Pitcher Orel Hershiser of the Los Angeles Dodgers became the first $1 million winner in this year`s baseball arbitration hearings. Hershiser, who made $212,000 last year, had been offered $600,000 after posting a 19-3 record and 2.03 earned-run average. He becomes the fourth Dodger who will receive a seven-figure salary in 1986, joining Fernando Valenzuela, Pedro Guerrero and Jerry Reuss.
In other arbitration rulings Thursday, New York Mets` pitcher Ron Darling and Texas Rangers` outfielder Gary Ward lost their cases, and Cleveland Indians` outfielder Brett Butler was a winner. That gave the players a 15-17 record this year.
Darling, who was 16-6 with a 2.90 ERA last season when he made $230,000, had asked for $615,000. He`ll receive $440,000. Earlier, teammate Ed Lynch, who was 10-8 last season, won a $530,000 case. Ward, who hit .287 with 15 home runs and 70 runs batted in, had requested $930,000. He`ll get $865,000, up from the $720,000 he made last year. Butler was awarded $850,000, double the $425,000 he made last year when he batted .311 and stole 47 bases. The Indians had offered $600,000.
Hearings were held for Houston pitcher Frank DiPino and Mets` second baseman Tim Teufel. DiPino, who made $255,000 last year, asked for $380,000. The Astros offered $280,000. Teufel wanted a raise from $110,000 to $350,000. New York offered $200,000.
— The Indians and infielder Pat Tabler have agreed to a one-year contract worth $390,000.
— The New York Yankees have withdrawn their grievance against Don Baylor. ”Don has given us a conditional list of clubs to which he would accept a trade,” said Woody Woodward, vice president of baseball
administration for the Yanks. ”Because of a lack of interest in him at this time, an equitable trade could not be worked out.” Baylor, who has a no trade-clause in his contract, asked to be dealt to another team at the end of last season. He refused a trade to the White Sox when the Sox wouldn`t agree to guarantee the option year of his contract.
— Beneficial Commercial Corp. of Wilimington, Del., is a potential buyer for Three Rivers Stadium, according to Pittsburgh Mayor Richard Caliguiri.
LET GAULT COMPETE: TRACK CHIEF
Willie Gault and Renaldo Nehemiah, world-class hurdlers who gave up Olympic dreams to play professional football with the Bears and San Francisco 49ers, should be allowed to compete in the Olympics, according to Primo Nebiolo, president of track and field`s governing group, the International Amateur Athletics Federation. ”John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl and Boris Becker make millions in tennis, their own sport, and they will be allowed to compete in the Olympics. Nehemiah and Gault make money in another sport, professional football, but they are amateurs in track and field. There is no logic in this position,” Nebiolo said.
NBA FINES 3
The National Basketball Association has fined Xavier McDaniel of the Seattle SuperSonics $3,500, Tree Rollins of the Atlanta Hawks $2,500 and Kevin Willis of the Hawks $500 for a fight Monday. The fines were in addition to the automatic $250 penalties against McDaniel and Willis for being ejected.
— Injured New York Knicks` center Patrick Ewing complained of ”sharp”
pain during a New York Knicks` practice. Ewing has missed five games. Ewing`s injury is commonly known as ”jumper`s knee,” a condition that causes pain in cartilage at the back of the knee.
— His name is World B. Free, and you had better not forget it. The Cleveland Cavaliers` guard is more than a little upset with a New York Post column claiming he never legally had his first name changed from Lloyd. ”I`ll tell you one thing,” said Free. ”If anyone calls me Lloyd, I just might punch them in the face. It shows a disrespect for me. People should be called by their name, and World is my name.” Free claims he signed court papers having his legal name changed to World B. Free on Dec. 8, 1981, in the California office of Fred Slaughter, his agent. He said he later signed the papers again in Manhattan. ”I had to do it twice, so it must be done,” said Free. ”I don`t know why they have to pick on me. Why don`t they go down there and see if Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had his name changed, or Jamaal Wilkes?”
— Forward Terry Catledge, sidelined with chicken pox, will not be fined by the Philadelphia 76ers for going home ”so my mom could take care of me.” Catledge has been on the injured reserve list since Feb. 12. ”We did not tell him to check in with us every day,” said general manager Pat Williams. ”We just told him to get well.”
— St. Louis Blues` owner Harry Ornest said he is considering applying for an NBA expansion franchise.
— UCLA coach Walt Hazzard has signed a one-year extension to his three-year contract.
EAGLES` RYAN GETS TOUGH
Philadelphia Eagles` coach Buddy Ryan has warned his unsigned players that missing the team`s mini-camp might cost them their jobs. Eleven Eagles, including quarterback Ron Jaworski, became free agents Feb. 1 and could elect not to attend the mini-camp March 19-23 on the campus of the University of Tampa. Ryan, who wants to use the camp to introduce the Eagles to his ”46”
defense and offensive schemes, said he won`t forget anyone who chooses not to appear. ”They should be there, but some of them won`t be,” Ryan said. ”And I can sure guarantee you that it`ll weigh heavy with us when we make decisions by who was there and who was not. We`re going to have a winning ballclub, and if they want to be part of it, we welcome them. If they don`t want to be part of it, the Eagles will still be in business.” Ryan said the Eagles would provide proper insurance coverage for any player without a contract.
— Retired NFL referee Thomas P. ”Tommy” Bell has died at age 63 in Lexington, Ky. Mr. Bell, who had suffered from leukemia, headed the officiating crews for eight league championship games and Super Bowls III and VII.
— The Peach Bowl may be in trouble after receiving word from CBS officials that the network will drop the game from its postseason schedule. Executive director Dick Bestwick said he wasn`t surprised by the notice because of recent decisions by the other major networks. ABC has dropped the Gator Bowl, and NBC didn`t exercise its option to carry the Citrus Bowl.
”Once the colleges got greedy with their new television plan, everything has gone downhill,” Bestwick said. ”The value of college football has diminished. When the Peach Bowl began in 1967, there were 10 bowl games; next year there will be 19 or 20. Frankly, supply has exceeded demand.”
