Scurry Death Investigated

RENO, Nev. - An autopsy on former baseball pitcher Rod Scurry was inconclusive and further tests will be needed to determine the cause of death, the coroner's office said.

Scurry, whose promising career as a relief pitcher was cut short by cocaine, died shortly after midnight yesterday at Washoe Medical Center, one week after a scuffle with sheriff's deputies left him unconscious.

Coroner Vern McCarty said autopsy results did not indicate excessive force was used by deputies.

Scurry, 36, played in the majors from 1980-88 for the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners.

Neighbors called the sheriff's department shortly after 1 a.m. Oct. 29 to report that Scurry was acting strangely, said Dan Coppa, Washoe County undersheriff.

When deputies arrived, Scurry was outside his house, complaining that snakes were in the home, biting and crawling on him, Coppa said.

Scurry became violent and stopped breathing when deputies attempted to put on handcuffs and leg restraints, Coppa said. Doctors said Scurry collapsed from a lack of oxygen to the brain resulting from cardiopulmonary arrest.

Coppa said deputies restraining Scurry did not use a choke hold, which is forbidden by the sheriff's office. The coroner said his autopsy showed no indication of a choke hold.

In April, 1984, Scurry left the Pirates to enter a drug rehabilitation program. After joining the Yankees, he was charged with drunken driving in Reno in February 1987 and released in spring training.

He spent the 1987 season with San Francisco's Class AAA Phoenix farm club, and was traded to Seattle in March 1988.

He was 0-2 with two saves and a 4.02 earned-run average in 39 games with Seattle and was released Dec. 21, 1988. Scurry was arrested the next morning after buying two rocks of crack cocaine at a Reno house that was under surveillance by undercover agents.

Ripken good as gold -- BALTIMORE - In a season marked by inconsistency at the plate, Baltimore's Cal Ripken won his second straight Gold Glove.

Ripken, who led shortstops in double plays and putouts in 1992, edged Seattle's Omar Vizquel for the award.

Ripken batted only .251 with 14 homers and 72 RBI. It was the first full season in which he failed to have at least 20 home runs and 80 RBI.

Other AL winners were New York first baseman Don Mattingly, Toronto second baseman Roberto Alomar, Chicago third baseman Robin Ventura, Texas catcher Ivan Rodriguez, California pitcher Mark Langston and outfielders Ken Griffey Jr. of Seattle, Kirby Puckett of Minnesota and Devon White of Toronto.

NL winners were Chicago first baseman Mark Grace, Pittsburgh second baseman Jose Lind, St. Louis shortstop Ozzie Smith, Atlanta third baseman Terry Pendleton, outfielders Larry Walker of Montreal and Andy Van Slyke and Barry Bonds of Pittsburgh, St. Louis catcher Tom Pagnozzi and Chicago pitcher Greg Maddux.

Smith won his 13th straight Gold Glove, most in NL history. American Leaguers Brooks Robinson and Jim Kaat won 16.

La Russa top manager -- NEW YORK - Tony La Russa, voted American League Manager of the Year last week by baseball writers, is the Associated Press Major League Manager of the Year, too.

La Russa received 75 votes in nationwide balloting by writers and broadcasters.

Phil Garner of Milwaukee and Jim Leyland of Pittsburgh tied for second with 50 votes.

Notes

-- Manager Cito Gaston signed a three-year contract with Toronto. -- A coin flip to decide whether the Florida Marlins or Colorado Rockies will pick first in baseball's expansion draft will be televised live by ABC during the NFL Monday night game Nov. 16. The draft will be held the next day.

-- Atlanta outfielder Lonnie Smith, Detroit pitcher Walt Terrell, Milwaukee pitchers Jesse Orosco and Bruce Ruffin and Philadelphia second baseman Wally Backman filed for free agency.