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Jerry Hairston Jr.’s bid to join Baseball’s Hall of Shame [Video]

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Utility man Jerry Hairston Jr., who had been out over the weekend with a sore quad, is scheduled to return against the Indians on Monday, this time as a shortstop.

Last time he was seen -- Thursday, playing third base -- he brought back memories of Mariners third baseman Lenny Randle.

It was Randle in 1981 who dropped to all fours in the Kingdome to blow on a ball dribbled down the line by the Royals’ Amos Otis. Initially it was ruled a foul ball, until umpires huddled, ruled that Randle deliberately altered the course of the ball, and awarded Otis an infield single.

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So here is Hairston on Thursday, coincidentally as the Dodgers were playing the Royals, when Irving Falu hit a tapper down the third-base line.

Hairston didn’t have much lung power and gave up on his effort, as the umpire quickly called it fair.

Randle’s effort earned him a spot in “The Baseball Hall of Shame,” a book by Bruce Nash and Allan Zullo that highlights the zany side of baseball.

In the book, Randle is quoted as saying: “I didn’t blow on it. I used the power of suggestion.”

Several Dodgers also earn spots in their Hall of Shame, including:

-- Jeff Kent and J.D. Drew being thrown out on bang-bang plays at home plate against the Mets in 2006 is called by Nash and Zullo, “the most shameful baserunning fiasco in playoff history.”

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-- Hall of Fame shortstop Pee Wee Reese was on first base with a walk in 1947 when Carl Furillo lost his bat on a swing. Being the considerate sort, Reese walked over to pick up the bat. Alas, without calling time. He was tagged out.

-- Manny Ramirez gets a nod for holding up a game for several minutes in 2008 because he was in the bathroom.

-- Bill Sharman for infamously being ejected in 1951 without ever actually playing in a major league game.

-- Steve Sax, naturally, gets a mention for his overexcited high-five of third base coach Joey Amalfitano after a walk-off homer in 1985 that broke Amalfitano’s thumb.

Said Sax: “I turned around and saw him jumping up and down and figured, ‘Damn, he’s really excited I hit a home run.’ ”

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Jerry Hairston Jr.’s bid to join Baseball’ Hall of Shame [Video]

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