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DODGERS TO DO OVERDUE DEED; TEAM TO RETIRE SUTTON'S NO. 20.


Byline: KEVIN ACEE ACEE Agence Canadienne d'Évaluation Environnementale (Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency)
ACEE AmeriCorps for Community Engagement and Education
ACEE Area Centers for Educational Enhancement (Florida) 
 Baseball

Don Sutton
    Donald Howard Sutton (born April 2, 1945 in Clio, Alabama) is a former Major League Baseball player and current television sportscaster.

    A right-handed pitcher, Sutton played for the Sioux Falls Packers as a minor leaguer, and entered the major league at the age of 21.
     will finally see his number put to rest, welcomed as any other Dodgers hero when the team retires his uniform number during the 1998 season.

    It's about time It's About Time may refer to:

    Television
    • It's About Time (TV series), a 1966 American television show.
    Theater
    • It's About Time (musical), a 1951 Broadway production.
    .

    Not that No. 20 should have been officially retired before Monday's announcement that Sutton will be the ninth Dodger enshrined in baseball's Hall of Fame. However, it should have been set aside.

    Four players - Mike Davis, Mitch Webster Mitchell "Mitch" Dean Webster (Born May 16, 1959, in Larned, Kansas), is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder.

    Webster played for six different ballclubs during his 13-year career: the Toronto Blue Jays (1983-1985)), Montreal Expos (1985-1988), Chicago Cubs
    , Mike Blowers Michael Roy Blowers (born April 24, 1965, in Würzburg, Germany) is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and first baseman. He is an alumnus of Bethel High School in Spanaway, Washington, Tacoma Community College and the University of Washington.  and Darren Lewis
      See also: Darren Lewis (musician)

    Darren Joel Lewis (born August 28 1967 in Berkeley, California) is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Oakland Athletics (1990), San Francisco Giants (1991-1995), Cincinnati Reds
     - have worn the number since Sutton retired in 1988. Actually, Sutton was released - ``Fred (Claire) axed me,'' Sutton said last week on the day of his election.

    ``If a player is in the Hall of Fame he deserves to have his number retired,'' said Claire, the Dodgers executive vice president who makes the final decision on number assignments. ``I will state as a matter of history that any player with our club, when that player enters the Hall of Fame, that number has been retired. I don't think you should look for any change of Dodger history.''

    Sutton's is not the first number to be worn by other players after his departure and before his Hall of Fame election.

    ``If (a player) is not in the Hall of Fame,'' Claire said, ``there's nothing that prevents that number from being used.''

    Except No. 6. During the same period (actually a longer period) that Sutton's number has been given to all comers all who come, or offer, to take part in a matter, especially in a contest or controversy.
    - Bp. Stillingfleet.

    See also: Comer
    , Steve Garvey's number has not been used. Garvey, who actually left the Dodgers after the 1982 season, received 195 votes in his first time on the Hall of Fame ballot.

    Claire said there had been no effort to protect No. 6 over the years. (Claire did not rule out Paul Konerko Paul Henry Konerko (born March 5, 1976 in Providence, Rhode Island) is a first baseman in Major League Baseball with the Chicago White Sox. He previously played with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1997-98) and Cincinnati Reds (1998).  getting the number in the future. Konerko, the consensus minor league player of the year, wears No. 66.)

    Well, that's some coincidence that for 15 seasons there has not been a single player who wanted to wear 6, but in the past 10 seasons, four players either requested 20 or were assigned the number.

    It is a coincidence that will be rectified this season.

    Just playing, for now: Eric Young Eric Young can refer to:
    • Eric Young (baseball player)
    • Eric Young (footballer)
    • Eric Young (wrestler)
    • Eric Young (broadcaster)
    • Eric Young (American football), offensive guard at the University of Tennessee
     wishes to speak only about the upcoming season.

    ``We have unfinished business to take care of. That's my motto for the spring,'' said Young, the Dodgers second baseman second baseman
    n. Baseball
    The infielder who is positioned near and to the first-base side of second base.

    Noun 1. second baseman - (baseball) the person who plays second base
    second sacker
     who came to the team last August for a pennant race he expected to turn out better.

    Privately, however, Young is frustrated the Dodgers are not attempting to sign him to a multiyear deal. He and the club will exchange arbitration figures in the coming week, and Young will attempt to be the spark he didn't have time to be last season. Young will also be motivated by his impending im·pend  
    intr.v. im·pend·ed, im·pend·ing, im·pends
    1. To be about to occur: Her retirement is impending.

    2.
     free agency after the 1998 season.

    Young knows if the Dodgers don't want more than a one-year deal now, this year will likely be his last with the team.

    New start: While many around baseball are talking behind their backs, Roger Cedeno and Todd Hollandsworth are talking to each other.

    ``Roger and myself, we're going to get the job done,'' Hollandsworth said. ``We've talked a little. Things couldn't have been any weirder for us last year. We've got a lot of things we want to prove to people.''

    The two young outfielders are cited repeatedly as examples of the Dodgers standing pat this season while Colorado, San Diego and San Francisco made improvements. The 24-year-old Hollandsworth, the 1996 Rookie of the Year Rookie of the Year may refer to:
    • Rookie of the Year (award), a sports award for the most outstanding rookie in a given season
    • Rookie of the Year (film), a 1993 starring Thomas Ian Nicholas
    • Rookie of the Year (album) by rapper Ya Boy
     who was felled by impatience at the plate and injuries in 1997, has been pegged as the starting left fielder. The 23-year-old Cedeno, whose own impetuousness im·pet·u·ous  
    adj.
    1. Characterized by sudden and forceful energy or emotion; impulsive and passionate.

    2. Having or marked by violent force: impetuous, heaving waves.
     and injuries shortened his '97, is to start in center field.

    So, say the doubters, two players who couldn't parlay starting chances last season are being given jobs again . . . and Claire wants everyone to believe the Dodgers will be better in 1998.

    ``I believe in them,'' Claire said. ``. . . If that doesn't work, I'm not going to say a lot of great depth there, (but) I think we have some people who can play there.''

    Such as Eric Anthony , who was 13 for 42 as a starter last May when he and Billy Ashley platooned in left field. He will provide a left-handed bat off the bench and deserves a shot should Cedeno, a switch hitter, or Hollandsworth, a lefty, falter.

    Fine with them: The Dodgers seem to relish the idea that (finally) they will not be picked to win the National League West. A team that has gone to spring training the past few years believing its own press is ready to be something of a surprise.

    ``I don't want to be picked,'' Young said. ``I want the Padres to be picked. Let us be the sleepers.''

    CAPTION(S):

    Photo

    PHOTO Now that he's been elected into the Hall of Fame, no future Dodger will wear Don Sutton's No. 20.

    Daily News File Photo
    COPYRIGHT 1998 Daily News
    No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
    Copyright 1998, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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    Article Details
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    Title Annotation:SPORTS
    Publication:Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)
    Date:Jan 11, 1998
    Words:818
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