Johnny Podres, who became a celebrated figure in the storied history of the Brooklyn Dodgers in October 1955, when he pitched them to their only World Series championship, died Sunday at a hospital in Glens Falls, N.Y. Podres was 75.
His death was announced by his wife, Joan, who said he was being treated for heart and kidney problems and a leg infection.
Podres was hardly a star on a team with Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese, Roy Campanella, Gil Hodges and Duke Snider in the lineup and Don Newcombe and Carl Erskine on the pitching staff. He had been injured twice during the '55 season and he had a 9-10 record for a team that won the NL pennant by 13 1/2 games.
But on Oct. 4, 1955, Podres was the man of the hour for Dodgers fans, whose quest for a World Series championship had been embodied in the refrain "Wait til next year."
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In Game 7, he limited the Yankees to eight hits and retired them in order in the ninth inning of a 2-0 victory. He also won Game 3 of that Series.
NCAA convention
Pregnant athletes' scholarship protection 1 step from approval
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Athletes who become pregnant or have other medical conditions moved closer to NCAA protection of their scholarships under legislation overwhelmingly approved Sunday by the Division I management council.
The council approved not reducing or canceling a scholarship due to injury, illness or medical condition — including pregnancy — by a vote of 46-5. The Division I board of directors will consider the change today on the final day of the NCAA convention. If the board adopts the change, then the protection would begin immediately.
The council also approved a minor revival of text messaging involving recruits who have signed letters of intent with a college.
running
New Zealander wins in Phoenix
PHOENIX — Mike Aish of New Zealand broke the African stranglehold on the Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon on Sunday, earning his first victory with smart strategy and a withering kick over the final 1 1/2 miles.
Aish, 31, who had completed only one previous marathon, was timed in 2 hours 13 minutes 20 seconds, in beating runner-up Dejene Yirdawe of Ethiopia by 50 seconds.
Ethiopians had won the previous three Rock 'n' Roll marathons, and a Kenyan took the inaugural race in 2004.
The women's competition was won by an Ethiopian for the fifth consecutive year, with Adanech Zekiros repeating as champion in a course-record 2:31:14. Ethiopia's Salomie Getnet was the runner-up in 2:34:01.
football
W.Va. back Slaton to go pro
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia running back Steve Slaton is skipping his senior season to enter the NFL draft.
"I called the NFL about two weeks ago, and they told me that I was assessed as a second-round selection," Slaton said Sunday in a joint statement with new Mountaineers coach Bill Stewart.
● Tom Dimitroff was hired as general manager of the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, leaving his job as director of scouting for the Patriots.
● In Wengen, Switzerland, Bode Miller matched Phil Mahre's U.S. record of 27 World Cup victories by winning the Lauberhorn downhill for the second year in a row.
The 30-year-old Miller has won two straight downhills.
