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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Purchase Of Pirates Approved

Compiled From Wire Services

Kevin McClatchy’s $90 million purchase of the Pittsburgh Pirates was unanimously approved by major league owners, ending an 18-month ordeal that threatened the franchise’s very existence.

McClatchy, who at 33 will be the majors’ youngest owner, was a decided longshot after he was given only two weeks to assemble an ownership group last fall.

The Sacramento, Calif., newspaper heir, despite being a virtual unknown in Pittsburgh, relied on a dogged persistence to raise $70 million in cash from nearly a score of investors, many of them top corporate executives.

Only minutes after the McClatchy approval, the Pirates signed All-Star left-hander Denny Neagle to a contract extension through the 1997 season.

Neagle, 27, was 13-8 with a 3.43 ERA and tied for the National League lead with 209 innings pitched last season.

Baseball players increased their record in salary arbitration to 2-0 this year when Bernie Williams beat the New York Yankees and was awarded $3 million.

Williams will get 7-1/2 times his 1995 salary of $400,000.

Williams hit .307 with 82 RBIs and 18 homers last season.

Dennis Eckersley has said goodbye to the Oakland Athletics, following his former manager and pitching coach to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Completing a long-discussed deal, Eckersley was traded from the A’s to Cardinals for minor-league reliever Steve Montgomery, who led the Double-A Texas League with 36 saves last year for Arkansas.

Artificial turf, for 26 years a fixture at St. Louis’ Busch Stadium, is gone and nearly three acres of Bermuda sod have been laid with expectations it will be ready at least a month before the April 8 home opener against Montreal.