European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 14, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Bogor Donees los Angeles times it s december 1988 Orel Hershiser and his wife Jamie Are in a toy Tofe near their Home i Pasadena Calif looking Lor Christmas gifts for their two sons. It s late in the evening and the assume they won t be disturbed wrong. By the Lime we got to the end of the first aisle people were buying baseball toys in the store and quickly running Back to me Lor autographs Hershiser remembers shaking his head. I just walked through quickly and did t even  it s january. The Hershiser escape to the Monterey Peninsula for a few Days and decide to catch a late showing of rain Man one night. We come out of the show it s like 12 30 at night and there s a to camera about 25 feet away Hershiser says. Twelve thirty it night. How do they know i m at the movies we gel about 5 feel irom the Guy and he says or Hershiser we heard you were Here Al the movies can we interview you for Orel Leonard Hershiser in the 30-year-old dodger Pitcher who signed his first professional baseball con race As a 17lh-round draft Choice 10 years ago life has taken a turn As Sharp and abrupt As the sinker Ball he uses to confound batters. The transformation began last August when he embarked on perhaps the most amazing two month run in baseball history a record breaking 59-inning scoreless Streak a win and a save in the National league playoffs two wins in the world series and All the awards commensurate with such a stunning performance the by Young award As the National league s lop Pitcher with a 23-8 record a 2,26 earned run average most valuable player in the league playoffs most valuable player in the world series sports illustrated sportsman of the year sporting news player of the year associated press male athlete of the year and an All Star selection by every publication Hal chooses a postseason team. Then on feb. 16, Hershiser agreed to a three year $7.9 million contract with the dodgers. The contract Breaks Down like this a $1.1 million signing Bonus and yearly salaries of $24 million in 1989, $1.6 million in 1990 and $2.8 million in 1991. Ii makes him the highest paid player in baseball history. Based on his performance last season. Hershiser can reasonably be expected to earn $81,382 each time he starts for the Iii Don t win 20 games i la be considered a  dodgers this season. Each strikeout he records will to Worth $15,534, each inning $10,363. How does All of this make Orel Hershiser feel like a marked Man. I m Sel up Lor the biggest fall of my life he says it s March and he s in the locker room in the dodgers Spring training clubhouse in Vero Beach Fla. He has just pitched three innings in his first exhibition appearance of the Spring and 33 reporters have assembled to interview him. Hershiser handles his questioners with equanimity engaging them in an easy give and take laced with humor but he is aware thai these interrogators Are primed to become his sharpest critics in he does t match the inflated expectations of a Public dazzled by his past performance and awed by or perhaps jealous of his new con race. Iii Don t win 20 games to says ill be considered a  but a safely not is in place to catch Hershiser in Case he Falls a net Woven of Strong family lies deep religious convictions and a self deprecating sense of Orel Hershiser s safety net he knows Fame May be fleeting humor with which he regularly punctures his own ego. And of course there is the Money. On the morning of March 1, Billy Delury. The dodgers longtime travelling Secretary hands out paychecks. Hershiser receives two once overs his signing Bonus and one is retroactive pay for two months Al his 1989 salary. One Check after . Is Lor $843,198.10 the other $250.800. Hershiser spent the Winter signing endorsement contracts. Pepsi Mitsubishi cars. Toshiba copiers and office equipment Ebel watches baby shampoo athletic shoes baseball gloves bad underwear. He will earn More from endorsements in 1989 than the $1.1 million he made playing baseball in 1988. During the Winter when Hershiser got up in the Middle of the night to feed his 7-month-old son Jordan he would watch highlight tapes from the 1988 season. The tapes record some of the most gripping moments in dodger history not All of them moments of glory. Sometimes Hershiser would replay the crushing Deleal to the new York Mots in the first game of the playoffs. A loss that he blames on himself. In the ninth inning after he had shut out the mets for eight innings to Hung a curve Ball to Darryl Strawberry who doubled the dodgers then brought in reliever Jay Howell. Gary Carter s Bloop hit off Howell was the game losing blow but Hershiser says the Pilch to Strawberry was the Low Point of the season Lor him. Then the High Points Hershiser s dramatic save in game 4, coming Back on three Days rest to shut out the mets in game 7, another shutout of the Oakland athletics in game 2 of the world series and finally the series clinching win against the a s in game 5. Even though Hershiser has avoided major Arm problems throughout his career the danger worries his family. His Mother Mildred was watching on to in los Angeles that night when her son took the Mound in the Bottom of the 12th inning the bases loaded with mols the dangerous Kevin Mcreynolds Al the plate the dodgers one out from a 5-4 win that would lie the Bestol seven playoffs at two games each. I lost it she says. I started crying. It s not fair it s not fair. His Arm is going to fall off " dodger Catcher Mike Scioscia who had been replaced earlier in the game by a Pinch Hiller watched with mixed emotions As Hershiser emerged from the bullpen and got Mcreynolds on a Short Fly to Center. I did t want a Guy who had thrown eight innings the Day before going out and wrecking his career Scioscia says. Bui Orel s been blessed with a rubber Arm and he loves to  in some ways Hershiser seems oblivious to the possibility of hurting his Arm. During the season to is constantly volunteering to pitch out of turn. And that s exactly what he did that night against the mets figuring that his services might be needed Afler Ace reliever Howell had been suspended by the National league for having Pine tar in his Glove the Day before. I had t realized what i had done or what i had gotten myself into probably until i was in the bullpen fully warmed up Hershiser says. You Start to feel like Laurel and Hardy a me mess you be got us in now but 1 live to compete i love to compete and when i got Over my initial reaction i was Fine. When i left the bullpen and got Halfway to the Mound the fans started their chant 0-0-o-o-o-Rel, p-0-o-o-o-Rel. I slatted to get worked up with the  for those who wonder if Hershiser can possibly duplicate his pitching Feals of 1988, he has a ready answer 01 course nol. He is Well aware of the mine yield that is now before him he knows that his Fame May be heeling even if his wealth is enduring. A losing record this season and Johnny Carson won t be inviting him on for sing along hell be singing him in monologues. And being known As the richest player in baseball won t help. The Only Way i can avoid criticism for that is if i have another unbelievable year Hershiser says. If i have an average year or if i win 20 games and lose 12, people will say of you re supposed to win the one run games when you gel paid Hal much Money but All i can do is just be the same person. Just because i went to the world series and had a Streak does t mean that i became a different person. You re just the sunday May 14, 1989 the stars and stripes Page 13