All-Star game fond memory for Lynn

SAN FRANCISCO – Fred Lynn was standing on the field after the celebrity All-Star game when the Rev. Jesse Jackson pointed at him and said: “You hit a grand slam.”

Lynn responded with a smile, “Yes I did.”

Twenty-four years after hitting the first grand slam in All-Star game history, Lynn keeps getting more pleasant reminders of his feat. Lynn’s grand slam off Atlee Hammaker in the 1983 game at Comiskey Park helped lead the American League to a 13-3 victory.

“Being here in San Francisco I’ve heard a lot about it because it came against a Giants pitcher,” Lynn said Sunday after the softball game. “Before the game, a fan yelled, ‘Don’t hit another grand slam.’ “

Lynn’s blast helped the A.L. snap an 11-game losing streak, making it even more meaningful.

“That was a huge moment,” Lynn said. “I had been on almost all of those losing teams. The game was in my hometown. They walked Robin Yount to get to me. You never want that to happen. When I made them pay that was icing on the cake. Running around the bases I knew we couldn’t blow a 7-1 lead.”

Henderson sighting

Rickey Henderson was once again swinging a bat in a game in a major league ballpark. The only problem was that it came in a celebrity All-Star game.

“It’s good to be in a uniform and go out and play the game and have some fun whether it’s softball or baseball,” Henderson said. “I enjoy myself out there.”

The 48-year-old Henderson hasn’t played in the majors since appearing in 30 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2003, his 25th year at baseball’s highest level.

“I always wanted to come back,” he said. “They don’t give me the opportunity to try to come back. They feel that I have accomplished so much in the game so it’s really not necessary for me to continue playing. Right now I’m using some of the skills to teach some of the young kids to play.”

Banks pleased

Ernie Banks is pleased the Chicago Cubs plan to put up a statue of him outside Wrigley Field.

Banks, a Hall of Famer, is known as “Mr. Cub,” the most beloved retired player on a franchise that hasn’t won the World Series since 1908.

“I’ll turn it around,” he said. “I’m going to be like Willie Mays” – a reference to the statue of the former Giants great outside AT&T Park.

Hall monitor

Rich Gossage, in prime position to gain election to the Hall of Fame next year, is taking a more low-key approach.

Gossage failed to get the necessary 75 percent in his first eight times on the ballot, but his percentage increased from 33.3 in 2000 to 71.2 percent this year, when he fell 21 votes shy. The highest percentage for a player who wasn’t elected in a later year was 63.4 by Gil Hodges in 1983.

“I just have to wait and see. It’s totally out of my hands. I’ve been kind of vocal about it. I think they’ve forgotten how the role has changed,” he said.

Closing has evolved since Gossage pitched. Nowadays, Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman and other top closers often are asked to get just three outs.

“They should be comparing them to us, not us to them,” Gossage said.