Eric Davis Earns Another Award

What has been a year of adversity for Baltimore outfielder Eric Davis is becoming a year of awards.

Davis, who fought cancer and overcame the death of a brother to return to baseball last season, is the eighth winner of the Tony Conigliaro Award given by Boston baseball writers for overcoming adversity.

He has been awarded baseball’s Roberto Clemente Award and will also receive the Hutch Award for dedication to team and community.

The 35-year-old outfielder was forced from the field in June when doctors had to remove a cancerous tumor from his colon. In August, his older brother, Jimmy, died of a heart attack.

But while receiving chemotherapy, he returned to the playoffs to help the Orioles try to get to the World Series for the first time since 1983.

The Conigliaro award is named for the Boston Red Sox outfielder who made a dramatic comeback from a 1967 beaning that sidelined him the entire 1968 season. Conigliaro died in February 1990, eight years after a massive heart attack left him severely handicapped.

Conigliaro’s brothers, Billy and Richie, will present the award to Davis at the annual dinner of the Boston Baseball Writers Association on Jan. 22.

Davis hit .304 in 42 games last season. Previous winners were Curtis Pride, Jim Eisenreich, Dickie Thon, Jim Abbott, Bo Jackson, Mark Leiter and Scott Radinsky.

Watson denies report

New York Yankees general manager Bob Watson dismissed as “baseless” a published report that he might resign because of an eroding relationship with owner George Steinbrenner.

The Daily News, citing a source within the Yankees organization that it didn’t identify, reported Monday that Watson is strongly considering resigning his post, perhaps within the next several days.

“There’s no truth to it,” said Watson, the 14th general manager in Steinbrenner’s 25 years as principal owner. “It’s all hearsay.”

The paper quoted the source saying that Watson is tired of “the relentless haranguing and abuse he receives almost daily.”

Steinbrenner said the report was “a shock.”

“I am not in any way unhappy with Bob Watson,” Steinbrenner told Bloomberg News. “I’ve never been an easy man to work for. Bob understands that.”

Steinbrenner said he’s spoken to Watson eight times the past two days, conferring on a number of issues.

Watson was named general manager in October 1995. Although the Yankees won the 1996 World Series, Steinbrenner has never offered him a firm stamp of approval.

The Yankees signed free agent infielder Dale Sveum to a two-year contract, adding another versatile veteran to their roster.

The 34-year-old Sveum spent the past two seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He hit .261 with 12 home runs and 47 runs batted in during 126 games last season, when he played all four infield positions.

New York already has traded for Scott Brosius and re-signed Luis Sojo.

Ranger bosses extended

The Texas Rangers have extended the contracts of manager Johnny Oates and general manager Doug Melvin by one year through the 1999 season.

“We are very pleased with the contributions that Melvin and Oates have made to this franchise over the last three years,” Rangers president Tom Schieffer said. “We are looking forward to working with both men in bringing a winner back to the Metroplex in 1998.”

Padres land Myers

The San Diego Padres signed free-agent catcher Greg Myers to a two-year contract.

Myers split last season between the Minnesota Twins and Atlanta Braves, batting .267 overall with five home runs and 28 runs batted in. Kansas City Royals veteran catcher Mike Macfarlane has signed a one-year contract with the team for the 1998 season.