Courier-Post from Camden, New Jersey • Page 20

2c COURIER-POST, Tuesday, January 7, 1992 Yankees land Tartabull with late move Baseball Vis f- -'wA- on," Michael said. "We've anchored an outfield spot. We have more versatility, more flexibility." Tartabull, who made $2,225,000 in 1991, gets a $1.5 million signing bonus, $5 million in 1992, $4.75 million in 1993, $4.25 million in 1994 and $5 million in each of the 1995 and 1996 seasons. "We talked about what it would take to get him," Michael said. "They gave me some areas.

We got it done in a hurry. We pressured them a bit. I stayed at it for four solid days." In average annual value, Tartabull trails only Bobby Bonilla of the New York Mets ($5.8 million), Jack Morris of Toronto Roger Clemens of Boston ($5,380,250) and Dwight Gooden of the Mets ($5.15 million). The deal was for about $1 million a year more than other teams were offering before New York became involved. NEW YORK (AP) In their first major player move in more than a year, the New York Yankees made a surprise late offer to Danny Tartabull, and the free agent outfielder who played for Kansas City last season agreed Monday to a $25.5 million, five-year contract.

The deal, which makes Tartabull the fifth-highest paid player in baseball, came six days after Daniel McCarthy replaced Robert Neder-lander as the team's managing general partner. Tartabull became the first major addition to the Yankees' roster since pitcher Mike Witt signed as a free agent on Jan. 2, 1991. "It's exciting to me, a challenge," Tartabull said. "I'm tickled about the way things worked out.

I want to be part of the leadership of the club and bring a championship back to New York." California, Texas and the Chicago White Sox had been bidding for Tartabull, who hit .316 last season with 31 homers and 100 RBIs. The Yankees, who finished fifth last season at 71-91, first expressed interest on Thursday and New York general manager Gene Michael spent the weekend in Los Angeles negotiating with Tartabull's agent, Dennis Gilbert. "After I got the call, I contacted Danny and we talked a little about the Yankees and whether he wanted to play in New York," Gilbert said. "The idea excited him." The move give the Yankees a surplus of outfielders and means that Jesse Barfield or Mel Hall probably will be traded. New York still is searching for a third baseman.

"We have some more things we're working Phillies games back on Ch. 17 Firing shocks Pittsburgh GM m. for 1 993 season going here, for now and in the future," a teary-eyed Doughty said. "I think the Pirates have come a long way since I became general manager. We're on the upswing." Sauer, who met with reporters separately from Doughty, repeatedly refused to elaborate on the firing, other than to indicate that Doughty has shortcomings in negotiations and the business end of baseball.

"I'm not going to be specific," Sauer said. "It's not fair to Larry and it's not fair to us." Doughty, who is under contract through this season, said he has a hush clause that prevents him from talking too specifically about his ouster. "The Pirates are obligated to pay me and I don't want to jeopardize that," he said. "My assessment from talking with Mr. Sauer is that my gross errors far outweighed my success here and the Pirates have to take a new route." Pirates manager Jim Leyland could not be reached immediately for comment, but he told Sauer he was "surprised and disappointed." So was Pirates shortstop Jay Bell.

"He's going to be tough to DANNY TARTABULL $25.5 million for 5 years "Other programming commit ments have made it more diffipuit for Channel 29 to deliver this many dates the last two, three seasons," said Giles. Regarding the announcing team of Harry Kalas-Richie Ashbnm and Andy Musser, Smith said, "We don't anticipate any changes but we're still a full year away from starting the new contract and we ve made no commitments. WPHL-TV previously telecast Phillies games from 1971 through 1982. When they announced the new TV 17 contract in 1971, the Phillies stated, "At least 70 games, a Phillies record, will be telecast in color." "Well, we are doing more games under the new contract and the telecasts are still in color." Channel 178 new contract complements the Phillies' cable con tract 40 regular-season games on PRISM and 25 regular-season plus five spring-training games on SportsChannel. With PRISM, SportsChannel and TV 17, 150 of the Phillies 162 games will be televised.

Last August, the Phillies announced a five-year extension (starting with the 1993 season) on the radio contract with WOGL- AM through the 1997 season. Hockey Crump to resume duties TORONTO (AP) Donald Crump resumed his full-time duties Monday as secretary-treasurer of Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. Visit a World Class School with now focuses on Eldredge PITTSBURGH (AP) The Pittsburgh Pirates fired general manager Larry Doughty on Monday despite winning consecutive National League East titles. Doughty was told he was ousted "because my gross errors far outweighed my sucesss." Doughty, whose Pirates led the majors with 98 victories last season, became the second successful Pirates general manager to be fired in four years. Syd Thrift was dismissed in October 1988, less than a year after being named as Pittsburgh's man of the year for rebuilding the franchise.

Cam Bonifay, promoted from scouting director to assistant general manager a year ago, will serve as interim general manager. Pirates president Mark Sauer said Bonifay is a strong candidate to succeed Doughty. Doughty, 51, said his firing by Sauer, a former St. Louis Cardinals executive hired only nine weeks ago, came as "a total shock" and "a great disappointment." "This was the furthest thing I expected to have to do," said Sauer, who was hired Oct. 30.

