BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : Ashburn May Overshadow Schmidt

For all the home runs he hit, for all the Gold Gloves he grabbed, for all the awards he earned when he led the Phillies to the only World Series they ever won, somehow Mike Schmidt never seemed to do enough to satisfy the fans in Philadelphia.

So perhaps this is a fitting irony on what should be one of the greatest days in Schmidt’s life: There are 200 tour buses traveling from Philadelphia to Cooperstown, N.Y., to see the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies today, and most of the people on those buses say they’re coming to see someone else.

Schmidt will get cheers. There’s no booing in Cooperstown.

But the biggest ovation probably will go to another person entering the Hall--former Phillie center fielder Richie Ashburn, a popular broadcaster for the team for more than 30 seasons.

In fact, Hall of Fame officials predict that this year’s attendance--admission is free, so no precise counts are available--may reach 20,000, which would make it the largest turnout ever. And many of those making the 4 1/2-hour trip from Philadelphia say they want to be there when Ashburn, not Schmidt, is enshrined.

Also being inducted are Negro Leagues star Leon Day, who died six days after being elected in March, National League founder William Hulbert and turn-of-the-century pitcher Vic Willis.

Ashburn was honored last week at Veterans Stadium, drew lengthy applause and told the crowd that Philadelphia had been great for him and his family.

Schmidt, whose unemotional, cool demeanor on the field often made him appear aloof and arrogant to some, will have an appreciation night, too, at the ballpark where he played. That will come later this summer, while Phillie fans stew over the most recent remarks made about them by arguably the greatest all-around third baseman in history.

“It’s hard for me to have good things to say about a town that never did anything for me and made life miserable for me,� Schmidt was quoted by Philadelphia magazine this month as saying.

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The Texas Rangers, who were hoping to add one starting pitcher for the pennant race, may now need two.

Bob Tewksbury, second among Ranger starters in victories and earned-run average, could miss the rest of the season because of a stress fracture of a left rib.

Tewksbury will be on the disabled list for a minimum of two to four weeks, but may miss as many as six to 12 weeks, team orthopedist John Conway said.

Tewksbury, 7-4 with a 3.98 ERA, hurt himself Monday as he was throwing in the bullpen during a game in New York.

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Matt Williams’ right foot is back in a hard cast to take total pressure off the point of the fracture of the San Francisco third baseman, and his hoped-for return of Aug. 1 has been pushed back.