Versalles, AL’s MVP in 1965, Found Dead at 55

Zoilo Versalles, the American League’s MVP in 1965 when he led the Minnesota Twins into their first World Series, was found dead at his home in Bloomington, Minn., on Friday.

Versalles, 55, a native of Cuba, played shortstop for the Washington Senators in 1959 and ’60 and continued at the position for seven more years after the franchise moved to Minnesota.

The cause of death was not known, according to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office, which said an autopsy will be conducted today. Bloomington police would not release details.

Versalles had a career batting average of .250, with 87 home runs and 406 runs batted in. In his MVP season, Versalles hit .273 with 19 homers and 77 RBIs as the Twins won a team-record 102 games. They lost the World Series in seven games to the Dodgers.

He also played for the Dodgers, the Cleveland Indians, the new Washington Senators and the Atlanta Braves, with whom he finished his career in 1971.

Hockey

The Florida Panthers signed 1994’s top NHL draft pick, defenseman Ed Jovanovski, for $5.7 million for four years.

The Panthers made the deal even though Jovanovski, 18, faces a preliminary inquiry next week on charges that he and two other players for the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League sexually assaulted a 24-year-old woman last winter.

Former King commentator Randy Hahn, now an announcer for the San Jose Sharks, was arrested on a charge of drug possession after authorities found narcotics at his home in Orland Park, Ill., the San Jose Mercury News reported.

Auto Racing

Robby Gordon came back from a crash in practice to lead provisional qualifying for Sunday’s Detroit Grand Prix. He drove around the 2.1-mile Belle Isle road circuit in 69.795 seconds for an average speed of 108.318 m.p.h.

Facing the prospect of weekend rain that could slow the next qualifying session, defending champion Michael Schumacher of Germany won the provisional pole for Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal. Schumacher, in a Benetton-Renault, covered the 2.75-mile Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in 1:27.661 on the sixth of his 11 qualifying laps, giving him the day’s top speed of 112.795 m.p.h.

Ken Schrader won the pole for Sunday’s Teamwork 500 stock car race at Pocono International Raceway in Long Pond, Pa., with a qualifying lap of 163.375 m.p.h. in a Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

Scott Kalitta (Top Fuel), John Force (Funny Car), Warren Johnson (Pro Stock) and Dave Schultz (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were the leaders after two rounds of qualifying in the 31st annual Oldsmobile Springnationals at National Trail Raceway in Kirkersville, Ohio.

Miscellany

Prosecutors in Santa Ana said a federal grand jury is investigating allegations that a juror sought or was offered a bribe during the trial of ex-Ram cornerback Darryl Henley and four others who were convicted of cocaine trafficking. U.S. District Judge Gary L. Taylor said he will postpone a hearing on whether to grant a new trial until the grand jury investigation is completed. . . . The Colorado Silver Bullets, the only all-women’s baseball team playing against men, applied to the National Assn. of Professional Baseball Leagues for a future franchise in a Class A minor league. . . . Playing without Toni Kukoc and Dino Radja, prohibited by their NBA teams from taking part, Croatia defeated France, 93-76, in the Supercup basketball tournament at Berlin. In the other game, Germany beat Israel, 69-57. . . . The Los Angeles Blades defeated the Phoenix Cobras, 5-4, at Phoenix to even their record at 1-1 in the Roller Hockey International League’s Pacific Division standings. Goaltender Sean Gauthier made 35 saves for the Blades.

Names in the News

Diego Maradona will play for Boca Juniors in Buenos Aires, his old club, when his 15-month suspension expires in September, club President Antonio Alegre said. Maradona, 34, was suspended last June after testing positive for banned stimulants during the World Cup. . . . Larry Ellis, president of USA Track & Field and the 1984 U.S. men’s Olympic coach, underwent a heart transplant and was listed in critical condition at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. . . . UCLA men’s track Coach Bob Larsen and UCLA women’s track Coach Jeanette Bolden were named Pacific 10 coaches of the year. Also, UCLA shotputter John Godina was named the conference’s male athlete of the year, and Bruin higher jumper Amy Acuff was named women’s athlete of the year. . . . UC Irvine water polo Coach Ted Newland was inducted into the U.S. Water Polo Hall of Fame. . . . Razor Ruddock weighed in at 243 3/4 pounds for tonight’s IBC heavyweight title fight at Kansas City, Mo., against Tommy Morrison, who weighed 227. . . . Laura Charameda and Mike McCarthy won sprint finishes in the women’s and men’s criterium of the 1995 National Cycling Championships at Seattle.