51s plan tribute to Belinsky Friday

Victoria Sun

Thursday, May 31, 2001 | 10:35 a.m.

When former major league pitcher Bo Belinsky was told the Las Vegas 51s wanted to honor him with a Bo Belinsky Night, he balked at the idea.

"I just couldn't visualize it," Belinsky said. "Normally you get your Mickey Mantles, Lou Gehrigs for these things."

And now, your Bo Belinsky.

Friday -- when the 51s host the Omaha Spikes at Cashman Field -- will be Bo Belinsky Night.

In the 10 years Belinsky has lived in Las Vegas, he has donated his time for charitable endeavors including helping to raise money for the Muscular Distrophy Association and juvenile diabetes awareness.

"I feel honored in a way because Las Vegas is my community now, my home," Belinsky said. "But I was reluctant at first.

"The one way that I would do it is if we'd do some fund-raising for my church and they did. It justified it a bit. Otherwise, I didn't want a big fuss made."

The 51s and Belinsky's employer, the Findlay Automotive Group, will be donating $2,500 to his church, the Trinity Life Center.

The highlight of his eight-year big league career was tossing the first no-hitter at Dodger Stadium on May 5, 1962, for the Los Angeles Angels (now the Anaheim Angels) who shared the stadium at the time with the Dodgers.

Fans will receive mini-bats, and before the game from 5:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Belinsky and former teammates Albie Pearson, Cy Young Award winner Dean Chance and Eli Grba will hold a free autograph session.

Former Angels manager Dick Williams and teammates John James, Tom Hausman and Scott Keane will also be present as will Mayor Oscar Goodman.

On Monday the 64-year-old Belinsky will have heart surgery to remove some blockage in his arteries.

"I was supposed to have the surgery before Friday, but I thought, well there might not be a Bo Belinsky day after," he joked. "But really, I'm flattered.

"What a way to go out if you're going to go out. They say you live and die in Las Vegas."