Evening star., 1953-10-06
Champions Survive
Memorable eBIunders,
Dodgers 300 Hitting
By Burton Hawkins
Stor Ssoff CORRESPONDENT

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NEW YORK, Oct. 6.-The
lordly Yankees committed some
memorable World Series blund-
ers, yet survived them to win a
fifth straight championship and,
having achieved that lofty aim
with its attendant handsome re-
ward. may look to a continue
ton of a long reign without tax
ing the imagination.
The debated Dodgers, with the
best Brooklyn team and perhaps
the finest National League club
in years, batted 800, smashed
eight home runs in a six-game
series and reaped the benefit of
the aforementioned witlesS base
running, but they weren't good
enough.
So, following the Yankees 4-3
victory on brash Billy Martins
ninth Inning single off Clem La
bine. scoring speedy Hank Bauer
from second base with the de-
cisive run yesterday at Yankee
Stadium before 62,370 screaming
customers, the Yankees can look
to the future almost as pleasantly
as they enjoy the present.
Protected at Weak Spots.
They have their weak spots.
Their pitching is wearing a bit
thin, with age making invisible
inroads on such old reliables as
Allie Reynolds, Ed Lopat, Johnny
Sain and Vic Raschi. Johnny
Mize can't last forever as the
industry's most feared pinch
hitter. Phil Rizzuto isn't quite
as Spry at 35, naturally, as a
couple of years ago. Joe Collins
doesn't outclass many first base
men
But weep not for the Yankees!
Unused by them in the series
was an accomplished infielder
Jerry Coleman. back from the
service and ready to resume next
spring. Nothing's wrong with
their outfield. but should any
thing disastrous happen they
have Irv Noren and Bill Renna
as capable reserves, and Bill
Skowron is ready to move UP
from Kansas City.
1t was while the series was
in progress. while the Yankees
were en- route to their 10th
championship in 20 World Series
appearances, that they gave a
severe jolt to every other major
league club that hopes to build
up to them.
Leja Is Crusher.
That crusher was contained
in an announcement that the
Yankees had signed 17-year-old
Frank Leja. highly promising
first baseman. Every club which
could afford to bid went for Leila
in a big way, but the Yankees
landed him. They're not taking
a SNUG attitude. Success isn't
dimming their vision.
If the Yankees pitching is
feeling the effects of time there
are youngsters coming along.
Left-handed Steve Kraly, unem-
ployed in the Series and used
only 25 innings during the sea-
son, won 10 and lost 2 with
Birmingham before the Yankees
imported him. Bill Miller and
Art Schallock are others among
many who could step in and take
up the slack. And there's Tom
Morgan, emerging from the
service.
The Yankees were guilty OF
two distinct bonehead plays.
They lost a chance to tie the
fourth game when the Series
hero, Martin, made a pointless
attempt to score from second
base and was tagged easily for
the game ending out. Billy
didn't have the wisdom to pull
up at third base and Frank Gro
setti, the third-base coach, made
no attempt to stop him. So,
instead of three men on, two out
and an occasional home run hit
ter, Collins, at the plate, the
game was over.
Ford Pulls Rock.
Whitley Ford was yesterdays
senseless runner, in addition to
being a highly effective pitcher
for seven innings. With the bases
jammed and one out in the Sec
ond inning the Yankees were
leading 80, and threatening to
blow the game wide open.
Ford was on the third base
when Yogi Berra flied deep to
Duke Snider in center. Kate
Smith could have tagged up and
trotted home after the catch,
but Ford failed to tag up. He
remembered the omission half
way to the plate, retreated a
eSee WORLD SERIES. A-21D
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