Notes on a Scorecard - July 14, 1992

If there is a case against interleague baseball, it is the uniqueness of the All-Star game. . . .

From the end of spring training to the start of the World Series, the game that will be played for the 63rd time today is the only one matching players from the American and National Leagues. . . .

Maybe that’s why so many sports fans know the Americans have won the last four games, but can’t tell you who won the last Pro Bowl or the last NBA All-Star game that wasn’t a homecoming party for Magic Johnson, or even the names of the teams in the NHL All-Star game. . . .

The honorary captain for the Americans, Jimmie Reese, hit some balls with his fungo bat during the workout Monday. . . .

“When I can’t do that, I’ll know the end is near,” said the Angel coach who was born Hymie Solomon in New York City on Oct. 1, 1901. . . .

Terry Pendleton, the Atlanta Braves’ third baseman who will start today, wanted to sign with the Dodgers before the 1991 season. . . .

“It was always my dream to play in a Dodger uniform,” said Pendleton, who was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Oxnard. “They were the first team my people talked to when I became a free agent, but they said Jeff Hamilton was their third baseman and they weren’t interested.” . . .

Granted, Pendleton hit only .230 his last season with the St. Louis Cardinals, but his glove alone should have made him attractive to the Dodgers. . . .

When Carl Hubbell struck out Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons and Joe Cronin in a row in the 1934 game, only Foxx was able to make contact. He fouled off a pitch against the New York Giants’ screwball specialist. . . .

Tim McCarver, who will broadcast his fifth All-Star game for CBS, went three for three as a player in the 1966 and ’67 games. . . .

“What I remember most about the ’67 game is catching Tom Seaver for an inning,” McCarver said. “He threw so hard that the pain was almost unbearable, even though I was wearing a sponge (in his mitt). I couldn’t bend one of my fingers for a week after that.” . . .

Only 37 runs have been scored in the last eight games, an average of 4.6 a game. . . .

The pro’s pro is Ozzie Smith. Most players would grumble about all the trade rumors the Cardinal shortstop has heard the last couple of years, but Smith told Manager Joe Torre, “I’ll be fine.” . . .

Rarely has Doug Harvey, who will umpire his last All-Star game today before retiring at the end of the season, lost control of a game. His nickname? “God.” . . .

The game wasn’t officially a sellout until Sunday, when 2,000 tickets that had been returned by major league clubs were sold. . . .

The 92,000-seat Los Angeles Coliseum holds the record for most empty seats at an All-Star game and Super Bowl. Only 55,105 attended the second of two All-Star games in 1959, and 61,946 saw the first Super Bowl in 1967. . . . Montreal Expo outfielder Larry Walker is the only Canadian-born player in the game, but he isn’t the best hockey player on the National League roster. . . .

Walker was a third-string goaltender for the Regina Pats of the junior Western League. Starting pitcher Tom Glavine was a fourth-round draft choice of the Kings in 1984. . . .

Denny McLain asked the Detroit Tigers for a $40,000 raise to $100,000 after he went 31-6 in 1968, but settled for $90,000. . . .

“We made a lot less, but pitched a lot more,” said McLain before appearing in the Upper Deck Heroes of Baseball game Monday. “But I think the games are more exciting now. Most people would rather see a 9-8 game than a 1-0 game.” . . .

Today’s game will be played outdoors on natural turf, starting at twilight. Oh well, two out of three isn’t bad. . . .

From 1935-46, the eight managers in each league selected the teams. They were not allowed to vote for players on their own teams. . . .

Angel pitcher Chuck Finley should have pitched during the home run-hitting contest Monday. . . .

“I’ve seen Roger Clemens pitch four or five times this season,” said Robin Roberts, the Hall of Famer who pitched from 1948-66. “We didn’t have anybody better than him.” . . .

Reggie Jackson was pinch-hitting for Oakland Athletic teammate Vida Blue when he powered the 520-foot home run that hit a light standard on the roof in right field at Tiger Stadium in 1971. . . .

“I might approach this one a little more seriously,” said Will Clark, who is 0 for 4 in All-Star games. “We haven’t won. It’s about time we did.” . . .

I hate to think about it, but this might be the last All-Star game played without a Florida Marlin or Colorado Rockie.