Baseball's Dutch Treat

Not only does Blyleven pitch for the Indians, he actually likes being an Indian. He says, "Mister Paul and Mister Seghi [Mister?] have been very good to me, I like the way Pat manages, I think we've got a good, young club, and I'd like to be a part of a winning team in Cleveland. I just wish we had more fans. I also wish we were in the other division."

He's being serious, although whimsy soon bubbles to the surface. "What other team gets to wear a picture of its general manager on its jacket?" he asks. Blyleven is right—Phil Seghi looks uncannily like Chief Wahoo.

The Indians are happy to have him. Says Corrales, "You love sending a guy like that every fifth day, and he's a great influence on a young ball club. The kids see how hard he works. Plus, he keeps us loose."

When Blyleven and Sutcliffe were together in Cleveland, their teammates had to be on constant lookout for pranks. Even alone Blyleven is a terror, whether he's giving a hotfoot, tying clothes in knots, cutting neckties or pulling down McMahon's pants.

On the second-to-last weekend of the season, the Indian players had a little party to adjourn their kangaroo court. Blyleven went out and bought gifts for everyone. "The guys who were real cheap during the season got real cheap gifts," he says. Corrales got a bullwhip. Chris Bando, who loves pizza, was given an almost-empty pizza box. "We left one month-old piece in there, and I think Chris ate it." Julio Franco, who had been arrested the previous winter for possession of a gun without a permit, received a toy pistol. Neal Heaton got a Gourmet Nosepicker. Brett Butler was presented with an autographed picture of his favorite soap opera star. "I know that stuff sounds silly," says Smith. "But I thought it was kind of nice."

Blyleven wraps up the evening. "Thanks everyone for coming, and good night. Spanky, we love you."

Ed Kirkpatrick smiles.