American Notes PENNSYLVANIA

Legendary athletes are honored when their number is retired with them. Just ask Dave ("Spuds") Bresnahan, the never-to-be-forgotten second-string catcher for the Williamsport (Pa.) Bills, a class AA team. His immortal feat on the diamond last year prompted 2,700 of his fans to gather at Bowman Field last week to pay him a belated tribute and to paint his number, 59, on the outfield fence.

With his hapless team 27 games out of first place and losing as usual, Bresnahan had fired an errant pick-off throw over the third baseman's head. As the runner came home, Dave triumphantly tagged him out: he had held onto the ball while tossing an Idaho potato carved to look like a baseball. Unamused, the umpire ruled that the run had scored. Dave's angry manager got him kicked off the team. Last week Bresnahan, now a real estate salesman, was vindicated. "Gehrig had to hit .340 and play in more than 2,000 consecutive games to get his number retired," he boasted. "All I had to do is hit less than .150 and throw a potato."