Oroville Mercury-Register

Holtzman, an Oakland A's original Big Three pitcher, dies at age of 78

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Ken Holtzman, who along with Catfish Hunter and Vida Blue anchored the dominating rotation that helped lead the Oakland A's to three straight World Series championsh­ips in the 1970s, has died. He was 78.

Holtzman's death was confirmed by his brother, Bob, according to Benjamin Hochman of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Holtzman's hometown newspaper. His death was also reported by ESPN and MLB Network Radio's Dani Wexelman. Holtzman had been hospitaliz­ed for the past three weeks due to heart issues, according to Hochman.

The A's released a statement Monday saying, “We are saddened by the passing of former A's pitcher Ken Holtzman. The two-time All-Star and three-time World Series Champion with the Green and Gold, Holtzman created lasting memories for our franchise. We send our deepest condolence­s to his three daughters, Robyn, Stacy, and Lauren; his four grandchild­ren; and all who loved him.”

Holtzman never won fewer than 18 game in four seasons with the A's — he won a career-high 21 in 1973, when he, Hunter and Blue all won 20 games — and had a 2.92 ERA with Oakland. He made two AllStar teams during that period, but never received a single Cy Young award vote.

NFL CHIEFS' RICE WILL PARTICIPAT­E IN OFFSEASON WORK >>

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said that wide receiver Rashee Rice, who is facing charges that include aggravated assault as a result of a sports car crash in Texas, would

participat­e in the team's voluntary offseason program beginning this week.

Dallas police allege that Rice, the Chiefs' top wide receiver last season, and a friend, Theodore Knox, were driving at high speed in the far left lane of a freeway when they lost control. The Lamborghin­i that Rice has admitted to driving hit the center median, causing a chain reaction that involved six vehicles and resulted in injures to multiple people.

Rice turned himself in last Thursday after police issued warrants for one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury and six counts of collision involving injury. He was released on bond. BUCKNER, COLTS HAVE DEAL >> Three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and the Indianapol­is Colts have agreed on a $46 million, two-year contract extension through 2026, a person familiar

with the deal told The Associated Press.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the team didn't release the terms.

Buckner had eight sacks, 11 tackles for loss and 21 quarterbac­k hits in 2023. A first-round pick by San Francisco in 2016, the 30-year-old Buckner was traded to the Colts in 2020 and enters his fifth season in Indianapol­is.

EAGLES LOCK IN SMITH >> The Philadelph­ia Eagles agreed to terms with wide receiver DeVonta Smith on a threeyear contract extension through the 2028 season.

The move included the Eagles picking up the fifthyear option on Smith's 2025 season.

Smith has 240 receptions for 3,178 yards and 19 touchdowns in three seasons with the Eagles. Smith was the 2020 Heisman Trophy winner who helped Alabama win two national titles in his four seasons with the Crimson Tide.

He'll get a reported $75M contract extension that includes $51M guaranteed with his new deal. His best season came in 2022 when he helped lead the Eagles to the Super Bowl with 95 catches and 1,196 yards.

NBA AVERAGE ATTENDANCE UP >>

Attendance was up 1.4% in the NBA this season, with the league setting a slew of records for ticket sales and sellouts.

The total attendance in the regular season that ended Sunday was 22,536,341, the league said — the second consecutiv­e season in which the NBA set that record. Other records set this season included 872 sellouts, 71% of games selling out and the average attendance of 18,322.

The previous marks in those categories: 22,234,502 for total attendance, 791 sellouts, 63% of games selling out and average attendance of 18,077. All were set in the 2022-23 season.

 ?? THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? Oakland A's pitcher Ken Holtzman throws to a Mets batter during the first game of the World Series on Oct. 13, 1973, in Oakland.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Oakland A's pitcher Ken Holtzman throws to a Mets batter during the first game of the World Series on Oct. 13, 1973, in Oakland.

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