Evening star., 1955-11-18
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW ), FRANCE. ,rAuu
Return Of An Old Pro

IN CASE YOU MISSED the stick Of type with Detroit
datelne Joe Gordon is back in the big leagues Bucky
Harris who the value Of topigh coach, already
had one in Billy Hitchcock Now he has Gordon, too.
It too bad Bucky that he can't turn back the CAL
endar is years or so write Joes in the Tigers
lineup next For with second baseman Of Gordons
calber teaing with Shorstop Harvey Kuenn and with al
Kalne the outeld Detroit could be hot pennant con-
tender.
Pennants and Gordon are almost synonymous, played
those good Yankee Of the late 1896 and the s4Os
year up which 38 he was on winner
Joe had reported to the in the spring of 1887
but Tony Lazzen the resident second basean and
young Gordon sent to Newark which At the time vas
the Yankees chief farm sounds somewhat odd in retro
spec to call Newark farm That same club today perhaps
would win dag in the majors.
ONE OF THE OUTFIELDERS was big, hlack-hro
Maryland boy named Charlie Keller Another Tommy
Heinrich There were others who destined to
to the parent club and make good. George McQninn
Babe Dahuen Buddy Rosar Steve sundra Joe
Beggs Alley Donald
And there was Joe Gordon.
Long before the 81 season was over, Manager Oscar
witt Yankee Stadium day when Newark wasn't
playing and said to Joe Mccarthy who was skipper Of the
Yankees:
aJoe, our young Mr. Gordon is going to be the best
second you You do not have to worry
about successor to LazzerL'
Thanks Mccarthy said. Nov all I've got to worry
about is easing Lazzeri out OF his job"
Fortunately for the Yankees they found Phil Wrgley
the willing to take the aging hghsalared Lazzert
OF their hands Thus in the spring Of s Gordon became the
regular second baseman OF the Yankees
JOE NEVER HIT for big average. The for this
was that Gordon unusually muscular for one who looked
SO deceptvey small swung for the fences There was more
money he reasoned In hatedn and home run totals
than In 800 averages.
Afed there others who had better percentages Of
accepted but this not because Gordon wasn't
glove man This acrobat He gave the
big pitch to plays few other nelders CHANGED There
times when spectator would that he made play
while standing his head followed that some OF his
CANDLES would go awry he would be charged with
Matter Of fact" Witt told Mccarthy 1--WE got to
The kid gymnast in college. You know tumbler,
trampolne guy. might add he was football player
Mccarthy groaned. Not many football players make 1t
big league baseball Witt said Hold It, Joe Wait until you
see this kid
@ THE ONE WHO REALLY could have guaranteed that
Gordon physically qualified to all Lazzers shoes was
Bill Renhar who the years has been football base
ball and basketball COACH well as athletic director at
George Washington
B was coaching freshman football at the University Of
oregon 1882 when young Gordon turned about
coach hitting jackpot Reinhart says Gordon just
about the best looking blocking back Being
gynnas he block roll cartwhees and everything
else And there boy the squad who could carry the
ball and behind good blocker like nobody ever saw
.The other boys name was Tuffy Leemans
Tuy later transferred to George Washington and still
later became one Of the New York Giants atme ground
gamers As for Gordon, he gave up football In order
to concentrate baseball and Rehart who invited
Scout Bill Eck to look at Joe Once he did the young
man on his way.
NOW YOU'LL FIND three old inneders, mostly second
baseman running the Detroit Tigers the field Meaning
Of course Harris Gordon and Hitchcock The latter was
not SO we known In baseball Bucky and Joe But he was
good enough to put in plenty Of time in the majors
Bucky Harris real money player, and 50 was Joe
Gordon proof Cookie Layageo the Senators coach
or Ernie Bonham the exYankee pitcher Or anybody who
remembers the 1941 World Series
Gordon starred than Series, but In this one
he was terrific In the final Bonllam threw four
ner at the Dodgers but Gordon made 1t possible He was
ali things in that Seies aerobatcaly stealing hits from
Layagetto Dixie walker and Pete Reser. adepty handling
Is or 26 thrown batted balls participating in i've double
plays and batting 500 to tie 2syearold record
That year he perhaps the best second baseman In
The business.