The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 9

MONDAY, JULY 31, 1995 The Indianapolis Star Schmidt makes ralea for Rose -a ML Hall of Famer gets warm reception from fans during his induction ceremony for comments regarding baseball's all-time hits leader. vorite player. into problems that led to him being banned from baseball, thereby making him ineligible for election to the Hall. Schmidt, whose 548 home runs for Philadelphia rank seventh in major league history, was elected last January on the first ballot by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Ashburn, a .308 career hitter mostly with the Phillies, Negro Leagues star Leon Day, turn-of-the-century pitcher Vic Willis and key NL founder William Hulbert were voted in by the Veterans Committee in March.

Day died six days after being selected. Rose actually was in Cooper-See FAME Page 5 guarantee you," Richie Ashburn, one of five men being inducted, told fans with a laugh, "but not by me." Hut there was absolutely no reaction no smiles, no hand claps, no nothing from 30 previously elected Hall of Famers who sat stone silent around Schmidt. And. early in the program before Schmidt was introduced. Johnny Hcnch was heard to mutter by a couple of photographers right in front of the podium.

"You can have him." when the crowd clamored for Rose. Rose and Bench, who played on the Big Red Machine in the 1970s, had a falling out after Rose ran By Ben Walker ASSOCIATED PRESS Cooperstown, N.Y. Mike Schmidt turned his Hall of Fame podium into a pulpit to promote Pete Rose, telling the biggest induction crowd ever Sunday it was time to make a place for baseball's career hits leader in Cooperstown. Wearing a No. 14 lapel pin to honor his former teammate, Schmidt twice mentioned Rose during a 20-minute speech, saying Rose was his grandmother's fa- "I Join her and millions of baseball fans in hoping someday soon, someday very soon, Pete Rose will be standing right here," Schmidt said.

Schmidt's references to Rose drew large ovations from the crowd, estimated at and mostly from Philadelphia. Several times during the two-hour ceremonies, there were sporadic chants of "We want Pete! We want Pete!" "That will be covered, I can Associated Press EMOTIONAL MOMENT: Mike Schmidt wipes away a tear during his Baseball Hall of Fame induction speech. Redbirds' Minchey king of hill Louisville defeats Viola as both teams battle oppressive heat. )HM4Ha -J-UJ hf IL tip? 'fa kJ a OJ Maril)oro500 Marlboro 500 iUariborooOO -jjjawi-MHiiMi 1 1 iiiiiinmiihifWiTfflii-l By Don Bates STAR STAFF WRITER Louisville. Ky.

The pitching matchup at Redbirds Stadium Sunday afternoon was appealing by reason of contrast. On one hand you had a 35-year-old former superstar trying to retrace his footsteps in life on the other, a young lion trying to make a few tracks of his own. Youth prevailed in this particular case as 24-year-old Nate Minchey hurled four-hit ball through 7lh innings and the Louisville Redbirds posted a 7-1 win over Frank Viola and the league-leading Indianapolis Indians. Minchey pitched a game of which he can be proud. Viola Associated Press Indians 1 Louisville 7 Next game: vs.

Nashville, 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, WNDE-1260 AM, FM. BY THAT MUCH: Scott Pruett keeps the crowd at Michigan International Speedway on its feet by working his way by Al Unser Jr. just before the finish line. Praett charges to first triumph Michigan winner sweeps past Unser on final lap.

Long-awaited victory retribution for talented, hard-luck driver Robin Miller Marlboro 500 At Brooklyn, Mich. Top 10 Finishers I.Scott Pruett Lola-Ford 2. Al Unser Jr. Penske-Mercedes 3. Adrian Fernandez Lola-Mercedes 4.

Teo Fabi Reynard-Ford 5. Emerson Fittipaldi Penske-Mercedes 6. Stefan Johansson Penske-Mercedes 7. Jimmy Vasser Reynard-Ford 8. Bobby Rahal Lola-Mercedes 9.

Christian Fittipaldi Reynard-Ford 10. Jacques Villeneuve Reynard-Ford Points leaders: Villeneuve 141; Rahal 111; Robby Gordon 99; Michael Andretti 96(; Pruett 93. Brooklyn, Mich. Scott Pruett went for it at Indianapolis last May while running second and wound up against the wall, prompting car owner Pat Pat turned in a performance he can live with. The 1988 Cy Young Award winner allowed seven hits and three runs through five innings.

Mediocre by past standards. "I threw over 80 pitches and a lot of fastballs today. Any time I go out there and throw without pain I feel progress is being made," said Viola, who seeks to work his way back to the majors after a year's layoff following career-threatening elbow surgery. The 6-4 left-hander did evidence some displeasure as a result of his lack of control. "My location was probably not where's its going to get.

But, I'll take the outing," he said. Both pitchers deserved extra credit considering the weather. Appropriate symbolism would have had the plate umpire wearing a red cape and carrying a pitchfork. It was that hot. Temperature on the artificial playing surface was 125 degrees.

