Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-03-20

the bleachers!"
Connie retains his title of president Athletics but
actually the clubs by of his Roy and
by General Manager Art EherS and Dykes Which
be satisfactory to the old gentleman Any illusions
have entertained about managing one more pennaC
winner went out the window last year.
MACK HAD BAD LUCK IN 1850 He'd already lost two Of
his good pitchers Phil Marchdon and Bill McCahan because
trouble Then Dick Fowler and Joe Coleman down
with bad Nobody felt much like playing ball and Mack
frankly admits he too old to manage.
On paper, it's not bad ball club that Dykes is managing
the Short Tactcan much I'm not going to win
pennan James shorts How going to keep from
picking the But might up notch So"
How do you figure the race newspaper guy asked DYKES
well, first of The Yankees might win
again. but doubt it. Detroit is going to miss Art Houeman
in the Army CeveIands good club but the infeld is
young and there's no take-charge
you've got to have take-charge in infed.
Cevelands got Easter Avla the ineld
No Boudreau Joe Gordon Maybe one Of
those fellows can run the inhed but don't know"
THE AFFABLE, oUTsPOKEN Dykes UNDERSTANDABLE doesn't
predict will finish "a guy asks for trouble
says he beat this team that team he
Washington? Well think beat em, if only because
Bucy Harris doesn't seem to have much bench strength
think beat the White Sox and Browns too but what
I think and whatll actually happen something else"
Dykes admits he could highlander who can hit
long bail. "Vao McCosky Lehner and Fain all left
handers he said zernial? Sure I'd like to have Gus But
it doesn't look like make deal with the White Sox
zernia Elmer Vao deal has been in the air for the
last couple of weeks especially when General Manager Frank
Lane the visited the AS I'll give him other
Dykes saying, loud enough for his ball players to
prick their Shuck if Lane had struck at the right
time he might had But he stalled all winter and
far I'm concerned, we'll keep Vao"
Vao big, serouS-ookng guy with No. 10 on his back
sitting nearby with intense expression his face When
time to take the field Elmer picked his glove and
walked out with the others, his brows knitted
DYKES WAITED UNTIL his players had gone Then he
lowered his confidenay Let tell you something
about Elmer Valo he said H" could be the best ball player
in the American League and that includes Joe DMggo and
Ted Williams.
so it's big statement? Well Valo was born Europe
you probably know. Rbnik Czechosovaka place
like that He isn't like lot of my lazy noaccount bapayers
the other Emers intense. the
American League about eight years he still like
rookie trying make good. game Valo bameS
himself He goes the weight of the world
his shoulders
potentially great He ourun everybody club He
field he hit And dead game he's loyal
THE NoW-EMPTY CLUBHOUSE, Dykes stabbed him
self in the mouth with cigar lighted and grinned THE
morning after Frank Lane visited us, wire service
paragraphs saying the ValoZenial deal might
made When Valo showed up said:
ELMER, how do you want to to Pasadena? ed note
The White sox train at Pasadena. Do want to drive
taking eurely trip? Or would you catch
plane and get there quick?
"Vao looked at me with that intense expression. the
papers, he said. It's just newspaper stuff, isn't it,?
Elmer I said, once in while newspaperman gets
something straight Now how you to travel auto
train plane?
Jimmy he said seriously don't want to go at all
want play any club except Philadelphia I
"Wait minute, SON. said. You're going anywhere
Zernal zernial You're going play you're
going hit 800 maybe Chicago chance once
get you and muffed it. Now you're my ball player"
Dykes studied his cigar. you know he said che might
hit $50 That guy it's pleasure say anybody
swapping at his heels to make him go all out"