The Miami times. [volume] (Miami, Fla.) 1923-current, 1950-07-15
Whots,s Behind Newcombe's Bad
Showing This Season ?
BY ALVIN E. WHITE
BY ALVIN E. WHITE


with Don Newcombe
Sportswriters and baseball followers last winter pre-
dcted great things for Don this based on MS peor
mances last after month in the minors before
coming up to Brooklyn.
Don himself, fully expected big season ana was
"ready" when the call came to go to training camp
Came that training period at Vero Beach and the
tough spring exhibition schedule and the opening OF the
season. when every game began to count
Suddenly Don found himself of no value to the team
as pitcher and ever since the opening game In April
Don has been n-and-out His last four starts have ended
dsastrously right he has won and lost record OF
7and A. Hardly impressive for man for whom stardom
had been predicted-with the season half gone too.
Then what is the trouble!
A Variety of Explanations
There have been more explanations for Dons failure
than Heinz has varieties of pickles. In fact Heinz has
many varieties of pickles there have been excuses for
Dons failure the famous 81 would be in front of about
six ZerOes.
Can it be that there is something to this Second year
ink" that is usually blamed when sensational rookie
flops his sophomore year? Is it that Don wants to be
traded from Brooklyn has been whispered round about
(They say that Jackie Robinson headed for the Cubs in
1852 Is the fault with Burt shotton whom some OF
the writers are beaboring mercilessly.
Truth is Shotton wanted Newcombe at least
his words indicated much last before Don
called up. And he has continually assaied Don being
lazy statement which is holly denied by sports
writer's At every possible chance when Don pitching
Shoton demonstrates lack of confidence in the big fell
low by yanking him.
Looking at Don in action he to be pitching in
a damned-if-Icare manner. Is it sore arm? Was his
badly hurt when he got punked it the other day?
What the dickens is it? If Don is not doing his best re-
CARELESS of how little Branch Hickey is paying him ire
putedly $13OOOsightly than the Yankees bat boy
ges then Don is certainly letting down millions of fans
who want to him become of the great names OF
pitching only for what it in terms of sociology
cal returns, but for his sake and his pocketbook
Rumors Say He Is Unhappy
Ugly rumors have seeped out that Don is unhappy
for more than one Certainly these things would
affect his pitching But if Jimmy Powers insists and
other writers feel Mr. Shoon is not the best influence as
manager for Hickey has built then it up to
Mr. R. make them over before Mr. b completely ruins
every ballplayer the club.
Folks are noticing it more and more that jackie Rob-
inson seldom goes to the pitching mound to encourage
Don as he did last year And they asking why The
millions who look at the games via televsion are getting
impressions that not helpful at all
Whatever is the trouble this writer sincerely hopes
for sake his teams sake the natter is straghten
ed out quick Dons too fine pitcher and too grand
person let promising wreck itself No one can
put finger the trouble but there must be lot OF con-
tbutoy why Don isn't winning with the &C
cusomed The other teams aren't that much better