He Couldn’t Carry Babe Ruth’s Cap

If memorabilia is nature’s way of telling you you have too much money, one of the over-privileged is New York Yankee pitcher David Wells, who has a multimillion-dollar contract and recently bought an old, battered Yankee cap, supposedly worn by Babe Ruth--for $35,000. Perhaps hoping for a practical application, Wells wore it to the mound recently against the Cleveland Indians.

Oops! Technically, Wells was out of uniform. Manager Joe Torre told him to remove the cap after the pitcher worked a scoreless first inning.

Wearing his regular cap, Wells gave up five runs and eight hits in the next two innings and was knocked out of the game.

Trivia time: What NHL goalie has the longest streak of Vezina trophies?

Bye bye, Candy Man: Florida Marlin players are unhappy that free-spending Wayne Huizenga is selling the franchise.

“It’s a sad day for me because he’s one of the few owners who really cares about the franchise,” Gary Sheffield said. “He gave the product everybody here wanted, we’re playing great ball, and we’re still not getting support. I think that’s what he’s frustrated about.”

The Marlins are fifth in the league in attendance, so you could argue the fans are actually holding up their end. Then there’s Sheffield, making $10 million and hitting .246.

Bailing out: Miami or Pittsburgh, where to live? Marlin Manager Jim Leyland is moving back to the Steel City in the off-season, long-term contract or no long-term contract.

“How do I know what happens next?” he told the New York Times. “I have four years left on my contract, and I plan to manage them. Then I’m thinking that I want to see my kids grow up. But does the new owner come in and say, ‘We can’t have these contracts?’ Does he come in and want to move our team?”

Trivia answer: Jacques Plante, who won five in a row for the Montreal Canadiens from 1956-60.

And finally: What if you went to play in the World Football League and they wouldn’t let you back in the United States?

It happened to defensive tackle James Barnard of the Scottish Claymores, who applied for a passport, only to find he wasn’t a U.S. citizen. He was born in Jamaica and joined his mother in this country when he was a toddler. Since neither parent was a citizen, he isn’t either.

“I’ve always said, ‘I’m an American citizen,’ and this is a big slap in the face,” Barnard said.

He was granted permission to stay in the United States for 30 days while he tries out for the Kansas City Chiefs. In case he makes it, he has an immigration lawyer working on the case.

“If I don’t get it done in a month,” Barnard said, “I’m out of here.”