41.   Last month La Russa claimed Brewers third-base coach Gary Allenson, the former Sox catcher, had put himself in a position to steal signs.

42.   Like Ditka, former major-league catcher and network color guy Tim McCarver had criticized Deion.

43.   Like the former catcher he is, Oates has vivid recollections of otherwise obscure curveballs delivered at otherwise anonymous times.

44.   Long talks with former major-leaguer Doug DeCinces, father of former Bruins catcher Tim DeCinces, also helped.

45.   Mike Scioscia, the former catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, is now the manager.

46.   Melvin noted that in many instances, the former catchers were backup catchers and probably spent their time in the dugout studying what managers and other players did.

47.   Mostly, though, he pitched to former Royals catcher Mike Macfarlane -- now with Boston -- at a Kansas City area facility.

48.   Not a bad day for a former backup catcher.

49.   Newt is like former Giants catcher Milt May in his ability to toss the ball every place except to the bag.

50.   Ohka spared himself further damage by fanning former Sox catcher Bill Haselman and getting Lamb to fly out.