BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : Last of the ’27 Yankees Dies

Mark Koenig, the last surviving member of the 1927 New York Yankee team featuring the “Murderers’ Row” that included Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, died Thursday in Willows, Calif. He was 88.

The 1927 team was in first place from start to finish in the American League and ended up 19 games ahead of the second-place Philadelphia Athletics. New York then swept the Pittsburgh Pirates in the World Series.

The squad boasted Hall of Famers Ruth, Gehrig, Tony Lazzeri, Earle Combes, Herb Pennock and Waite Hoyt.

Koenig was the club’s starting shortstop from 1926 to 1929. He finished his 13-year career with a .279 average, hitting .391 in 1928.

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The Chicago White Sox paid a bargain price for insurance behind the plate, signing Mike LaValliere to a minor league contract after the Pittsburgh Pirates released him earlier this month. The Pirates are still responsible for most of LaValliere’s guaranteed $4.05-million salary through next year. The White Sox have to pay the 32-year-old veteran only the minimum salary of $109,000. . . . New York Met reliever John Franco will be put on the 15-day disabled list today retroactive to April 16 because of a tender left elbow.