His Break Cost Him His Break

He could hit and run: According to Richard Justice of the Washington Post, the Detroit Tigers recently got a letter from former pitcher Denny McLain, who is serving a 23-year prison sentence in Alabama for racketeering, extortion and drug dealing. He stays in contact with the team and this time was writing to recommend a fellow inmate as a prospect.

“You’ve got to send someone down here to see him,� McLain wrote.

Two weeks later, the Tigers got a follow-up letter.

“Forget that guy,� McLain wrote. “He busted out.�

Trivia Time: With which team did Wayne Gretzky begin his professional hockey career? (Answer below)

Manager Davey Johnson of the New York Mets said one of the reasons he is looking forward to taking a team of all-stars to Japan after the World Series has to do with appearances--his own.

Johnson, a former second baseman with the Baltimore Orioles and the Atlanta Braves, left the United States for Japan in the mid-1970s and played with legendary home run hitter Sadaharu Oh of the Tokyo Giants for two seasons. Johnson then returned home to end his career in the majors.

“I’ll really have a vacation over there,� Johnson said. “It’s hard to believe, but I’m well liked over there.

“I’m really looking forward to going. I’ve done a few commercials, and believe it or not, over there I’m handsome.�

Where’s who?: The Portland Trail Blazers’ unsigned Caldwell Jones visited a practice recently, looked around and asked a reporter, “Where’s Steve?�

“Steve who?� the reporter replied.

“Steve Colter,� Jones said.

Colter was traded to the Bulls in June.

That’s the spirit: Ed Hearn’s chances of getting into the World Series with the New York Mets are looking slim, at best. He is the first to admit that even the chance to pinch-hit is slight, because if Gary Carter is injured and Hearns has already been used to pinch-hit, the team would be left without a catcher.

“If I’m in there, it will be the No. 1 issue of the World Series,� Hearn told Sandy Keenan of Newsday before Game 3 Tuesday. “I know I’m the very last person who can be used to hit. It’s a dirty job, but somebody’s got to do it.�

Trivia Answer: Gretzky played for the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Assn. in 1978-79, the last year before the league folded.

Quotebook

Outfielder Dave Henderson of the Boston Red Sox, a former high school All-American in football: “Pressure is when you’ve got to deal with college football coaches from all over the country when you’re 18 years old. You grow up in a hurry then. I can remember a Southern Cal assistant coach shoving out a hand with four Rose Bowl rings on it. ‘Here, kid, you want one of these? Come to USC.’ That, I call pressure.