Newsmakers

Died Bob Forsch, the only pitcher in St. Louis Cardinals history to throw two no-hitters, has died. He was 61. Team spokesman Brian Bartow said Forsch, the third-winningest pitcher in franchise history, died Thursday at his home near Tampa, Fla. The cause of death wasn’t immediately known. The death came less than a week after Forsch threw out the first pitch at Game 7 of the World Series, a few hours before the Cardinals beat the Texas Rangers 6-2 to win the championship.

Agreed Despite being picked up by the Cleveland Indians in August, reuniting the record-setting designated hitter with a team and city that adored him, Jim Thome agreed to a $1.25 million, one-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, according to a source familiar with the negotiations. He will take a physical today.

Extended Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers and manager Kirk Gibson helped engineer a quick turnaround in the desert, and the team is hoping the two will stick around for a while. Towers and Gibson each had their contracts extended three years, through at least 2014.

Scheduled Danica Patrick will make her Sprint Cup debut in the season-opening Daytona 500 in February, her first of 10 races in NASCAR’s highest division for Stewart-Haas Racing next season. Her limited Cup schedule and Patrick’s new green No. 10 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet were unveiled Friday.

Returning The No. 3 car will be racing full time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series next season, with Richard Childress putting his grandson, Austin Dillon, behind the wheel. Dillon has used No. 3 in the Camping World Truck Series, where he is the season points leader, but this will be the first time the No. 3 will be regularly used on a car since Dale Earnhardt’s death at the end of the 2001 Daytona 500.

Interviewed A person with knowledge of the search told the Associated Press that former St. Louis catcher Mike Matheny has been interviewed for the Cardinals’ vacant manager’s job. Three candidates with organizational ties have been interviewed. Chicago White Sox third-base coach Joe McEwing played for the Cardinals, and Chris Maloney has managed their Triple-A Memphis affiliate the last five years.