Abc ‘Settles’ For All-Stars

American League

The July 11 All-Star Game at The Ballpark in Arlington, Texas - the game no network wanted to televise - will be aired on ABC.

The announcement was made Tuesday by The Baseball Network, a partnership between ABC, NBC and Major League Baseball.

The All-Star Game had become a booby prize in the competition between ABC and NBC to televise the World Series because it assured the other network of getting the more desirable World Series.

In announcing that ABC would televise its first All-Star Game since 1988, the Baseball Network said the rules have been changed and the All-Star Game no longer will be linked to the World Series.

With time running out on marketing the All-Star Game and notifying affiliates, a decision on the game had to be made as soon as possible.

Once the networks decided that the two events no longer would be linked, the decision to have ABC broadcast the game was reached by Dennis Swanson, the president of ABC Sports and Dick Ebersol, his counterpart at NBC.

IRS offers Royal plan

The Internal Revenue Service, in a decision that could have repercussions throughout professional sports, approved a complicated plan to help keep the Royals in Kansas City, Mo.

“Great news. Christmas came in springtime,” said Mike Herman, president of the Royals and principal architect of the plan developed before the death two years ago of team founder Ewing Kauffman.

If the IRS had not approved the plan, the Royals probably would have stayed in Kauffman’s estate and been sold to the highest bidder without regard to where the new owner wanted to operate.

But now, assuming major league owners also agree, the club becomes the property of the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation and Affiliated Trusts. A board of directors will have six years to find a buyer committed to keeping it in Kauffman’s beloved home town.

Clearing the bases

Detroit has 15 new players on its roster, including seven rookies… . Jose Canseco pulled a groin muscle stealing second base and left Boston’s game with New York… . The New York Yankees gave away only 1,645 of the 4,500 bleacher seats available for free… . Phil Hiatt of Kansas City improved to 5 for 7 lifetime against Minnesota’s Kevin Tapani, including three homers… . Toronto’s Ed Sprague is tied for the league lead with eight RBIs, but is 1 for 16 in his last five games… . The Angels honored the NCAA champion UCLA basketball team by inviting them each to throw out a first ball. But the Bruins had to purchase their own tickets not to violate NCAA rules.

Red Sox 8, Yankees 0

New York

John Valentin and Mo Vaughn hit grand slams an inning apart, and starter Vaughn Eshelman won his major-league debut as Boston defeated New York.

The Red Sox tied a majorleague record, accomplished 41 previous times, with the two grand slams in the same game. It was the seventh time it was done by the Red Sox.

Indians 11, Tigers 1

Detroit

The smallest crowd to attend a Tigers home opener in 23 years (39,398) booed Cecil Fielder, threw objects and repeatedly ran on the field as Cleveland used four homers to rout Detroit.

Athletics 2, Angels 0

Anaheim, Calif.

Dave Stewart, who allowed 11 run in his opening-day performance, combined with four relievers on a three-hitter as Oakland beat California.

Blue Jays 9, White Sox 8

Toronto

Roberto Alomar led off the ninth with his first homer of the season as Toronto rallied from a fiverun deficit to beat Chicago.

Royals 4, Twins 3

Minneapolis

Before the smallest Metrodome crowd in nine seasons (8,862), Pat Borders hit his first homer with Kansas City in its win over Minnesota.