Minor Leaguer Spoils a Major League Pizza Party

A pressure situation for a pro baseball player? Forget about playing in the World Series. How about being designated Papa John’s “K Man” by a rival team?

It was one of the more unforgettable experiences of former Cal State Long Beach star Mike Hofius last year while he played for Williamsport, Pa.

When he arrived at the Brooklyn (N.Y.) Cyclones ballpark one day, he learned he was that game’s K Man, meaning that if he struck out three times, each of the 8,000 ticket holders would receive a free pizza.

His face appeared on the scoreboard, with a Papa John’s hat superimposed over it.

Hofius’ first time up, the pitcher got two strikes on him. “Then the public address announcer says, ‘That’s two strikes -- one more to go for the K Man,’ ” said Hofius, 22. “And the fans are chanting: ‘We want pizza! We want pizza!’ ” Hofius struck out that time, and the next, really whetting the fans’ appetites.

His third and last time up, though, he managed to hit a ground ball. No pizza party.

“The fans really booed me,” Hofius said. “It was pretty funny. I e-mailed my parents: ‘I almost fed the city of Brooklyn tonight.’ ”

Now for a proofreader who struck out: Elizabeth Johnston of Chatsworth saw an ad for a device whose description might scare away more than a few parents (see accompanying).

Actually, it’s supposed to say “Dudley.”

Who’d take this dare? Drivers in Southern California often disobey no-left-turn signs, but Raquel Redulla found one in the Angeles National Forest that was likely to be heeded by all (see photo).

Attn. AT&T;: Someone in your billing department is a bit late with the payment notices, as Carl Ehrlich pointed out (see accompanying).

Alarming use of the English language: Scott McCarty of Camarillo finds a common notice in elevators a bit odd. It’s the one that tells riders that “should the elevator doors fail to open, or the elevator become inoperative, please do not become alarmed.” The next line says that riders should merely press the button marked “alarm.”

miscelLAny: For your Unclear-on-the-Concept file, Marna Geisler of Santa Monica points out that a dietary supplement for “menopausal support” contains this warning: “Not recommended if pregnant or lactating or planning to become pregnant.”

Steve Harvey can be reached at (800) LATimes, Ext. 77083, by fax at (213) 237-4712, by mail at Metro, L.A. Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A. 90012, and by e-mail at steve.harvey@latimes.com.