Pacific Coast League

BASEBALL (AL) * California Angels -- Released Fernando Valenzuela (pitcher) from his minor-league contract with Edmonton of the Pacific Coast League.* Cleveland Indians -- Placed Chris James (outfielder) on the 60-day disabled list. Purchased the contract of Wayne Kirby (outfielder) from Colorado Springs of the Pacific Coast League.

THE opening-day photo of 1954's Orioles showed 39 whites and Jehosie Heard. That ratio hardly affected the universal euphoria; Baltimore was back in the majors. The Yankees and Red Sox, after all, were still lily white. Few fans protested the absence of Satchel Paige, who had been the team's best relief pitcher the year before when it was in St. Louis; the Orioles quietly offered him no contract. Heard, a left-hander from Alabama, had done well with Birmingham and Houston in the Negro Leagues, and in the high minors (16-12 with Portland in the 1953 Pacific Coast League)

BASEBALL American League * Cleveland Indians -- Placed Alex Cole, outfielder, on the 15-day disabled list. Activated Felix Fermin, infielder. Sent Jose Escobar, infielder, to Colorado Springs of the Pacific Coast League.* Oakland Athletics -- Activated Vance Law, infielder. Sent Fred Manrique, infielder, to Tacoma of the Pacific Coast League.National League * San Diego Padres -- Placed Marty Barrett, infielder, on the day disabled list, retroactive to May 8. Recalled Scott Coolbaugh, infielder, from Las Vegas of the Pacific Coast League.

James E. Kerr, a retired Baltimore Fire Department lieutenant who played catcher on Pacific Coast League baseball teams in the 1930s, died Thursday of complications of Parkinson's disease at Greater Baltimore Medical Center. The Parkville resident was 87.Mr. Kerr, known as Jimmy, had a baseball career that spanned the sandlots of Catonsville in the 1920s to coaching the Kawasaki [Japan]-Baltimore Youth Team Exchange in the 1980s. He was a roommate of Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams when both played in the highly competitive Pacific Coast League at the highest level of the minor leagues.

BASEBALLAmerican League* BALTIMORE ORIOLES -- Optioned Alan Mills and Jim Lewis, pitchers, to Rochester of the International League.* CALIFORNIA ANGELS -- Sent Luis Sojo, infielder, to Edmonton of the Pacific Coast League. Sent Rene Gonazles, infielder, and Chris Beasley, pitcher, to their minor league camp for reassignment.* CHICAGO WHITE SOX -- Placed Bo Jackson, designated hitter, on the 15-day disabled. Signed Terry Leach, pitcher. Sent Brian Drahman and Steve Wapnick, pitchers, to Vancouver of the Pacific Coast League.

BaseballAstros: Purchased contract of P Jeff Love from independent Waterbury and signed him to minor-league contract.Indians: Optioned P Mike Matthews, OF Scott Morgan and OF Alex Ramirez to Triple-A Buffalo. Assigned P Jason Grimsley, P Willie Martinez, P Jamie McAndrew, C Steven Soliz, IF Jolbert Cabrera and IF Torey Lovullo to minor-league camp.Mariners: Assigned P Damaso Marte and P Maximo de la Rosa to Double-A Orlando. Sent IF Jeff Berblinger, OF Rickey Cradle and P Jarod Juelsgaard to minor-league camp.

Auto racingIndy Racing League -- Named Jerome Hauer commissioner. The new series, which will be sanctioned entirely by U.S. Auto Club, is scheduled to begin in 1996.BaseballBoston Red Sox -- Announced a two-year working agreement with Trenton of the Double-A Eastern League.Chicago White Sox -- Announced that minor-league OF Michael Jordan will report to their Florida instructional league team in Sarasota on Friday.Colorado Rockies -- Announced that P Darren Holmes will undergo surgery on his right elbow Monday and that OF Ellis Burks will have surgery on his left wrist Tuesday.

BASEBALL American League * CHICAGO WHITE SOX -- Assigned Dan Pasqua, outfielder, to Birmingham of the Southern League on a rehabilitation assignment.* CLEVELAND INDIANS -- Optioned Jeff Mutis, pitcher, to Colorado Springs of the Pacific Coast League. Purchased the contract of Rod Nichols, pitcher, from Colorado Springs.* MINNESOTA TWINS -- Activated Mike Pagliarulo, third baseman, from the 15-day disabled list. Purchased the contract of Paul Abbott, pitcher, from Portland of the Pacific Coast League.

BASEBALL COMMISSIONERS OFFICE -- Announced the realignment of the National League, effective next season, shifting the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds to the Eastern Division and the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals to the Western Division.American LeagueKANSAS CITY ROYALS -- Activated David Howard, shortstop, from the disabled list and optioned him to Omaha of the American Association.OAKLAND ATHLETICS -- Recalled Scott Brosius, infielder, from Tacoma of the Pacific Coast League. Sent Dann Howitt, outfielder, to Tacoma.

BASEBALL American League NEW YORK YANKEES -- Placed Steve Farr, pitcher, on the day disabled list, retroactive to June 30. Purchased the contract of Curt Young, pitcher, from Columbus of the International League.National League CINCINNATI REDS -- Optioned Tony Menendez, pitcher, to Nashville of the American Association. Recalled Keith Brown, pitcher, from Nashville.HOUSTON ASTROS -- Activated Mark Portugal, pitcher, from the disabled list. Placed Rafael Ramirez, shortstop, on the 15-day disabled list.