BACK TO SCHOOL: MOLLOY TAKES SABBATICAL FROM YANKS TO TEACH

          Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner has confirmed that
     Joe Molloy, his son-in-law and the team's General Partner,
     "has given up his day-to-day responsibilities -- a move
     several Yankees insiders anticipate will become a permanent
     withdrawal," according to Dan Wasserman of the Newark STAR-
     LEDGER.  After nine years with the Yankees, Molloy has taken
     a "sabbatical" to return to teaching at a Tampa high school. 
     Wasserman wrote that observers "agree that Molloy's days
     [as] a full-time force in the front office are history,
     especially as long as Steinbrenner is around."  On Monday,
     Steinbrenner "admitted that the latest defection makes his
     youngest son, Hal, a clear-cut heir apparent" as Managing
     General Partner when he retires (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 9/16).