Banner Graphic, Volume 21, Number 78, Greencastle, Putnam County, 4 December 1990 — Page 7

Baseball’s spending frenzy officially begins

ROSEMONT, 111. (AP) The signings of Willie McGee, Terry Pendleton and Dennis Martinez have led to all sorts of other possibilities in the frenzied free agent market. With some of the big names now on the dotted line, serious bids might be finalized soon for Bob Welch, Teddy Higuera, Zane Smith and George Bell. MCGEE WAS THE big winner on Monday when he signed a fouryear deal for sl3 million with the San Francisco Giants. “Could we have waited and made more money in a month? Yes,” said Tom Reich, McGee’s agent “Last year was very frustrating for Willie. He just wanted to get this done.” Most players would gladly accept such frustration. Even though he finished the season with American League champion Oakland, McGee ended up winning the National League batting title with a .335 average for the St. Louis Cardinals. THE CARDS FEARED they could not sign McGee and traded the speedy outfielder to the A’s on Aug. 29 for outfielder Felix Jose and two minor leaguers. McGee left Oakland because manager Tony La Russa could not guarantee an everyday job. “Willie McGee wants to wake up in the morning knowing he’s in the lineup,” La Russa said. “With Dave Henderson in center, I couldn’t promise that.” The Giants feared center fielder Brett Butler would be declared a new-look free agent and general

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The North Putnam High School girls swim.ming and volleyball teams were recently honored and awards presented during a Fall Sports Awards program. Swimming honors went to (front row, from left): Wendy Martin as MVP, Amy Weddle as most improved and Tami Evans

Snowstorm destroys lowa bubble

lOWA CITY, lowa (AP) The season’s first major snowstorm destroyed lowa’s $2.1 million football bubble and scrambled the Hawkeyes’ practice plans for their Jan. 1 Rose Bowl game against Washington. “It would be a little hard to kick a ball in there now,” Del Gehrke said after a combination of high winds, heavy snow and cold weather brought the huge, white plastic-like covering down early Monday. GEHRKE IS DIRECTOR of lowa’s athletic facilities. “It blew up is what it did. Just like a balloon. It started to rip and all that air just came whooshing out,” he said. “It’s down, and it’s going to stay that way for quite a while. The whole thing is just destroyed.” The indoor practice facility opened in October 1985 after heavy lobbying by football coach Hayden Fry. Fry said the Hawkeyes needed an indoor facility to prepare for bowl games.

“WE HAVEN’T MADE any decisions yet about what to do,” Dervrich said. The bubble is used by the baseball, softball and field hockey teams. But officials’ immediate concern was for the football team and where it could practice for their New Year’s Day game against the . Huskies. Gehrke said one option would be for the football team to use the recreation building adjacent to the bubble.

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WILLIE MCGEE Moves across Bay

manager Al Rosen was not prepared to pay his asking price of sls million for four years. “We didn’t want to leave here without a center fielder,” Rosen said. “I think we have a good one.” MCGEE, 32, IS A lifetime .297 hitter who was selected the MVP in 1985 when he led the NL with a .353 average. In 1987, McGee drove in 105 runs in leading the Cardinals to the World Series for the third time in the 1980 s. Butler, who will probably be a free agent by Thursday, will be a hot property. Both the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets have expressed an interest and both have the bucks to spend. The Dodgers have already signed

for best mental attitude. Volleyball awards went to (back row, from left): Julie Foley as MVP, Cary Parker as best defensive player and Joy Albin for mental attitude. (Banner-Graphic photo by Steve Fields)

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TERRY PENDLETON Signs with Braves

Darryl Strawberry to a $20.25 deal for five years, but would rather he played right field instead of center. TO MAKE UP the loss of Strawberry, the Mets are trying to sign free agent Vince Coleman to play left and may also go after Butler. Pendleton, a teammate of Coleman and McGee, left the Cardinals on Monday when he signed a four-year deal with the Atlanta Braves for $9.8 million. The switch-hitting third baseman batted .230 with six homers and 58 RBIs for the Cardinals last season in 121 games. “He’s a good, solid player who makes us a much better team,” new Braves general manager John

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WILLIE WILSON Joins Oakland A’s

Schuerholz said. “He plays a position we felt was very important to strengthen ourselves at.” PENDLETON, WHEN healthy, is among the best defensive third basemen in baseball. Three times he has led the NL in assists and twice he has won a Gold Glove award. The Braves needed a third baseman since Jim Presley became a free agent and indicated he would not return. Presley may end up in San Diego. Like Butler, the Expos were concerned Martinez would leave if he was declared a new-look free agent. He re-signed with Montreal on Monday for $9.25 million over three years.

