Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-26
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW By FRANCIS srApA
From Gehriq to Klaus

MIAMI Dec 2s-one the fetching curosites of base
ball the Illustration clubs experience in trying to plug
what referred spots For instance it's been long
time since the Senators had that real good outelder The
who could deliver the long ball Like Goose Gosln.
The thought apropos Of nothing except perhaps that
Christmas has and gone and not single acquisition
made that might win pennan for club another
The Yankees for instance presumably still looking for
that first baseman It's been II years. you know since Lou
Gehrg the last dayn dayou performer at that station
lot of Buckingham stuff has been printed since
Gehrg vacated first base. Many tried but
chosen permanent basis Yet did the lack of big first
sacker stop the Yankees? Not that you could notice They
II pennants in the last II years almost all the World
Series, and finished as low as fourth only in 1945.
THIS IS NOT TO state that Gehrig was expendable
That would be the height OF fooshness But the absence OF
Gehrg through the yeareSpecay when the Yankees
three straight in 1941-l94S and five in l949
fs5s-made patent that single weakness win stop
otherwise solid ball club
When the last time the Giants had that terrific
catcher? The puriss will go back undoubtedly
Yet the Giants have since Gus hung up
his mit Won EN- without guy who belonged in the
league with Mancuso.
Not many days ago. Ted Williams who here vouch-
safed that the Red Sox could take it all in 1956
land another nfelder The kingpn interviewed after
the Washington Boston established First Baseman
Mickey Vernon and Pitcher Bob Portereld the Hub
did Ted specify the ineder guess would be
third baseman
1t is ironic that Mike Higgins who did so well in his
first year as manager OF the Red Sox should require third
baseman In his day. which wasn't long ago, Higgins
play But after his bearings George
was traded the Red Sox have had third base mseries
THERE is A SCHOOL that played the theme
that Joe Cronin general manager of the Sox,
possible pennant two when joe then
shortstop, brushed off Pee Wee Reese The Red
invested heavily in Reese almost the extent of buying
Louisville franchise to land Wee but critics
contended that Reese the property
Club he was given the brush
They felt these critics. that Cronn reluctant
admit that he Joe) couldn't make the plays he
felt he still had plenty baseball left in his system
didn't.
1t is true that Boston lost great shortstop Reese
He would have been kind of good hitter with that
short fence in left field But between and the
present incumbent Billy Klaus there who will do
That would be Johnny Pesky He Bobby Doer
base, real team.
THE RED SoX WERE lucky when they got Klaus Other
wise, Reese still being active Dodgers spark plug
Cronn's abrupt dismissal of Pee might sore
point, yet.
Klaus came out of nowhere, proving that everybody
makes mistakes He belonged the Giants had played the
minors and apparently headed higher when the
Giants traded him to the Red Sox for bulpen catcher
KLAUS isn't anything wonderful He is far Bondy
Ryan than Hans Wagner In short Billy styled ball
oil IRE fielding and hitting bit better than he
Williams when he committed himself to be quoted didn't
nave shorsop in mind when he eelingly spoke
other infelder for pennant"