World Series

Only once before has baseball pitched a shutout against itself while depriving America of its gala centerpiece, the World Series. On that previous occasion, 1904, it wasn't met with any more approval than it is now in this troubled season of 1994 that finds the game shipwrecked against the rocks of avarice and greed.The "World Series that wasn't held" 90 years ago happened because of stubbornness, vanity and selfishness (but not financial) on the part of New York Giants' owner John Brush and his field manager, John McGraw.

NEW YORK -- Stocks, bonds, insurance and mutual funds are muscling in on beer and cars between innings of this year's World Series.Broker Merrill Lynch & Co., mutual fund provider Fidelity Investment, life insurer SunAmerica Inc. and other financial companies have boosted television ad spending by half this year, much of it on sporting events such as this year's New York vs. Atlanta series."

It's that time of the summer when youth baseball teams set their sights on postseason tournaments. The action is hotter than the weather and heat index. Well, almost.As many as six local teams, ages 11-18, could be headed to Continental Amateur Baseball Association World Series around the nation.Four local youth teams and a club from Baltimore County begin play this weekend in a CABA 15-and-under state tournament at Sixth Street Field in Brooklyn. The winner of the tournament, which will run through next weekend, will advance to the CABA World Series in Crystal Lake, Ill., Aug. 5-16.

The Mayo Post No. 226 American Legion baseball team is going to a World Series it can't win, but nonetheless it will be in the spotlight.Mayo won the National American Legion Championship in August in Corvallis, Ore., becoming the first Maryland team to do so since Cumberland in 1934.As is the American Legion custom, its national champion is sent, all expenses paid, to a Major League Baseball World Series game."It looks like we will be going to game No. 4 in either Oakland or Boston," said Mayo head coach Bernie Walter.

Johns Hopkins is clearly ready to get on the field for today's opening round of the Division III College Baseball World Series. "Let's put the gloves and bats in the field and see who's better," Blue Jays coach Bob Babb said of the eight-team, double-elimination tournament at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton, Wis. "Our players are just ready to go out and perform. At this point, we don't need any more incentive." Hopkins (38-6) will meet Adrian College of Michigan (34-11) today at 2:15 p.m. in the second game of the World Series.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Steve Palermo will be on hand for the World Series, after all.Denied the opportunity to umpire in the Series because of a spinal injury suffered when he was shot while foiling a robbery in Dallas, Palermo said yesterday he has accepted an invitation from commissioner Fay Vincent to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 1 on Saturday night at the Metrodome.The Minnesota Twins will represent the American League against the winner of the NL playoff between Pittsburgh and Atlanta.

MINNEAPOLIS -- When he was contacted two weeks ago and asked to consider throwing out the first ball to start the World Series, there were two reasons why Steve Palermo knew he had to accept."

CINCINNATI -- Somewhere, somebody will be storing this World Series in his memory bank. The World Series always presents something to remember -- sublime or ridiculous. To each his own.There was the vendor in the upper deck at Dodger Stadium who made an art form of tossing peanuts and catching the change without missing a beat of banter. "It's over," he pronounced to the dismay of Los Angeles Dodger fans when the 1978 New York Yankees took the lead. "The team that comes from behind is ahead."

Jerry Mull can't recall the last time a Yankee Rebels baseball team even went to a World Series, let alone two.His 13- to 14-year-old team, winners of the Baltimore Metro League with a 38-1 record (56-5 overall), is heading to the National Amateur Baseball Federation Regionals, which includes teams from New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, tomorrow through Sunday at Pikesville's Sudbrook Middle School.A victory in the regionals would qualify the Rebels for the July 28-Aug. 1 World Series in Miamisburg, Ohio.

HOUSTON -- In the extra innings again, you find a rhythm. Each time the pitcher starts his windup, your breath stops at the bottom of your throat, waiting for the light to change colors. On the mound, Bobby Jenks, the White Sox rookie reliever, rolled the ball around in his glove, summoning the world and putting every little bit of it into each pitch. Batter at the plate. Pitcher on the mound. Runner on base. Nothing but pressure connecting them. Everyone in Houston standing - in the stadium, in their living rooms, in the neighborhood watering hole.