Butler stuns Notre Dame, 91-77

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Butler coach Barry Collier didn’t have to think too long about his answer. “Was this your biggest win?” he was asked moments after his Bulldogs handed visiting Notre Dame a stunning 91-77 defeat Monday night. “YOU MEAN AS a head coach?” Collier said. “Counting all nine of ’em? That’s probably true.” Last year as a rookie head coach Collier experienced a 6-22 campaign. This year the Bulldogs are 32, and both losses were by just 3 points, one overtime. “We should be 5-0,” said 6-4 junior guard Darin Archbold, who

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THE PITTSBURGH Pirates were considering going after Martinez if they lost Zane Smith. But since Martinez stayed in Montreal, the Pirates may increase their $7 million-plus offer over three years to the left-hander. Smith is also being pursued by the Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds. By the time it’s all over, he may end up with close to $8.5 million for three years. In another free agent signing on Monday, the Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to a three-year deal with right-hander Kevin Gross for $6.4 million. Gross is 80 -90 in eight seasons with Philadelphia and Montreal. Gross was 9-12 for the Expos last season and opponents hit .272 against him. TWO MORE FREE agents signed late Monday night when veteran outfielder Willie Wilson agreed to a two-year deal with the A’s and right-hander Bill Gullickson agreed to a two-year deal with the Detroit Tigers. Wilson, 35, was released by Kansas City after 15 seasons. He is a .290 career hitter and the Royals’ all-time stolen base leader. The next big winner could be Welch, and he figures to either stay in Oakland or go to the Chicago Whit£ Sox. It may take about sl6 million over four years to do it, though. “We would like to have Bob Welch, but so would a lot of other teams,” White Sox manager Jeff Torborg said. WELCH WON 27 games in helping the A’s win their third con-

shot down Notre Dame with 19 points, including a perfect 10-for--10 effort at the free throw line. THE BULLDOGS WERE more than ready for Notre Dame (2-5), which was making its second visit to Indianapolis in three days and losing its fifth straight game. “It’s a big game for us any time we play Notre Dame,” Collier said of their in-state rival, whom they had beaten just once in their last 17 tries. It was not a big game for the Irish. On Saturday Notre Dame fell to Kentucky 98-90 in the Hoosier Dome as part of the Big Four Classic. In the process the Irish lost point guard Tim Singleton to back

installation of basic cable, expanded basic or any premium service. It’s our way of thanking you for making Santa a reality for those who need it most. Just being your gift to our office by December 20th. All gifts will be distributed locally by the Operation Toys.

December 4,1990 THE BANNERGRAPHIC

secutive AL pennant and was selected the Cy Young Award winner. “I try to put two and two together, but sometimes that doesn’t come out in free agency,” La Russa said. “I know the interest we have in him and the contract offer we are going to make. I think he’ll stay.” George Bell, who slumped to 21 homers last season for Toronto, is looking for the $3 million range, and the Chicago Cubs are interested. The Milwaukee Brewers met with Higuera’s agent on Monday, and manager Tom Trebelhorn thought the chances were “excellent” that the right-hander would stay. THERE WAS ONLY one minor deal on Monday as the New York Yankees sent outfielder Oscar Azocar to the San Diego Padres for a player to be named later.

Gross stats

Kevin Gross Statistics By The Associated Press Career statistics for right-handed pitcher Kevin Gross, who signed a three-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday: Regular Season Ip w-l bb so era 1983 Phi 96 4-6 35 66 3.56 1984 Phi 129 8-5 44 84 4.12 1985 Phi 206 15-13 81 151 3.41 1986 Phi 242 12-12 94 154 4.02 1987 Phi 201 9-16 87 125 4.35 1988 Phi 232 12-14 89 162 3.69 1989 Mon 201 11-12 88 158 4.38 1990 Mon 163 9-12 65 111 4.57 Totals 1468 80-90 583 1011 4.02 League Championship Series ip w-l bb so era 1983 vsLA did not pitch World Series ip w-l bb so era 1983 vsßal did not pitch All-Star Game ip w-l bb so era 1988, Cin 10-0 0 1 0.00

spasms. Without Singleton, the Irish fell victim to Butler’s up-tempo offense and pressing defense. Notre Dame committed 22 turnovers to Butler’s 15, and the Bulldogs were credited with 10 steals. NOTRE DAME (77) Ellis 5-12 3-4 13, Ellery 4-9 0-0 8, Tower 3-6 12 7, Bennett 4-12 8-11 17, Sweet 9-12 0-0 18, Boyer 2-6 2-2 7, Cozen 1-2 0-0 2, Joe Ross 1-1 0-0 2, Jen Ross 1-1 0-2 3. Totals 30-60 14-21 77. BUTLER (91) Karaffa 4-8 7-7 15, Etherington 1-4 0-0 2, Brens 4-11 4-6 12, Archbold 4-6 10-10 19, Bowen 3-6 34 10, Taylor 0-10-00, Ryser 0-0 0-0 0, Wilson 1-1 2-2 4, Guice 4-7 5-8 16, Allen 2-3 2-2 8, Gault 0-0 0-0 0, Fordyce 1-12-2 4, Banks 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 24-48 36-43 91. halftime Butler 49, Notre Dame 34. 3-point goals-Notre Dame 3-7 (Bennett l-l, Jon Ross 1-1, oyer 1-2, Ellery 0-2, Cozen 0-1), Butler 7-13 (Guice 3-4, Allen 2-3, Archbold 1-2, Bowen 1-3, Brens 0-1).

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