COLLEGE BASEBALL : Miami’s Fraser Won the Games and Banquets

Ron Fraser will retire as coach of the Miami Hurricanes after this season with a reputation for winning that is surpassed only by his legacy as a promoter.

Fraser, in his 30th season with the No. 2 Hurricanes, will leave college baseball second only to former USC coach Rod Dedeaux in victories and as the unparalleled king of ballpark fun and fund raising.

Fraser’s teams won national titles in 1982 and 1985, but his greatest claim to fame might be the $5,000-a-plate dinner he staged at Mark Light Stadium. Twenty-four guests were served a 10-course meal prepared by four internationally renowned chefs.

Under Fraser, Miami promotions have included car giveaways, income tax preparation night and even free medical service, including open heart surgery.

“I remember one year we went 61-11 and went to the World Series, so I thought I would get a raise and a little budget increase,” said Fraser, who will coach the U.S. Olympic team at Barcelona this summer. “Instead, the budget was cut by $50,000. At that point, the program was going down the tubes. So I figured, if it’s going out, it’s going to go out its own way.”

Fraser’s promotions have made Miami one of the most financially successful college baseball programs in the nation. The Hurricanes sell about 40 outfield sign advertisements for $6,000 each per season. They also have long-term agreements for scoreboard advertising that will play about $500,000, and they have a $2,000-per-game skybox that is sold out for all of their 44 home games.

In May, Miami will draw its 2 millionth fan since 1974.

“To be successful, you have to get the wives to come out to the park with the guys,” Fraser said. “We’ve given away dresses, trips, perfume, everything. You do a lot of things to make it interesting for the wives and families.”

Fraser will continue to work for Miami as a fund-raiser after the Olympics. He is heading up the school’s Cornerstone Committee, which expects to raise $50 million in 2 1/2 years for the library and school of Arts and Sciences.

“That’s going to be a challenge, like going undefeated in a season,” Fraser said. “I thought it would be one way to give something back to the university for giving me the chance to do my thing.”

Add Fraser: While Brad Kelley, longtime Miami assistant, is considered the front-runner to succeed him, Fraser is encouraging all interested candidates to apply.

“A lot of people have not applied because they think (Kelley) has it locked up,” Fraser said. “It’s the best job in the United States. I have my own television show, radio show and a salary that equals many football coaches.

Asked if Dave Snow, Cal State Long Beach coach and an assistant on the Olympic team staff, would be considered a candidate, Fraser said: “I would think Dave would be a guy that would certainly have to be talked to.”

Trivia time: What current major league manager worked as a batboy for one of USC’s national championship teams?

Star is born: Senior outfielder Nick Satriano of UC Santa Barbara plays Tony Lazzeri of the New York Yankees in the new movie “The Babe.”

Satriano, son of former Angel catcher Tom Satriano, had worked as a child model and appeared in a commercial for a fast food chain a few years ago. He was on location in Chicago last summer for a month of shooting.

“I knew Tony Lazzeri’s name, but nothing about him when I got the part,” said Satriano, who went to Santa Monica High. “There were some people around the set who knew him, though, so I was able to get some background on him.

“It was a lot of fun because, when I wasn’t working, I got to go to a lot of Cubs and White Sox games. I’m not sure how many scenes I’ll be in when the movie is released. I could end up on the cutting-room floor. But I’ve seen a couple previews and I’m in those.”

Wide-open race: The first half of play in the Pacific 10 Southern Division is complete, and all six teams are still in the running for the championship.

Arizona State, ranked No. 10, is in first place with a 9-6 record, followed by No. 15 Arizona (7-5), No. 21 UCLA (7-7), No. 13 Stanford (7-8), USC (7-8) and California (5-8).

Trivia answer: Sparky Anderson, manager of the Detroit Tigers, worked as a bat boy for USC when the Trojans won the 1948 NCAA championship.

College Baseball Notes

UCLA freshman Mike Mitchell had seven hits in 12 at-bats, including two home runs, as the Bruins took two of three games from USC last weekend. He raised his batting average to .435. . . . Junior right-hander Pete Janicki of UCLA is listed as the No. 1 college pitching prospect and the No. 3 college prospect overall in a survey of scouting directors polled by Baseball America magazine. . . . Chapman catcher Larry Stahlhoefer, a junior, has 10 home runs and 46 runs batted in. Stahlhoefer, a transfer from Riverside City College, has four homers in the last six games.

Pitchers for No. 8 Pepperdine entered the week with a 1.07 ERA in their last 59 innings. Patrick Ahearne has won seven consecutive games to improve his record to 9-1 with a 1.82 ERA. . . . Jason Giambi is batting .390 for No. 14 Cal State Long Beach, which is tied with San Jose State for first place in the Big West Conference at 10-2. Seventh-ranked Cal State Fullerton is 8-4, followed by Fresno State (6-3), Nevada Las Vegas (5-4), UC Irvine (5-7), UC Santa Barbara (2-7), Pacific (4-11) and New Mexico State (1-11).