This Rookie at Least Has a Father Figure

George Bakewell finally got his wish last Thursday, to play softball with his son. Bakewell is a member of the Three-Quarter Century Softball Club in St. Petersburg, Fla., which doesn’t let anyone younger than 75 join.

George’s son, Elton, is now eligible, having turned 75. George is 101.

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Trivia time: Who is the last American male to have held the world record in the mile?

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Of course: Tom Lasorda once asked Dodger outfielder Kenny Landreaux what kind of soup was being served in the clubhouse.

“Of the day,” Landreaux replied.

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The real pits: Track & Field News reported that Australian high jumper Chris Anderson was beaten up at a nightclub. Worse, his takeoff foot was severely injured when an ambulance ran over it.

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Discreet: In an interview in the Sporting News, Danny Manning, now with the Atlanta Hawks, was asked to describe his feelings for Clipper owner Donald Sterling.

“Mr. Sterling is a very eccentric man,” he replied. “He really wants to win. Things just haven’t fallen into place for him.”

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Reversal of fortune: Don Nelson, coach of the Golden State Warriors, is reportedly under fire for not being able to relate to some of his players, namely prize rookie Chris Webber.

“I’m 53 years old. I’m not obsolete,” Nelson told the San Francisco Chronicle. “They were comparing me to Bobby Knight, for God’s sake, and Red Auerbach, and all of a sudden I can’t coach.”

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Looking ahead: Shaquille O’Neal is already talking about a career beyond his NBA playing days.

“Someday maybe I’ll have my own newspaper column,” he said. “I’ll call it ‘Shaq’s Views.’ I’ll just write the facts, no speculation.”

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Wait a minute: Writing for Inside Sports magazine, Tim Matheson recalled: “My first image of baseball was seeing Warren Spahn and the Milwaukee Braves play against Maury Wills, Duke Snider and the original Los Angeles Dodgers at the L.A. Coliseum in 1958.”

Wills didn’t join the Dodgers until 1959.

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FYI: Transparent backboards were introduced to college basketball in 1947.

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Trivia answer: Jim Ryun, with a time of 3 minutes 51.1 seconds June 23, 1967, in Bakersfield.

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Quotebook: Brent Severyn, rookie defenseman of the NHL Florida Panthers: “I have very little skill. Actually, I have no skill at all.”