Turner Blasts Kuhn Balk On Matthews' OK

Ted Turner, flamboyant owner of the Atlanta Braves, said Tuesday that he felt he was being "personally harassed" in the latest flap over the Braves' signing of free agent Gary Matthews. "Commissioner Kuhn and his lawyer, Sandy Haddon, look at me as if I've already been convicted," the youthful television executive insisted. "I feel like a dead man. I double-locked my door last night. I've got as much chance of winning this case as Czechoslovakia had against Hitler."

Commissioner Bowie Kuhn said Monday night that the Braves' five-year, $1.75-million deal for the San Francisco Giants' outfielder was being held up pending further investigation into charges of tampering. Turner already has been fined $10,000 in the case. "I asked the commissioner on November 5 if I was free to negotiate for Matthews," Turner said. "He told me yes. Now this comes up. I naturally thought everything else was behind me."

"They say there is new evidence. I don't know what it could be. I am just a man trying to make a success of a team that was about to go under. I just want to have fun, get rid of all this hatred and distrust in the game. I am a rookie in this business. I should be allowed a few errors. But I am being castigated. If they want to get on somebody, why not the California Angels? They got rid of three ordinary players and signed three superstars."

[source: ap]

Hebner Signs With Phillies

Richie Hebner signed Tuesday as a free agent with the Philadelphia Phillies and will inherit the first base job vacated by Dick Allen. Hebner said he had also negotiated with the Pirates, Baltimore and Texas. Hebner, 27, was a third baseman throughout his career with the Pirates, but he has played first on occasion, and the Phillies are convinced he can make the switch comfortably.

Hebner's three-year contract reportedly was for $500.000 -- considerably less money than some of the other "name" free agents signed for. What attracted the Phillies even more was Hebner's bat, which has produced 121 home runs in eight seasons at Pittsburgh. Hebner bats lefthanded and hit .249 with eight homers and 51 RBI for the Pirates last season.