Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 18, 1992                   TAG: 9203180210
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

IT TOOK MORE THAN 30 YEARS, BUT HAL NEWHOUSER

Newhouser, one of the most dominant pitchers of the 1940s, and American League umpire Bill McGowan were elected to the Hall of Fame on Tuesday by the veterans committee.

Newhouser, who turns 71 next month, said the vote couldn't have come at a better time. He passed a physical at the doctor's office earlier in the day, celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary recently and was able to break the news of his selection to his 95-year-old mother, who also is in good health.

"I said, `Mom. Are you sitting down?' She said, `Yes. What's wrong Harold.' I said, `How would you like to go to Cooperstown.' She began to cry. Then she said, `I guess I'll have to buy a new dress.' "

Newhouser, the only major-league pitcher ever to win MVP awards in successive seasons, and McGowan, who died in 1954, will be inducted this summer along with Tom Seaver and Rollie Fingers.

A left-hander who won 80 games from 1944 to 1946, Newhouser played 15 seasons with the Detroit Tigers before finishing his career with the Cleveland Indians in 1954 and 1955 with an overall record of 207-150.

He was the AL's MVP in 1944 and 1945 when he posted records of 29-9 and 25-9, respectively, and went 26-9 in 1946. His ERA during those three seasons ranged from 1.88 to 2.22.

"He had a great arm. He was a great competitor. He had it all," said Hall of Famer Ted Williams, a member of the 17-member committee, which votes each year on players passed up by the baseball writers, as well as former managers and executives.