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

Shoeless Joe’s ‘Black Betsy’ to be auctioned

From wire reports

Shoeless Joe Jackson’s favorite bat – his prized “Black Betsy” – is about to hit the auction block.

The bat, made of hickory and weighing a hefty 40 ounces, will be sold by Sotheby’s on Dec. 10, the auction house said.

Jackson batted .408 in 1911 and finished with a .356 career average. He told a Greenville, S.C., newspaper in 1932 that he received the bat in 1908.

“I’ve had it ever since and it’s never been broke,” Jackson told the paper, “although it is getting old now and I expect it (to break) at any time.”

In 2001, the bat sold at auction for $577,000. The highest price paid for a baseball bat was $1,265,000, fetched by the bat Babe Ruth used to hit the first home run at Yankee Stadium on April 18, 1923.

Jackson is among the eight Chicago White Sox players involved in a conspiracy to fix the 1919 World Series. Those eight – known as the “Black Sox” – were banned from baseball for life.

The White Sox haven’t won the World Series since 1917, and haven’t played in the Fall Classic since 1959. But this year, the White Sox will take on the Houston Astros beginning with Game 1 on Saturday.

West named crew chief for World Series

Joe West was picked as the umpire crew chief for the World Series, culminating a comeback year in which he also worked behind the plate in the All-Star game and during the American League division series.

West, who also worked the Series in 1993 and 1997, will be behind the plate for Saturday’s opener between the White Sox and the Astros. West was among the 22 umpires who lost their jobs in September 1999 when a mass resignation backfired. He was rehired in February 2002.

Two other members of the crew have previous Series experience. Derryl Cousins was picked in 1988 and 1999, and Angel Hernandez in 2002. Jeff Nelson, Jerry Layne and Gary Cederstrom will be working their first Series.

Nelson will be at first base Saturday, with Layne at second, Cousin at third, Cederstrom in left and Hernandez in right.

It’s a boy for Konerko

Paul Konerko’s wife gave birth to a boy, their first child, and the A.L. Championship Series MVP was on his way back to Chicago after missing the team’s workout for a second day Thursday.

Konerko, who’d returned to Arizona for the birth this week, was slated to do some hitting in a batting cage.

“It’s a boy? Good. We’ve had too many girls lately,” manager Ozzie Guillen said, listing Freddy Garcia, A.J. Pierzynski, Joe Crede and third-base coach Joey Cora, all of whom had daughters born this season.

“Too many girls. You know why?” Guillen said. “Because they can’t be in the clubhouse. The boys can.”

A trophy son

Roy Oswalt has already found the perfect place for his MVP trophy from the National League Championship Series:

Wherever his father wants to put it.

The right-hander was picked as the MVP after pitching the Astros to their first World Series, and he immediately turned the trophy over to his father, Billy.

“To give it to him, that meant more to me than winning it. He didn’t want to take it, but that’s the way he is,” the younger Oswalt said. “It was more special for me to see his face once I gave it to him, and just the way he believed in me.”

Orioles hire Duquette

Jim Duquette has been hired as vice president for baseball operations for the Baltimore Orioles, a job that carries the responsibility of helping turn around a franchise that hasn’t had a winning season since 1997.

Duquette signed a three-year contract Wednesday night. He leaves the New York Mets, where he served as general manager for 15 1/2 months before assuming the post of senior vice president of baseball operations on Sept. 30, 2004, working under Omar Minaya.

Duquette will assist executive vice president Mike Flanagan in the day-to-day operations of the department, including contract negotiations, salary arbitration and player personnel decisions at the major league level.

Brewers exercise option on Lee

Carlos Lee’s $8.5 million option for 2006 was exercised by the Milwaukee Brewers. Lee hit .265 last season with career highs of 32 home runs and 114 RBIs.

Diamondbacks to interview Towers

The Arizona Diamondbacks have received permission to interview San Diego Padres general manager Kevin Towers for their general manager opening.

Padres spokesman Luis Garcia said CEO Sandy Alderson granted the Diamondbacks permission to interview Towers, who’s been San Diego’s GM since Nov. 17, 1995.