Monday, May 11, 1998 | 9:28 a.m.
If young Kerry Wood had twirled his masterpiece 30 years ago, Bo Belinsky's advice would be the complete opposite -- something along the lines of "Kid, enjoy it while it lasts."
Wood, the Chicago Cubs' 20-year-old rookie pitcher, struck out a record 20 batters and came inches from a no-hitter, gaining instant stardom last week.
Belinsky knows times have changed since 1962, when he also found big-city fame with the Los Angeles Angels.
Belinsky threw the only no-hitter by a rookie left-hander in baseball history. That feat made him the toast of Los Angeles and exposed him to an epicurean lifestyle that would become the standard for all playboys to follow.
"Now I would just tell him 'Do a lot of running in the outfield (between starts), keep your weight down and collect the money,'" Belinsky said.
Wood will make his first start since dominating the Houston Astros tonight at 7:05 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Belinsky made $7,500 pitching his rookie season for the expansion Angels. Now 62, he makes a lot more as the quality control manager of two Las Vegas-area Saturn dealerships.
Wood, the first player in big-league history to strike out as many men in a game as years he has lived, earns the minimum of $170,000.
That salary disparity is proof baseball has changed since the days Belinsky and his red Cadillac convertible were fixtures on the Sunset Strip.
The former pool hustler from Trenton, N.J., shifted his rookie fame into all-night binges of debauchery -- the type of behavior that brought trouble throughout his career and led to eventual alcohol and drug addiction. He claims Wood will see little or none of the fallout he experienced.
"It's a different game today," Belinsky said. "In those days you didn't have an agent. Most of the publicity guys for a ball team, they'll throw you to the wolves.
"But this kid will be a star. He looks like a nice, big, wholesome boy who's protected by the right people.
"He doesn't look like the type of kid that will run to Hollywood after a no-hitter."
But Belinsky's lifestyle also had its perks. He was engaged to Mamie Van Doren, had a fling with Ann-Margret, dated Tina Louise and was friendly with Marilyn Monroe. His first marriage was to Playboy Playmate of the Year Jo Collins. His second was to a Hawaiian millionairess. His third was to a woman 17 years his junior.
His list of friends included Hugh Hefner, J. Edgar Hoover, Frank Sinatra and Walter Winchell.
"I got a major-league experience out of it, which I would never trade," he said.
For good or bad, none of it would have happened had he thrown his no-hitter under contemporary conditions. He cites player agents, who were prohibited during his career, as the biggest influence today. Wood is represented by powerbroking brothers Randy and Alan Hendricks. The Hendricks brothers also handle Roger Clemens, who twice struck out 20 batters.
"I would have gotten the best out of baseball," said Belinsky, who caroused his way to a 28-51 record and a 4.10 earned-run average with five teams in eight seasons.
"Back then (management) had you by the bananas," he continued. "Any mistakes you made in those days, you got the worst of it. They treated me like I killed somebody. When I went in and asked for a raise (to $10,000) after my first year, they sent me down to the minors.
"Today, if a ballplayer gets off to a good start, you have people aiding and abetting him."
Belinsky was more apt to get arrested for aiding and abetting. But he doesn't foresee such shenanigans for Wood. He insists former Las Vegas Stars and current Cubs manager Jim Riggleman will "get the best out of Wood."
"He's not the kind of kid to be carrying a loaded gun around under the front seat of his car," Belinsky said.
Then he quickly answered the question before it was asked.
"I would never carry a gun when I played," he said. "I probably would have ended up shooting myself."
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