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University Daily Kansan
Sports
Friday, April 11, 1986
Leonard makes comeback to Royals
United Press International
NEW YORK — While the Kansas City Royals were using comebacks to win the World Series last year, one player who knows all about coming back disappeared in the delirium.
Dennis Leonard is the man. The veteran right-hander will receive his World Series ring this weekend. He'll also accept something he values even more — a start.
Leonard has not started a major league game since May 28, 1983, the day he suffered a torn torn below his left kneecap while pitching against Baltimore.
Now, four operations and months of rehabilitation later, the one-time ace of the Kansas City staff has returned. He will start tomorrow against the Toronto Blue Jays in place of the injured Danny Jackson.
The journey back was long, winding through Cincinnati, Memphis, Tenn., and Fort Myers, Fla. Leonard was the most victorious among right-hander in baseball from 1975 to 1982, going 130-86. Only Steve Carlton won more games over that span. Leonard was a 20-game winner three times.
On May 21, 1982, a line drive by Buddy Bell broke two fingers on Leonard's pitching hand, knocking him out for $2\frac{1}{2}$ months. He returned and won his next four decisions.
Dennis Leonard
The next season, Leonard was off to perhaps the best start of his career when the tendon snapped. He underwent surgery the next morning, and again in Cincinnati that September.
"Most years I get off to slow
down, but it is consistently,
"Both those years I got off fast."
His rehabilitation was slowed by an infection, prompting a third operation in June 1984, and another in July in which a tendon from the back of his knee was grafted to the front.
"I never gave up hope of pitching again," Leonard said.
Doctors told him his chances of ever returning to the mound were diminishing.
Some wondered why a man who will turn 35 next month and who was already financially secure would go through the running, weightlifting, and exercise program developed by team trainer Mickey Cobb.
"My wife didn't understand at times," said Leonard. "But I never had any second thoughts. Even if it weren't for baseball, I figured I had to get my leg strong anyway, just for getting around all right and living normally."
Leonard understands the irony of what happened to him. Before his first injury in 1982, he said, he had missed only four starts. Then he missed three years.
"Dennis is a tenacious competitor," said Royals general manager John Schuerohlo, "and dedicated himself to rehabilitation like nobody I've ever seen. He's a bulldog on the mound and he was a bulldog in the training room. He made it back against long odds."
Leonard did not pitch in a game again until last August in a Class A contest in Fort Myers. After two good games there, he moved to Memphis and finally felt good enough to throw
two scoreless relief innings with Kansas in City in September. He asked to return to Florida, however, to continue working on his pitching mechanics, which naturally were quite rusty.
"I didn't feel it would be appropriate," he said.
While his teammates were rebounding from a 3-1 deficit to win the American League pennant, Leonard was in Florida watching them on television. He returned to Kansas City in time to watch the first two games of the World Series, but did not attend Games 6 and 7.
This spring, Leonard came to camp knowing he faced the difficult job of making one of baseball's best pitching staffs.
"One thing about Leo is you don't have to pull any punches with him." said manager Dick Howser. "I told him, 'To make this staff, you're gonna have to pitch well.'"
He pitched well enough to make the team, and circumstances on the staff have created a quick assignment for him. Jackson hurt his ankle shortly before the beginning of the season, so Howser named Leonard to start.
When Jackson comes off the 15-day disabled list, Leonard probably will be a long reliever, unless he earns more than that.
Smith leads Cardinals past Cubs, 4-2
From Kansan wires
ST. LOUIS — Rick Ownbey recorded his first major-league victory since 1883 and Ozzie Smith drove in two runs and sparked the St. Louis Cardinals to a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs.
Owenbey, who did not pitch in the majors last year, pitched into the seventh inning, allowing four hits. He walked four and struck out two. Todd Worrell, who walked four, pitched the final three innings for the save. Dennis Eckersley took the loss, allowing three runs before leaving in the seventh.
The Cardinals took a 1-1 lead with a two-run four inning. Jack Clark led off with a single and Andy Van Slyke drew a walk. Terry Pendleton sacrificed and Mike Heath was hit with a pitch, loading the bases. Smith then stroked a two-run single to center.
