Notes on a Scorecard - July 6, 1993

When Sandy Koufax was reached for comment about the death of Don Drysdale, he was signing autographs for $50 apiece at a show in Anaheim. . . .

If that smacks you as being greedy, try to keep in mind that Koufax never made the astronomical salaries that are awarded today to ballplayers who couldn’t carry his glove. . . .

In 1966, Koufax and Drysdale held out together during spring training. They first asked the Dodgers for a three-year, $1.05-million deal, the money to be split evenly between them. That would have meant $175,000 a year each. . . .

They were coming off pretty fair seasons. In 1965, Koufax was 26-8 with a 2.04 earned run average and won the Cy Young Award. Drysdale was 23-12 with a 2.77 ERA. Koufax started three World Series games against the Minnesota Twins and pitched two shutouts, including one in the seventh game. . . .

But Koufax settled for $130,000 for what would turn out to be his last season, and Drysdale got $115,000. . . .

Twenty-seven years and some inflationary times later, the minimum major league salary is $109,000 a year. The biggest contract, signed by Barry Bonds with the San Francisco Giants, is $43.75 million for six years. . . .

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Dusty Baker must be the only manager who wears wristbands. . . .

No American League team has a winning record on the road. . . .

The San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies are 12-1 on Sundays. . . .

The fans who sat through the doubleheader in Philadelphia that ended at 4:40 a.m. EDT should have been awarded medals on their way out of Veterans Stadium. . . .

Look-alikes: Dodger pitcher Roger McDowell and Phillie infielder Dave Hollins. . . .

The Minnesota Twins have had a nine-game and two eight-game losing streaks this season, but still can’t be counted out of the American League West race. . . .

Andres Galarraga isn’t the only expansion team player having a great year. Chris Hammond, who was 7-10 with the Cincinnati Reds last year, is 10-4 for the Florida Marlins. . . .

The Milwaukee Brewers drafted Florida State quarterbacks two consecutive years, Kenny Felder in 1992 and Charlie Ward in ’93. . . .

No doubt, the St. Louis Cardinals knew what they were doing when they kept Lee Smith and let Todd Worrell get away. Smith is on pace to break Bobby Thigpen’s major league saves’ record of 57 and exceed 400 for his career. . . .

Success story: Azusa native Hank Aguirre--who pitched for Cleveland, Detroit, the Dodgers and Chicago Cubs during a 16-year major league career that ended in 1970--owns Mexican Industries, a Detroit-based company that produces parts for automobiles and grossed $88 million last year. . . .

Kwang-Sun Kim of South Korea won the gold medal at 112 pounds in the 1988 Olympic Games. Michael Carbajal of the United States won the silver at 108. But July 17 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Carbajal will be making his eighth defense of the light-flyweight tile against Kim, who will be fighting in only his eighth professional bout. . . .

George Foreman will receive the “Spirit of Life” award at the eighth annual celebrity sports dinner, sponsored by the Professions & Finance Associates for the City of Hope Wednesday at the Sheraton Universal. . . .

The Los Angeles Blades--the new roller hockey team, not to be confused with the old Western Hockey League team--will make their Forum debut tonight against Calgary. . . .

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A major trade between the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers, perhaps involving Dominique Wilkins and John (Hot Rod) Williams or Mark Price, might be in the works. . . .

Among the sleepers in the draft could be Clippers’ second-round choice Leonard White, a 6-foot-8 forward who did the job both inside and outside at Southern University. . . .

UCLA basketball recruiting got a boost last week when 6-5 Loyola High swingman Toby Bailey, a prominent member of the talented class of ‘94, told Jim Harrick he would attend UCLA. . . .

The Cleveland Browns are expected to sign free agent Hassan Jones, the veteran Minnesota Viking wide receiver. . . .

Many of the same British critics who have labeled John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors and Andre Agassi as “ugly Americans” are complaining that Pete Sampras is too dull. . . .

What used to be said about Koufax during the days of the Dodgers’ hitless wonders now pertains to the hot, but luckless, Tom Candiotti. After Candiotti pitches a no-hitter, the first question will be, “Did he win?”