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)

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* DETROIT TIGERS -- Placed Eric King, pitcher, on the 15-day disabled list. Purchased the contract of Phil Clark, outfielder, from Toledo of the International League. Designated Rudy Pemberton, outfielder, for reassignment.* OAKLAND ATHLETICS -- Optioned Scott Brosius, infielder, to Tacoma of the Pacific Coast League. Recalled Dann Howitt, first baseman-outfielder, from Tacoma.National League* MONTREAL EXPOS -- Placed Ivan Calderon, outfielder, on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 24. Recalled Matt Stairs, outfielder, from Indianapolis of the American Association.

make that near-future big-leaguer -- Denny Neagle of Gambrills is expected to start in Wednesday night's AAA Alliance All-Star Game in Louisville, Ky. The game will be televised 8 p.m. on Home Team Sports.Neagle, a smooth, 22-year-old left-hander from Arundel High School-- our 1986 Anne Arundel County Sun Player of the Year, with a 9-1 senior year record -- has gone 8-2 for the first half of the season for the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League, a Minnesota TwinsAAA affiliate.Drafted on the third round by the Minnesota Twins in his junior year in 1989 at the University of Minnesota, Neagle has had a meteoricrise in the bushes and is only one step from the big show.

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.

BASEBALL (AL) * Cleveland Indians -- Optioned Eddie Taubensee (catcher) to Colorado Springs of the Pacific Coast League. Purchased the contract of Jose Escobar (infielder) from Colorado Springs.BASKETBALL (NBA) * League -- Fined Benoit Benjamin (Seattle center) $1,500 for making an obscene gesture at the fans of a Seattle-LA Clippers game on April 5.

BASEBALLAmerican League* Boston Red Sox -- Waived Mike Marshall (first baseman-outfielder) for the purpose of giving him his unconditional release. Recalled Dana Kiecker (pitcher) from Pawtucket of the International League.* Oakland Athletics -- Placed Mike Moore (pitcher) on the 15-day disabled list. Recalled Scott Hemond (infielder) from Tacoma of the Pacific Coast League.