"I regret leaving the Pirates because we've got a good thing Spotlight ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Scott Hamilton dominated the early 1980s. Brian Boitano took care of the middle years of the decade. Now it's Todd Eldredge's turn. Eldredge goes after his third successive U.S.

Figure Skating Championships men's crown this week. The 20-year-old from Chatham, who trains in San Diego, is the solid favorite. "As two-time champion, there is a little more pressure on you," he said. "You are expected to win. I think in my mind I've got to approach it as if I never won it before.

It's a little harder to do than to say, as in most things. I think as long as I am trained well and confident about skating, that should make it a little easier." It has not been an easy season for Eldredge. After finishing third at the world championships, he also wound up third a disappointing third behind Christopher Bowman and Czechoslovak Petr Barna at Skate America in October. While preparing for the presti-gous Lalique Trophy at Albert-ville, the site of next month's Winter Olympics, Eldredge experi-) enced pain in his left foot. "I was supposed to do Lalique, sii LARRY DOUGHTY consecutive titles replace," Bell said.

"He's done a whole lot for this organization. I really feel for him because he's such a good man." The Pirates became the first team since Philadelphia in 1977-78 to win consecutive NL East titles, but Doughty's three-year tenure was marked by several unusual player moves and the trading of prospects for high-priced talent. Sauer hinted that Doughty's trading of prospects Kurt Miller, Hector Fajardo, Moises Alou, Willie Greene and Tony Longmire and the loss of outfielders Wes Chamberlain and Julio Peguero to Philadelphia in a 1990 waiver wire snafu have left the farm system in a precarious position. surgery. He reportedly has not been very serious in training.

The other contenders for the three Olympic spots figure to be Mark Mitchell, Paul Wylie, Michael Chack and Shepherd Clark. "I don't really think about the Olympics at nationals time," Eldredge said, "or that I want to make the Olympic team. I think of the competition that week; then I will think about February." Eldredge realizes it would take a stunning upset for him not to make the Olympic squad. While he is not nearly at the level that Hamilton (1984) or Boitano (1988) had attained before their Olympic triumphs, he is getting closer. "If I didn't make it, probably have to do with training beforehand or something like that," he said.

"The chance I won't make the team, if I am trained I feel it usually would not be a big problem if I am skating well. "The Olympics have been a THE 5ggL Morris released from hospital PHILADELPHIA -La Salle basketball coach William "Speedy" Moms was discharged from the hospital Monday, three days after he checked in with chest pains, hospital officials said. After tests Sunday, doctors told Morris there was no blockage in his arteries. Tests earlier in the weekend showed no heart damage or irregular heartbeat. La Salle spokesman Bob Vetrone said Morris planned to spend Monday resting before returning to coach today's practice.

The Explorers next play on Thursday, meeting Notre Dame at home. Flesher prevails NORTH HILLS, Pa. -Rick Flesher, Berkley Country Club pro from the Reading area, won the Lynx Winter Golf Tour Tournament with a 2-under-par 69 Monday at the Twining Valley Country Club. Dave Quinn of Burlington Country Club, a frequent finisher near the top in the winter tournaments, tied for second place a 1-under-par 70 with Tom Oxenreider from Whitemarsh Valley Country Club. John Tyrell and Mike Lindstrom, both of Riverton, tied with scores of 76.

Pair advances MT. LAUREL -Lynn Gottfried and Cliff Costello reached the final round of the Mount Laurel Holiday Men's tennis tournament at the Mount Laurel Racquet Club. Gottfried won a 2:35 match from Richie Cohen, the defending champion from Philadelphia 6-4, 6-2. Costello defeated Warren Griggs 6-4, 6-4. Lalastop player ST.

LOUIS -Senior sweeper Alexi Lalas of Rutgers University was named winner of the Missouri Athetlic Club Soccer Player of the Year Award. Lalas finished his career at Rutgers with 33 points and was the leader of a Scarlet Knights team that finished 18-3-1 while making an appearance in the NCAA Final Four. Kristine Lilly of North Carolina was named the women's player of the year. Coasters excel FLEMINGTON The Atlantic Coast Level 5 girls' gymnastics team took 10 individual awards and qualified seven for the state tournament at the New Jersey sectionals over the weekend. Among the highlights for the Coasters was Lauren Scharnagal's first place in the 9-11 age group all-around with 35.75 points and Katie Barton's win in the 12-14 group with 32 points.

Lauren Pellechia took second place in the 9-11 all-around. Others who qualified for the state tournament were Raya Mullen, Alicia Eggert, Erin Donnell and Erving Duming. Doubles team wins BELLMAWR-Peggy Fredricks and Jon Morrow combined for a 917 score and captured a $2,000 first prize in the Doubles Bowling Championships at Westbrook Lanes on Sunday. Fredricks rolled a 439 while Morrow finished with a 478. The 917 total was seven pins better than the second-place team score of 910 by Charles Jones and Frank Shanks.

