A Time-Honored Tradition in Paciorek Family Is Upheld

Jim Paciorek added a twist to Japanese and American baseball trivia Saturday.

Paciorek, who played 48 games for the Milwaukee Brewers in 1987, singled home the winning run in the 15th inning as the Yokohama Taiyo Whales beat the Chunichi Dragons, 6-5. That ended the longest game in Japan League history, 5 hours 51 minutes.

Paciorek’s older brother, Tom, played in the longest game in major league history, June 8-9, 1984. Tom, then a White Sox left fielder, went five for nine with three runs batted in as Chicago beat Milwaukee, 8-7, in 25 innings. The resumed game took 8 hours 6 minutes.

Add Pacioreks: Another brother, John, had a different sort of major league career. He played in one game, with the Houston Astros in 1963.

His career totals: three for three, three RBIs.

Trivia time: Name the player who appeared in the 1949 Rose Bowl game and in the 1950 World Series.

Late-inning relief: Some Philadelphia fans called a WIP-AM radio talk show Saturday to complain that Phillie first baseman Von Hayes had thrown a cup of water into the stands at Veterans Stadium Friday night because he was upset that the crowd was cheering for Pittsburgh pitcher Doug Drabek to get a no-hitter.

Hayes acknowledged that the cheering bothered him, but denied that he threw water at the fans. He told the Associated Press: “I threw some water into the air. It was a hot night.”

Gary who?: Phoenix Cardinal quarterback Gary Hogeboom is an 11-year NFL veteran, but don’t tell Cardinal Coach Joe Bugel.

So far in training camp, Bugel has called Hogeboom “Hogenboom,” “Hogebahm” and “Hogieboom.” At one news conference, Bugel forgot Hogeboom’s name altogether.

Down for the count: Heavyweight Ray Mercer, who remained undefeated in 16 professional fights with a decision over Bert Cooper Sunday, was one of America’s three gold medalists in the 1988 Olympic boxing competition.

Wallace Matthews of Newsday recalled an episode involving Mercer and super heavyweight Riddick Bowe while the two roomed together in Seoul.

Said Mercer: “One night, Bowe asked me if I ever thought about losing. Well, I was scared to death. I could hardly believe I was even in the Olympics. I didn’t need to hear any negatives, even from my teammates. That really turned me off. I took my mattress down to the living room and slept on the hard, cold floor for the next three days.”

Add Mercer: The heavyweight told Matthews he would welcome a fight with his ex-roommate and teammate.

Said Mercer: “That incident in the Olympics showed me a lot about Bowe’s heart. I know he don’t have a heart and he knows he don’t have a heart. I don’t like him and I hate his ways.”

Trivia answer: Jackie Jensen, with California and the Yankees.

Quotebook: Joe Torre, new St. Louis Cardinal manager, on the recent changes in his home life: “My wife liked knowing when I was coming home every night and who I was going to be with. I told her now she gets to meet a bunch of different people.”