Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 21, 1993 TAG: 9305210201
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From Associated Press and Baltimore Sun reports
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Yet just about everyone, especially Boggs, is downplaying the third baseman's debut as an opponent at Fenway. Boggs, who has the highest career average of any active player, makes his return tonight with the New York Yankees.
"Going back to Fenway really isn't that big a deal because I left there on my own terms," said Boggs, who signed with the Yankees as a free agent. "It wasn't like I was traded."
The Red Sox have spent all spring downplaying Boggs' memory. New third baseman Scott Cooper has tried to avoid comparisons with his predecessor and general manager Lou Gorman usually deflects questions by saying he doesn't like to talk about former Red Sox players.
Boggs hit over .300 in 10 straight years for the Red Sox before plummeting to .259 last season. The third baseman was even better at Fenway, where he was the darling of fans until last season. He was hitting .381 at home until the start of last season, but his .243 home average in 1992 left him with a .369 Fenway average entering this weekend's series.
He's starting to get his stroke back in New York, going 6-for-14 in a series this week at Minnesota, lifting his average this season to .285.
\ TETTLETON SUED: Detroit Tigers catcher Mickey Tettleton can drive a baseball far into the night, but a lawsuit filed Thursday raises questions about the former Baltimore Oriole's ability to drive a pickup truck safely out of a stadium parking lot.
"Little League Day" festivities three years ago at Baltimore's Memorial Stadium ended with Tettleton running over a young ballplayer's foot, according to the suit, filed in Baltimore Circuit Court. Tettleton was among several players who signed autographs while remaining in their vehicles in the stadium parking lot as part of the May 20, 1990, event, according to the suit. When he was finished, he pulled away "in a negligent manner" and ran over 11-year-old Carl L. Snider's right foot, the suit alleges. The boy's parents are demanding $350,000 in compensatory damages.
\ GUBICZA'S FALTER: The Kansas City Royals have taken Mark Gubicza - ineffective as a starter while trying to come back from the shoulder injury that sidelined him for the second half of last season - out of the rotation. The Royals called up left-hander Chris Haney to take his start today. Gubicza was 0-4 with a 6.55 ERA in six starts this season.
\ PIRATES MOVE: The Pittsburgh Pirates, trying to add some power to their bench, called up veteran outfielder Glenn Wilson and optioned John Wehner to Buffalo of the American Association. Wehner, 25, batted .200 for the Pirates in 19 games. He had no home runs or RBI.
\ ORIOLES SALE: Clothing store magnate Leonard "Boogie" Weinglass has joined a local group headed by a prominent attorney that wants to buy the Baltimore Orioles from its bankrupt owner. Weinglass joined a group led by attorney Peter Angelos that also includes author Tom Clancy and director Barry Levinson, in a move aimed at strengthening chances the Orioles will have local ownership.
Other groups are also considering offers.
\ COMMERCIAL STEAMS RED SOX: A commercial for Suffolk Downs racetrack featuring former Red Sox manager Joe Morgan didn't amuse the team and it had the commercial pulled from game broadcasts on WRKO radio. In the 60-second spot, Morgan compares horses favorably to ballplayers.
"Horses don't expect to get paid unless they win," Morgan says. "And when was the last time you heard about a horse busting up a hotel room . . . or feuding with the press?"
The last line is, "And they don't even think about messing around with women until after they retire."
"We don't think it's funny and that it gives a negative image," Red Sox broadcast chief Jim Healey said. "It unfairly portrays baseball players and the Red Sox in a bad light."
by CNB