McKeon Is a Popular Man

Florida Marlin Manager Jack McKeon returned to his hotel room early Thursday, a few hours after his team clinched a World Series berth, and found himself inundated with calls.

His cellphone kept ringing. So did his wife’s. There were two phone lines in the room, and they kept ringing.

“Tickets. Tickets. Hotel rooms,” McKeon said. “The whole family called. It’s the same people, but you add a few more, because now you’ve got the cousins calling.”

At 72, McKeon has four children and nine grandchildren. And now, thanks to the Marlins’ astounding success, he’s probably hearing from some long-lost relatives.

Florida’s comeback victory in the National League championship series left countless Chicago Cubs fans in despair, but at least it made McKeon’s family happy. He’ll become the oldest manager in World Series history when the Marlins play Game 1 Saturday against the New York Yankees.

“It didn’t sink in until a couple of hours later what has happened,” McKeon said. “You’ve reached the top. The World Series is it. Whether you win or lose, you’re in the World Series.”

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One of two men charged with murder in the shooting of a San Francisco Giant fan at Dodger Stadium pleaded not guilty.

Manuel Hernandez, 33, is being held on $1-million bail pending his Nov. 3 court date.

Pete Marron, 19, also is accused of murder in the killing of Mark Allen Antenorcruz near the end of the Dodgers-Giants game Sept. 13.

Marron is at large.

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A former employee sued Major League Baseball for $3.4 million, alleging she was subjected to racial slurs and then fired after she complained.

In a lawsuit filed in federal court in New York, Juri Morioka said the hostilities were evident while she worked for a year as an administrative assistant in baseball’s broadcasting department.

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The son of Hall of Famer Ted Williams has been diagnosed with leukemia.

John Henry Williams, 35, was diagnosed with leukemia this month, Eric Abel, Williams’ attorney, said.

John Henry Williams told the Citrus County (Fla.) Chronicle on Thursday that he was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia at UCLA Medical Center and that he has started chemotherapy.

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Houston Astro General Manager Gerry Hunsicker signed a one-year contract extension through the 2005 season, ending his candidacy for the same job with the New York Mets.... Oriole first base coach and former Dodger Rick Dempsey interviewed for Baltimore’s managerial position.