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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 5, 1994                   TAG: 9401050129
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

LEGISLATORS GO TO BAT FOR CEPEDA

Forget health-care reform, the Bosnian crisis or upheaval in Russia. Four members of Congress are devoting their time and attention to getting Orlando Cepeda elected to baseball's Hall of Fame.

Rep. Jose E. Serrano, D-N.Y., and three of his colleagues in the Hispanic Caucus have written to baseball writers around the country - at taxpayers' expense - in hopes of persuading them to elect the one-time Rookie of the Year and National League Most Valuable Player to Cooperstown in his final year of eligibility.

"While our taking action in this matter is somewhat unorthodox, it is altogether appropriate," the four lawmakers wrote in a Dec. 27 letter to members of the Baseball Writers Association of America, who annually elect new Hall of Fame members.

Also signing the letter were Reps. Nydia M. Velazquez, D-N.Y.; Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez, D-Ill.; and Carlos A. Romero-Barcelo, a Democratic non-voting representative from Puerto Rico.

by CNB