A star slugger for Sumi Tech, the runner-up team at Koshien.

Then Jose Canseco, Oakland's star slugger, set up a hot line; fans could call a 900 number and hear a tape of his chatter about hits, misses and the highway speed limits he's broken.

But since no one looked like Randy Bass, the team's star slugger, fans stole a statue of Colonel Sanders from a nearby Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet and tossed it in.

Javier played well enough to keep his team within 1.5 games of the first place California Angels in their star slugger's absence, and they stormed to their second straight division crown upon his return.

One player who is not and will not be available is Beane's star slugger Jason Giambi.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Kirk Gibson, the Dodgers' star slugger, struggling to walk on two injured legs, came up as a pinch-hitter to face Oakland's Dennis Eckersley.

Tension was high as the two-year contract of their star slugger, Ralph Kiner, expired before the 1952 season.

Their star slugger Barry Bonds is closing in on the record season of 70 home runs by Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1998.

The Giants' star slugger, Mel Ott, was tied with Klein for the lead with 42.

Bass took advantage of the differences between Japanese and American styles of pitching, and immediately became the Tigers' star slugger.