DATE: Sunday, August 24, 1997               TAG: 9708240183

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C10  EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: RICH RADFORD

                                            LENGTH:   77 lines

TIDES REPORT

Richardson, Herzog to be inducted into Tidewater Shrine

Bobby Richardson and Whitey Herzog will be added to the Tidewater Baseball Shrine prior to Friday's game at Harbor Park between the Norfolk Tides and Ottawa Lynx.

Richardson, prior to his all-star career with the New York Yankees, broke into professional baseball with the Norfolk Tars in 1953.

Four years later, he was in the major leagues with the Yankees and went on to play in seven All-Star Games, seven World Series, was a five-time Golden Glove winner and is the only player to be selected World Series MVP from the losing team (1960).

After retiring at age 31, Richardson went on to a banner run as the college baseball coach at South Carolina.

Herzog's primary local connection came when he was director of player development with the New York Mets from 1967 to 1972. The Tides won the 1969 International League pennant, the 1972 Governors' Cup and made four consecutive playoff appearances beginning in 1969. Herzog also played for the Tars in 1951.

Herzog's shining moment came when he guided the St. Louis Cardinals to the World Series title in 1982. He also managed the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals and is the 25th all-time winningest manager with a 1,281-1,125 record. Sports Illustrated named him manager of the 1980s.

Richardson and Herzog bring the number of inductees to 52 and are the first additions in five years. Their plaques will be added to the others that line the concourse level at Harbor Park.

Agbayani back, and not a game too soon

Benny Agbayani came off the seven-day disabled list and provided a home run in his first game back Friday night.

Prior to the game, Agbayani admitted he could not have come back any sooner after injuring his left knee on an awkward slide into home two weeks ago.

``(Friday) was the first day the knee felt good enough to play,'' Agbayani said.

At least it wasn't as bad as a knee injury he suffered four years ago in his final year at Hawaii-Pacific. That injury required surgery to repair torn cartilage.

``I thought I'd done the same thing this time,'' said Agbayani, who is still among league leaders in batting, stolen bases and runs scored. ``I was very relieved when they told me it was just a strain.

``This season has been too good to this point for it to end that way, and I wanted very badly to come back and finish it.''

Rich Miller, roving outfielder/base-running instructor for the Mets, put the injury and its outcome into perspective Friday while Agbayani took his cuts during batting practice when he said, ``What a miracle recovery. Two weeks ago I heard you'd be going under the knife. Now you're back in the lineup.''

Tides' dugout full for weekend series

The Tides are at their full complement of players, plus one, and are even carrying a couple extra coaching types this weekend.

Norfolk's roster numbers 26 - the 25 allowable on late-August expanded rosters, plus major league rehab Jason Isringhausen - and outfielder Mike Moore is on the bench but isn't on the active roster.

In addition, Miller is here on his regular rotation throughout the minor-league system, and Mets minor-league pitching coordinator Al Jackson is in town to monitor Isringhausen's progress.

This and that . . .

That magical number of 500,000 through the turnstiles may escape the Tides for the first time in five years at Harbor Park. The culprit? Six rainouts. The Tides are still among league leaders in per game attendance, averaging 7,390; Columbus leads at 7,443. Norfolk through Friday had drawn 428,607 and needed to average 10,200 over its last seven home dates to make 500,000. . . .

The Tides will give out posters of relief pitcher Jim Dougherty to the first 5,000 through the gates this evening. . . . League managers and pitching coaches have chosen Harbor Park's Kenny Magner as the IL's top grounds keeper. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Bobby Richardson

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