Record Belongs to Boone : He Catches His 1,919th Game; Angels Win, 6-4

KANSAS CITY —  In another year, or maybe on another team, corks would have popped and champagne would have flowed. But Bob Boone’s timing was bad.

Boone had to pick 1987, a dry year in the Angel clubhouse, to break Al Lopez’s all-time record for most major league games caught. Angel management has banned alcohol in the locker room since June, so Boone could celebrate catching Game No. 1,919 the only way he was allowed, with a magnum of electrolyte solution.

Following the Angels’ 6-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals Wednesday night, several of Boone’s teammates presented the catcher with an ice bucket containing a bottle of Pedialyte, which carries less punch than Dom Perignon and seldom accompanies caviar. Taped to the bucket was a hand-written sign: Congratulations from Your Pals.

“Tastes great,” said Boone with a grin. “That’s the best we can do in our clubhouse with our rules.”

With or without the bubbly, Wednesday was a special night for Boone. Fifteen years in the making, the moment was forever frozen in Boone’s memory when he took his position behind home plate in the bottom of the first--soon to find himself surrounded by the Angel team.

Boone shook hands with each player and coach and was finally greeted by Angel Manager Gene Mauch, who handed Boone home plate. Actually, it was an old home plate, attached to a plaque and embossed with the wording:

Bob Boone

Major League Record

1,919 Games Caught

Sept. 16, 1987

Angels Vs. Royals

A nice trophy, suitable for mounting . . . or maybe Boone will throw it on the floor of his living room and squat behind it, every now and then, following his retirement. Just to keep the feeling.

“That surprised me,” Boone admitted. “I didn’t know any of that was going to happen. All of a sudden, everybody’s running out onto the field. I wondered what was going on. That’s very nice, I was very pleased.”

Boone then settled into his crouch to do what he does best: Direct a young pitcher.

On the mound for the Angels was Chuck Finley, who was replacing the traded John Candelaria and making his first major league start. Finley struggled through two shaky innings--yielding three runs and four hits--and lasted just 4 innings, but Mauch noticed the progress Finley made the longer he worked with Boone.

“Finley’s motor was running a little fast in the second inning,” Mauch said. “But after that, he threw pretty good.”

Finley left the game tied at 3-3. Greg Minton, the Angels’ first of three relievers, pitched the next two innings, earning credit for the victory while the Angels scored the go-ahead run in the top of the sixth.

They added two more runs in the top of the ninth for DeWayne Buice, who wriggled out of a nervous final inning by the skin of Dick Schofield’s glove.

Buice loaded the bases with one out and walked George Brett to force in one run. He came back to strike out Danny Tartabull for the second out before Frank White hit a sharp one-hopper.

The ball was headed for center field but Schofield, the Angels’ shortstop, intercepted it with a diving lunge. On his knees, Schofield flipped to second baseman Johnny Ray for the final force out.

The Baseball Hall of Fame is interested in adding Boone’s glove to its trophy case, but Boone has put the curators on hold.

“I’ve got to finish this year first,” he said. “I only have one glove I feel comfortable playing with in a game. I want to hang on to this one for a while.”

Boone would like to hang onto it until at least 1989.

“There’s more baseball for Bob Boone,” he said. “I plan to sign for next year. Hopefully, the California Angels will cooperate.”

A lack of cooperation between the two parties last January nearly cost Boone this record altogether. Boone failed to come to terms with the Angels by the Jan. 8 deadline and had to wait until May 1 to reconsider the club’s offer and re-enlist.

“It would’ve been a shame not to get the record because of financial reasons,” Boone said. “I’m glad I didn’t. Now, my goal is to play as long as I possibly can.”

Angel Notes

On his first day as a New York Met, John Candelaria told reporters in Montreal Wednesday that his trade from the Angels has changed his thinking about possibly retiring after this season. “This puts a different light on things,” Candelaria said. “I wasn’t sure if I wanted to play again, but coming to New York (after) fantasizing as a child about playing here, I wouldn’t mind it at all. At least I’d know my way around.” Candelaria was born and raised in Brooklyn and said he was glad that sometimes, you can go home again. “Any kid growing up in New York and playing sandlot baseball dreams about playing for the Yankees or the Mets,” he said. “I was no exception. I was a Yankee fan and a Mickey Mantle fan from the word go. New York is family, relatives and my hometown. I’ve got to be happy.” When asked about leaving the Angels, Candelaria said: “This is a business. I saw no sense in staying if they didn’t want me. Maybe they did want me for next year, but the way this year was going, they might have started cleaning house. They did what they had to do.” . . . Add Candelaria: Members of the Mets’ front office were feeling pretty good about Tuesday’s trade, which cost New York just two minor league pitchers, Shane Young and Jeff Richardson. Steve Schryver, the Mets’ minor league director, called Young and Richardson “borderline prospects, at best,” saying that Young might be able to make major leagues in two years. Al Harazin, the Mets senior vice president, added that “If (Candelaria) helps us win one game, the move was worth it.” Candelaria will get his first chance Friday night, when he starts against the team that started his career, the Pittsburgh Pirates. New York Manager Davey Johnson said he has scheduled Candelaria to make three starts, including the Mets’ final game of the regular season.

If agent David Pinter can’t persuade Angel general manager Mike Port to trade Donnie Moore during the offseason, he said he at least wants his client to be afforded the chance for a fresh start with the Angels in 1988. That, Pinter says, would include the Angels allowing Moore to pitch in Puerto Rico during winter ball. “The man wants to pitch,” Pinter said. “I don’t think Donnie Moore is finished. Maybe he can go down to Puerto Rico and show to the Angels.” The Angels must first grant Moore such permission and Port, for now, is taking a wait-and-see approach. “There are still some medical bridges to be crossed,” Port said. “That’s something we can better answer in October. We want to see if he can pitch well enough and without pain here first. There is still ground to be covered.”

Pinter was also critical of Manager Gene Mauch’s handling of Moore, claiming Mauch helped aggravate Moore’s rib condition by having the pitcher warm-up in the bullpen during games in which he wasn’t used. “The first time Donnie came off the DL (July 3), Mauch had him up three times but didn’t pitch him,” Pinter said. “They should baby him--not handle him with kid gloves, but if you pitch him in the bullpen, use him. What does Gene Mauch think, that his arm’s made of rubber? There’s a reason Don Aase left (the Angels). He said Mauch overworked him. Was he the only one?” . . . Gary Pettis ended an 0-for-21 slump by beating out an infield single in the eighth inning Wednesday, his first hit since Aug. 4. Before the scratch hit, Pettis’ batting average was .198.