Tale of the Tail Part of the Lore of Sea Cadet

Sea Cadet, back at Hollywood Park after a 20-month absence because of injuries and illness, has earned $1.7 million as a racehorse, but is best known for what he lacks--a tail.

Trainer Ron McAnally considered braiding a fake tail on Sea Cadet’s stub when the horse was a yearling in Kentucky, but is glad he didn’t. McAnally reckons Sea Cadet became more agile because of his deficiency.

“The flies are especially heavy in Kentucky,” he explained. “With no tail, Sea Cadet had to improvise to keep the flies off his rear. He learned to reach back with his head, shake it from side to side and shoo the flies away in that manner.”

Trivia time: Name the six players (three in each league) who played for World Series winners the same season they were named rookie of the year.

Waste of power: Albert Belle, Cleveland’s slugging outfielder, shocked even his manager when he laid down a suicide squeeze to score Kenny Lofton in a recent game.

An obviously pleased Belle came into the dugout and said, “That’s my one bunt for the year,” and Manager Mike Hargrove said emphatically, “Yes, it is.”

It is not known how a corked bat would affect a bunt.

For contortionists: Sportscaster Gary Cruz, urging people to call him on his sports talk show, recently said, “If you have something on your mind, call and get it off your chest.”

Handy man: Injured Deion Sanders made himself useful Sunday at Riverfront Stadium, going out with the Cincinnati grounds crew to sweep the bases in the fifth inning.

Faint praise: New York Yankee Manager Bucky Showalter criticized Seattle superstar Ken Griffey Jr. for wearing his baseball cap backward, claiming it was disrespectful to the game.

In a game against the Yanks last week, Griffey hit two home runs, drove in five runs and leaped high against the fence to catch a 400-foot potential home run. Showalter was asked what he thought of Griffey now.

“He’s a good player,” he replied.

Almost right: Get your bets down with those who claim that the last 0-0 tie in the Rose Bowl before Brazil-Italy was California-Washington & Jefferson in 1922.

The catch: It wasn’t in the Rose Bowl. It was the last New Year’s Day game played at Tournament Park--now the site of Caltech--before the Rose Bowl was built.

Setting priorities: Gary Player was recently asked by the Times of London if he would prefer to win the British Open or the U.S. Open or for his horse, Broadway Flyer, to win the English Derby.

“Without question, I said I would prefer to win the Derby,” answered Player, who has been breeding horses on his ranch in South Africa for three decades.

Of course, Player has already won the British Open three times and the U.S. Open once.

Trivia answer: Gil McDougald (1951 Yankees), Tom Tresh (1962 Yankees), Jim Lefebvre (1965 Dodgers), Pat Zachry (1976 Reds), Fernando Valenzuela (1981 Dodgers) and Chuck Knoblauch (1991 Twins).

Quotebook: Detroit Tiger Manager Sparky Anderson, on the livelier baseball: “Even when you’re just holding the ball, you’re hearing noises.”