Jansen

VERBOORT, Ore. — Larry Jansen, the winning pitcher for the New York Giants in the 1951 playoff game decided by Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'Round the World," has died. He was 89.

The San Francisco Giants said Jansen died at his home in Oregon Saturday.

Jansen spent nine years in the major leagues, making his biggest mark with the Giants during their pennant-winning season. He won 23 games in 1951, including one of the biggest in team — and baseball — history.

Jansen, in relief of Sal Maglie, struck out two batters in the top of the ninth before the Giants rallied with four runs in the bottom half of the inning — three on Thomson's homer off Ralph Branca — to beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 5-4 in the third and deciding playoff game.

He allowed Mickey Mantle's first World Series hit — a bunt single in Game 2 of the 1951 Series — and gave up a double to Joe DiMaggio in the eighth inning of Game 6, the final at-bat of the Hall of Famer's career.

PITTSBURGH — The South Florida at Pitt football game will start at noon Oct. 24 and will be televised regionally by ESPN.The game will be the first of two played at Heinz Field in a 28-hour hour period, with the Vikings and Steelers meeting the following day.Starting times have not been announced for Pitt's final three home games, against Syracuse Nov. 7, Notre Dame Nov. 14 and Cincinnati Dec. 5.

ST. LOUIS — The Revs. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson Monday attacked the bid by Rush Limbaugh to buy the St. Louis Rams, saying the conservative radio host's track record on race should exclude him from owning an NFL team.Sharpton sent a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, arguing that Limbaugh has been divisive and "anti-NFL" in some of his comments.Jackson said in a telephone interview that Limbaugh had made his wealth "appealing to the fears of whites" with an unending line of insults against blacks and other minorities.

BEREA, Ohio — Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini said Monday he's cooperating with the NFL in its investigation into rookie running back James Davis' mysterious season-ending shoulder injury.On Sunday, ESPN.com reported that Davis was injured during a recent post-practice period for extra work when he was hit by a Browns linebacker. According to the report, witnesses said Davis was not wearing shoulder pads while the unidentified defender who hit him had them on.League spokesman Greg Aiello said the league is aware of the alleged incident and has been looking into the matter.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Top return man Allen Rossum was released Monday by the San Francisco 49ers, creating room for newly signed rookie receiver Michael Crabtree.The 33-year-old former Pittsburgh Steeler planned to return to his family in Atlanta. He will then decide whether to try to join another team or retire after parts of 12 NFL seasons. He ranks second history with 14,987 return yards.