Lamb Signs With Orioles for $300,000

Hard as it is to believe, after a mere one week as a professional ballplayer, David Lamb will be honored at the baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Lamb, an All-American shortstop from Newbury Park High and a second-round selection in the June amateur draft, signed with the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday for a package worth $300,000.

Also included in the deal was a round-trip ticket to the Hall of Fame, where Lamb will be honored this coming weekend as the 1992 American Legion national player of the year.

Lamb, who had signed to play next year at Pepperdine, will report Monday to Baltimore’s rookie league affiliate in Sarasota, Fla.

Lamb received a signing bonus of $200,000, plus $100,000 toward a college education, according to Connie Lamb, David’s mother.

After an early impasse in the negotiations, Baltimore recently upped the ante.

“It was hard to say no,” Connie Lamb said. “David’s just thrilled.”

Lamb led Newbury Oaks to the Legion World Series title in Fargo, N.D., and will fly from Sarasota to Cooperstown.

Lamb, a Times’ All-Ventura County selection, batted .413 and drove in 21 runs for Newbury Park last spring.

Lamb became the third of four area high school players drafted in the second round to sign, joining Crespi pitcher Jeff Suppan (Boston Red Sox) and Hoover catcher Nate Dishington (St. Louis Cardinals). Infielder Brad Fullmer of Montclair Prep has not come to terms with the Montreal Expos.