LAS VEGAS — Dusty Rhodes, who helped the Giants win their last World Series title in 1954, has died. He was 82.

Rhodes died Wednesday of cardiopulmonary arrest at Valley Hospital Medical Center in Las Vegas, the Clark County coroner's office said Thursday.

Born in Mathews, Ala., Rhodes played with the New York Giants from 1952-57, then appeared in 54 games for the San Francisco Giants in 1959. He had a .253 career average, 54 homers and 207 RBI.

Rhodes was 4 for 6 with two home runs in the 1954 World Series, when the Giants swept the Cleveland Indians.

CINCINNATI — Major League Baseball is fielding a star-filled lineup to spotlight the first regular-season Civil Rights Game.Former President Bill Clinton, entertainer Bill Cosby, boxing's Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard, basketball's Oscar Robertson, baseball's Hank Aaron and at least three other Hall of Famers are taking part. The weekend's events include Saturday night's game between the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox.

SILVERSTONE, England — Eight Formula One teams began preparations for a rival series after failing to resolve their dispute with motor sport's governing body over financial constraints.Ferrari, which has participated since the first season in 1950, and current leader Brawn GP headed the list of Formula One Teams Association members to announce the split ahead of Sunday's British Grand Prix.FOTA, which also includes McLaren, Renault, Toyota, BMW Sauber, Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso, said it would not compromise on the quality of the series by signing up unconditionally for the 2010 F1 season under the FIA's plans for cost-cutting.