71.   Barkley might have been playing his final game in Phoenix while still a member of the Suns.

72.   Barring a miraculous turn of events, Larry Dierker almost assuredly will be managing his final game with the Houston Astros this weekend in Atlanta.

73.   Autumn is here and, Monday afternoon, the Tigers will play their final game on their home ground of more than a century.

74.   Beard was at home Sunday, watching films and preparing for the final four games.

75.   Barkley, ever the pragmatist, knows what he wants to accomplish in these final nine games.

76.   Before DiMaggio was honored before the final game of last season, on Joe DiMaggio Day, he congratulated Wells on his perfect game.

77.   Before the spring, the Dodgers asked out of the final two games so they could play host to the New York Yankees on those days.

78.   Before their encounter, Aikman almost sounded as if he felt bad about how the Cowboys had sent Switzer off, if this was his final game.

79.   Before this final game, Manny Henrie, the guard, will do what he has done before every game this season.

80.   Bell pitched in the final game of the Little League World Series for his Tampa, Fla., team, but he had never pitched in professional baseball.