Giants Get Closer to New Park

The San Francisco Giants’ new baseball stadium won unanimous approval from city supervisors despite reservations about traffic and pollution.

During the debate, Supervisor Michael Yaki described the planned facility as the “crown jewel of Major League Baseball.”

The board action capped a series of unanimous approvals by city commissions and sets the stage for final approvals by the State Lands Commission and the Bay Conservation Development Commission.

Team officials expect a green light from both agencies. They hope to break ground by mid-November and have Pacific Bell Park ready by the season opener in 2000.

Under the proposed lease, the Giants will keep the team in San Francisco through at least December 2022 and pay rent of $1.2 million a year to the Port of San Francisco, which owns the 12 1/2-acre waterfront site in the China Basin neighborhood.

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Colorado Rockies’ outfielder Ellis Burks, sidelined since June 29 because of a groin strain, was activated. The Rockies also optioned outfielder Angel Echevarria to triple-A Colorado Springs.

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The Toronto Blue Jays placed outfielder Orlando Merced on the 15-day disabled list because of inflammation in his right shoulder. Merced is batting .266 in 98 games.

With Merced going on the disabled list, a spot opened on the 25-man roster for Mariano Duncan, who was acquired Tuesday in a trade with the New York Yankees.

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Pat Jordan became the oldest pitcher in an official professional game in almost two decades when the 56-year-old took the mound for the Waterbury (Conn.) Spirit in a Northeast League game against the Adirondack Lumberjacks.

Jordan, an author and former minor leaguer in the Milwaukee Braves’ organization, pitched only the first inning, allowing no hits and only one baserunner. He struck out cleanup hitter Eddie Perozo to end the inning.

The oldest pitcher to play organized baseball is believed to be Hub Kittle, who pitched one inning for St. Louis’ Class-A team in Springfield, Ill., in 1980 at the age of 63.

Satchel Paige is believed to be the oldest pitcher in a major league game. Paige was 59 when he pitched for the Kansas City Athletics in 1965.

Jordan last pitched in a professional game in 1961 for the Braves’ double-A team in Palatka, Fla.