A Man of All Decades, Problem Might Develop if He Hits Ball

Minnie Minoso, the 65-year-old former outfielder, plans to suit up for at least one game with the Chicago White Sox this year.

“I don’t know if it will be at the start of the season or at the end, but it definitely will happen,” Minoso said. “We’ve already worked things out.”

When Minoso pinch-hit for the White Sox in two games in October of 1980, he became the first player in modern big league history to play in five decades--the 1940s, ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s.

Does he still think he can hit big league pitching?

“I wouldn’t go up there if I didn’t think I could,” he said. “I’ll just try to make contact and run as fast as I can run.”

Trivia time: On Jan. 19, 1972, who became the youngest player elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame?

Victim of circumstance: Former Raider linebacker Matt Millen, on playing for the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers this season: “I got a letter last year saying, ‘You are the dirtiest so-and-so who ever played the game and ought to be kicked out of the league,’ ” Millen said.

“This year, nothing about my game has changed, and I get a letter that says, ‘It’s great to see you contributing so much in a 49ers uniform.’ It was the same signature on both letters--Love, Mother.”

Somebody squealed: Former Clipper draft choice Danny Ferry, writing for the Washington Post, described the atmosphere for a road game played by his Il Messaggero team in Italy:

“One group of fans, who evidently held one of our players in low esteem, carried a live pig wearing an Il Messaggero jersey with his number on it. The police spoke to the group with the pig, and to my surprise allowed them to continue. I guess the pig had a ticket stub.”

Who goofed?KMPC’s Jim Healy, who specializes in taking the media to task for their mistakes, introduced a report on the New York Islanders Wednesday night with “Dateline: Uniondale, Ky.” He later amended that to “Uniondale, N.J.” Closer, but still no cigar. Later in the show, Healy referred to Oklahoma State Coach Abe Lemons. Lemons coaches at Oklahoma City.

Add goofs: A classic double take was performed by an otherwise ebullient George Foreman on “Late Night With David Letterman” Tuesday night.

Foreman’s teddy-bear demeanor changed to a look of astonishment and then became an icy glare when Letterman said that the former heavyweight champion’s knockout of Gerry Cooney Monday night must have been like “fighting me.” Foreman exhibited extraordinary control, and the show continued.

Trivia answer: The Dodgers’ Sandy Koufax, at 36.

Quotebook: Dan Reeves, coach of the Denver Broncos, on why a Super Bowl championship ring is more important than the winners’ shares of $64,000: “Everybody wants the ring because the money, if you’re married, is gone very quickly.”