News briefs: Umpire who made history in 1993 World Series dies

CHICAGO -- Charlie Williams, the first black umpire to work behind home plate in a World Series game, has died. He was 61.

Williams, of Chicago, died Sept. 10 of complications from diabetes at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

"He recognized that it was hard being a black umpire, that there were times that people had nasty racial things to say," said Diana Williams, his wife of 26 years. "But the main thing is that he wanted to do a good job. He loved it."

Williams was the home-plate umpire for the marathon Game 4 of the 1993 World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays.

At 4 hours, 14 minutes, it was the longest game in World Series history. It also set records for most runs by both teams (29) and most runs scored by a losing team (14). Toronto won the game at Veterans Stadium 15-14 and took the Series in six games. Full story

Former Astros owner McMullen dies

MONTCLAIR, N.J. -- John J. McMullen, former owner of the New Jersey Devils and the Houston Astros, died at 87.

The cause of death was not released.

McMullen owned the Astros from 1979-92. He then sold the team to Drayton McLane Jr. for $115 million. He also purchased a share of the Yankees in 1974 and said "There is nothing quite so limited as being a limited partner of George Steinbrenner's."

McMullen was credited with bringing NHL hockey to New Jersey, acquiring the Colorado franchise in 1982 and moving it to the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Under his ownership, the team won two Stanley Cups. He sold the franchise in 2000 to an affiliate of the YankeeNets sports holding company for $175 million.

Six Boston cops cited for October shooting

BOSTON -- Police officers involved in the fatal pellet gun shooting of a Red Sox fan outside Fenway Park during a celebration last fall were suspended, demoted or reprimanded but will keep their jobs, Commissioner Kathleen O'Toole announced.

The officers learned earlier this week they won't face criminal charges in the death of 21-year-old Victoria Snelgrove last fall.

Officer Rochefort Milien, who fired the pellet that struck Snelgrove, agreed to a 90-day suspension for disciplinary charges that he exercised unreasonable judgment and excessive force. Officer Samil Silta also accepted a 90-day suspension, on the same charges.

The city paid the Snelgroves a $5.1 million settlement in May. The family has filed a $10 million suit against the gun maker.

Palmeiro projected to return

BALTIMORE -- Rafael Palmeiro is expected to rejoin the Baltimore Orioles for their final homestand, although he will see limited action after being sidelined at home in Texas with knee and ankle injuries.

Palmeiro's season unraveled after he received a 10-day suspension on Aug. 1, for testing positive for steroids. He went 2-for-26 with one RBI after his return, and the Orioles sent him home on Sept. 5 to rehab his right knee and left ankle.

Palmeiro has not played since Aug. 30, in Toronto.

"I'm under the impression that he would like to be here at least for the last homestand," interim manager Sam Perlozzo said Friday. "He's getting better, mentally and physically."

Tigers' Percival doesn't need surgery

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Detroit Tigers closer Troy Percival doesn't need surgery on his right elbow.

"(Dr. Lewis Yocum) not going to want to do any surgery," Percival said. "He liked the way the scar tissue looked to be healing. The strength was coming, so I'm basically in a pattern where I can start doing some rehab stuff, some strengthening stuff, and then start throwing in December. Then we'll go from there."

Percival, who turned 36 last month, has been sidelined since July 10 because of a muscle tear in his elbow. The 11-year veteran recorded all but eight of his 324 career saves with the Angels before joining Detroit as a free agent last winter.

The Tigers signed Percival to a $12 million, two-year contract in November. He was 1-2 with a 5.76 ERA in 26 appearances this season and had three blown saves in 11 opportunities.

Izturis has elbow surgery

LOS ANGELES -- Shortstop Cesar Izturis had ligament replacement surgery on his troublesome right elbow, and the Los Angeles Dodgers hope he will return by next year's All-Star break.

Izturis went on the disabled list Aug. 23 with arthritis in his elbow and also a sprained lower back. An MRI exam of the elbow revealed problems.

The All-Star shortstop batted .257 with two home runs and 31 RBI this season.

Texas sets AL homer mark

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Texas Rangers set an American League record for home runs at home when Rod Barajas hit the team's 146th of the season in the fourth inning against the Seattle Mariners.

