Saberhagen Tops 9-Man Staff for AL

NEW YORK — Bret Saberhagen of Kansas City, coming back royally from a season of injury and frustration, will lead a nine-man pitching staff chosen Thursday by Manager John McNamara for the American League All-Star team.

At the same time, McNamara also named the reserves that will fill out the American League team, which plays the National League All-Stars Tuesday night at Oakland, and conspicuously absent from the roster was Angel first baseman Wally Joyner, who has 19 home runs and 71 runs batted in this season.

The pitching staff has four left-handers, including Bruce Hurst, the only member of McNamara’s Boston Red Sox’s staff on the team. The other left-handers are Mark Langston of Seattle and relievers Dan Plesac of Milwaukee and Dave Righetti of New York.

The rest of the staff includes right-handers Jack Morris of Detroit and Mike Witt of the Angels and relievers Tom Henke of Toronto and Jay Howell of Oakland.

Saberhagen won the American Cy Young award in 1985 with a 20-6 record, then slumped to 7-12 last year with a sore arm. He was on the disabled list from Aug. 10 to Sept. 1, 1986. This year, Saberhagen has won 14 of his first 17 decisions with a 2.56 ERA.

Saberhagen, however, was Manager Billy Gardner’s scheduled starter for Saturday at Toronto, probably leaving the starting job to Morris, 12-3 and 3.56. Morris has said Saberhagen deserves the starting job.

“There ain’t no way I should start,” Morris said last weekend. “Saberhagen deserves to start. Fourteen and two (at the time) and he’s not going to pitch? C’mon.

“Tell them to change Saberhagen’s schedule. Saberhagen is the best pitcher in the league this year. No one is supposed to have a first half like he’s had.”

McNamara will announce his starting pitcher and batting order at a news conference Monday morning at Oakland.

George Brett of Kansas City was selected to be the backup third baseman, behind Boston’s Wade Boggs. This will be Brett’s 12th consecutive All-Star game, making him the senior member on either squad. Brett’s previous 11 All-Star selections were by fan vote.

Dave Winfield of New York, who was elected to start in the outfield, has been selected to 11 All-Star teams.

Rookie Mark McGwire, who led the major leagues with 31 homers at the time of his selection, and Pat Tabler of the Cleveland Indians were selected at first base to play behind Don Mattingly of New York, who was elected in fan balloting to start.

Lou Whitaker of Detroit will back up starter Willie Randolph of New York at second base, and McNamara chose Alan Trammell of Detroit and Tony Fernandez of Toronto to spell Cal Ripken Jr. of Baltimore at shortstop.

Kirby Puckett of Minnesota, Larry Parrish of Texas, Harold Baines of the White Sox and Dwight Evans of Boston were the backup outfielders. The elected starters were George Bell of Toronto, Rickey Henderson of the Yankees and Winfield.

Matt Nokes of Detroit, another rookie, was selected as a reserve catcher. Terry Kennedy of Baltimore was elected to start.