St. Louis added a run in the seventh when Vince Coleman walked, advanced on a balk and scored on an error by shortstop Shawn Dunston. Houston 4. San Francisco 0
Chicago closed to 3-2 in the seventh. Onowbay walked Leon Durham and gave up a single to Jody Davis. Worrell relieved and made a poor pickoff throw to second, moving Durham to third. He walked Brian Dayett to load the bases. Pinch-hitter Jerry Mumphrey hit a sacrifice飞 for the lone run as Worrell escaped.
Knepper did not allow a walk and struck out four in the 66th complete game of his career.
HOUSTON — Bob Knepper scattered five hits in his season debut last night and the Houston Astros to their first victory this season, a 4-0 decision over the San Francisco Giants.
Vida Blue, 0-1, took the loss for the Giants. Blue was seeking his 200th
major-league win.
Montreal 6, Atlanta 3
ATLANTA -- Rookie Andres Galarraga ripped a three-run homer and drove in four runs to back the combined six-hit pitching of Jay Tibbs and Tim Burke to send the Montreal Expos to a 6-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves.
Tibbs, 1-0, permitted four hits over six innings to earn the win. Burke, despite allowing a two-homer to Chris Chambliss in the ninth, earned his first save with three innings of relief.
American League Boston 4. Detroit 2
DETROIT — Dwight Evans, Bill Buckner and Jim Rice drove in runs with two-out hits in a four-run fifth inning and gave the Boston Red Sox their first victory of the season, a 4-2 decision over the Detroit Tigers yesterday.
Al Nipper went $8\%$ innings to win his first start of the season, allowing an unearned run in the second and a run in the seventh. Joe Sambito retired pinch hitter Larry Herndon to earn his first save. Dan Petry took the loss.
Petry, whose nine home losses were the second-most in the league last season, had retired the first two batters on groundouts to second. Ed Romero doubled to left and scored the tying run on a ground single to left by Dwight Evans. Wade Boggs walked and Buckner doubled to right to make it 2-1. Rice singled home Boggs and Buckner to fourth in Chicago 5.
milwaukee 8, Chicago 5
CHICAGO — Billy Joe Robidoux singled home the tying run and Ernest Riles followed with a three-run homer in the ninth inning, rallying the Milwaukee Brewers to an 8-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
The victory enabled the Brewers to complete a sweep of the White Sox in
their season-opening three-game series. The Brewers, who went only 71-90 a year ago, are off to their best start in eight years.
With Chicago leading 5-4, Mike Felder singled to right off Bob James, 0-1. Robin Yount followed with his third hit, a single to center, and one out later, Robidoux singled home Felder. Riles, who had four hits, then hit his second homer of the season, a line shot to left field, to make a winner of reliever Danny Darwin, 1-0.
Oakland 3. Minnesota 0
OAKLAND, Calif. — Rook slugger Jose Canseco escaped a 1-for-9 stump with a two-run homer, leading the Oakland A's to a 3-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins for their first triumph of the year.
Veteran right-hander Moose Haas went 7% innings for the victory. Jay Howell finished for his first save. John Butcher, 0-1, took the loss. Baltimore 5. Cleveland 1
BALTIMORE — Fred Lynn drilled a three-run homer in the seventh inning and Rick Dempsey added a pair of solo home runs and powered the Baltimore Orioles to a 5-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians.
Ken Dixon, 1-0, scattered six hits and struck out five over seven innings for the victory. Rich Bordi pitched the final two innings for his first save. Jikern K-0,1 was the loser.
Toronto 11. Texas 10
ARLINGTON, Texas — Wille Upshaw and George Bell hit consecutive two-out home runs in the eighth and lifted the Toronto Blue Jays to a wild 11-10 victory over the Texas Rangers.
Texas reliever Greg Harris, 0-1,
was the victim of the rally, which
began when Garth Iorg singled with
two out. Upshaw then honored to tie
the game and Bell hit the game-
winner over the wall at the 380-foot mark in leaf field.
