Sept. 22

Missionary Man
Here are the following pitchers who have won 20 games for three different teams:

Grover Cleveland Alexander: Phillies, 6, Cubs, 2, Cardinals, 1
Roger Clemens: Red Sox, 3, Blue Jays, 2, Yankees, 1
Carl Mays: Red Sox, 2, Yankees, 2, Reds, 1
Joe McGinnity: Dodgers, 1, Orioles (NL), 1, Orioles (AL), 1, Giants, 4
Gaylord Perry: Giants, 2, Indians, 2, Padres, 1
(Courtesy: Baseball Immortals)

Clemens' bid for win No. 20 was postponed -- against the Red Sox, for whom he pitched "in the twilight of his career," on Sept. 10 -- because of rain, then the next morning came the terrorist attack. So, then Clemens drove 23 hours home to Houston to get his wife Debby and a friend back from where they came to see him make history.

A few days later the Houston Chronicle's esteemed writer Richard Justice got a call from the Montgomery County Clinic asking if he could help them get an Astros item for an auction. Justice suggested perhaps an item from native son Clemens would be a good item.

"A van stopped by courtesy of Roger three days ago," said the woman at the clinic, which auctioned off several signed Clemens items.

All the lilacs in Ohio
The Seattle Mariners' wives, a very socially responsible group, held an auction this week for relief efforts. An autographed Ichiro bat sold for $7,000 while Arthur Rhodes' earrings went for $1,025.

Old habits are hard to break
"You Dropped the Bomb on Me" by the Gap Band was played over the loudspeaker at the Ballpark at Arlington before the third inning on Wednesday night.

Forever may not be long enough
Teams which spent every day of the regular season in first place:

1923: Giants
1927: Yankees*
1955: Dodgers*
1984: Tigers*
1990: Reds*
1997: Orioles
1998: Indians
2001: Mariners
* won World Series

Farther stars
The Red Sox's September roster includes as many players they signed out of independent leagues (James Lofton, Morgan Burkhart) as they selected in the first round of drafts (Nomar Garciaparra, Trot Nixon). Garciaparra, who was drafted in 1994 by the Red Sox, is the last No. 1 pick to play in the majors for Boston.

The earth turns all around you
After being beaned Thursday night by Chicago's Kip Wells, Bernie Williams was asked the usual questions: his name? where he is?

And then there was another question tossed to Williams: "Do you know what day of the week it is?" asked the doctor on the field. "No," replied Bernie, "but I usually don't what day it is."

Open the door
Toronto assistant GM Dave Stewart on wanting an immediate opportunity to be a general manager: "I have much more to offer than what I'm doing, What I want to do I can't do because we already have a general manager (Gord Ash). "I'm not frustrated as much as frustrated with the process. I've been a winner and a leader pretty much my whole life and the frustrating part is to sit second when you instinctively want to lead. It's tough to do.

"I'm only frustrated over the fact I know I'm supposed to be leading somewhere and I'm sitting and waiting. I've had 16 years of playing and seven years of this. I'm anxious to do what I think I'm capable of doing. I'm ready to have some type of impact on somebody's team. There are things that I have that 90 percent of the GMs don't have, which is on-field experience and knowing what goes on in your clubhouse even when you're not there, and being able to sit down and have an intelligent conversation (with a player) about what takes place on the field."

Warm fuzzy feeling
In Mark Teixeira's contract with the Rangers, which includes a $4.5 million signing bonus and a guaranteed $9.5 million for four years, he does not get paid his $250,000 minor-league salary if there is a strike or lockout in 2002, but does get paid during a strike the following three years.

If the strike or lockout affects only a portion of the season, the player will receive the guaranteed strike/lockout amount above for the particular year plus a pro rata portion of the difference between his non-strike lockout salary and the strike/lockout amount.

In 2003 and 2004, when Teixeira likely will be playing every day for the Rangers, he gets an additional $137,417 for each increment of 60, 90, 120 and 140 days in the majors.

With clients Alex Rodriguez, Kenny Rogers, Darren Oliver and Teixeira signed by Texas, what do you think agent Scott Boras gets for a Christmas present from Rangers owner Tom Hicks?

Riding in with the wind
In the current issue of Baseball America, there is a list of the best players at each age from 12 to 20. On the 17-year old All-Stars, the first baseman is Prince Fielder, Cecil's talented son.

The Braves had six players listed in the 17-20 year-old All-Stars while the Padres had four.

Listening to old voices
Cardinals closer Dave Veres' son is named Tristram, named after Tris Speaker because "he is probably the greatest center fielder of all time." Their older son is named Ty, for Ty Cobb. Veres thought about Walter (Johnson) for his newborn son, but the family drew the line on that one.

L.A. Freeway
Under Bruce Bochy, the Padres are 29-18 at Dodger Stadium, and their starters are 21-10 with 3.22 ERA after their three-game sweep this week.

If these walls could speak
"Remember when the Red Sox motto used to be 25 guys, 25 cabs? Next year it should be 25 guys, 25 psychologists."

-- A veteran Red Sox player.

On your way
The music pick of the month is Flynn, a Boston-based, Irish-rooted band featuring former Cliffs of Doneen writer/guitarist Martin Crotty. The debut disc, "On Your Way' is out this week. This is over the wall.

Lonesome day blues
" I see great things in baseball. It's our game -- the American game. It will take our people out of doors, fill them with oxygen, give them a larger physical stoicism. Tend to relieve us from being a nervous, dyspeptic set. Repair these losses, and be a blessing to us."

-- Walt Whitman, on Union Soldiers playing baseball during the Civil War.
(Contributed by Seth Levinson)