Edmonds Receives Award

Jim Edmonds did not have nearly as spectacular a season defensively as he did in 1997, when the Angel center fielder made a memorable, diving, over-the-head catch in Kansas City. But he still won a Rawlings Gold Glove Award for the second consecutive season Monday.

Edmonds made five errors in 407 chances in 153 games for a .988 fielding percentage and had 10 outfield assists.

He is the seventh Angel to have won multiple Gold Gloves, joining a list that includes pitcher Mark Langston (five), catcher Bob Boone (four), second baseman Bobby Knoop (three), center fielder Gary Pettis (two), first baseman J.T. Snow (two) and center fielder Devon White (two).

Joining Edmonds on the American League Gold Glove team were nine-time winner Ken Griffey Jr.(outfield), seven-time winners Ivan Rodriguez (catcher) and Roberto Alomar (second base), six-time winner Omar Vizquel (shortstop), and Rafael Palmeiro (first base), Robin Ventura (third base), Bernie Williams (outfield) and Mike Mussina (pitcher).

In the National League, catcher Charles Johnson, who came to the Dodgers from Florida in the Mike Piazza deal, won his fourth consecutive Gold Glove. Atlanta pitcher Greg Maddux won his ninth consecutive Gold Glove, tying Bob Gibson for the most by a pitcher. San Francisco outfielder Barry Bonds collected his eighth.

Cincinnati second baseman Bret Boone received his first award, marking the second time a father-son combination won the honor. Boone’s father, Bob, a catcher, won seven Gold Gloves.

Bonds and his father, Bobby, were the first father-son pair to collect awards.

The other NL winners were Snow (first base), Scott Rolen (third base), Rey Ordonez (shortstop), Larry Walker (outfield) and Andruw Jones (outfield).

*

The Angels are finalizing a one-year contract extension for closer Troy Percival, who saved 42 games this season. Percival is entering the final year of a four-year deal that will pay him $1.55 million in 1999.

The team holds two options on Percival, for 2000 at $2.4 million and 2001 at $4 million. The Angels, according to agent Paul Cohen, will guarantee the $2.4 million for 2000 and add another option for 2002 in the $5-million range.

*

The Angels will host a public tribute to Gene Autry at 6 p.m. on Oct. 27 at Edison Field.

Speakers will include former Angels Buck Rodgers, Clyde Wright, Don Baylor and Rod Carew. Times sportswriter Ross Newhan and former Register and Times writer John Hall will join emcee Dick Enberg.

Autry, longtime owner of the Angels, died Oct. 2 at the age of 91. Individuals attending the tribute should enter through Gate 1, which will open at 5 p.m.

*

Colorado Rockies owner Jerry McMorris offered Don Baylor an administrative job with the Rockies after firing him as manager earlier this month.

The two, along with new Rockie Manager Jim Leyland, were scheduled to meet today near Palm Springs to discuss the offer.

As the first manager in Rockies’ history, Baylor compiled a 440-469 record over six years before he was fired. Last week, Baylor turned down a coaching position with the Seattle Mariners, saying he still hoped to manage.

McMorris believes Baylor could help Colorado’s farm teams by evaluating both player and non-player personnel.

The triple-A Colorado Springs, double-A New Haven and Class-A Salem teams finished a combined 74 games below .500 last season, primarily because of a lack of position-player talent.

*

David Letterman became the latest victim of the Mark McGwire long ball, as the home run champion took the talk show host deep after appearing on “Late Night with David Letterman.�

McGwire said hitting 70 home runs “is like playing nerf ball in the backyard,� but admitted that while he could hit almost any pitch, a split-fingered fastball causes him problems.

McGwire also talked about the mutual respect he and Sammy Sosa have for each other and said the two pushed each other the entire season. The Chicago Cub right fielder finished the year with 66 home runs.

“He had a better year than I did,� McGwire said of Sosa, “because he went to the playoffs.�

After the interview, Letterman and McGwire went outside the Ed Sullivan Theater on 53rd Street where Letterman pitched to McGwire.