European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 3, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday decembers 1988 the stars and stripes Page 25 sports wire Yankees have Fop average salary again from press dispatches new York the new York Yankees who have not won any titles on the Field for seven seasons re gained heir no. 1 position in the salary standings this year soaring to an All time High average of j718,670for 1988, this Marks the eighth time in he last 11 years that the Yankees had the highest average salary but they had been second 1617,616 in 1986 and third s541,598 in 1987 he previous two years. No team Ever has had an average in the 1700,000 stratosphere. The previous record was $657,657, attained by the Atlanta braves in 1986. The Yankees average Rose sharply primarily be cause of the salaries of Jack Clark $2 million and Dave High Coli j 1.3 million. The new York mets average Rose to a club record$605,895, but the team dropped from second to fourth in the salary  suffering a minuscule drop .016 of 1 percent in 1987, the major league average salary Rose 6.4 per cent to 5438,729 from $412,454. That is the smallest increase the average salary has had since the players association began keeping such records in 1969. The 1988 figures were presented to the Union s executive Board at their meetings in Hawaii this week and printed in the new York times. Beside the Yankees record Selling figure the aver age salaries were noteworthy for two reasons this year Marks the first Lime everyone of he 26 teams was Over $200,000, meaning the Chicago White Sot at 1226,392, had the highest lowest figure Ever. It is the first time As Many As four teams were Over $600,000. Three teams were Over that level in 1986, but none was last year. In dissecting the figure the players association found that american league first basemen were the highest paid group in 1988, averaging 11,082.572. National league first basemen were paupers by comparison averaging $318,929. The lowest foray position group. The american league group included such High Price veterans As Don Mal linty Eddie Murray George Brett and Kent or two. The National league contingent on the other hand has such Low paid Young players As Mark Grace Gerald Perry will Clark and Andres Galarraga. Position players had to have played at least 100 games at their positions to be included in the breakdown of averages by position. Dwight Evans of Boston and his $1.6 million salary were not included anywhere in the position averages because he did not play 100 games at first or in right Field. National league canc hrs were the group with the big Gest bulge Over their american league colleagues,999.l6llos375,172. Angels enter bidding for Hurst Boston the California Angels became the lat est team to bid for Pitcher Bruce Hurst amid signs the free agent May be slipping away from her a sox. Hurst denied rumours that he already has accepted on offer from san Diego bul he declined comment when asked if he were leaning toward signing with the padres. I just Don t think it s right to say right now he said there s too much going  activity around Hurst grew More feverish this week As the Angels made what was described by Hurst s agent Nick Lampros As a competitive offer. The is. Louis cardinals also indicated they might get involved in the bidding. Lampros declined to discuss terms of the Angels offer but said it was similar to one structured by the padres for $4,7 million Over three years. Hurst said he also had spoken with representatives of the cardinals. It s up to Ihm now he said when asked if he expected to receive an offer. The red sox were scrambling to set up a last minute meeting with Hurst 18-6 last year in which they were Mcfry Bruce Hurst. Won t say which Way he s leaning expected to increase their current offer of $4.8 million Over three years. Buddy Ryan returns Philadelphia coach buddy Ryan of the Philadelphia eagles was Back on the Job thursday less than 24 hours after almost choking to death an apiece of pork. Ryan was released from methodist Hospital where he spent the night in a precautionary measure ordered by the doctors. With the meat Long gone from his Throat he coach met the Media with a joke on his Tongue. My agent had called me from Orlando fb., with a meal commercial. Now i be loss  Olajide undergoes Eye surgery new York Michael Olajide or s boxing career is on hold while the middleweight contender Recupero ates from surgery on his left Eye. He was injured during sparring session last week. Olajide underwent a three hour operation thursday to repair an Orbital floor fracture with a trapped Eye muscle below the left Eye. Bunker shot gives couples Lead Melbourne Australia american Fred Cou Ples holed a spectacular 60-foot Bunker shot at the i sin Hole for a 6-under-Par 66 thursday and took a one shot Lead after the first round of the si.25 million australian Bicentennial classic Golf tournament. Couples fired four birdies on the front nine at the Royal Melbourne course to make the turn in 31 and then birdied the 14th and 18th holes. Couples an All America golfer when he played col lege Ball at Houston missed a Short Birdie putt for the outright Lead on the 17th Hole bul Ihen closed with Bis Long distance shot from a Sand trap. Couples used a 7-Iron from the Bunker at the 18lh. He planned Only to get close to the Hole. I was worried about a bogey so it was a great Way to finish he said. Copies leads Globe Lral Ting fellow american Mike Colandro and Japan s big hitting Masashi jumbo Ozaki. Both shot 5-under-Par 67s to share second spot. Williams takes Bowling Lead Taylor Mich Waller Ray Williams jr., moved from third place into the sixth round Lea thursday night in the professional bowlers association $ i 35,000 Budweiser touring players championship. Williams felled 9,020 pins in his 40 qualifying games to take a 28-pin Lead Over Dave Ferraro. That pinball includes 30 Bonus pins for each of his six match game  led the second third and fourth rounds be fore dropping to second with 8,992 pins. Ted hannahs was third with a pinball of 8,970. 