The Sporting News
Growing up in the 1960’s - 1980’s, besides the local newspaper, the one true source for all sports news was The Sporting News. Published weekly it was that one thing I looked most forward to when the mail arrived. In it I could read about everything sports. Long before cable or satellite television, before ESPN and any other sports channel you can think of, this is where the sports fan got their most complete news.
Recently, I fell into a gold mine at the Antique Depot in Duncansville, PA. Upon my journey through this place of antiques, collectibles, and just plain old stuff I came across a huge stack of The Sporting News. After digging through this pile of sports and many good memories I found 22 copies from 1982 that would help take any sports fan through that fantastic season. Using the online rummage sale eBay, I have filled in the holes of issues I would need to complete the ‘82 collection.
Any quotes that will appear will be verbatim from the article in the magazine. All other facts will also be taken verbatim unless they have been edited for clarity purposes.
On this tab you will find all sorts of interesting quotes, tidbits, information, predictions, facts and figures from the ‘82 season. It is my hope that you enjoy this trip down memory lane as we all follow the ‘82 replay from start to finish. Enjoy and happy memories!!
The Sporting News - April 24, 1982
by Bob Smizik
On acquiring Al Oliver, from Montreal Manager Jim Fanning: “It’s no secret that we’ve felt for some time that we lack punch from the left side. We needed somebody and we preferred a veteran who had been through the wars. Oliver brings a confident air with him to the club that will rub off on our other players. He brings strong character. He brings just about all the intangibles you can think of.”
Oliver said, “I’m a National Leaguer in heart and mind. When I heard about the trade I fought back the tears. For the first time in my life I had tears of joy.”
by Stan Isle
Orioles General Manager Hank Peters doubts the Mets can take any pride in the George Foster deal. “There’s nothing brilliant in trading three players (Alex Trevino, Jim Kern and Greg Harris) for the right to pay Foster $2 million a year,” said Peters.
Rick Dempsey’s hitting may fall short of expectations, but you can’t fault the Baltimore catcher’s arm. His throw to second base was timed at 1.7 seconds, fastest in the American League.
by Mel Durslag
Angels manager Gene Mauch says, “Most players look for two things. One is money, the other is attention. Our guys over the years have acquired both. All they now need is direction. And giving them that is my function.”
by Hal Bodley
"Let’s not talk about last year,” Ivan De Jesus said. “I tell myself it really didn’t happen. Getting traded here was the best thing that ever happened to me. I’m going to do my job the best I can. I know my hitting (.194) was terrible last year, but I still have to concentrate on my fielding. I did lead the National League shortstops in double plays (81), so something was okay. I am going to miss Chicago, but coming here is a chance of a lifetime. Philadelphia is going to be happy they got me.”
by Rick Hummel
Ozzie Smith upon losing salary arbitration said, “I didn’t lose. It was a no-lose situation.”
The losing figure was the Cardinals offer of $450,000, as opposed to the $750,000 Smith wanted. But that still represented a 50 percent raise from his $300,000 salary of last year.
A trade rumor involving reliever Bruce Sutter and reliever Neil Allen and catcher John Stearns of the Mets swept through one day and was gone the next. “Ridiculous,” said Whitey Herzog.
by Stan Isle
Major League umpires, buoyed by what was described as a “blockbuster deal”, opened the 1982 season with a four-year contract that increased their pay this year by an average of 40 percent and brought significant gains in their pension plan.
Under the terms of the new agreement, the umpires are to receive average increases in base pay at 40 percent this season and 60 percent over four years. The minimum salary was boosted from $18,000 to $26,000 this year and in four years will climb to $37,000.
by Earl Lawson
After signing a new contract with the Reds through 1985:
Johnny Bench said, “There would have been big contracts elsewhere if I had chosen to become a free agent at the end of the season. But the contract I’ve signed suits all of my needs. I’m happy here and I’m happier now that I’ve seen our club.”
by Joe Giuliotti
Jim Rice of Boston talking about the upcoming season: “My goal is to get back on the track I fell off the last two seasons. I’m shotting for 200 hits, .300 average or better, 30 home runs, 100-plus RBI’s and playing a big part in helping the team to a pennant.”
by Moss Klein
Roy Smalley after being traded to the New York Yankees:
“I feel like I finally made it in the big leagues. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed my time with the Twins and I have a lot of good friends and fond memories of my days there.”