Jones and Shanks earned $1,000 for their second-place finish. George Dennis and Bud Whitman took third place with a 908 score. Next on the Amateur Bowlers tour will be a $1,000 singles tournament on Jan. 11-12 at the Maple Bowl in Pennsauken. Most loses legs BOSTON -Johnny Most, the gravelly voiced Boston Celtics radio announcer, had both his legs amputated Monday because of a blood circulation problem.

Doctors Frank Pomposelli and Arnold Scheller amputated both of Most's legs above the knee because of severe peripheral vascular disease and infection, Rattray said. Scheller is the Celtics team physician. Seybold ailing MARION, Ind. Doctors have discovered a benign brain tumor in Kim Seybold, who competed in pairs figure skating with her brother in the 1988 Olympics. The slow-growing tumor develops outside the brain tissue, eventually exerting pressure on the brain when it grows.

Doctors told Seybold, 26, that she could return to skating and finish her professional ice show tour, which ends in May, with her brother and skating partner, Wayne. DON BENEVENTO Equipment Like You've Never Finest in Training Classes for Men, Women and Children PHILADELPHIA Phillies baseball on television will be returning to WPHL-TV, Channel 17 in 1993, Bill Giles, president of the ball club, and Randy Smith, executive vice president and general manager of the television station, announced Monday. The current television contract with WTXF-TV, Channel 29, expires following this (1992) season. The Phillies had signed a 10-year contract with Channel 29 which started in 1983. The new agreement with Channel 17 extends five years through the 1997 season.

As is the case with the Channel 29 contract, the new pact calls for revenue sharing between the Phillies and WPHL. "We enjoyed our relationship with Channel 29 and look forward to working with Channel 17 again," said Giles. "The new contract calls for approximately the same number of telecasts five in spring training, 85 during the season and selected pregame shows. dream of mine since I started skating and part of the reason I got into serious skating. I've watched them on TV and always dreamed of skating in them someday.

"It's a really great feeling to know I have got that chance. Actually, with the Olympics two years apart, it works out great. I'll be only 22 when the 1994 Olympics come around. "I think there's a few good years left in me." Special Tots Class Age 3 4 i tmmfa N.J. N.E.

PHILADELPHIA Red Lion Plaza On Roosevelt Blvd. (215)676-2249 I The Champion Alderman banned for 2 seasons Figure Skating but because of a stress fracture in my left foot, I had to withdraw," he said. "It mostly hurt on the jumps and a lot on the landings, and any of the jumps when I would take off or pick in with that foot. It kind of limited me. I would still try to do everything, but knowing my foot was hurting and the pain was there was difficult.

"I took about four weeks off and then got back on the ice and spiked the same foot. Then I had to take another l' weeks off. "It's all healed now." Which means Eldredge will be tough to beat. He has a new long program of classical music, better fitting his style. He has the added confidence and poise that comes with starring on the national stage for a few years.

And the only skater close to his level, 1989 champion Bowman, has been invisible since winning Skate America. Bowman now is working with John Nicks, his third coach in 18 months. He was sidelined after a mugging on a Toronto street resulted in facial injuries requiring AlitO RSCitlQ Glendale, said Monday that he began organizing hot rod racing during the early 1940s at the request of the California Highway Patrol. "Street racing was a problem and they asked for help," he said. "No one dreamed then it would become a professional sport.

Parks formed the Southern California Timing Association, forerunner of the National Hot Rod Association and became NHRA president after being the first editor of Hot Rod Magazine. He was introduced Monday as one of 10 people to be inducted July 22 into the Hall of Fame, located adjacent to the Talladega Superspeedway. The others were Alberto Ascari, Louis Chevrolet, Andy Granatelli, Peter Gregg, Louis Meyer, Eddie Rickenbacker, Kenny Roberts, Curtis Turner and Rodger Ward. They were selected, from an original list of 151, by 154 media mem hers who cover motor sports. That bring to 40 the number inducted in the three years since the Hall of Fame began.

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Two- time National Hot Rod Associa- tion Pro Stock chamninn norroll Alderman has been suspended for two seasons, the drag racing organization said last week. The suspension comes after Alderman pleaded guilty to federal cocaine possession and distribution charges. Alderman is scheduled to be sentenced March 6 at Lexington, Ky. Alderman said he will appeal his suspension. The suspension prohibits him from driving, owning (a team) or in any other way participating in any NHRA-sanctioned events or events at NHRA-mem-ber tracks.

Alderman's basis for his appeal is that he disagrees with the suspension being invoked before his sentencing and wants to be allowed to compete in the season's first two events. He has until Feb. 3 to appeal. 10 named to Hall of Fame BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) -Hot rod racing began as a renegade sport.

Now, it's getting recognition, with racers being inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. New member Wally Parks of BE AN HONORARY STICK PERSON at a Philadelphia Flyers hockey game in March. Register to win at all three store locations, (must be between 5 and 16 years of age to enter.) DFPTFORD. Court at Deptford Almonesson Rd across from Deptford Mail (609) 232-9080 A trim Im'k'.