"The heat really didn't bother me that much," Viola said. "I guess when you live in Florida you kind of grow accustomed to it." Minchey handled it well for an- See TRIBE Page 5 By Robin Miller STAR ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR Brooklyn, Mich. Al Unser Jr. walked into the press room, tipped back his hat, took a deep breath and said, "Was that a show or what?" Thanks to Scott Pruett and Unser, an otherwise forgettable Marlboro 500 at Michigan International Speedway turned out to be the closest, most dramatic ever. Sunday's 15th version came down to the last lap as Pruett swept past Unser in the final corner to beat the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner by less than a car length at 225 miles per hour.

The fantastic finish, which saw Unser take the lead going Into Turn 1 on the white-flag lap, left 75,000 people standing and screaming, Firestone back In victory lane and Pruett clutching a well-deserved winner's trophy. After 70 Indy-car starts Pruett finally got his first checkered flag, but the 35-year-old veteran needed to use all of his bravado, everything in his Firestone '95 LolaFord and most of this high-banked track to put away Unser. "When Al whistled by me going into the first turn on the last lap, I didn't think I'd get back Call it retribution at 225 miles per hour as Pruett scored a well-deserved, popular and spectacular triumph in the arena that nearly killed him five years ago. A brake failure that led to a crippling crash while testing in 1990 at Florida knocked Pruett's soaring career off-course. He came back with inferior equipment and worse results before finally getting a second chance with Firestone.

And all was right with his fast-paced world Sunday. "It's been a struggle to get on top of the podium in these cars," said Pruett, who had gone 0 for 69. "We came close at Phoenix, Indy and Detroit. We were in a position to win but came up short. "But this is a great team and See MILLER Page 2 by," admitted Pruett, whose .056 of a second margin was the second closest in Indy-car history.

"But. I managed to pick up a helluva draft. "I drove as deep as I could and as high as I could going into Turn 3 and managed to come in above him (Unser). We were virtually side-by-side all way through 3 and 4." Unser, whose 1992 Indy win over Scott Goodyear was the closest ever, reeled Pruett in following a late yellow and blasted back into the top spot See PRUETT Page 2 rick's idiotic response that he, "hoped something broke." Pruett went for it again Sunday afternoon here at the Marlboro 500. but the only thing he broke was Team Penske's heart.

The bold, determined 35-year-old veteran stole the show and a victory from Al Unser Jr. with a flamboyant, heartstoppirtg, over-the-top pass on the last turn to finally get even with Indy cars. S-SSr -3 Persistence produces win Oakland 11 Toronto 3 11 mEBsEB. tor water ski champion tonsas City 3 Jtroit 2 Cleveland 5 2 Jgtf nriir perfection." star special correspondent Reinhart. a 30-year-old Florida native New York 7 Minnesota 4 who once performed stunts in James Dave Reinhart claimed the freestyle title Bond's License to Kill, has stood atop the NATIONAL LEAGUE Sunday in the Budwiser Water Ski Tour at lour freestyle standings since 1988 and Montreal 11 Colorado 4 Precedent, an accomplishment that stands there again this season.

Ne'w York 2 Pitteburgh 1 has as methodical as the daily "The key is to pace yourself," he said. because Rhan has nmshi ,01 5... Cincinnati 4 each of the past seven tour seasons atop l-o the freestyle standings, an exhibition of Although Reinhart set the trick stan- Francisco 3... Atlanta 2 dominance arguab unmatched by no oth- dards wlch all other skiers attempt to Louis 1 er professional duplicate, he readily admits he's not the AMERICAN ASSOCIATION irecsty? waTr-ski jumping is'to say Babe mSt T' Q.i i ners stent and ded cated. but Is all Louisville 7...

Indians 1 1n(lw a or tw0 about a mental and it's all a matter of being willing MSo excuse Reinhart if he's not leaping out 10 Physical risks he said. "There of his skis after amassing 2,482 points and a l(" 01 kl5rs Keeping track with InfoLine holdlng off Zane Schwen (2,436) Sunday. 1,1,1 1 mentally tough, and I have to be. 'U Z''''' VX For sports results, call Schwenk's total Included a tour record "When you win 90 percent of the events. The Star's InfoLine Ser- jump of 97 feet on a one-ski combination.

it's tough to get excited all the time. That's vice at 6244636. Individ- wouidn say I'm bored with it." Rein- my challenge right there." ual catfifiiorv codes are i i Star Staff Photo Frank Espich CHAMP AT WORK: Kristi Pverton picks up speed as she through the water en route to successfully defending her women's slalom water-ski title. Bj -j IlitU Siliu. Lri a JUM any in un.ii picjii.ip, Con Dona 9 listed on today's Scoreboard page.

the game a long time and he played it to rage.