do the things I’m supposed to be doing.

“I’m tired of seeing my picture on the front page of USA Today. That’s the only paper I get. But you can’t put much stock in papers. They only cost 50 cents.”

Add Rose: According to the Pittsburgh Press, when Pete Rose Jr., a 19-year-old infielder in the Baltimore chain, made his first appearance for Erie in the New York-Penn League, a fan shouted, “Hey, Pete, bet you 10-1 you don’t get a hit.”

He didn’t, grounding weakly to second base. Next time up, however, he homered.

When he was in the Carolina League, he told his mother, Karolyn, that fans would taunt him by waving dollar bills at him.

Said Karolyn: “I told him he should have told them to throw the money at him. . . . He’s only making a minor league salary.”

Trivia answer: Babe Ruth (New York Yankees), 54 in 1920 and 59 in 1921; Johnny Mize (N.Y. Giants), 51 in 1947; Willie Mays (N.Y. Giants), 51 in 1955.

Quotebook Andy Van Slyke of the Pirates, after going hitless in six at-bats Thursday night: “No, I’ve never gone 0 for 6 before . . . well, maybe the first six questions of a test.”