European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 5, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse Thursday match 5. 1987 the stars and stripes Page 19 commentary at 48, w in the sunny Thill he red Wool Collar or his Cleveland indians windbreaker was turned up around the Back of h j neck below hit Gray streaked Lack hair. Phil Nickroo Wilt be 48 on april 1 but he hopped up the Steps of the dugout and loped toward the Outfield As easily As any or the indians rookies. An other sprint across the Outfield grass another Spring across time Tor this Knuckl Ball right hander with311 victories who first went to training Camp in 1959before 17 of his teammates were Milwaukee braves bad their minor league base in Waycross ga., then near the he was saying now at his locker. We stayed in an old army Barracks with cots. 80 Guys Toa Barracks. We ate in a mess Hall. I was the Only Guy there who threw a three decades later Niekro is still throwing that Knuck Leball. But he s not resting on his Hall of Fame credentials on the maturing indians who should be an american league East contender this season after an 84-78 fifth place finish last year he remains in the Starling rotation. Instead of wonder ing if this will be his last season Niekro is already looking ahead to next year. And the year after maybe several More years after . I dont know if there s a limit he not go to 52 or s3 or 54 or 55? it depends on the Outlook a Cam on a Guy 50 years old. Tha Outlook is a big Factor. No question about ii. No team will say thai but it s there. I la never under stand that. Bui if i can continue to feel the Way 1 do now i know i can continue to Niekro pitches next year at 49, he and Hoyt Wilhelm another knuckle Baller and the first Relief Pitcher in the Hall of Fame will have been the oldest regulars in major league history. Wilhelm appear Din More games 1.070, than any other Pitcher. But with 88 innings this season Niekro will move Perry into fourth piece on the career list with 5,353 innings behind by Young pud Calvin a360-game Winner nearly a Century ago and Walter Johnson. Wilhelm in contrast pitched Only 2,254innings. People say he s going to be 48, can he Holdup " Niekro said annoyance in his voice. But Why do they worry about my physical condition the Best Young bodies they have problems they go on the disabled list All the Lime. But people As sume it s going to happen to me. I be been on the do once in my life. But it was t my Arm i got hit with Ball in the rite in Atlanta i went on the 15-Day disabled assume pm going to have physical prob acting like a Rookie Dave Anderson pulp Tomlo Csc Delamt ,. Ready for 22nd major league season menu. Maybe i will but there s nothing that says have As he awaits his 22nd major league season Niekro Only two surgical scars. I appendicitis and i a cyst on my Back he said. I be a cortisone shot for my Arm now and then but that s nothing. I be been blessed to play this Long no doubt about it but i want to keep Niekro an 11-11 record with a 4.32 earned run average with inc indians last season after the Yankees released him on March 28, a decision methinks cosi inc Yankees the american league East brother Joe would be been belter and i would pc won in double figures 1 really think we would be won the Pennant he said. Mentally. Joe was Hurt when i was released. He signed is Afree agent after coming Over from Houston the year before because i was there. He still t gotten Joe Nickroo Blu printed in the Yankee rotation again this year at age 42, struggled to a 9-10 record with a 4.87 earned run average. Joe and i Nickroo said Are six wins away from passing the perrys for inc most wins by Brothers. Thai s another thing we wanted to do the Perky Brothers Gaylord and for 529 victories. The Niekras. With 311 for Phil and 213 Tor Joe will open the season with i was Hurt when the Yankees let me go Niekro said but not As much As i was for my brother. He bad problems with his Knuckl Ball last year and if been with the Yankees i could be helped him. Pitching coaches Don t know much about a knuckle Ball because they be never thrown in his two Yankee seasons. Nickroo 16-8 and16-12 Marks. "1 won 32 in two years he said. But when the let me go the Story i heard was that they thought 1 faltered going for my 300th win the previous sep tember. I got blown Oufou one game but i pitched Well in the of hrs. And my father was on his deathbed. I was going Back and Forth to Ohio to Sec him. Coming to the indians worked out Well forme. I made More Money. But the Yankees never thought How it would affect Joe. The Yankees Don seem to understand the human Clement in Niekro mentioned George Steinbrenner s recen Challenge to Don mall ugly to Lake the Yankees to world series victories the Way Reggie Jackson did. Serf Brenner should be Happy he s got the Best. Yer in baseball. Why get on him just because he got a big salary Niekro said