The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-10-25
CASEY STENCIL
COMES BACK IN
SPLENDID
BY GEORGE CHADWICK
Special Correspondent of The Age Herald
Copyright, 1922, by The Age-Herald)

.Copyri8nt, I'VE, oy Inc Ago-herAul
New York, october 24.-Baseball
records do not tell the whole story
of players success on the ball
field. They indicate his mechanical
ability in games, but they do not reg
lister temperament, moods. ambitions,
stability ana courage. Consequently
while the official records of 1922
probably will place old Casey Stengel
second among the batters of the Ma
tional league (Hornsby will be firsD.
they do not tell the whole story Cf
the Comeback" of this older player
who has temperament. ambition and
all of those other good fighting quail
ties the youngsters are hoped to
have.
Half million for nothing" that's
the real story of old Casey Stengel,
told for the first time today, and it's
one of the real sensations of base
ball history. He was thrown in as
excess freight on a deal, and he
cleared up half a million dollars In
one way and another for the club
which knew enough to ask that some
thing be thrown in for good meas
ure.
Frequently Switched
How they knew what to ask fer
is a story which shows how some
managers observe and some do not.
"Old Casey" sounds like StengeI
might be running around with long
gray whiskers and palsied arm, but
he is not. They call him 'old Casey"
because he has been with the public
- a al
again and again from one club to
another and because he made him
self the reputation of being half a
clown.
Some seasons ago, the Giants went
to Brooklyn to play d series with
the Robins. The Giants were thrashed
because an optfieider named Stengel
placed himself right for the bstters
of the Giants. He caught three or
fur hits in that series that were
screamers, each ticketed for a three
Dagger or home run.
Best Outfielder In Game
There's the best outfielder in
baseball today" said the Giants
manager as he turned to the dugout
land nobody knows it
Him." snorted one of the older
players of the Giants. "Why, Stem
gels Just clown. He alnt a ball
player"
Like blazes." was McGraw-s brief
CT niment.
Stengel went away from Brooklyn
because they thought his days were
numbered. They could see no good
in him. He drifted around to various
teams, but always out of reach of the
New York club. There seer1ed never
trade or swap in sight which could
bring him into the net of the Giants.
Then after being turned aside by
various managers, Casey landed in
Philadelphia, where they couldn't or
wouldn't take him seriously. Finally
he was included in deal which the
New York club made with Philadel-
phia. and he packed his grip and left
on the first train. He couldn't get
to the Giants quickly enough.
One OF the Philadelphia players
laughed himself hoarse when ne
heard Stengel had been included In
the deal. What do they want Ct
that old guy?" he shouted. Pretty
soft for him to get with a team that
isn't at the taiDend of the league"
stengel Proves Surprise
But the man who had watched Old
Casey set himself so skllfully against
his batters in Brooklyn had never
forgotten the rare judgement and m
telligence Stengel had shown. But
even he did net expect that the Phil
adelphia castoff would win a pen
nant for him by making timely hits
in games when the Giants pitchers
were working SO abominably that
championships appeared things of
dreams. He figured Stengel would
be good substitute and good
coach for young outfielders.
Stengel surprised him and all base
ball. He rewarded the Giants by be-
ing one of the biggest factors In
their success in the fight for the Ma
tional league championship. He broke
down in the world series. His brittle,
old underpiining had carried him
about as far as 1t could. but 1t lasted
long enough TO make the Giants a
pennant team and he made for his
fellow players something more than
$4,000 each.
6tengel won a halfscore games by A
timely hit during the season and the
games which Casey's bat swung into
the winning column held a wavering
team to the line. Going in when he
did. after the other Giant outfielders
had failed to come up to expectations,
and turning the tide to victory, was
rare triumph for Stengel.
1t pays to know ability when one
sees 1t on or off the diamond.
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