Evening star., 1953-03-04
Milan
Continued From Page CID

he wouldn't have any trouble
leading the league"
Milan was a better base run
ner than Cobb" Griffith said.
Cobb got on base more often
because he was a better hitter,
but if Clyde had been on base
as frequently as Ty, he would
have stolen more bases"
A man of infinite patience,
Milan is credited by Gil Coan
with giving him the advice that
enabled Coan to hit 1903 in 1850
and again in 1851. "He got me
to go into a crouch and it
worked" Coan said, but last
year tried to slug away and
had a bad year. Clyde had moth
ing but encouragement for young
players-never bawled them out.
He always had a kind word"
Milan started with Clarksville
in the North Texas League in
1905, but shifted to McAllister of
the Oklahoma State League be-
fore the season was over. He
also played with Shawnee Of the
same league and Wichita of the
Western Association before he
was purchased by Washington.
Signed With johnson.
The Mats fell heir to two of
their most illustrious sons late
in the season of 1907. One was
a tall, gangling boy from Hum
bolt. Kans., named Walter john
son, perhaps the greatest pitcher
of all time. The other was a
small, wiry outf1elder from Lin
den. Tenn. named Jesse Clyde
Milan.
Cliff Blankenship, a Washing
ton catcher idled by a broken
finger, was the discoverer of
both. Sent on a scouting trip to
Weiser, Idaho, to look at john
son, Blankenship stopped of at
Wichita, spied Milan in action
and returned from his journey
to recommend the purchase of
both players.
Milan played with the Mats
from 1907 through 1922, the year
he managed the club. His best
years from a batting standpoint
were in 1911, when he batted
.315; 1912, when he batted .3O6,
and 1920, when he batted 1922,
but he was noted more for his
base stealing and defensive
ability.
He managed New Haven in
1924. Memphis in 1925 and 1926,
returned to Washington as a
coach for two years, then piloted
Birmingham for six years. He
managed the Mats farm club at
Chattanooga in 1885, 1886 and
until mid-season Of 1897, when
Ill health forced him to resign
and finish the year as a scout.
He came back to Washington
as a coach in 1898 to serve faith
fully under Bucky Harris, Os-
sic Bluege, Joe Kuhel and Harris
again.
Milan told physicians yester-
day that he recently had been
bothered by chest pains but dis
missed them lightly. Called "Zeb"
and "Deerfoot" by intimates.
Milan never would indicate he
was feeling badly except by wan
dering off to sit by himself.
First Man at Clubhouse.
He always was the first man
in the clubhouse at Griffith
Stadium. He'd come in every
day at 3 o'clock when we were
playing night games." recalled
Fred Baxter. clubhouse custo-
dian. The rest Of the players
and coaches wouldn't get there
until about 6 o'clock, but Clyde
often told me he just liked the
atmosphere Of the clubhouse
that he'd rather spend his time
there than sorneplace else. He'd
sit there and tell me stories by
the hour"
Milan is survived by his widow,
Margaret, whom he married
November 10. 1913. two married
daughters. q sister and three
brothers. Clint, a Texas oil man;
Frank an actor, and Horace, q
scout for the Mats.
The Mats postponed their
annual two-ball golf tournament
scheduled today. It usually is q
riotous affair with much laugh
| ing over ridiculous golf. but the
Mats wNren't LAUGHING today.