CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs, who have had their embarrassing moments on the field this year, face another one involving their ball girl, Marla Collins, who is featured in the September issue of Playboy.
Collins, hired in 1982 by the Cubs, is displayed partially nude in an eight-page pictorial to be released next week.
In a written statement prior to Tuesday's game with the San Diego Padres, the Cubs said Collins had left the organization.
'The Chicago Cubs' organization did not authorize nor does it condone or approve ofMarla Collins appearing in Playboy magazine,' said an official statement for the Cubs.
Asked if she was concerned about being dismissed, Collins, in her late 20s, shrugged and said, 'I don't know what the reaction will be from the fans or the team.'
Collins, whose main job is to provide fresh baseballs to the plate umpire, has had previous national 'exposure' since the Cubs' games are cablecast on superstation WGN-TV. She posed in the magazine with y Caray, the Cubs' announcer.
'Cubs announcer Harry Caray was the first person to spot my engagement ring,' said Collins, who will marry this fall. 'He put me on his 'Tenth Inning' show and said, 'All right, show America that ring of yours.' That's how my mother found out I was engaged.'