“But the Yankees are something else. I was picked up at the airport by a Yankee official in a limousine that was a block-and-a-half-long. I feel sorry for Ron Davis. I know if I had been traded to the Twins, nobody would have been at the airport. I would have had to find a taxi and get a receipt signed in blood to have a chance of getting reimbursed.”
by Terry Pluto
Speaking of their double play combination of Jack Perconte and Jerry Dybzinski, Cleveland Manage Dave Garcia said, “I’ll tell you this right now, Perconte and Dybzinski are going to surprise a lot of people. These boys are better players then most people think. They have waited a long time for the chance. They are hungry. They won’t blow it.”
by Patrick Reusse
Roy Smalley on the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome:
“I’ve been in the major leagues for over six years, but I feel as though I’ve finally arrived. This is as major league as you can get. It’s a great office.”
by John Strege
California pitcher Ken Forsch has declared he will opt for free agency after the 1982 season.
“My feeling is that if I don’t sign before the season begins,” he said during spring training, “the Angels are really sticking it to me.”
“I intend to have a good year, play out my option and go to the Cardinals. I don’t know if it’s possible, but I think it would be really neat to end my career pitching with Bob (brother Bob Forsch, a Cardinals pitcher).”
“If the Angels don’t want to sign me, they don’t have to. I don’t and won’t, feel any resentment. I have a contract for this year and I intend to honor it to the best of my ability.”
by Jim Reeves
Texas Manager Don Zimmer:
“This has got an outstanding chance to be the best team we’ve put on the field since I’ve been the manager. The reason I don’t come right out and say it’s the best is because we’ve still got some question marks.”
by Stan Isle
Commissioner Bowie Kuhn has urged sportswriters and sportscasters to avoid using betting lines in sports events. “There has been an increase in the volume of betting in recent years, and the risk of a gambling scandal is becoming greater,” Kuhn told the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association. “There is no reason for publicizing such lines unless it is to promote wagering.”
Ozzie Smith and Cardinals Manager Whitey Herzog have a private wager under which ground balls and line drives are worth $1 to Smith and fly balls and strikeouts are worth $1 to Herzog.
The Sporting News - April 17, 1982
by Jack Lang
George Foster, starting his first season in New York at age 33, feels he still has plenty to prove. A $10 million contract will do that.
“What I did in the past doesn’t matter now. What matters is what I do in the future. I look on coming here as a challenge. I have to prove myself all over again. The challenge to me is to go out and do it all over again. I have to prove myself to the people of New York,” said the richest player in the Mets’ 20-year history.
With Foster and Dave Kingman in their lineup, the Mets may have the most potent 1-2 punch in the major leagues. “Let’s face it,” said the Mets’ George Bamberger, “I’m faced with a manager’s delight.”
“My challenge,” said Foster, “is to go out there and prove to my teammates that my addition is going to enhance the club. I’ve got to prove it, but I cannot apply pressure to myself trying to prove it. I must be myself. I must try to do the things I do naturally. I can only hurt myself if I apply pressure to myself. Also, I must not try to rush anything to get where I want to be. If I remain myself, it will come.”
by Moss Klein
Ken Griffey is so enthused about the offensive potential of his new team (Yankees) that he’s comparing it to the Reds’ championship teams of 1975 and 1976.
“First of all, we have much more depth than those Reds teams,” said Griffey. “We don’t have quite as much power but we have more speed and balance. We have a lot of guys who can swing the bats and we’re going to hit a good number of homers. And never underestimate what speed can do. We’re going to steal runs, force mistakes by the other teams, make things happen. You watch us this year. We’re going to be exciting.”
by Stan Isle
Officials of the Giants and 49ers have quietly given their blessing to the proposed construction of a $90 million domed stadium in San Francisco.
Insiders say John McNamara, currently holding the Reds’ reins, is the leading candidate to succeed Earl Weaver, retiring as manager of the Orioles after the 1982 season.
