Evening star., 1948-10-13

Flair for Comedy
Marked dCasey's
Major Pi|oting
Two-Yeur Contract
Is Given Successor
To Bueky Harris

By Joe ReichIer
Assoeioisd Press Sports Writer


NEW YORK, Oct. 13.-Happier, If
not more profitable days. are sure
to be ahead for the New York Yam
KEGS with Charles Dillon Stengel,
the inimitable Casey, as the new
manager of the club.
Stengel, who gained big baseball
fame as a player with the New York
Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers and
who later managed the Brooks as
we'll as the Boston Braves, was
signed to a tWo-year contract yes
terday. He succeeds Bucky Harris,
who resigned last week.
The 57-year-old Missourian (he
derived his nickname from his
Kansas City birthplace) joins the
conservative Yankees with a repu-
tatlon as a madcap maestro with a
fair for comedy. But he also pos
sesseS keen, analytical mind and a
comprehensive idea of the game.
He comes back to the big leagues
after five years in the minors. Only
last Sunday he finished plotting the
Oakland club to Pacific Coast
pennant and playoff championship.
Developed Young Players.
Stengel managed second division
clubs in the majors but has had
great success in the minors. In ad-
dition to his st-place finish this
past season. Casey led Milwaukee
to an American Association flag in
1914.
His greatest forte is said to be de-
veloping young players. 1t was
Stengel who first saw greatness in
Johnny Sain and Warren SPAIN
and who developed Gene Bearden
into a star pitcher for the Cleveland
Indians.
Stengel was a big league out
fielder Cor Is years, starred in
three World Series and managed
for nine years in the big time. He
is best remembered for his laugh
provoking antics on the diamond.
There was the time when Casey,
objecting to playing long game
in semidarkness, produced a toy
fashlight to summon Fred Frank
mouse, a pitcher, from the bullpen
to the mound. Although the spec
tators rocked with laughter, Casey
drew a $25 fine.
KLEIN Got the Bird.
Another time, Stengel was warned
by Umpire Bill KLEIN to stop his
heckling or he would be evicted
from the grounds. In Casey's next
turn at bat, KLEIN called strike
on him, @hereupon Casey bowed
graciously to KLEIN. doffed his cap
and out flew sparrow.
He was just as funny off the
field. Once when he was managing
the woe-begone Braves of yesteryear
somebody asked him about Boston's
outlook.
We'll" drawled Casey. 'Fette has
sore arm. Turner hasn't recov-
cred from his broken nose. Erick-
sons knee pains him. Majeski has
stone bruise on his foots Warstler
is banged up. Posedel has stom-
ach ache. Hassett has cold. West
isn't feeling so we'll. But I guess
we'll carry on-the bat boys in
shape"
Once when with the Giants Casey
was fined SIS by John McGraw for
thinking"
I'll do the thinking on this ball
club" snapped the Giants fiery
manager. You do as you're told"
Joined Dodgers in 1912.
Casey's first job in organized base
ball was with his home town Kansas
City club in 1910. He also played
that year with Kankakee, ILL.,, and
Maysville. KY. He divided his time
between baseball and dentistry in
the minors. He went two and a
half years to a dental school but
never got his diploma. His promo
ton to the Brooklyn Dodgers ended
his tooth-pulling dreams.
| He Joined the Dodgers in 1912
cracking out four hits in four times
at bat and stealing two bases in
his big league DEBUT.
He played right field for the
Dodgers for the next five seasons.
In 1918, Stengel was Pirate until
he entered the Navy. He left Pitts
burgh at the end of the 1919 season
because he had the temerity to ask
Owner Barney Dreyfuss for raise.
AL I wanted was $500 more, so
got the Iast-place Phillies instead"
Casey related.
During the latter part of 1921, the
Phils traded Stengel to the Giants.
Casey got the news in the Phils
clubhouse. He was so elated he
dashed out without bothering to
pack his bag.
Stengel batted 1858 and .339 for
the Giants in 1922 and 1928. re-
spectively, and starred in the losing
% World Series against the YAM
KEGS. Stengel won both Giant VIC
tories with home runs. Casey was
sent to the Braves the following sea-
son where he ended his big league