Surgery

Deptford football coach Joe Corbi had quadruple-bypass heart surgery at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden yesterday morning and will be sidelined for at least three weeks, according to his wife. Bernice Corbi said her husband planned to take his familiar place on the Deptford sideline when doctors gave the OK. Corbi is entering his 25th season as the Spartans head coach. "He said as long as he feels all right, he's going to continue," Bernice Corbi said. John Casella, an assistant of Corbi's for more than a decade, will take over as interim head coach, Deptford athletic director Irvin McFarland said.

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Jason Kendall will have reconstructive surgery today on his left thumb, but is expected to be ready for spring training. Following several days of tests, doctors determined yesterday that the ulnar collateral ligament in Kendall's thumb was damaged and could not be repaired by arthroscopic surgery. Although Kendall will need conventional surgery, he is expected to be able to swing a bat again in three months and should report for spring training on time in February.

After being plagued by injuries throughout the season, the 76ers continue to have problems in the off-season. Today, reserve guard Speedy Claxton will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder to repair an injury suffered at the end of the regular season, the Sixers announced yesterday. Also, reserve Raja Bell sprained a ligament in his left thumb during a recent workout and will wear a cast for the next three weeks. During the regular season, the team had its key players together for only four games.

Andy Pettitte's season ended yesterday when the Houston Astros announced that the pitcher would undergo surgery on his troublesome left elbow. Pettitte, 32, was put on the 15-day disabled list for the third time this season. Orthopedic surgeon James Andrews will repair a torn flexor tendon on Tuesday. New York Yankees slugger Gary Sheffield will not need surgery on his ailing left shoulder, but said he would get cortisone shots to alleviate the pain. Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi continued his upper-body workout and ran in an indoor pool, one day after suffering a mild groin strain.

Flyers coach Paul Holmgren said last night that defenseman Jiri Latal will undergo arthroscopic surgery today to repair a tendon and to locate a source of bleeding within his right knee. Holmgren said he wouldn't know for sure how long Latal will be out until after the surgery, but "a month is probably a good guess. It could be anywhere from two to six weeks, depending on what they find. " Latal, hurt sliding into the boards Saturday at New Jersey, has endured a succession of injuries in his two seasons as a Flyer.

Pitcher Bret Saberhagen will undergo reconstructive surgery on his right shoulder next week, the Colorado Rockies said yesterday. The surgery will be performed Tuesday in New York by David Altchek, who performed arthroscopic surgery on the same shoulder last October. The decision was made after Saberhagen was examined by Altchek in New York yesterday. Frank Thomas, who walked in the first inning of the Chicago White Sox' 2-1, 11-inning victory over Toronto yesterday, has reached base safely in all 45 games this season.

Stricken with an inflamed liver and pancreas, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dajuan Wagner cannot undergo surgery on his right knee until his condition improves. General manager Jim Paxson said yesterday that Wagner's latest setback was caused by medication prescribed for his knee. The 20-year-old Wagner, a product of Camden High who missed 35 games of his rookie season with injuries, can't be given anesthesia until his liver is functioning normally. After surgery, the second-year guard is likely to miss four to six weeks of action.

Texas centerfielder Doug Glanville had surgery yesterday to repair a ruptured hamstring tendon behind his right knee and will be sidelined for about four more weeks. Rangers manager Buck Showalter said the surgery, performed by team physician Dr. John Conway in Fort Worth, is expected to eliminate the former Phillie's hamstring problem. Montreal Expos second baseman Jose Vidro apologized for making an obscene gesture to a television cameraman recording the team's bus before Montreal's home opener.

The New York Yankees might have caught a big break: All-star shortstop Derek Jeter probably won't need surgery. Team doctors yesterday said Jeter's injury should be treated conservatively instead of with an operation that could have sidelined the heart and soul of the Yankees for most of the season. Instead, Jeter could be back in about a month. He will get a second opinion Monday from Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala. Jeter injured his shoulder in a violent collision Monday night in the team's season opener.

Scott Williams, the 76ers' 6-10 backup forward-center who has appeared in just 13 games this season, said last night he will undergo surgery on his right knee, "probably Jan. 1. " Williams said Dr. James Andrews, of Birmingham, Ala., would operate. Williams underwent three procedures on the knee last summer and has struggled since. In recent weeks, Williams sought additional medical opinions, including a consultation with Andrews. "All I can do is hope '96 is better for me than '95," said Williams, who has been on the injured list since Dec. 12. "I'm just trying to roll with the punches.