Messersmith Finally Landed By Yankees

HONOLULU -- The world champion New York Yankees obtained righthanded pitcher Andy Messersmith from the Atlanta Braves for $100,000 in a straight cash deal, one of four major transactions Wednesday at the winter baseball meetings. Messersmith, 32, is a 10-year major league player and still must approve the deal. The Yankees felt they legally had signed him two years ago as a free agent for more than $1 million but following a lengthy hassle over contract details, Messersmith refused to report and signed a three-year contract for $999,999 with the Braves instead.

Baltimore was involved in two of the other deals, first sending pitchers Rudy May, Randy Miller and Bryn Smith to Montreal for pitchers Don Stanhouse and Joe Kerrigan, and outfielder Gary Roenicke. Then the Orioles obtained outfielder Carlos Lopez and righthanded pitcher Tommy Moore from Seattle for righthanded pitcher Mike Parrott. The New York Mets reacquired 27-year-old shortstop Tim Foli from the San Francisco Giants for either an estimated $250,000 or a player to be named. Meanwhile, the Dodgers have offered four players for San Diego outfielder Dave Winfield, vice-president Al Campanis said at a press conference earlier in the day. Campanis, refusing to reveal names, said the offer was "substantial." However, San Diego general manager Bob Fontaine disagreed. "They offered us (pitcher) Rick Rhoden, (infielder) Lee Lacy and two minor league players," Fontaine said. "We will give it some thought, but my first inclination is to say I'm not interested."

In obtaining Messersmith, the Yankees acquired a two-time 20-game winner and a pitcher ranked among National League leaders in earned run average four of the last six seasons. However, he was injured twice in the last two years and is coming off an elbow operation which limited his appaearances last season to 16 games. Injured early in the year, he had a 5-4 record and a 4.41 ERA.

[source: l.a. times]

Chief Vets Lanier, Lynch To Retire

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Willie Lanier and Jim Lynch, 11-year veterans who in their prime helped give the Kansas City Chiefs one of the finest defenses in the National Football League, announced their retirement Wednesday. They will end their careers after the Chiefs' final season game Dec. 18 at Oakland. Lanier and Lynch were chosen in the second round of the 1967 draft.

[source: ap]

Howe Gets His 1,000th Goal 31 Years After No. 1

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Gordie Howe, who played his first professional hockey game 31 years ago, scored the 1,000th goal of his career at 1:36 of the first period of a World Hockey Assn. game Wednesday night between the New England Whalers and the Birmingham Bulls. Howe's team, the Whalers, won, 6-3. Howe. who scored his 999th goal Nov. 10 against the Edmonton Oilers, got the puck from behind the Birmingham net on a power play and tucked it past goalie John Garrett. John McKenzie and Mike Antonovich assisted.

The 49-year-old Howe now plays alongside his two sons -- Mark and Marty -- with the Whalers. He began his pro career with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League in 1946. When Howe scored his goal, he was mobbed by the New England players as the Whalers' bench emptied. An announcement on the public address system, however, was met with light applause by the fans in Birmingham.

Bobby Hull of the Winnipeg Jets, a youngster at 38, has more than 970 goals, putting him second to Howe. McKenzie, who assisted on No. 1,000, played with Howe in Detroit. "When I was a rookie with the Red Wings in 1959, I used to tell people that Gordie was amazing for his age," McKenzie said earlier this month. "Now here I am, 40 years old myself, and I'm saying the same thing."

[source: ap]

The PGA Permits Women To Join

SEATTLE -- The Professional Golfers Assn. has voted to accept women into its apprentice program, paving the way for full membership in the PGA. The action may lead to competition between men and women on the golf circuit, but probably not immediately. Any woman golfer, 18 years or older, can apply immediately to be admitted to the PGA apprentice program. The action was taken Tuesday during the PGA's 61st annual meeting here. It stemmed from a request from the Ladies Professional Golf Assn., asking for a closer working relationship between the two organizations.

"The PGA of America took a giant step in the world of golf today," PGA president Donald E. Padgett said. "The action by the PGA executive committee was a significant and progressive move that will benefit our association, the Ladies Professional Golf Association and the entire spectrum of golf."

[source: ap]