If the Padres are owned by McDonald’s tycoon Ray Kroc, how come their telecasts are sponsored by Jack In The Box?
by Dick Young
The next day after being at a White House dinner, Tommy Lasorda flew back to Florida to join the Dodgers for an exhibition with the Cardinals in St. Petersburg. As Lasorda sat in the dugout, reliever Dave Stewart walked by and asked, “Hey, man, did you tell him (President Ronald Regan) to ease up on our taxes?”
Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog said, “Hitters and ballpark announcers are responsible for slowing up games. Some hitters won’t leave the batter’s circle until they hear their name announced. Then they parade to the plate. Announcers should announce the next hitter as soon as the previous out is made.”
by Moss Klein
When the Yankees lost an exhibition game to the Mets March 28, Steinbrenner said, “It’s a good thing for some of my high-priced athletes to lose the bragging rights around town - at least until October. But we’ll be bragging in October.”
by Tom Flaherty
Milwaukee’s Cecil Cooper - “I’d like to win a batting title, but I’m not going to lose any sleep over it. I’m not going to put any added pressure on myself, but it’s within my reach. More than that, I just want to be a consistent ballplayer. That’s what I want to be remembered as, a guy who went out and did it consistently, day in and day out. There aren’t that many guys who do that over the years. That’s the one thing I really want to accomplish.”
by Terry Pluto
Cleveland manager Dave Garcia said, “We have a very good ballclub. We have a lot of depth.”
by Joe Goddard
“Bringing in the two Laws, Rudy and Vance, is a clear signal to every Sox fan that our owners intend to win as soon as possible,” said Chicago manager Tony LaRussa.
by Kit Stier
For the past two springs the club (Oakland) has had an exercise coach in camp. However, club officials were never wild about the coach, Jimmy Dutra, or his method.
“I think everybody misses him,” said Tony Armas.
“I think it’s a lot of baloney,” said Manager Billy Martin. “If they want to come out here an hour early, that’s fine with me. It’s hard enough getting them out here on time as it is.”
by Jim Reeves
After being traded to Montreal, Al Oliver severed his Texas connections firmly and with a smile.
“I just hope the Rangers go on and win it,” Oliver said as he bade his former teammates goodbye. “I hope we see’em in the World Series. The guys deserve it and the fans deserve a winning team down there.”
by Nick Peters
San Francisco manager Frank Robinson - “I truly believe we have better pitching now than we did last year at this time, or than the group we finished with. We have more good, young arms now, so we have something to build with.”
by Ian MacDonald
Montreal upon acquiring Al Oliver from Texas:
“We are going for it,” proclaimed Expos President and General Manager John McHale. “We want to win now.”
“That’s what some Texas players were saying,” Oliver reported. “They said it was a steal. Of course, there was no way the Rangers could get someone comparable to me. Hopefully, the trade will work out well for both clubs.”
A few weeks before the trade Oliver told Cromartie, “If you guys get me, you’ll win it all.”
by Jack Lang
After being traded to Texas by the New York Mets, Lee Mazzilli said, “I never thought I would be traded. I expected to be a Met all my life. Your hear about it and you read about it, but you don’t know until it happens what a shock it will be. I just turned 27, I have a big contract and I can go out and buy anything I want. But that doesn’t mean you’re happy at times. I never thought I would go for two minor leaguers. Maybe I could have swallowed it better if I was traded for an established player, I don’t know. I do know that when I walked into the clubhouse the morning after the trade, I couldn’t handle it. I started to cry.”
by Stan Isle
Baseball averted an opening day strike when the Major League Umpires Association agreed at the 11th hour to terms of a new agreement. The new four-year agreement increases the major league umpires’ salary range. There will be a minimum of $26,000 to a maximum of $70,000 through 1984 and to $75,000 in 1985.
Second baseman Davey Lopes learned fast when he reported to the A’s from the Dodgers. “There’s only one star on this team, said Lopes, “and his name is Billy Martin.”
Royals Manager Dick Howser was shaking his head in disbelief when George Brett left the team bus, which had stalled 35 miles north of Fort Meyers, Florida, and hitched a ride. “I was afraid we’d get back after 9 o’clock and I’d miss ‘Dallas’ on TV,” said the Kansas City third baseman. The bus broke down while returning from an exhibition game with the Pirates in Bradenton.