Seattle 5. California 2
SEATTLE — Alvin Davis went 3-for-4 with three RBI and a homer and Gorman Thomas also homered to back the six-hit pitching of Matt Young last night in the Seattle Mariners' 5-2 victory over the California Angels.
Young, 12-19 a year ago, did not allow a hit until the fifth inning and took a two-hitter into the eighth when he lost his shutout bid.
San Diego 3, L.A. 2
LOS ANGELES — Mark Thurmond and two relievers combined on a nine-hitter and Carmelo Martinez homered and lifted the San Diego Padres to a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Thurmond, 1-0, gave up seven hits and struck out four in 6% innings. Rich Gossage worked the final two innings for his first save.
KU Korean Club presents KOREAN NIGHT
Saturday, April 12, 1986 7-10 p.m.
Admission is FREE!
- traditional Korean dance and food
- traditional Korean dance and food,
- Tae Kwon Do demonstrations,
- exhibitions, and more.
APARTMENTS
NOW LEASING FOR SUMMER & FALL
- Water paid
* Cust
Studios
* Energy Efficient
* Quiet Natural Atmosphere
* 10-12 month leases
- Free cable
843-4300
- Pool and clubhouse facilities available
* Furniture available through Thompson-Crawley
CALL NOW TO RESERVE YOUR APARTMENT
- Storage
MURDER MYSTERY DINNER II ... the mystery continues
Mrs. Beatrice Cutterwater announces
her return to society
(from a substantial period of mourning for her late husband, Alfred P. Cutterwater) with a PARTY, the Third of May, 1986, at 7 in the evening at the Cutterwater Estate. A limited number of invitations are available at $12.50/KU Student ID and $15 general public at the Student Union Activities Office, 864-3477.
VCR w/2 movies-$9.66
(overnight Mon-Fri)
Store Hours:
Mon-Sat: 9:30-9 /Sun: 1-5
SMITTY'S TV
1447 W 23rd 842-5751
- free pregnancy tests
* abortion services
* counselling
* physiology
* contraception
comprehensiv health associates
Overland Park, KS / 913-345-1400
BODY WAXING
Legs, Arms, Back, Neck, Etc.
Call
Joda & Friends
841-0337 745 New Hampshire
D
CHAINS FIXED FAST
749-4333
Offering a variety of living styles to meet your needs.
• APARTMENTS
• DUPLEXES
• FOUR & SIX APTS
• SINGLE FAMILY HOMES
Convenient locations near campus, bus route and shopping.
FEATURING
ARGO APTS.
11th & Missouri
ROCKLEDGE APTS
711 Rockledge Road
CALL 842-3175
OPEN WEEKENDS
Big Blue Property Management, Inc.
Kizer Cummings jewelers
HOUSING TO MEET YOUR NEEDS
CAMPUS INTERVIEWS
FOR SUMMER
EMPLOYMENT
For Resident Camp:
Male & Female Counselors
Head Counselor
Counselor-In-Training Director
Administrative Assistant
Tuesday, April 15
At The
Placement Office-
Burge Union
1:00-4:00 p.m.
Sunflower Council
of Camp Fire
Actually for many good reasons.
Reasons like freshly-baked bread at the Soup & Salad Bars, freshly-baked rolls in the Cafeterias, and freshly-baked buns in the Prairie Room and Delis.
Just remember, "day-old" means croutons to us.
THE KANSAS AND BURGE UNIONS FOOD SERVICES
John Maynard-Smith
Professor of genetics
University of Sussex, Brighton, England
"The Origin of Life"
Woodruff Auditorium, Kansas Union
Saturday, April 12, 1:30 p.m.
The public and
The University of Kansas University Lecture Series
our bakers begin work at 4:30 am for a good reason
The public is invited to attend the dedication ceremony
in house 1042 West 89th Street - Addition
at 300 S. 89th St. NW in New York City on Thursday, April 16 at 10:30 a.m.
free and open to the public
Phi Psi and Chi Omega Present the 17th Annual
PHI PSI 500
Thursday, April 17th
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