UN I V E R S I T Y D A I L Y K A N S A N
Wednesday, March 6, 1996
5B
Veterans committee elects four to the baseball Hall of Fame
Rep. Jim Bunning, Earl Weaver selected
The Associated Press
TAMPA, Fla. — Earl Weaver, who managed Baltimore to four World Series, and Jim Bunning, a 224-game winner, were among four people elected to the Hall of Fame yesterday by the veterans committee.
Negro Leagues pitcher Bill Foster and turn-of-the-century manager Ned Hanon also were chosen by the 14-member committee.
The new inductees will be enshrined at Cooperstown, N.Y., on Aug. 4. Hall officials said this year's induction ceremonies might not have been held if no one had been chosen, but the veterans committee found suitable candidates two months after the members of the Baseball Writers Association of America failed to elect anyone.
Weaver led the Orioles to a record of 1,480-1,060, and won six AL East championships. His teams had only
one losing season in 17 years.
Bunning, now a member of Congress from his native Kentucky, was 224-184, and in 1964 pitched the seventh of baseball's 14 perfect games. He was elected in his second year before the veterans committee after missing by four votes in the writers' election in 1988.
"He was a competitor, he worked hard," said committee chairman Bill White, a former Bunning teammate. "He worked very hard to get where he was in baseball."
Foster led the Negro Leagues in strikeouts four times. Hannon won five pennants during his managing career from 1889-1907.
The Hall and baseball itself had hoped to elect a living candidate to present at Cooperstown next summer, and found them in Weaver and Bunning.
Not since 1960 has the Hall failed to enshrine at least one new member.
Bunning received a standing ovation when his selection was announced to the House of Representatives.
"His selection to the Hall of Fame was not by baseball writers, but by the veterans themselves, which, it seems to me, makes it a little loftier in stature," said Rep. Henry Hyde, RIll., in announcing the selection.
After several colleagues praised Bunning, he acknowledged the applause.
"Thank God it happened while I was still on my feet," he said.
Bunning, who retired from baseball 25 years ago, said that his selection to the Hall of Fame had been a long waiting process.
Bunning broke down briefly when acknowledging Allen Lewis, a beat writer in Philadelphia during his playing days. Bunning said Lewis was instrumental in his selection to the Hall of Fame.
"It was through his efforts that this happened, not anybody else's," Bunning said.
Hyde jumped to his feet to disagree.
"It was through your efforts that this happened — not through anybody else's," he said.
Giants take swing at new park
The Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO — To the casual observer, these are forgettable blocks of aging warehouses and piers. To the San Francisco Giants, however, this waterfront site just south of downtown is their field of dreams.
For the fifth time in nine years, the Giants have put together a ballot proposal for a new ballpark that would allow the team to escape cold, windy Candlestick Park, its home since 1960.
So far, the Giants are 0-4 at the ballot box, losing stadium votes in San Francisco in 1987 and '89, in Santa Clara County in '90 and San Jose in '92. Team officials save they've learned from defeat.
Unlike previous measures that included substantial taxpayer funds or public subsidies and incentives, the proposed $255 million bayfront ballpark would be privately financed. It would be the first privately built major league ballpark since Dodger Stadium in 1962.
Proposition B on the March 26 ballot seeks an exemption to waterfront height restrictions. Approval would clear the first major hurdle for the 42,000-seat ballpark at China Basin.
"It's not a money issue because we're not asking for money. Basically, it's a land-use issue," said Jack Bair, the Giants' ballpark project coordinator and director of legal and government affairs.
A series of environmental studies and other regulatory clearances would be required if the measure is approved. The Giants also would have to line up financing, and raise money through the sale of the stadium name, concession rights and seat rights for a portion of the park.
Construction could begin in 1997, with completion set for Opening Day 2000.
Though the promise of no new taxes or increases in existing taxes has swayed some past critics, skeptics remain. Among their concerns: traffic, a lack of parking, a decline in home property values and doubts the Giants can complete such an expensive project without public subsidies.
"I believe we're going to win," said Peter Magowan, the Giants' managing general partner who organized the local ownership group that bought the club from Bob Lurie in 1992 and kept it from moving to Florida.
Jim Firth, chairman of San Franciscanss for Planning Priorities, claims infrastructure improvements near the stadium, such as pedestrian overpasses, traffic signal upgrades and an additional parking structure could cost the public up to $34 million over 10 years, a figure the Giants dispute.
Louise Bird, who has lived in the China Basin area since 1981, said she doesn't like the idea of a bayfront stadium and will fight it.
"The waterfront has been designated as an area of the California coastline for open space and public recreation," she said. "This is private enterprise. They're going to block the waterfront with a 140-foot high building."
We Buy, Sell, Trade & Consign 841-PLAY USED & New Sports Equipment 1029 Massachusetts
Jayhawk & Big 8 clothing & gifts!
all reg. priced
Kansas Union 844-6840 • Burge Union 844-5697
http://www.rock-chalk.com/kubookets.com • e-mail jayhawks@union.wpo.ukans.edu
20% OFF
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday March 4 - 8, 1986
Don't wait for system failure.
Dee Ann DeRoin
M. D., Stanford University, 1978 Board Certified in Family Practice
maintenance with these services:
In the life of your PC you do routine maintenance. Treat yourself like your PC—and don't wait until system failure! Make Watkins part of your personal health maintenance with these services:
- health educators for information about health issues
- physicians for routine check-ups or urgent care
- registered dietitian
- pharmacy far over-the-counter medications and prescriptions at a low price
---