The Sporting News - April 10, 1982
by Joseph Durso
The Padres made one other change in an effort to climb. At San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, where they hit only nine home runs last year, they reduced the distance to the centerfield fence by 10 feet, then lowered the fence to 8 1/2 feet, half the old height.
The Mets, Mariners and Chicago White Sox all joined the Dodgers by ordering the Diamond Vision scoreboard, which plays films and TV shots in color.
by Charley Feeney
Willie Stargell entering his final season in ‘82 looking ahead to the future. “I’d like to give something back to the game,” he said. “I’d like to help young players. I haven’t spoken to any Pirate officials about it, so I can’t speak for them. I’d like to stay as a minor league instructor or in some capacity like that.”
by Joe Giuliotti
Carl Yastrzemski, “Right now, as I have since I started this game, I’m looking forward and my only goal is a World Series championship.”
by Tracy Ringolsby
Writing about 43 year old Gaylord Perry who joins the Mariners three wins shy of 300 career wins:
In the winter after the 1971 season, the San Francisco Giants traded Gaylord Perry to the Cleveland Indians. Age, the Giants’ front office explained had caught up with Perry.
All he’s done since then is win the Cy Young Award in both major leagues, which is something nobody else had done; win 163 games and strike out 1,730 batters.
by Dick Young
Yes, Templeton can play if he keeps his act clean. But his problems in St. Louis led to his trade to San Diego. Tempy has been given a rare second chance to take the world by the tail, or he could wind up another Richie Allen, working for peanuts.
Best lefthander in the Cactus League, scouts say, was Floyd Bannister, whose talents will waste away at Seattle.
by Stan Isle
The promoters of a baseball card show in Detroit were aghast when they were advised of Steve Carlton’s terms - $2,900 for making an appearance and $2.50 for every autograph he signed.
by Furman Bisher
This and that, from and about Al Oliver:
Oliver speaks well of his physical prowess. “I’m 35, but I feel 15,” he said. “I’ve never lost a step of speed since I’ve been in the big leagues. How many other guys, 35 years old, 18 years out of high school, can still dunk a basketball?”
Search me. As far as the Rangers are concerned, who cares? This isn’t the NBA.
Texas general manager Eddie Robinson says, “He deserves more money, based on the current market. But when he signed four years ago, he got a generous deal. This club has a firm policy against renegotiation and he knows it, and we’re not bending for any player.”
When Oliver came to the Rangers four years ago, he signed an eight-year contract for $350,000 a season. “A good deal,” says Tom Reich, his agent at the time.
“I look back now,” Oliver said, “and I realize I made a mistake. I’m not bitter about playing for what I’m playing for. I can accept that. I just want an extension that will guarantee that I can retire playing for the Rangers. Tom Reich made everybody rich but me.”
by Ian MacDonald
As the championship season approached, the Montreal Expos had accomplished little in solving several major problems.
The starting jobs in right field and at second base were unsettled. “No one has taken the bull by the horns,” admitted manager Jim Fanning.
by Jack Lang
George Bamberger, the Mets’ new manager, may have to conjure up some magic to develop a pitching staff that will complement the offense. “One guy is going to win 18,” Bamberger promised. But he didn’t say which one.
by Rick Hummel
Whitey Herzog:
On David Green: “He’ll be a good player. It just depends on how great he’s going to be.”
He figures the Cardinals could steal close to 200 bases. “Lonnie (Smith) and Tommy Herr could get 100 by themselves. And Ozzie Smith could get 40.”
The strengths of the Cardinals? “Bullpen, defense and speed,” said Herzog.
Weaknesses? “We don’t have one if we’re healthy,” said Herzog. “Everybody thinks it’s our starting pitching, but I don’t.”
by Charley Feeney
“We’re going to contend,” Pittsburgh manager Chuck Tanner said. “Come early April, everybody starts out even and I think we’ll be in the thick of it all the way.”
by Bill Conlin
There will be major league baseball in Florida by the end of the decade. It’s just a question of which metroplex - the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area or the Tampa-Clearwater-St. Petersburg region - can get its act together first.
by Nick Peters
“We can win it all,” declared San Francisco manager Frank Robinson without cracking a smile.
