Evening star., 1954-09-03

Lopez along with Paul Richards White sox are
eX-catchers.
IN CONTRAST TO THE LACK of enthusiasm with which
baseball writer's will for Duroche there almost
painful to Lopez appropriately the
Leagues top field boss
Durocher manage, question about it, he always
has been controversial character He be smooth
explosive, understanding caustic loud clammed up
Lopez presents contrast The quiet from Tampa
unrued in victory defeat at least outwardy For the
last three he has finished the Yankees
model of consistency with 90, 90 and 90 victories
This normally would be considered pretty good going
but not necessarily Cleveland demanded pen
nant and sometimes it politely suggested that Lopez
produce or else AS person. the customers liked what they
of Alfonso but they weren't letting General Manager
Hank Greenberg of lightly and WELL Lopez had been
creenbergs managerial choice.
MANY CLEVELAND FANS may not know it, but Lopez
could have been almost personally responsible for smoothing
the injured feelings of of the Indians
of whom their clutch pitcher Early Wynn
day last February Didrksens golf Tampa
where the West Coast Ball Players tournament held
In the locker Lopez dressing hastily in order
plane to the Cleveland training camp at Tucson
Arz In another part of the room Wynn taking his
time He holdout dissatisfied With terms and he had
intention of going to Tucson, he said
I'm going back to Venice" he said, meaning M
munity Tampa necessary stay there
wouldn't mind being traded The only guy with brass
organization who speaks to that there Lopez
"Greenberg, he won't good morning to me- But I'll
talk to him some day, hope. I'll say 'Good-by.'"
Lopez ready to leave looked around the clubhouse n
fellows said softly. he almost whispered
"I soon Gus is what his friends call Wynn One
had just done that
DURING HIS PLAYING DAYs2-dating from 1928 through
1s47-Lopez artistic catcher. he didn't like
Yogi Berra Bill Dickey Mickey Cochrane he conceded
nothing in the way of fnesse back of the plate He
amazingly dextrous with his hands and his out
standing.
Many years ago-1925 in fact-Washington training
in Tampa and there this kid all of 49, who caught batting
practice handled Walter Johnson and Fred Marbery
others of the then powerful washington pitching staff
Lopez for that's who given sandwich and milk
for his work. plus whatever tips the big leaguers him
When the team broke camp the veterans petitioned Clark
Griffith to the young Nothing of 1t and
thus. Washington lost catcher with 2oyear lifetime
MANY SEASONS LATER Griffith had occasion to call
Lopez again. This in the spring of 1885, 1910 19the
year eudes Joe Cambria had secuted and
brought to Orlando the Senators camp big Cuban
named Roberto Ortiz who Joe thought pitcher with
more speed than Bob Feller.
"Walter Johnson, too," Cambria added, after
thought
Well it was early February and it had been rainy and
windy Orlando and the Senators had to work out
high school field time Rick Ferre the veteran catcher
wasn't camp yet and only the crude rockies Jake Early
and Evans hand They made Ortiz look like the
hardes-to-hande pitcher Of all time. In day he in
capacitated both.
In dther Grifh phoned Lopez at Tampa and although
AL Pittsburghs catcher in those days it legal to
help Ferre If he had been hustled camp might have
caught Ortiz but Lopez the He not only could
catch better than Ferre who donkey but he could
speak Spanish, the only tongue Ortiz spoke.
Lopez warmed up Ortiz in the of plucking
table tennis balls out of the Then he asked Mr Griffith
this boy h?" by Cambria that he could hit
well PITCH Lopez calmly said:
"Then put him in the outfeld He isn't hard to catch
and he'll be easier to h Ortiz lasted few in the
majors ouaeder, not recalled that he
q q pitcher. ss