Evening star., 1953-01-26

dugout behind the lefthe line Simmons was natural hit
ter from the start And he st-class outfeldr too
despite certain awkwardneSs
Perhaps what Simmons thinking o. mostly was the
first stand the usually mild Mack took when AL
Joined the Athletics in the spring The older players
jibed the rookie who born Aoysus Harry Szymansk
chiefly because of his batting stance
II any OF you pokes fun at that young man.
tries TO change his batting STYLE gentle Mack
II will baseball YOU He hit 800 for Shreveport
and 1893 for Milwaukee and he wants to stand
while batting it's all right with me-"
NOBODY NEEDS TO BE reminded that Simmons de-
voped into MackS ltime hitter He didn't stand on
his head, did the AS try to change style Connie
recognized natural when ne saw one and AL put in nine
seasons in Philadelphia compiling batting average of 1853
and driving in than 100 There have
been few, If any, better clutch htters.
Simmons lucky player. Everything came the
hard way, getting into the Hall of Fame And If Al
wasn't precisely popular nobody could fault him courage
He had it to spare.
For he suffered leg trouble yet forced himself
not only to play but to hustle all the time There was one
Sunday in Griffith Stadium that stands memory
That the time Simmons took blow face that
might have killed less rugged athlete
1t was in the early 19S0s when the AS
conenders and rivals Al first base when the
batter grounder second Simmons who was forced
always tried to make the pivot throw giving
the batter better chance of beating the
THE PIVOT MAN on this occasion was Joe Cronin who
had rifle arm and intention of throwing Simmons
anybody else From distance 10 fired the
ball-smack between Simmons eyes.
AL went down in untidy heap as the crowd gasped
This than being hit by pitcher. But the AS
Scraped up Simmons threw water him and to the
aSoshment of ALL he returned his position And doubled
the next two times before Mack observing increasing
distress sent Al to hospital There revealed that his
conclusion violent.
Simmons giving Mack the best it when he noted
that he only fair player after leaving the was
in truth, aging by that time. was still game-and
oftentimes still unlucky '-@-
the spring he moved into Boston for the frst time
member Of the Mats AL had gotten of to horrible
start He hitting in the mid zoos and pretty
happy about it,
SINCE IT WAS POURING rain and little possibility of
game the next day existed decided to let off steam in
tavern opposite the hotel which ae form Of
waters which Simmons viewed with approval the
hours continued to both in and outside the
It was with confidence that no game would be played that
finally went to bed.
Late next morning the sun came out. Red-eyed and
groggy AL went to the ball park He hit home the
time He tpled the next two times agonzng
for man to in his condition But the slump
and the Mats reoiced
then the rains came again. washing out the game
before five innings had been played And washing out AIS
homer and triples well.
Simmons dressed and returned to the tavern Nobody,
including Manager Bucky Harris blamed him.
SIMMONS HATED PITCHERS with cold, purely clinical
hate which is perhaps the basic why he
great hitter More than few times he had to hate
Fred Firpo) Marberry of the Mats when Simmons
AS great basman and Mabry the best relief pitcher the
American League.
Marberrys famed high blazing fast ball bothered
most hers but not Simmons knowing to cope
WIFI AL N0arOerry Threw al hlH Frequently was necessary
for umpires and teammates to step between these two large
tough gentlemen.
Then, one night at resort hotel in Hot Springs Ark,
where Al taking the pretrainng camp baths
tap on his shoulder 1t Marberry. Come outside"
invited Firpo.
When they met in the shadows Marberry unexpectedly
extended his hand Lets shake AL" he said We've been
acting like couple of school kids. Let's be friends"
Simmons, who had been prepared for battle embraced
the overture They parted the best of friends joined
their respective teams again until the rst game
of the season between the AS and Washington Here the
AS had rally going and Marberry called from the pull
pen The hitter Simmons.
Firpo knocked him down again.