LaMarr Hoyt, Pitcher Whose Star Shown Brightly but Briefly, Dies at 66

By BY RICHARD GOLDSTEIN from NYT Sports He won the 1983 Cy Young Award as the American League’s leading pitcher, but an injury and troubles with drugs and the law ended his career prematurely.https://nyti.ms/3deZiet

Don Demeter, a Dodger Star of the Future Who Wasn’t, Dies at 86

By BY RICHARD GOLDSTEIN from NYT Sports Groomed to replace Duke Snyder, he broke his wrist in 1960 and never lived up to expectations. But he had a fine career with four other teams.https://nyti.ms/3ltTCBA

Bill Virdon, Quiet Manager of Four M.L.B. Teams, Dies at 90

By BY RICHARD GOLDSTEIN from NYT Sports As a player, mainly for the Pirates, he was an outstanding center fielder and hit a catalytic ground ball in the 1960 World Series against the Yankees.https://nyti.ms/3l3rBkf

Cleveland Baseball Will Share ‘Guardians’ Name With Roller Derby Team

By BY NEIL VIGDOR from NYT Sports The settlement of a federal lawsuit will allow the Major League Baseball franchise to move forward with renaming its team, amid a reckoning over symbols of racism.https://nyti.ms/3wQwkKR

Pedro Feliciano, Durable Relief Pitcher for the Mets, Dies at 45

By BY PETER KEEPNEWS from NYT Sports He led the major leagues in appearances from 2008 to 2010, earning him the nickname Perpetual Pedro.https://nyti.ms/3CfbDJK

M.L.B. Commissioner Can’t Hear Native Voices Over Atlanta’s Chop

By BY KURT STREETER from NYT Sports Asked about the Atlanta team’s longstanding use of a faux war chant, Rob Manfred claimed Native Americans in the area are “wholly supportive” of it. That’s not what our columnist found.https://nyti.ms/3GAtwpt

Roller Derby Team Sues Cleveland M.L.B. Club Over ‘Guardians’ Name Change

By BY JESUS JIMÉNEZ from NYT Sports “To be blunt, Plaintiff was here first,” the Cleveland Guardians roller derby team said in filing a suit claiming trademark infringement.https://nyti.ms/3BmgzM8

On a Polarizing Team, a Manager Worth Rooting For

By BY TYLER KEPNER from NYT Sports Brought in to clean up someone else’s mess, Dusty Baker is back in the World Series with a chance to redefine his legacy as well as the legacy of the team he inherited.https://nyti.ms/3jtm061

Ray Fosse, Catcher Best Known for a Collision, Dies at 74

By BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS from NYT Sports He was a budding talent for Cleveland when he was knocked over by Pete Rose in the 1970 All-Star Game. It was, he said, “something people will continue to talk about.”https://nyti.ms/3lH3KHV

Cloyd Boyer, Last of a Three-Brother Baseball Rarity, Dies at 94

By BY RICHARD GOLDSTEIN from NYT Sports His pitching career was cut short, but at one time he and his brothers Ken and Clete were all on the major league stage together. He ended up outliving them.https://nyti.ms/39CZL8l

Ruly Carpenter, 81, Dies; Owned the Phillies’ First Championship Team

By BY RICHARD SANDOMIR from NYT Sports Distressed by soaring salaries, he sold the team a year after they beat Kansas City in the 1980 World Series. “We hoped common sense would prevail,’’ he said. “But it didn’t.”https://nyti.ms/3EyCbYP

Sport’s Post-9/11 Patriotism Seen as Unifier, and ‘Manipulation’

By BY JONATHAN ABRAMS from NYT Sports The jingoism at sporting events that temporarily surged during the Gulf War and roared back after Sept. 11 now often drives wedges, but sports leagues want it to stay.https://nyti.ms/2X2xnJM

Bill Freehan, Champion Tigers’ Durable Centerpiece, Dies at 79

By BY RICHARD GOLDSTEIN from NYT Sports An 11-time All-Star catcher, he played a key role in Detroit’s 1968 World Series victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.https://nyti.ms/3mlhoB0

Sod Poodles, Yard Goats and Trash Pandas, Oh My

By BY MARCUS GILMER from NYT Sports As Brandiose worked to create memorable mascots for minor league baseball teams, it found a tried and true recipe for success.https://nyti.ms/3xAcBh6

U.S. broadcast highlights on Saturday morning include gold medal games in baseball and soccer.

By BY ERIC MORSE from NYT Sports The United States and Japan will play for top honors in baseball, while Brazil and Spain meet for the soccer title. Women’s golf, men’s volleyball and water polo are among other events with gold medals on the line.https://nyti.ms/37n6RwJ

Day 15 in Tokyo: Gold medal games for the U.S. in baseball, men’s basketball and women’s water polo.

By BY VICTOR MATHER from NYT Sports https://nyti.ms/3AhJscd

J.R. Richard, Fireballing Pitcher Whose Career Was Cut Short, Dies at 71

By BY RICHARD SANDOMIR from NYT Sports He was a star for the Astros and one of the most intimidating pitchers of the 1970s — until he had a stroke and collapsed at the Astrodome.https://nyti.ms/3AgescJ

Washington Football Team Bans Native American Headdresses and Face Paint

By BY JESUS JIMÉNEZ from NYT Sports The new dress code policy for home games comes just over a year after the team dropped its logo and “Redskins” from its name.https://nyti.ms/3ircY9i

Masahiro Tanaka is back in Japan, and about to face off against his former U.S. teammates.

By BY JAMES WAGNER from NYT Sports https://nyti.ms/3lmctzi

Israel’s baseball team is making its Olympic debut.

By BY COREY KILGANNON AND ANDREA KANNAPELL from NYT Sports The team, ranked last among the six teams at the Olympics, is set to play the defending champion, South Korea.https://nyti.ms/3zOTFwu