Former Angel Sanford Dies at His Home

Jack Sanford, the National League’s rookie of the year in 1957 and a 100-game winner in a 12-year major league career, has died at his West Virginia home. He was 70.

Sanford, who died Tuesday, was 137-101 with a 3.69 earned-run average for the Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, the Angels and Kansas City Athletics. He also had 105 hits and three home runs.

In 1962, Sanford went 24-8, winning 16 consecutive games, as the Giants won the NL pennant, defeating the Dodgers in a three-game series.

He pitched three games in the World Series against the New York Yankees, going 1-2 with a 1.93 ERA against a roster that included Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle. He pitched a three-hit shutout in Game 2 and struck out 11 in Game 5.

Sanford pitched in Game 7 and gave up seven hits in the Yankees’ 1-0 win.

He is survived by his wife, a son, three daughters, three grandchildren, a brother and a sister. A funeral is scheduled for Saturday.

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Cal Ripken strained a neck muscle during batting practice before an exhibition game against St. Louis at Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and was removed from the Baltimore Orioles’ starting lineup.

“I just felt a little strain in my upper [trapezius] muscle that went up to my neck,” Ripken said. “I continued to take batting practice, I continued to take ground balls. But when I came in here, things started to stiffen up a little bit.”

The injury made it difficult for the Orioles’ third baseman to turn his head to the left. Ripken said he realized immediately that he had hurt himself.

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Reliever Dave Stevens rejoined the Pittsburgh Pirates at Bradenton, Fla., two days after he was hospitalized following a seizure.

Stevens was released from Manatee Memorial Hospital late Wednesday night and began light workouts Thursday morning.

Stevens had a seizure in the Pirates’ clubhouse Tuesday and fell unconscious. He was rushed by ambulance to the hospital.

“It was very scary,” Stevens said. “I remember a little bit about what happened but not much. I’ve never had anything like that happen to me before.”

The cause of the seizure still hasn’t been determined. Stevens had tests Tuesday and Wednesday, and will have more next week.

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Orlando Hernandez sailed through his spring debut, throwing two scoreless innings in the New York Yankees’ 5-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies at Clearwater, Fla.

Hernandez missed his first scheduled start Saturday because of mild back stiffness. The right-hander threw 45 pitches, including 28 strikes.

“My back doesn’t hurt . . . that was my main concern,” Hernandez said. “I was nervous when I started warming up.”

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Pitcher Scott Elarton and outfielder Richard Hidalgo agreed to one-year contracts with the Houston Astros, who also renewed the contract of pitcher Trever Miller.

Elarton, 24, was 9-5 with a 3.48 ERA in 42 appearances last year.

Hidalgo, 24, was second on the team with 15 home runs last season before a season-ending left knee injury put him on the disabled list Aug. 9. He batted .227 with 25 doubles and 56 runs batted in.

Miller, a 26-year-old left-hander, ranked fourth on the Astros’ pitching staff with 47 appearances, going 3-2 with a 5.07 ERA and one save.

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Milwaukee Brewer second baseman Ron Belliard suffered a dislocated right thumb in making a diving catch in a game at Phoenix on Wednesday and will miss four to six weeks.