Instead of a Rotisserie, This Exchange Sounded Like a Roast

Oakland infielder Mike Gallego, on a recent trip to Boston, put the squelch on a character who was giving him a hard time from the stands.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the heckler shouted, “Hey, Gallego, I’ve got you on my rotisserie team and you are killing me. Get a . . . hit, will you?”

Shot back Gallego: “I’m just trying to force you to trade me.”

Out of step: They were telling stories about Earl Strom, the NBA referee who is retiring this year, and Wes Unseld said, “Once I was jumping up and down about a bad call and he gave me a technical for bad dancing.”

Trivia Time: Who was on base for the Dodgers when Kirk Gibson hit the game-winning homer in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series?

Big finish: Brian Shaw, who will rejoin the Boston Celtics at guard next season, finished his Italian career with a 46-point game as Il Messaggero lost in the quarterfinals of the playoffs.

Add Celtics: From Coach Phil Jackson of the Chicago Bulls, guessing that Boston will name Larry Bird as player-coach: “I think they’ll do it just to keep him interested.”

More Celtics: Dennis Johnson, on the MVP race: “If Karl Malone played in New York, he’d win it hands down.”

Only hope: From Joe Strauss of the Atlanta Journal, noting that Mark Langston’s numbers are not exactly what Gene Autry had in mind: “Perhaps if the Angels’ owner really wants to reach the World Series, he should just buy the Oakland A’s.”

Now-it-can-be-told Dept.: From Craig Davis of the Ft. Lauderdale News, revealing that New York Yankee left-hander Dave LaPoint was voted class clown as a high school senior: “Entrusted with orchestrating the senior trick, LaPoint gave everyone in his graduating class a marble to be handed to the principal when they received their diplomas.

“The principal stuffed the 220 marbles in his pockets and by the end of the ceremony his pants were drooping low.”

Name game: Sporting News readers suggested these names for European entries in Tex Schramm’s World League of American Football: London Fog, German Shepherds, Dutch Treats, Swedish Meatballs, Venetian Blinds, Florence Hendersons, Roman Gabriels.

For what it’s worth: After his first 162 games in the major leagues, equivalent of a full season, Seattle’s Ken Griffey had a batting average of .291 with 23 homers, 83 runs batted in and 85 runs scored.

He’s only 20, and teammate Mike Brumley said, “High school cost this kid two years on the pension plan.”

Fat chance: From humorist Dave Barry, responding to Playboy’s suggestion that he is the most famous person in Miami: “Don Shula is more famous than I am. Hell, Don Shula’s stomach is more famous than I am.”

Trivia Answer: Mike Davis.

Quotebook: Terry Boers of the Chicago Sun-Times: “The next time John Huston wins a tournament on the PGA Tour, I’m told he will be awarded the treasure of Sierra Madre.”