This Time, an Error Really Was Blown Out of Proportion

Vin Scully, reflecting on his seven years as NBC’s lead baseball play-by-play announcer, recalled the time he erred during Game 1 of the 1987 playoff series between the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals.

Scully thought a fan at Busch Stadium interfered with a ball hit by the Giants’ Candy Maldonado. But the ball simply went into the wire basket that runs across the top of the 10-foot-high outfield wall.

It was ruled a ground-rule double and Jeffrey Leonard, who had scored, was ordered back to third base. Scully and partner Joe Garagiola said the Giants were robbed of a run.

But since the wire basket extends three feet, it is nearly impossible for a fan to interfere with a ball in play.

Missouri Gov. John Ashcroft was among the St. Louis fans who called NBC to complain, and he even called a news conference the next day to voice his disapproval.

Said Scully: “I’ll never forget what a great politician--who will remain nameless--once told me: ‘To err is human, to forgive divine, and to exploit political.’ ”

Add Scully: Scully will probably never forget the last “Game of the Week” he worked, Sept. 23 in Chicago.

Scully, commentator Tom Seaver, producer John Filippelli, director Andy Rosenberg and statistician Elliott Kalb were taking a limousine from Wrigley Field to O’Hare International Airport after the game between the Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates. All had flights to catch within an hour of the game’s conclusion.

When the group was about five minutes from O’Hare, the limo had a flat tire, forcing it to the side of Interstate 94. Scully, still in his NBC blazer, walked 10 yards ahead of the vehicle and stuck out his thumb to hitch a ride.

Scully was able to flag down an empty cab within 10 minutes. Everyone piled in and made their flights.

If a man answers . . . Gary Swan of the San Francisco Chronicle quotes Oakland Athletics’ Manager Tony La Russa on Jose Canseco’s pay-to-hear 1-900 ads: “I saw the commercial when we were in Boston, and I thought, ‘This is ridiculous.’ I once heard him say he was going to be very careful about the types of commercials and endorsements he does. In my opinion, I wouldn’t have done this.”

Trivia time: What National Football League team has the most players weighing more than 300 pounds?

Cutting corners: David Letterman once asked this one of New York Met pitcher David Cone: “Would you intentionally throw a game to avoid appearing on the Mets’ postgame show, ‘Kiner’s Korner?’ ”

The Fitchburg State watch: The Falcons lost No. 35 in a row, 30-0, to Bridgewater State Saturday.

Trivia answer: The Indianapolis Colts, with seven.

Quotebook: Magic Johnson of the Lakers was a sideline guest of Carl Banks of the New York Giants for their game against Phoenix at the Meadowlands Sept. 24. Said Giant Coach Bill Parcells: “I asked him if he could guard (the Cardinals’) Roy Green for me.”