BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : WORLD SERIES : Palermo: ‘Every Day Stinks’

While he was honored to be invited to the World Series and enjoyed visiting his old friends, Steve Palermo couldn’t cloak his misery of sitting in the stands for Game 1 of the World Series.

Palermo, considered the finest umpire in the American League until he was shot two years ago while interceding during a robbery in a Dallas restaurant, still is unable to shed his walking canes and return to the job he loves.

“It’s hard to sit through the games,” Palermo said, “because I’m sitting instead of standing. I’m on the wrong side of the wall. Every day is tough. Every day stinks.

“It’s not an undesirable position.

“It’s unacceptable.”

This is why Palermo is scheduled to undergo surgery Nov. 15 at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester, Mass. The surgery, he hopes, will enable him to walk again. Yet, he realizes it also could leave him in a wheelchair, or possibly leave his condition unchanged.

“There’s a possibility of regression to where I could end up in a wheelchair,” Palermo said. “But the biggest risk of all would be the status quo, because mentally and emotionally you’ve got to go on from there.”

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Philadelphia first baseman John Kruk, who should be in high demand this winter on the late-night talk show circuit, offered these assessments:

On wearing “America’s Most Wanted” caps: “We haven’t been on this show yet, so we’re doing pretty good. It was one of our concerns coming out of spring training, figuring that if we could keep everyone out of jail, we would have a good opportunity to win some games.”

On his recent David Letterman appearance: “It’s fun once you get there, but it’s a two-hour drive and you only get five minutes on the show. That kind of sucks.”

On the Phillies’ physical appearance: “I think you guys (media) have created it. I mean, that’s the way we are with the hair and the beards. We had it last year, but we were so bad no one cared. But now, everyone wants to know about it. I mean, it’s just hair. It grows on everyone.”

On the Phillies’ personalities: “We’re different, but we’re a good different. We’re not really choirboys. I don’t think any of us go to church too often. But we’re not bad people.”

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Phillie catcher Darren Daulton on being the conformist on a team of outcasts: “I’m probably like the zookeeper in our clubhouse. Someone has to stay in control and keep these guys inside their cages.”

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Angel Manager Buck Rodgers, who is best friends with his former roommate, Philadelphia Manager Jim Fregosi, left little doubt of his allegiances: “I’m going to cross the AL-NL line and root for the Phils. The Phillies are a baseball organization. I’m not into rooting for teams with corporate structures.”

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If the St. Paul connection continues, Blue Jay designated hitter Paul Molitor might be going home with his first World Series ring.

Two years ago, Jack Morris of St. Paul, Minn., was the MVP of the World Series for the Minnesota Twins.

Last year, Dave Winfield of St. Paul produced the game-winning hit for the Blue Jays.

And this year . . . well, Molitor is from St. Paul.