Sunday, July 12, 2001

NORTHPORT, Ala. (AP) -- Alfred ''Al'' Lary, who pitched briefly for the Chicago Cubs and was the older brother of former Detroit Tigers pitcher Frank Lary, has died. He was 72.

Lary accidentally drowned Monday in a pond near his boyhood home in Northport, longtime friend Ray Glenn said Tuesday. Lary was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease a few years ago, but Glenn didn't know whether that contributed to his death.

Lary played in Cubs' system from 1954 to 1962, reaching the majors in the first two and last one of those years.

He appeared in 16 major league games in his career, 15 of them in 1962. He had a career ERA of 6.53 and pitched a total of 40 innings for the Cubs, finishing with a 0-1 record. Frank Lary, who was known as the ''Yankee Killer,'' was 128-116 in his 12-year career that ended in 1965.

Al Lary also played football and basketball for the University of Alabama.

He was named the Crimson Tide's best all-around athlete in 1950 for his performance in all three sports. At one time, Lary, who played for Alabama from 1947 to 1950, held 10 Crimson Tide receiving records.

He served in the Army as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Korean War and received the Bronze Star.

Survivors include his daughters, Vicki L. Osborne and Marga L. Lacey; brothers, Raymond, James, Frank and Ed; two sisters-in-law; a grandson; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were to be held Wednesday at Carrolls Creek Baptist Church in Northport.