Evening star., 1955-08-02
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW ;, FRANCE, ,rA~u
Topic: Dresser on Relief

CHUCK DRESSER AND SOME Of the boys shooting
the breeze at Griffith Stadium and somebody brought up
Joe Pages connection with admission similar
to Preacher Roes in magazine that he threw spbals
when Page had it." Dresser commented "he didn't need
splitter. Just his fast ball and good behavior"
WELL" another said that Ed Lopats been traded
to the Orioles all those big pitchers you and Bucky
Harris had at New York goneReynods Rasch Lopat
and Page"
page didn't last long," Dresser said "but he was a
great relief pitcher for while remember the first time
talked to him. 1t in Puerto Rico early winter
ls47. when was coaching for the Yankees.
Il saw this big guy and said: Look, don't know you.
But Bucky wants to work with you All know about
you is don't take yourself six innings is
far as you can go, and just watching tell
you can't field bunt'
"we drew circles between home plate and the
pitchers box and made Page learn to field bunts But he
still wasn't any account"
DREssEN RAISED HIS VOICE to reach more of his
Senator'S including several pitchers PageI understand
he runs tavern now-twice within pitch of the
minor leagues For keeps mean II he'd gone back he'd
never have come up again."
THAT was 1912"
an May" Chuck said "The Yankees were playing the
Red Sox and we're losing 81 They got on base
nobody out and Ted Williams coming up.
Bucky calls for Page who's in the doghouse like
most OF the time Joe Mccarthy managed him Joe makes
Williams hit to George McQunn who almost never messed
up that kind of ground ball but did this time
Now the bases are loaded and Rudy is up-a big
strong rgthand hitter against this goofy handler who
comes
steps and looks to the bupen But then Page strikes out
York on three more pitches and Bucky sits down again
1T was exactly the same when Bobby Doerr came up
Three straight balls then three strikes Page got out of
!ne inning my making the next guy-Pellagrin think
hit soft fly. We came back to win, 9-3"
"I THINK REMEMBER Bucky talking about it later {"
listener said He said If Page had thrown one more ball
to York he was back at Newark"
No., Dresser said. "Bucky said If he'd thrown one
more ball to York OR to Doerr he'd get his ticket"
WELL said the other " all worked out for the good
"It pennant Page got to be the best relever
IN the business Won is for himself IA against losses-Ed
and saved maybe 1S or TO- dunno Anyways about
3o-game winner, in manner of speaking"
Now Dresser giving full attention to his PLAYERS
Wtnin earsho You know what he got to be- Joe Page?
$3OO0o-a-year relief pitcher! He got more money than all
except few starters year later"
1T was given out as $4,000" suggested bystander
IL was $30O00," Chuck retorted "And he rated it, A
good relief pitcher is worth than good starting pitcher
any day You guys (eyeng his mem ought to think
nulpen Page-as starter-never would have made more
tnan $4,000 If he stayed up, that is"
CLINT COURTNEY the catcher who is built like a
cinder block drawled with chaw of tobacco or perhans
tongue, in his cheek:
Skip you honest mean that about relief prvp"
"A lot OF guys can start games" Dresser bandlv con-
tlnueo out how many finish games these DAYS? Not a
nell OF lot good relief pitcher today can make more
money than any starter except the real big boys
Let me give you an example. The year after Bucky
wins ne pennant and the World Series In AZ his big pitchers
Reynolds Rasch and Lopa-suddenly can't 90 nine nnno
ana tnag Is te year that Page too his touch Wins
loses S-somethng like that. So Bucky loses the
by game or so, plus his Job and mine
Inc next year Page straightens up and has vear lilo
in A. Wins 13 for himself is or 80 for otber arus 60
o1engei managing and what done was get Case off ~
tLat start lor nVe world championships in a row"