For a Father-Son Outing, You Can’t Beat a Day at the Park

In a recent story for the Boston Globe, Peter Gammons wrote about baseball’s three generations of Boones--Ray, 67, Bob, 43, Bret, 21, and Aaron, 17.

Gammons noted that Bob, the major leagues’ all-time leader in games caught, grew up around major league clubhouses, hanging out with his father Ray, a major league infielder for 13 years and now a scout in the San Diego area.

Ray told Gammons that when he played for the Chicago White Sox in 1958 and ‘59, the club would let Bob, wearing second baseman Nellie Fox’s uniform, shag flies during batting practice.

Said Ray: “When I’d hear a roar during BP, I knew Bob had just made a hotdog catch in the outfield.”

Add Boones: Bret, the former USC second baseman, was taken by Seattle, his father’s current club, in the 28th round of the 1990 draft.

Gammons wrote: “Bret was a near legend in Philadelphia by the age of 8. (Phillie reliever) Tug McGraw taught Bret how to make behind-the-back catches, and he became such a showboat performer that he had his own rooting section in the Veterans Stadium bleachers during BP.

“Ray went to the 1979 All-Star game in Seattle to watch Bob, and while they were talking around the batting cage, a roar went up from the center-field bleachers. ‘Bret must have made a great catch,’ Ray told his son, and he was right.”

Trivia time: Before 1921, what was the University of Washington’s nickname?

Hondophile: Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe was reminiscing recently with retired Celtic announcer Johnny Most, who has a special fondness for former Celtic forward John Havlicek.

Said Most: “I knew he’d be something special the first time I saw him play a full game. It was an exhibition game, and at the end of the game, he wasn’t sweating. That was his game. He just took you apart by running you, running you, running you. Imagine. The timeout comes at three quarters. You look down at the other bench, and there’s the guy who’s been running you, running you, running you, and he’s not even sweating! Now how discouraging could that be?”

The Appomatoxdome: The Republican national convention will occupy the Houston Astrodome for an entire month during the 1992 baseball season.

Astro owner John McMullen, who has the club up for sale and has vowed to complete a deal before the end of 1991, gave the GOP the go-ahead before checking with major league baseball. Local media came down hard on him, and he can’t figure out why.

Said McMullen: “They’re all over me so viciously for something that’s great for the community. They won’t even let me leave in peace. Even Grant let Lee keep his horse.”

Trivia answer: The Sun Dodgers. (Sun Dodger is the name of the Husky mascot.)

Quotebook: Pittsburgh outfielder Andy Van Slyke, on teammate Bobby Bonilla’s rejection of the Pirates’ $15.5-million offer for four years: “I know if they make me an offer like that, I’m asking them to pass me the pen or, at least, prick my finger and I’ll sign in blood.”