“I feel we can win our division,” he said, “because I definitely feel we’ve improved and I don’t think the clubs that finished ahead of us (Dodgers, Astros and Reds) have. I can’t imagine anyone running away with it, so it might take only 90-95 wins in a balanced division.
“Things have to fall in place, but that’s true for any winner,” he explained. “You always need great years from a lot of people and exceptional years from a couple of players to win a championship.”
“I feel we have people capable of doing that. I expect players like Darrell Evans, Jack Clark, Chili Davis and Jeff Leonard to have big years. There’s no question in my mind we have the talent.”
“I truly feel we have the best bullpen in baseball, depthwise. We might not have that one big name, though Greg Minton is getting there, but no team has as many good relievers as we do. That takes pressure off the starters.”
by Harry Shattuck
Houston catcher Alan Ashby said, “But we think we should win. If we don’t win the pennant, we’ll be disappointed in ourselves. We have no more excuses.”
by Moss Klein
“I’m sick and tired of hearing that this team doesn’t have power,” George Steinbrenner said. “We have power and we have speed and we have everything that we should need to win. We put a lot of thought into planning this team and I feel that this is the most balanced team we’ve had in the 10 years I’ve been here. If we’re not really awesome, really exciting, I’ll be surprised and disappointed.”
by Ken Nigro
“We are,” said Orioles manager Earl Weaver as he surveyed his troops, “definitely a contender. Definitely.”
by Tom Flaherty
Brewers manager Buck Rodgers said, “Everybody believes we can win if we play our brand of baseball.”
by Terry Pluto
Cleveland club president Gabe Paul said, “I believe we have the pitching and the speed to be close to the top. I think our starting pitching will be very good.”
“It all boils down to the bullpen,” said Cleveland manager Dave Garcia. “Our starters compare with any others. But we need the stopper. It has been something we have been searching for the last two seasons.”
by Joe Giuliotti
On paper they (Boston) don’t match up to the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles or Milwaukee Brewers.
Manager Ralph Houk said, “we’re going to fool a few people.”
The Red Sox’ strength last year was the bullpen, and the relievers will make or break the team this year.
Flagship television stations planned to televise over 1,300 games via regular commercial channels and another 250 will be available to cable TV subscribers.
Cable TV and major league baseball apparently are on the threshold of combining on a coverage explosion.
by Joe Goddard
Chicago White Sox: The message board on the new $5 million scoreboard is complete. Diamond Vision will follow.
by Jon Strege
“Buzzie is trying to make it impossible for me to mess up,” said Angels manager Gene Mauch. Buzzie is Buzzie Bavasi, Angels vice-president.
“I would like to know that our pitching is good enough,” Mauch said.
by Peter Gammons
One man’s oft-fallable impression is that the Orioles may be a lot better than we all thought. And that the $13 million team George Steinbrenner hath wrought may not be as good as he and most thought.
by Tracy Ringolsby
The Mariners have purchased video equipment for each of their minor league teams.
“We’re going to contend,” Texas manager Don Zimmer said, “I’m sure of that.”
by Stan Isle
Slugger Greg (The Bull) Luzinski again has purchased $20,000 worth of White Sox tickets for distribution to youth groups in the Chicago area. Luzinski bought up all of Comisky Parks Section 17 for 21 games and the area will be identified as “The Bull Ring”.
The A’s have sold 6,000 season tickets. “That means a half-million in attendance before we even open the gates,” said Oakland ticket manager Andy Dolich.
The American League Red Book lists umpire Ken Kaiser at 6’1”, 200 pounds, but Kaiser confided to friends on the banquet circuit that he’s a lot closer to 290.
Broadcasters and cable programers will pay some $118,350,000 for play-by-play rights to major league baseball in 1982, a sharp rise of 32 percent over last year’s total of $89,525,000.
At the network level, ABC-TV, NBC-TV, CBS Radio and USA Network (cable) will pay a total of $53.4 million for transmission rights.
The cost of a 30-second commercial for the World Series will be $185,000. A 30-second TV spot for the All-Star game is pegged at $150,000.