4 . Olympians honoured Phoenix olympic champions Florence Griffith Joyner Jackie Joyner a Croce Carl Lewis and Roger kingdom received major awards thursday at the athletics Congress  Joyner Winner of Gold medals in the 100 and 200-meter dashes and the 400-meter relay and a Silver in the 1,600-Mcler relay in the olympic games at Seoul South Korea was named the outstanding woman track athlete of the year. It was the second consecutive year she earned the Honor. This year Griffith Joyner also set world records in the 100 and 200, breaking both by unprecedented mar gins and ran on the team Hal broke the . Record in the 1,600 relay. She lowered the world record in the 100 from 10.76 seconds to 10.49, and in the 200 from21.71 to 21.34. Her sister in Law Joyner pc Sec Winner of olympic golds in the heptathlon and Long jump was named the outstanding woman in held events for the sixth year in a Row. She Isicc broke the world record in the heptathlon in1988, compiling 7,215 Points in the . Olympic trials in july and 7,291 Points in the Seoul , Winner of four Gold medals in the 1984 olympics and two golds and a Silver this year was selected the outstanding men s athlete of the year by track & Field news for the sixth time. In the Seoul games he became the first olympian to repeat As a Gold medallist in both the men s 100 and Long jump and finished second in the 200. Kingdom the olympic Champion in the men s 1 to meter nigh hurdles for the second straight games got the Harrison Dillard award As the outstanding men s athlete in the sprints and hurdles categories. No still searching for president. New York the National league Sunli Clyto name a new president until after next week s Winter meetings los Angeles dodgers owner Peter o Mallcy said thursday after a meeting of the search committee. While the annual meeting was a goal it was never deadline said o Mallcy the head of the search commit tee. The committee is being As deliberative As possible Soas to make sure it chooses the right  Simon Gourdine a former Deputy commissioner of the Aba is believed to be the leading candidate for the Job. A. Bartlett Giamatti the current no president becomes commissioner of baseball april i. Figini takes women s downhill Val d Sere France defending world cup Champion Michela Figini of Switzerland edged a pair of West germans by a Quarter of a second Friday to win the first women s downhill ski race of the season. Figini claimed her i Ith to and her 20th Triumph Overall meter course in i Mainuli tics swirled around  Mohesen Lychner of West Germany was second 21-Ldolhsof a second behind Figini and compatriot Michaela Gerg was another 5-Looths of a second Back Figini had started the season in disappointing Fash Ion placing seventh in a super Riant slalom last week end in Schlad Ming Austria Ana then failing to finish the first run of a giant slalom on monday in Les me no Iris  Percy of Canada was the top North american finisher with a sixth place time of 1 12.14. Pam Fletcher of Acton mass. 1 13.73 was the Best . Placer with a lie for 25th. Women s Aown Niu ski 01 m me world cup downhill Victory Triump by completing the 1,867 i 1 minute 11.sb seconds As Snow Flur stripes super bowl contest 1 week away  can Lake you a Long Way. It took two Stan and stripes readers All the Way to the super bowl. ,. Army  Curtis  of Tessen West Ger Many said i just had lobe Loyal to my Home state and that s what really did it Spence a Home stale was Tennessee and what the did three years ago was Beal the heavily favored Miami hurricanes in the sugar bowl. Thai gave Spence one of 18 perfect entries in the stars and stripes super bowl contest he picked the exact number of Points in the Orange bowl Between Oklahoma and Perm stale Lowin the tiebreaker and also win the trip to new Orleans where be Taw the bean beat the patriots  years ago army Moj. Charles Karrick of shape had to be Loyal to his Alma mater. Auburn picking he tigers to beat Southern Cal in the Citrus bowl. That was one of his 12 Correct answers and he won the tiebreaker Over 13 other perfect pickers Towin the trip to super bowl xxi. The Winner of the sixth stars and so rips super bowl contest which starts in next saturday s sports Section . F a the prize also includes round trip airline Lickett for two car rental and hotel  for four nights during super bowl week. To will loyally take you a Long Way give it a Shol inthe stars and stripes super bowl contest starting in All editions dated dec. 10 and continuing for 10s.consecutive Days. Of s after Oil in worked for Curtis Spence Antl Chirles Karrick,"1. Row