Between The Lines

IT MUST BE THE SPIKES

On July 25 the world's greatest athlete, Michael Jordan, took batting practice at Comiskey Park in Chicago. He had about 40 swings against White Sox coach Dave LaRoche and belted two home runs, including one mammoth shot that hit the facing of the upper deck in leftfield. "I thought I'd have to throw slower so he could hit it," says LaRoche, whose pitches ranged in speed from 65 to 70 mph. "But he told me to throw harder."

LaRoche threw two eephus pitches, or LaLobs, as they were known when he played in the majors. "He didn't even sniff at them," says LaRoche. Says Chicago first baseman Ron Kittle, "I told Michael, 'It doesn't matter how you play, it's how you look in your uniform.' He looked good. He told me, 'Yeah, I look good.' He's a great guy. He told us, 'If any of you guys want to play golf, bring along your checkbook.' "

SHELL GAME

The Pirates were inspired early this year after a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle poster was hung in the locker of catcher Mike LaValliere, who teammates say bears a striking resemblance to the oversized reptiles. On July 26 the Pirates had a Leonardo look-alike on hand to make LaValliere an honorary Ninja Turtle in a pregame ceremony at Three Rivers Stadium. "Spanky [ LaValliere's nickname] loved it," says Pittsburgh coach Rich Donnelly. "He got here early and swam for two hours in the whirlpool, then ate a goldfish, just to get ready."

Says LaValliere of the likeness, "I can almost understand it. If you put anyone in catcher's gear, he'd look like one—if you have a broad mind." LaValliere received a plaque at his induction and put it in his locker, "along with all this other Ninja Turtle stuff I've gotten," he says. "I have to clean it out. People send me things all the time. Some lady even sent me a picture of a real turtle."

RARE CYCLE
On July 25 Royals first baseman George Brett became the first player this season to hit for the cycle. Not much was made of it, but hitting for the cycle is rarer than throwing a no-hitter. In major league history pitchers have thrown 212 no-hitters, including seven this year through Sunday. Batters have hit for the cycle 201 times. Brett has done it twice. Babe Herman and Bob Meusel hold the record for career cycles, with three each.

MAROONED
Last Friday the Dodgers left 25 runners on base in a 12-inning, 5-4 victory over the Braves. By way of comparison, all the rest of the teams in the National League West combined left 27 runners on base that night. "If we had lost that game," said Los Angeles manager Tommy Lasorda the next afternoon, "you all would have been coming to my funeral today."

BY THE NUMBERS

?A grand slam home run was the first hit of the game for two teams recently. On July 22 Gary Redus of the Pirates hit a grand slam after three walks in the second inning. A day later, Phillie shortstop Dickie Thon broke up a bid for a no-hitter by Frank Viola of the Mets with a grand slam in the sixth inning.