The Wilmington morning star., 1947-04-10
LEO IS SILENT
ON SUSPENSION
NEW YORK, April g. up -

NEW YORK, April j. WD Leo
lost his lip today.
Leo Durocher, the battling man.
ager of the Brooklyn Dodgers,
was silent, bewildered and con-
fused when he learned of his one
year suspension by Baseball Com
missioner A. B. Chandler.
This wasn't the arrogant, cocky
umpire-baiter noted for his loqua-
cious willingness to fight anybody
or anything who muttered broken
ly:
81 have nothing to say"
And while the muted "Lippy
Leo was silent for the first time
in his hectic career, the same re-
action set in on President Branch
Hickey, another noted conversa-
.tionalist. The Deacon, his hair
unused and a cigar clamped
tightly in his jaws, admitted that:
apparently there is no re-
course-no appeal"
Chambers edict caused conster-
nation and then hopelessness in
the front office of the Beloved
Gums. 1t broke like a bombshell
among the gathered officials, just
back from Havana, as they con-
sidered plans which they enthusi-
~astically believed would carry
them to the championship of the
National League.
But even Hickey, who mas had
his ms and outs with the volatile
Durocher, knew that this was a
Gripping blow. Blatant and rau'
cous, the erstwhile Lip vas a key
man in the Dodger pennant plans.
Durocher and Hickey were in a
player roster conference with
coaches Ray Blades, Clyde Suke-
forth and Jake Pitler and mana.
ge. Clay Hopper of the Montreal
farm club when they learned the
news from the United Press.
What for" Durocher exploded
before subsiding into a day-long
silence.
He then went into seclusion in
a side office, along with the hast
lily summoned Ford Frick, Nation.
al League president, as Hickey
met with reporters.
There apparently is no appeal,
because after all, Chandler is the
commissioner" Hickey said, mo,
I haven't thought of any legal &C.
ton, but I don't suppose there is
any recourse"
Hickey, more perturbed thar
anyone ever had seen him, con-
tinually a his hands through his
hair as he parted questions
whether Durocher would be KEEP
on the payroll or brought back
next year when his suspension ex'
pires.
"An I can say is there will be
a manager on the field next Tues
day afternoon" He said.
There were any number Of candl
dates with the most likely sue
cessor probably Blades, former
St. Louis pilot. Blades, however
was reported absolutely agains'
ever serving again as manager
Two other possibilities were Ed
die Stanky, Dodger second base
man who is a Hickey favorite, Oh
Bill Terry, former Giant manager
now out of baseball. Hickey wa!
known to have contacted Terry
several years ago during n O.
his contractural disagreement
with Durocher.
Hickey insisted for a time tina
he did not want sports writer's X
see Durocher because 1 dom
want him to get off base" But he
needn't have worried. For no ont
has seen such a subdued Duro
cher as the one who finall,
stumbled into the room.
He still was natty in g gray
pin-striped suit but now there wa!
no spring to his walk and hi
shoulders slumped. A cloud shad
owed those hard blue eyes which
used to blaze so brilliantly T.
those famous rhubarbs at Ebbet!
Field.
Nobody knew better than the 81
lent Lip that he had come to
fork in the baseball road from
,hieh there might be no return.