DiMaggio Takes Turn for the Worse

Joe DiMaggio’s fight for life has turned more urgent with his doctor reporting Monday that the Hall of Famer’s condition had deteriorated dramatically.

“Joe has had a significant and serious turn for the worse,” said Dr. Earl Barron, who has been treating DiMaggio after lung cancer surgery in October.

“The outlook has dimmed over the past 72 hours. He’s not in good shape.”

WCBS television in New York reported Monday night that DiMaggio is in a coma and on a ventilator. The station said he has been given his last rites for a third time.

The 84-year-old New York Yankees great has been unable to shake a severe lung infection and fever since undergoing surgery Oct. 14.

After DiMaggio showed some improvement last week, the infection is back, Barron said.

“He is being treated with more antibiotics and his blood pressure is being maintained with medications,” the doctor said.

DiMaggio remains in the intensive care unit at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Fla. He entered the hospital Oct. 12 and underwent surgery to have a cancerous tumor removed from his right lung two days later.

His attorney and close friend, Morris Engelberg, spent Monday afternoon at the hospital, and did not immediately return telephone calls.

“I saw him this morning,” Barron said on Monday. “We are continuing supportive care. The outlook is not as good as it was a few days ago.”

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The Arizona Diamondbacks completed their free-agent binge by signing center fielder Steve Finley to a $21.5 million, four-year contract.

The Diamondbacks spent $118.9 million on six free agents during the past month in a dramatic effort to transform an expansion team that lost 97 games into a National League contender.

Finley hit a career-low .249 last season with 14 home runs and 67 runs batted in.

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Reliever Jeff Montgomery agreed to stay with the Kansas City Royals for a $2.5 million, one-year contract--a $300,000 pay cut.

Montgomery was 2-5 with 36 saves and a 4.98 earned-run average and was voted the team’s pitcher of the year.

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Third baseman Gary Gaetti agreed to a $2-million, one-year contract to stay with the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs also agreed to a $1.15-million, one-year contract with outfielder Glenallen Hill.

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Willie McGee will be back with the St. Louis Cardinals for a 13th season after agreeing to a $1-million, one-year contract.

The Cardinals also signed infielder Pat Kelly to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training and offered salary arbitration to catcher Tom Lampkin.

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The Dodgers’ Chan Ho Park struck out five in five innings to lead South Korea over Taiwan, 16-5, in the Asian Games at Bangkok, Thailand.

A gold for South Korea may help Park avoid a mandatory three-year stint of military duty that could jeopardize his professional career.

Also Monday, the Dodgers named Alvaro Espinoza manager, Mark Brewer pitching coach and John DeBus hitting coach at their Class A affiliate in Vero Beach.

The Dodgers also named Rick Burleson manager at their Class A San Bernardino affiliate.

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Dave Stieb agreed to a minor league deal with the Blue Jays. . . . The San Diego Padres re-signed pitcher Mark Langston to a minor league contract.

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Major league baseball has asked the NL champion Padres to play in the season-opening Sunday night game in Monterrey, Mexico, against the Colorado Rockies on April 4.