LaRoche proud father

When he was a teenager, Dave LaRoche spurned his two-sport scholarship to UNLV, then known as Nevada Southern, to pursue a professional baseball career with the California Angels.

"I went to school here for about two months, then went and signed," said LaRoche, who went on to a successful 14-year career in the majors and also fathered two big leaguers in Pittsburgh Pirates infielders Andy and Adam LaRoche. "Looking back, it was my first time away from home, and I was homesick."

But, returning to Las Vegas 42 years later, LaRoche was made to feel at home when he reported for duty as pitching coach for the 51s, who handed him his son Andy's old uniform.

"I've always worn (No.) 17, but when I got here and they showed me the jersey already had his name on it, I said, 'I'll take Andy's,' " LaRoche, 61, said Saturday at Cashman Field before the 51s' 6-5 win over Oklahoma City.

Andy LaRoche, 25, played parts of the past three seasons for the 51s -- then the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers -- before getting dealt to the Pirates last year.

Dave LaRoche, who coached at Double-A New Hampshire last season, was stunned and pleasantly surprised when he heard the news. Two of his sons would be playing on the same major league team -- and starting in the same infield, no less, with Andy at third base and Adam at first.

"I was in shock," he said. "I figured (Andy would) be traded, because he wasn't playing (for the Dodgers) and his name came up a lot, but I never, ever expected (it would be to) the Pirates."

Adam LaRoche, 29, who never had played on the same team with his younger brother, also was in shock and excited. But the celebration didn't last long as Andy struggled through the rest of the season, hitting .152 in 49 games.

"It was a struggle last year for Adam to watch Andy struggle," Dave LaRoche said. "Adam said him going through slumps was easy compared to watching Andy struggle. I said, 'Now you know what it feels like being a parent.'

"But now he said it's really fun watching him because he's doing well."

It also can't get much better for their proud papa.

"It's great watching the highlights," he said. "Andy makes a good play and throws it in the dirt over there, and Adam picks it. It's exciting."

Andy is batting .288 with two home runs and 20 RBIs this season for the Pirates (19-24), and Adam is hitting .222 with seven homers and 20 RBIs.

Dave LaRoche went 65-58 with 126 saves and a 3.53 ERA for five big league teams. He was named an All-Star twice, played in the 1981 World Series for the New York Yankees and probably is best known for "La Lob," his 20-foot high curveball, or eephus pitch.

Since retiring in 1983, he has coached, mostly in the minors, where the season ends in early September. "September is my month to watch the kids play," he said. "If I had a big league job, I'd never see them."