European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 21, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday october 21, 1987 the stars and stripes Page 25 Versalles finally past own bad series by Ben Walker Minneapolis a the last time the Minnesota twins were in the world series everything was Good in Zoilo Versalles world of baseball. That was before a bad series in real life. He sold his 196s map trophy and All Star ring to support his family drifted through Odd jobs and had his House foreclosed in the past everybody goes through Tough times Versalles said. Thing were so bad. Bui not  today Versalles lives comfortably in suburban Bloomington a few Miles from where he Harmon Killebrow. Tony Otiva and the glory twins played at metropolitan stadium. The Ballpark has been demolished and a shopping Center is planned Tor the site. His lire once wrecked has been rebuilt. I Don t know How much players make these Days i m not a millionaire said Versalles whose top salary in 12 seasons was 140,000. But i would t Trade byway of living now for  Versalles 47, owns his Home and two Lincoln he supports his six children ranging in age from 27 to 8, with worker s compensation payments. Social Security and permanent disability Check she began getting from baseball two years ago because of a Back problem he had Back surgery in 1969 and the pain never went away. The Back finally gave out when he was working As an air port baggage handler and he has not held a Job in three or tour years because Misback Hurt too much if there ii anything Versalles has Learned it is that Success on the  not guarantee anything else. Zoilo Versalles. Believes in twins Versalles bom in Cuba broke into the majors with the Washington senators in 1959 and moved with Ihm to Minnesota. By 1963, he was an All Star shortstop. In 1965, he was voted most valuable player in the american league after he helped the twins win their first  batted .273 with 19 Home runs and 77 rib and stole 27 bases. He led the league with 45 doubles 12 triples Houston s Highsmith open for free Agency Houston a fullback Alonzo Highsmith the Houston oilers unsigned no. 1 draft pick can be come a free agent and sign with any team in the league a court order says. Judge John Gale of the i Ith circuit court of dad county in Miami granted a temporary injunction that allows Highsmith 10 negotiate with other teams and prohibits the nil from Tak ing any action against a learn that sign Shim. But nil spokesman Joe Browne said the league s lawyers expect that the courts will quickly restore hous ton s rights. We believe thai the stale court s order was issued without notice or hearing and raises serious jurisdictional or procedural issues be said. I addition our attorneys believe that after a hearing the court will find that Houston s draft rights Are awful and should be respected Miami attorney Bruce or car filed the request for the injunction which was granted saturday. Named As co defendants in the Highsmith suit Are the nil and its 28 member clubs it s essentially a Case of collusion Between Houston and some other teams to depress the Market value of Alonzo Grcar said monday. He s free for the moment to negotiate with other teams but Well just have to see How it plays out fro there. There s been no final ruling which May Lake a Short time or a longtime he said Highsmith the third player select Din the draft has been a holdout since july 28, i m sure the oilers will Lake me to court but before the Case can be heard i might already Nave been with another team for a year Highsmit said. " had to do what 1 thought was in my Best interests because 1m a foot Ball player and i want to play foot Ball he said. "1 thought about my alternatives and this just seemed like the Best thing to get me on the Field As soon As possible. I d like to be in somebody s Camp by  oilers general manager Ladd her Zig Lew to Tallahassee fla., Lasi week to meet with Highsmith and his father former offers player Waller Highsmith who is the defensive coordinator at Florida am. He met with me and my father. We talked about the contract and he offered me a Little More but it was ,1 Highsmith said. If Houston gives me what i think pm Worth then 111 sign with them. I m tired of not playing football though. I wanted to play for the Oiler from the beginning and i never asked to be traded.," he said. Highsmith had sought Between $2.4 million and s2.6 million Over fou years Herzeg had offered $2.2 million with a $1 million signing Bonus. The iwo never came to terms and High Ornith returned to his Home in Miami the Miami judge s injunction among other things prevents nil teams from discussing among them selves what Highsmith should be offered or paid there arc teams inter ested in Alonzo right now said his agent Robert Freaky. The oilers have turned the Cassover to the Linn of Edward Bennett Williams the former owner of the Washington redskins who owns base Ball s Baltimore orioles. And 126 runs scored. In the series thai year against los an Geles Versalles borne run off Don Drysdale sparked Minnesota s 8-2 Victory in game i. The dodgers overcame a 2-0 deficit to win in seven games Al though Versalles topped the twins by driving in four runs and lied Killebru with a ,286 