Restoration is set for League Park

Cleveland plans an $8.5 million project to restore the Indians’ former home.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

CLEVELAND — The city will launch an $8.5 million project to restore League Park, the former home of the Cleveland Indians where Babe Ruth hit his 500th home run, Mayor Frank Jackson said.

About $5 million will be raised from the sale of bonds next year and in 2009, according to the mayor’s five-year capital plan. Officials hope to cover the remaining cost with private donations.

League Park operated until 1946 in the city’s east-side Hough neighborhood. Ruth hit his 500th home run over the right-field wall on Aug. 11, 1929. It was also where the Indians won the World Series in 1920 and the Cleveland Buckeyes won the Negro League World Series in 1945.

A small section of the park’s exterior brick facade still stands along the first base side, as well as an old ticket office.

The latest plan calls for rebuilding the field with home plate in its original spot and adding a replica of the outfield wall. The ticket office would be renovated, and the design also includes seating for 2,500 and a patio for picnics.

Bucs select manager’s son

PITTSBURGH — Brian Tracy, a 6-foot-4 right-hander from UC Santa Barbara and the son of Pirates manager Jim Tracy, was drafted by Pittsburgh in the 20th round of the baseball draft.

Brian Tracy is the oldest of Tracy's three sons and the second to be drafted in as many years. Chad Tracy, a former Pepperdine catcher, was taken by the Texas Rangers in the third round of the 2006 draft.

A senior, Brian Tracy was 1-3 with a 5.03 ERA in 19 games this season, including seven starts. He gave up 61 hits in 53 2/3 innings, striking out 26 and walking 38. He was 0-2 with an 8.66 ERA in Big West Conference games.

Torres put on DL

NEW YORK — The Pirates placed reliever Salomon Torres on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with inflammation in his right elbow and purchased the contract of right-hander Masumi Kuwata from Triple-A Indianapolis.

Torres recently lost his closer's job. He is 0-3 with a 5.14 ERA and 12 saves in 30 appearances.

The 39-year-old Kuwata was a longtime star in Japan, where he spent 20 years with the Yomiuri Giants and was teammates with New York Yankees left fielder Hideki Matsui.

Kuwata, a starter in Japan, will work out of Pittsburgh's bullpen.