European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 11, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Thursday. August 11. 1994 sports the stars and stripes Page 33 the player with the most to lose baseball fans still looking for a poster boy to symbolize Why there should t be a strike could do worse than Settle on san Francisco s Matt Williams. Modest steady hard working Long suffering and now at age 28, successful beyond his wildest dreams Williams personifies Many of the things still Good about a resume peppered with Virtues hardly makes him the logical Choice. The reason for that is that Williams among All his Rich and powerful Peers May be the one with the most to lose. If the players walk Friday they All lose Money. Some of them like Williams lose a lot. But he also loses a Chance to try and break what might be the most prize record in sports the single season Mark of 61 Home runs set by Roger mans33 years ago. One measure of the accomplishment is that the Man who held it for the pre Vious 34 years was also a new York Yankee babe Ruth. Jim Litke san Francisco giants third baseman Matt Williams is tearing up National league pitching with 42 Home runs. Counting tuesday s 3-2 win Over Chicago Williams had homered 42 times in 112 games. Twenty More in 50 games would break the record. Never knowing when the next one is coming was hard enough now he does t even know How Many chances Are left. I d just As soon not think about it the record or the strike Williams said. I Don t see How thinking about either of those things is going to improve my mental health. But he said a moment later i would t be where i am none of us would if the Guys before us did t make some sacrifices. It s been a great season for a lot of Guys. But if a strike ends it it won t be the worst thing that s Ever on tuesday a half hour before the giants took Bat Ting practice at windblown Wrigley Field and two hours before they beat the cubs 3-2, Williams was already in character. Commentary his bal Cap was tugged Low Over what s left of his Straw Berry Blond hair. He was Antsy. While he considered each question Williams fidgeted adjusting his Glove then his uniform then waggling a Bat measuring its heft with Anvil sized forearms. He loves to play. He is not sure he can say the same thing about the attention. I d rather people focus on somebody else he said. To be sure there Are plenty of others to look at. In this already most excellent offensive season Ball players Are on Pace All Over the place to Complete All manner of enchanting quests. San Diego s Tony Gwynn is flirting with .400. Hous ton s Jeff Bagwell and Chicago s Frank Thomas Are try ing triple crowns on for size. Those two As Well As Seattle s Ken Griffey Cleveland s Albert Belle and san Francisco teammate Barry Bonds Are chasing Williams. Yet quiet As he is in most regards Williams quest May be the most compelling. He made no headway tuesday grounding out once and losing three solid chances to a 14 Mph wind that knocked each Down at the warning track once in left and twice in right. Still it was t just the anticipation each Long Ball Brines that makes Williams Worth watching. It s know ing now much stubborn resolve and How Many Days Williams put in just for the Opportunity to share the stage. He spent so much time commuting Between san Francisco and the giants minor league team in Phoe Nix his first three seasons that he hit All of .198 and thought Long and hard about quitting. In 1992, not that Long after he nailed Down the regular Job at third Wil Liams got sidetracked by a slump. Last season he was the National league comeback player of the year but was almost embarrassed by the achievement i was 27," Williams recalled recently too Young for a he is finally where he should be at the top of his game. Unfortunately that will count for precious Little if the season ends Friday. The associated press dear enjoy Tours traveler touring Paris is becoming better every Day As you can see by the dates that we have added to our regular Paris Jubilee tour highlighted with an asterisk $99. For 1 Paris overnight and$149. For 2 Paris overnights 1 overnight Tours $99 aug12-14, 94 aug 19-21 aug 26-28 sep 02-04 labor Day sep 09-11sep 16-18 oct 07-09 Columbus Dayno v 10-12 veterans Day 2 overnight Tours $149 aug12-15,l94 aug 19-22 aug26-29 sep02-05 labor Day sep 09-12sep 16-19 oct 07-10 Columbus Day nov 10-13 veterans Day All the details of the tour Are available on the red Jubilee brochure at your Community Sato travel office or itt. Destinations unlimited. But the seats Are limited so hurry and make your reservation for the holidays enjoy Tours enjoy Tours Laute Strase 102 67657 Kaiserslautern Tel 0631 70022fax 0631 7207
