The Article Just Didn’t Have a Smooth Finish

Terrie Noll, editor of Woodwork magazine in Ross, Calif., is no baseball fan. But after reading a recent story submission, she sensed that something about it went against the grain.

Part 1 was a wood-related sports quiz. Example: “What nickname was given to the Pittsburgh Pirates during the 1970s?” (The Lumber Company). And: “What major league baseball city includes the name of a tree?” (Oakland).

No problem there. But Noll rejected the article out of hand when she read Part 2, “The Woodworker’s Baseball All-Stars.” In the dugout, along with Manager Bob Lemon, were coaches Clement Oakes, George Wood and Ty Cobb. The outfielders were, left to right, Ted (the Splendid Splinter) Williams, Al Burch and George (Hickory) Jackson.

Seems the Georgia Peach couldn’t beat out Al Burch.

Trivia time: Who was the first major league player to earn $1 million in a season?

Not a full deck: Kansas City Royal first baseman George Brett recently told the Associated Press: “I remember when I was 15, my dad came to me and said I should be more like Steve Garvey. I said, ‘Dad, I’m George Brett. I’m not Steve Garvey.’

“I’m not Michael Jordan. I’m not Wayne Gretzky. I’m George Brett. You’ve got to play with the cards you’re dealt.”

According to the cards Brett was dealt, he was 15 in 1968--when Steve Garvey was still a minor leaguer.

ABC’s of the game: There is a baseball statistic to cover just about any category. Here’s one you might have missed: home run standings among players whose last names begin with the same letter.

Only two active players--Pete Incaviglia and Jamie Quirk--lead their letter groups, but there’s a close race in the L division.

Greg Luzinski passed Ernie Lombardi in 1979 and finished his career with 307 home runs. But San Diego’s Fred Lynn had 306 at the end of the 1990 season.

Said Lynn: “When you’re in this game long enough, your name pops up in all kinds of things. But there are only 26 of us. So I guess it’s an honor, right?”

Not yet.

Add alphabet homers: Of course, all-time home run leader Hank Aaron is the king of A. Other players who lead their letters include Ernie Banks, Willie Mays, Frank Thomas, Willie Upshaw, Babe Ruth and Gus Zernial.

Trivia answer: Dave Parker of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1978.

Quotebook: Pittsburgh Pirate broadcaster Jim Rooker, while St. Louis Cardinal first baseman Pedro Guerrero stood admiring the flight of a home run he had just hit: “It wasn’t long ago, if a hitter done that--excuse me-- did that--he’d pay a price.”