Pig in a Poke, Politics Are Fine Bedfellows

The announcement that Steve Sax is a candidate for a seat in the California Legislature came close enough to the first day of April that I thought somebody was playing a joke.

Sax knows something about jokes. Back when he was playing baseball for the Dodgers, one day the team had lunch at a restaurant near Philadelphia owned by Tommy Lasorda’s brother.

A roasted pig was served with an apple in its mouth. Lasorda himself was the carver.

When the meal was over, Dodger coach Mark Cresse and a batboy, Jon Scott, smuggled what was left of the pig onto the team bus in a plastic garbage bag from the kitchen. They took it back to the Franklin Plaza hotel, where the Dodgers were lodged.

They knew what they planned to do.

They simply didn’t know to whom.

“Everybody came up with the same suggestion,” former Dodger outfielder Jay Johnstone said later. “Steve Sax.”

Lasorda acted as decoy, calling Sax to his room to distract him. Traveling secretary Billy DeLury got a spare key to Sax’s room. Cresse, Scott, another batboy named Mitch Poole and bullpen catcher Todd Maulding then sneaked up the fire staircase, entered Sax’s room, put the pig’s head on his mattress and pulled a bedspread over it.

But when Sax got back from meeting with Lasorda, he never even noticed the pig in his blanket.

Said Johnstone: “Only Steve Sax would not notice a pig in his bed.”

Sax left the room, hopped on the bus and said nothing about finding any snouts in his room, much to the Dodgers’ confusion. He played the game against the Phillies, returned to his room, got into bed and, Johnstone said, he still didn’t notice the pig , which had now been there 12 hours.

“Saxy just got into bed, watched television for at least an hour, then reached across the bed for the light switch,” Johnstone said.

“That’s when he screamed.”

The note attached to the pig read:

You’d better start bearing down out there or else. Signed, the Godfather.

I don’t know if anyone in the California Assembly pulls these sorts of stunts. Republican lawmaker Steve Sax might not put up with it.

Frankly, there were any number of people from Dodger Stadium I could have pictured entering California politics before I would Sax, among them Sandy Koufax, Steve Garvey, organ player Nancy B. Hefley and Roger the behind-the-back peanut vendor.

But the amazing truth is that Sax, all of 35, who is still on the roster of the Oakland Athletics, has formally thrown his cap into the ring.

He revealed this Thursday, saying that he hopes to succeed Assemblyman David Knowles (R-Placerville), whose term expires in 1996.

Proclaimed Citizen Sax:

“I will work to ensure that the residents of . . . California can raise their families in safe neighborhoods free of drugs and crime.”

Perhaps he can institute Helmet Night.

You might think that maybe Steve Sax has taken one too many headfirst slides into second base. My personal opinion is, if Steve’s next goal in life is to be a California politician, good for him. Run, Steve, baby.

Who knows? We could be looking at a Sonny Bono-Steve Sax ticket next time the governor’s and lieutenant governor’s seats are free.

Nevertheless, it does make me wonder: Who’s next?

There is an alarming trend among modern athletes to have political ambitions.

Jack Kemp, Bill Bradley . . . some of these guys didn’t surprise me. Steve Largent went from catching passes in the NFL to representing Oklahoma.

They have big aims. Charles Barkley said that after basketball, he wants to become governor of Alabama. I say, why not? (Although if Charles still thinks being an athlete doesn’t mean being a role model, wait until he’s governor of Alabama.)

I applaud Steve Sax for his guts and gumption.

People get smarter as they get older. They don’t fall for the same tricks twice.

Next day after the pig incident, Sax wisely asked other Dodgers to check out the shower for him.

For snakes.