Major League's Oldest Player Wraps Up Long Career

MIAMI, Florida -- Charlie Hough, Major League Baseball's oldest player, has thrown his last knuckleball.


The Florida Marlins placed the 46-year-old on the disabled list Wednesday, and he does not expect to pitch again. He has been bothered by a hip ailment that eventually will require replacement surgery.


At Hough's request, he will remain with the team for the rest of the season.


"He doesn't feel there's any chance for him to pitch any more with his hip the way it is," Marlins general manager Dave Dombrowski said.


With a shrug, a smile and a cigarette, Hough accepted the end of a major-league career that began in 1970.


"I'm pretty simple with stuff like that," he said. "When I came out of high school, I didn't picture myself throwing a baseball for 28 years. It's been fun."


Hough started and won the first game in Marlins' history last year, and he was the team's opening-day starter again this season. He lost his final five decisions to wind up with a career record of 216-216. This year he was 5-9 with an ERA of 5.15. "The only thing frustrating to me is not being able to finish out the year," Hough said.


Only two players of the modern era, Nolan Ryan and Tommy John, had longer careers than Hough, who pitched for 25 seasons.


Last year he became the first pitcher to have both 400 starts and 400 relief appearances. He ranks 14th in games pitched with 858, and his 2,362 strikeouts rank 26th -- one place behind Sandy Koufax.


"He did it in five years," Hough said with a laugh. "I did it in 20."


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Darryl Strawberry took care of unfinished business Monday night, moving to make his peace with Tom Lasorda.


Strawberry, sober now and helping the San Francisco Giants after his release by the Los Angeles Dodgers, approached his former manager when he saw Lasorda on the field during batting practice before gametime. He shook hands with Lasorda and hugged him.


"It's good to see you," Lasorda told Strawberry. "I hope everything goes well for you. Take care of yourself."


Strawberry faced his former team for the first time. He went 0-for-4 as the Giants lost 10-5. San Francisco came back to win the next two games in the series to move within a half-game of the Dodgers; the Giants have gone 14-3 since Strawberry's arrival.


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After Wednesday night's games, the other division races became more tense as well. In Atlanta, the Braves snapped Montreal's eight-game winning streak and moved to within 2 1/2 of first in the National League East.


In Cincinnati, Jeff Bagwell hit his 34th long ball as the Astros moved into a virtual tie for first with the Reds in the NL Central. Oakland moved within 1 1/2 games of Texas in the AL West, while the Indians and White Sox are tied in the AL Central -- with Kansas City creeping into the picture. Only the Yankees seem safe at the moment: They lead the Orioles by five full games. (AP, MT)