Monday, May 28, 2007 | 6:09 a.m.
TRANSATLANTIC Memories of Bowie Kuhn
Here's a Memorial Day toast to Bowie Kuhn.
When the former baseball commissioner died in March, many of his obituaries included the words "stuffed shirt."
I was a baseball gypsy playing in London when I met Kuhn in 1984. He was at the end of his tenure running the major leagues. In fact, he was supposed to be retired, but his replacement, Peter Ueberroth, was busy organizing the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Kuhn had promised his wife a trip to England, so the commissioner was taking an unheard - of summer vacation.
That's how he ended up bundled in an overcoat on a miserable English afternoon watching a poorly played game between my London Warriors and the Cobham Yankees. I barely remember getting two hits and shaking his hand after the game.
But Kuhn graciously consented to an interview looking back on his career. A couple of days later we drank pints in a Greenwich pub that had a nautical theme. I asked about free agents, unions, expansion, escalating salaries, the strike, the designated hitter and legends with feet of clay.
He gave lawyerly and considered answers. His shirt, if not stuffed, was heavily starched. My final question was about the artificial surfaces that came into vogue during his watch.
"As commissioner, I see artificial turf as essential to the business of baseball."
He talked economics and explained how turf allowed teams like Cincinnati to draw far-flung fans who no longer feared afternoon thunderstorms would wash out their family outing. Then, Kuhn's eyes twinkled.
"But as a fan, I want to see baseball played on grass."
He talked about running the mechanical scoreboard at old Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C., and looking out through the extra-inning holes to watch his beloved Senators romp on a sea of grass.
"That is what heaven must look like."
The man who ran the game like a corporation transformed into a fan who could talk about it like a poet.
I never saw him again, but he touched my life four years later. I got a transatlantic call from an English catcher who'd kept in touch with Kuhn. The ex-commissioner had given him tickets to the World Series in California.
Kuhn treated me to one of the most transcendent moments in American sports - a gimpy Kirk Gibson driving Dennis Eckersley's back-door slider into the right-field stands where I was sitting.
Cheers, Bowie.
THIS WEEK'S BEST BET
Las Vegas 51s vs. Portland Beavers
12:05 p.m. today, Cashman Field
Kuhn was infamous for braving a cold, rainy night game in Cincinnati during the 1978 World Series without an overcoat. He'd be perfectly comfortable in short sleeves at today's game.
TICKETS: $8 to $13
ON THE WEB: www.lv51.com
ALSO WORTH A LOOK
"Bubba Night"
Saturday, gates open at 5 p.m., racing starts at 7:15 p.m., The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
The short track hosts the usual weekly races , plus contests for best mullet, beer belly and tobacco spitting. There are a pickup truck show and burnouts, too.
TICKETS: $10; use your mullet for a $2 discount
ON THE WEB: www.lvms.com
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