Bui that s the Way Steinbrenner treats people who work for him. But if Steinbrenner was getting paid by someone else to Runshe Yankees he d be called into the office a few Tenn Iwry no Dawson offers cubs a Blank contract by the associated pres Sandre Dawson s agent Dick Moss told the Chicago cubs on tuesday that he free agent outfielder is willing to visit their Camp in Mesa ariz., without a con tract fora no obligation tryout. Moss said Dawson also is willing cosign a one year contract for whatever Fig ure the learn thinks is is willing to sign a contract today Wilh the salary figure left Blank lob filled in whenever the club completed ils study and consideration Moss said. He is willing to report to Camp within the next few Days on the basis of such a contract Crinthe club needs More time Locon Sider our Oiler he is witling to report without a contract Wilh no obligation Onishe part of the dub o sign him at cubs president Dallas Green said he wants to Wail a few Days before respond Ingo the offer. Moss said his offer is no trick. It snot a ploy Ora Public relations gimmick. We so strongly believe the goal is Correct that Andre is willing to and put himself out on a meanwhile Dawson returned 10 his Home in Miami. Money matters Jose Canseco of the Oakland a Stheal Rookie of the year threatening a hold out agreed to report to training Cam wednesday the last Day for players to re baseball Roundup port before the clubs have the right to take punitive action under the Basic agreement Between players and , a Power hitting outfielder who hit 33 homers and drove in 117 Runsas a Rookie in 1986, said he would prac Tice with the team wednesday in scrolls Date. Ariz., while continuing negotiations according to Sandy aider son Thea s vice president of baseball operations Canseco been seeking 1200.000 Thea s have offered $150,. First baseman Glenn Davis of the Houston astros who hit 31 homers Wilh 101 rib last year and was second in then most valuable player voting agreed to contract terms sunday and worked out with the team tuesday in Kissimmee Fla Davit who threatened hold out made $ 120,000 last year and was seeking$240,000. He signed for a reported 1215,000, with a $25,000 Bonus if remakes the All Siar team which he did in 1986. Other players signed tuesday included Relief Pucher food work Elf then s Rookie of the year last season and outfielder Vince cok Man both of the cardinals. Pat Corrales manager of the Cleve land indians said in Tucson ariz., that he is sorry outfielder Joe Carter who Ledine major leagues Wilh 121 rib last spa son walked out of Camp after having his contract renewed for $250,000. Carter who made $190,000 last sea son originally sought $437,000, but Low ered his request to $380,000. The 26-year-old slugger is 29 Days Short of ing three years in the majors and was no eligible for arbitration. Pittsburgh general manager Syd Thrift and his top assistant Tom Baker. Met tuesday in brads non ha., Wil representatives of Catcher Tony Pena to discuss a possible new contract. Pena sin the last year of a four year $4 million contract and can become a free agent atthe end of the 1987 season. Both Thrift and Pena have said they will not negotiate during the season. Around the ramps two time National league map Dale Murphy hit grand slam Home Dunlo Pace his team to a 12-7 Victory Over the Ted Simmons team in an Allam braves Infra squad game in West Palm Beach Fla Gerald Perry and Owic Vir Gil hit Solo homers for the winners while Darryl Molly a three run shot forthe losers. Thirteen pitchers were used in the 12-inninggame. In Miami Baltimore third baseman Ray Knight missed port of tuesday workout while undergoing an a Ray examination which revealed 25 kidney stones. Knight signed As a free agent after failing to reach agreement with the new York mils said he inc condition for years. Milwaukee Brewers second base Man Jim Galner underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and doctor said his prognosis is goad even though they found Lam lateral torn portion was removed according to or. Paul Jacobs who said Gantner should be Able to begin exercising in two weeks and could be ready to play in inc season opener april 6. The Baltimore orioles arc begin Ning to fee isolated at i hair Spring train ing Home in the City fathers of Florida s Best known Louril Mecca Are doing a Lilicy can to keep the american league learn in Miami the orioles arc finding i harder and harder each year to put to Gether an exhibition game of the teams which take part in the Grapefruit league in Florida each Spring arc located either in the Central part of the state or on Whir West coast far rum Miami in the South of Florida. The new York Yankees who Triin i nearby fort Laud Crdal an being wooed by Orlando in s a cause for concern says Hank Peers Baltimore s general manager. I the Yankees left we d really be isolated. This is something we have to
