And Here He Was, All Set to Renegotiate

Kyle Carnaroli, 4, was about to make baseball history in Pocatello, Ida., when professional baseball thought better of it.

The 3-foot-6, 50-pound youngster was scheduled to play as much as an inning in right field for the Pocatello Posse on Wednesday night--his prize for winning the contest to name the new entry in the Pioneer League. About eight hours before the game against the Medicine Hat Blue Jays was to begin, the National Assn. of Professional Baseball Leagues told Posse General Manager John Stein that Kyle was ineligible for minor league baseball.

The boy, who played in a tee-ball league for the first time this summer, would have become the youngest person to play professionally.

*

Forgettable quote: World record-holder Carl Lewis, on the eve of his first 100-meter race against Olympic champion Linford Christie, told the London Daily Mirror to warn Christie: “Watch out, baby, I’m going to burn you alive!”

Christie won, Lewis finished third.

*

Trivia time: Who were the Steagles of the NFL?

*

Remember Shoal Creek? The Inverness course in Toledo, where the PGA is being played this week, was the site of the same event only seven years ago. Why such a quick turnaround? It is normally as many as 10 years before major tournaments return to the same site.

Aronimink Golf Club of Philadelphia was the original choice, but it forfeited its right because it has no blacks or women among its membership.

*

Fan appreciation: When Rickey Henderson grounded out and headed for the dugout after his last at-bat for the Athletics before being traded to Toronto, Oakland fans gave him a standing ovation.

Henderson did not acknowledge the cheers.

*

House secret: Nick Faldo said that regardless of Seve Ballesteros’ recent poor form, the Spaniard would be a formidable member of Europe’s Ryder Cup team if selected. But don’t try to press Faldo any further on the subject. When asked whether European captain Bernard Gallacher had sought his opinion, Faldo said:

“Bernard has talked to me about Seve and others, but it’s classified. I’d tell you. . . . But then I’d have to kill you.”

*

Foggy finish: Kenny Fritts of Rancho Palos Verdes had to survive a protest to win a kilometer time trial gold medal in the Fresca junior cycling championships at Trexlertown, Pa. The protest wasn’t about rough riding, however, but about his helmet.

Fritts wore a helmet used by downhill skiers and the high humidity at the Lehigh Velodrome caused it to fog up on his last lap, but officials ruled it was acceptable.

*

The thought: LPGA Hall of Fame member Pat Bradley is wearing a visor with “R-35-L” written on it in memory of the Boston Celtics’ Reggie Lewis.

“Pro athletes are a small group,” Bradley said. “When one dies, we all feel the sorrow.”

*

Trivia answer: An amalgamation of the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia teams during the World War II year of 1943. In NFL standings, they appeared as Phil-Pitt.

*

Quotebook: Gil Brandt, formerly of the Dallas Cowboys, on drafting college players: “It’s like a beauty contest. It’s easy to pick out the top one, two or three girls. But then the rest of them look the same.”