The previous record was set by the Chicago White Sox last season. The major-league record of 149 was set by Colorado at Coors Field in 1996.

Barajas' homer was the 246th overall for the Rangers. Seattle set the big-league mark of 264 in 1997.

Ex-Brave sentenced to prison

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Former Atlanta Braves pitcher Rick Camp was sentenced to federal prison for roughly three years for conspiring to steal more than $2 million from a mental health agency.

Camp, a lobbyist, pitched for the Braves from 1976-78 and from 1980-85. He was sentenced Thursday along with four others, including former state Rep. Robin Williams, who will serve 10 years.

The five were convicted of conspiring to siphon the money from the former Community Mental Health Center.

Camp was 56-49 with a 3.37 ERA. His best season was 1982, when he went 11-13. The Braves made it to the playoffs that year, and Camp lost one game to St. Louis in the NL Championship Series.

Japan agrees to play in World Baseball Classic

TOKYO -- Japan officially agreed to take part in baseball's first World Cup-style tournament.

After months of negotiations between the Japanese commissioner's office and players association, a letter accepting an invitation to take part in the World Baseball Classic was delivered to Major League Baseball's Tokyo office.

"I am pleased that Nippon Professional Baseball and its players association have agreed to participate in the first ever World Baseball Classic," commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement. "Japanese players are among the best in the world and their participation in this event is important to the global growth of the sport."

Japanese baseball officials originally expressed an intent take part in the tournament in November but didn't get the final approval of the players until Friday.

Pirates call up former No. 1 pick

PITTSBURGH -- Right-hander Bryan Bullington, the No. 1 pick in the June 2002 draft, was among five players called up by the Pittsburgh Pirates from Triple-A Indianapolis.

Also called up were left-hander Tom Gorzelanny and right-hander Matt Capps, third baseman Jose Bautista and catcher Ronny Paulino. Indianapolis was eliminated from the International League playoffs on Thursday.

Bullington, who turns 25 later this month, is expected to make his major-league debut Sunday against the Reds. The Pirates already have three other rookies in their rotation, left-handers Zach Duke and Paul Maholm and right-hander Ian Snell.

Bullington, a former Ball State pitcher, was 9-5 with a 3.38 ERA with Indianapolis.

Belliard sits with abdominal strain

CLEVELAND -- Second baseman Ronnie Belliard sat out the Cleveland Indians' game against the Kansas City Royals night with an abdominal strain.

Belliard's three-run homer Wednesday night against Oakland gave the Indians a 6-3 win -- their ninth in 10 games.

He did not take batting practice, remaining in the clubhouse with an ice bag wrapped to his right side.

"I started feeling a pinch in my right side a few days ago but figured I would just play through it," said Belliard, whose clutch play has been a key to Cleveland's second-half surge to the top of the AL wild-card standings.

Twins' Silva to have surgery

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota Twins right-hander Carlos Silva will have surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee "as soon as possible," manager Ron Gardenhire said.

The announcement officially ends the season for Silva, who was diagnosed with the injury in April and had pitched with it until Sunday, when he left Minnesota's 12-4 loss at Cleveland after allowing four runs and four hits in one inning.

"He understands that this is what we have to do to get ready for next year," said Gardenhire, who added that the team and Silva's agent, Peter Greenberg, would choose a surgeon in the coming days.

Silva finished the season 9-8 with a 3.44 ERA. He walked only .430 batters per nine innings (eight in 188 1-3 innings), the seventh-best ratio in baseball history.

Everett to miss weekend series

HOUSTON -- Houston shortstop Adam Everett will miss the Astros' three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers after returning to Georgia for his daughter's surgery.

Everett flew to Kennesaw, Ga. on Thursday night to be with his wife, Jennifer, while their 8-month-old daughter, Peyton, had surgery.

The Astros did not say what kind of surgery was performed, but it was pronounced a success. Everett is expected back Monday when the team travels to Pittsburgh for a four-game series.

Mariners activate Meche

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Seattle Mariners activated right-hander Gil Meche from the 15-day disabled list before their game against the Texas Rangers.

Meche has been on the DL since Aug. 20 with tendinitis in his right knee. He is 10-8 with a 5.23 ERA in 25 starts this season and is second on the team in wins.