average. We had so much Talent. We should have won that year Versalles said. Ver Salles troubles began inc next season when he slipped to .249 with seven Home runs and 36 rib. He was traded to the dodgers in i9g8 and batted .196. Versalles split 1969 with get stand and Washington and finished in 1971with Atlanta. Career totals .242, 95 Home runs and 471 rib in 1,400games. After that the Story is murky. Ver Salles is not anxious to make it any clearer. At some Point he irid to get a Job with the twins. Baseball is what he knew and he wanted to stay in it and there was nothing for him. There was no much anywhere. I can t say or. Griffith twins owne Calvin did t like me because he was always Good to me he said. But one or iwo others they did t consider me on of the  he laughs. He says he is not Hitler. Actually two years ago they offered me a Job. But i m of.  in 1974, a mortgage company fore closed on his House in Bloo Mcglon. Along the Way Versalles sold his trophies and rings. I can gel them Back if i want to he said. A few pieces of Memorabilia re main in his living room. Versalles got a couple of jobs but i had to quit them because of my  things got so bad i decided i was going to see a lawyer he said. That began his turnaround about four Yean ago. A settlement with worker s compensation enabled him to buy his Home. At age 45, he began getting permanent disability checks from baseball. Slowly his life Gotbetter i used to dream about it he said. Used to wish could own a House and have a decent income but 1 never thought it would  it s nol like to was begging in the Street. When you play baseball you put your Money in each month and you put in your Liine. Vou should get something Buck these Days he has a stable life and Hii memories. He remains Friendly with Oliva a fellow cuban who is a twins coach. People still recognize him and ask for autographs sometimes Loo much he said with a laugh occasionally he drives Down to theml radome it s a strange place to play Ball to see his old team. Versalles is watching them in the world series on television. He saw Kille brew a twins announcer threw out the ceremonial first Ball at game 1. Oliva was standing on the third base line in Minnesota uniform. Sometimes Versalles refers to the twins As we he says that happens by mistake. When i got traded that was it. I was t pan of the twins anymore he said. I think they la win the world series but 1 Don t  Bryan s surgery ends 83 straight Start Streak Denver Cap Billy Bryan s major knee surgery monday will end a Streak of s3 straight starts for the Denver Bron cos Center and it might even end his nil career. Bryan was Hurt against Kansas City last sunday and the Broncos will put him on injured Reserve by sat urday. It s very devastating said offensive line coach ale Gibbs and very Complex. He a Good player a Brno team Leader and a coach on inc held. We would miss any of the three let alone Al three at once. I Don t know How Well react we Don t know How valuable he is 2gibbs said Larry Lee and Mike free Man would fill in for Bryan who played with the replacement players while most of his teammates were on strike Tor three weeks. Our Guys will rally and pull together Gibbs predicted. Bryan s injury was one of two serious ones during the Broncos strike games. Theother was suffered by Steve Watson who has been in the Hospital eight Days with fractured ribs. Coach Dan Reeves said Watson probably will remain in the Hospi Tal until . Offensive lineman Winford Hood also was injured in sunday s game. He lore knee cartilage at the beginning of the game but continued to play. Hood underwent arthroscopic surgery monday and the Bron cos also will put him on injured Reserve. Soviets take gym Lead Rotterdam Netherlands a the soviet Union look the Lead after toe compulsory exercise of the men s team Competition at the world gymnastics championships tuesday. The soviet team led by Dmitri Bilo Perch cd was far ahead with 294.05 Points. East Germany was second with 289,85, edging China with 289.8. The optional exec Iii Wilt be completed on wednesday and thursday. Bilozur Chov look the Lead for the individual All around title. He was the 1983 world Champion but is resuming after a Aulo Accident in 1985 that broke his leg. The powerful soviet gymnasts Loo the top four individual places with Bilo Zercher in front with 59.0 Points out of a possible 60. Teammates Valeri Liu Kine the euro Pean Champion this year was second with 58.95 Points. Yuri Korotev and Vladimir Artemov tied for third with 58.9 Points. Korolev it the 1981 and 1985 All around Champion. Obviously we Are pleased with the performance said Leonid Arjaev the soviet coach. The Only Small problem we have is with Liu Kine s  Hurt his foot in practice earlier in the week. Lining of China expected to contend for the individual Lille had a mishap on the parallel bars and was far on the Pace with 58.0 Points. I slipped with my left hand i said. "1 Promise to be better Laier in the  i won six medals at the 1964 olympics. In the team event Japan which led after the firs Day is now lied for fourth with Bulgaria both with 287.8  followed with 286.0 dropping the United slates to seventh with 285\6. The lop 12 teams qualify for the 1988 olympics in Seoul