Evening star., 1955-07-12
WIN, LOSE OR
HNAV By FRANCIS sTANN
Anyway, a Notable Compromise

ARCH WARD GAVE BASEBALL an attraction of merit
all right when he dreamed up the Astar game and first
staged in 1888 But far known the late Chicago
sports editor who ironically buried today few hours
before the 22d game did specify exactly what kind OF
an attraction it was to be.
Nobody else, including Commissioners Kenesaw, M
Landis Happy Chandler and Ford Frick seems to have
defined any hard and fast rules either and consequently
it remains semi-contest semi-extravaganza. 1t is
not taken seriously test Of strength on the part OF
the American National Leagues but does make for
interesting show.
For the managers it is lark partly because of the
vague purposes of the game aside from adding to the
players pension fund Bill Terry in 1884 became the first
manager be censured when he used just about everybody
his squad while the National League lost, 81.
81 guess I misunderstood what it's all about, Terry
retortea "I thought it to give the fans look at
players they voted for"
WHEN THE YANKEES of the 1930s began to roll Joe
Mccarthy almost the perennial American League man
The first time, 1885, he beaten AS The next
year Mccarthy played straight He put the burden
his Yankees-Gomez Gehrig Daggio, Dickey and Rolfe
and the American League romped to an s-3 win.
Now it Mare Joe who under fire. but for pre-
cisely the opposite that Terry attacked Nc
Carhy many Yankees critics charged and took
the fun and novelty out Of the affair.
Il thought the idea was to win," Mccarthy snorted.
Lets make up minds"
Thanks greatly ito the Yankees, it the American
League leading the National IL to 4, right to
1850 But the argument ragged although with diminishing
enthusiasm that didn't necessarily prove the Americans
were superior-only the Yankees
THIS WAS WHEN the future Mr.. Wards branchild
seemed doubtful. There evidence that the National
League losing its zes for the match when starting with
the so game in Chicago the tide changed Four in
the Nationals before losing last year.
The juggling of players is only part of the
agera headache that their part which has
varied in choosing the squads There have been scores of
rhubabs the who chose whom and IS
exception.
Both of todays mastermnds Leo Durocher and Lopez
criticized Durochers starting center fielder Duke
snider, picked by fan vote But Richie Ashburn who
placed second ndr not chosen by Leo to underudy
the Duke
Instead Durocher not only took his man. Willie
Mays third in the fan voe) but went completely out of
poll pick Frank Thomas of the Pirates 22
Naturally Philadelphia fans in because of the
of Ashburn and in effect their opinions Richie
did. indeed, poll 1,883714 votes.
WITH THE NOTABLE EXCEPTION Of his Say Hey kid
Durocher did not choose freely his world champion
Giants On the hand Lopez displayed respect
Indians than did the fans in the polls Not
Cleveland player led the voting for single position but
five were named by Aphonse to the team.
There be fault to be found with his choice OF
Early Wynn pitcher but Lopez named Rosen, passing
up George Ke who finished second to Jim Fnigan in the
voting He picked his AL Smith and by-passed Hank
Bauer who was runnerup to AL Kalne at the polls Fans
City and Chicago didn't think much of this choice
either they had rated Gus Zernal and Minnie
Mnoso respectively above Smith Cor the record Rosen
has been outstanding in previous games that Ward
shortly before he died, named AL to his personal atme
Al-Star team
Originally Wards gimmick to have the fans pick
the squads The idea later dropped for some years.
then restored watered-down basisans picking eight
starters (who play three nnings) with the managers
choosing the pitching STATS and bench
1t is compromise, pure and simple, but the Al-Star
game compromise from the beginning in every way
had merit however, to have lasted, and it is
fitting tribute to Mr.. Ward to note that today, at time
baseball examining itself generally to nd out what
record eS624 ballots had been cast to choose
ALL Star players