Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-06
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW By FRANCIS s1AAA
He Beats You

ability determined largely by his batting average Moth
ing inspired athlete like better average when II
came to tough talking with club about next
salary. But that was before Yogi Berra came along.
When Yogi was named the American Leagues most
valuable player the other day he became only the third
in the history Of the award to win it three times tied
Williams for instance, only Keeping Berra
company Jimmy Foxx and Joe DiMaggo but there is
this difference: :
Foxx and DiMaggio big" they say That is
Foxx hit 1874 and 1856 and $40 in his award Daggo
batted 381 and 357 and sl5 Insofar average
cerned Berrs didn't win the 1855 accolade big He batted
only 272 Nobody whose primary function to swing bat
had with 272
claim foul Al Kaline Of the Tigers led the American
League in hitting with $40 the young Detroit ouelder
and his followers gacousy settled for second place behind
Bera.
TO THE NONDISCIPLE of baseball or even the casual
some miscarriage of justice may be suspected Sixty
eight points like big difference in batting averages
SUCH but to those who follow the ball park beat talk
to managers every day it had to be Berra as No. l.
HE beats you Pinky Higgins was saying late in the IS
season, after Yogi did, indeed pull game for the
Yankees the Red Sox at time when both clubs
in vital need Of the win Il don't know of another player
who scares the other side much Berra when hit
means ball game"
It be tue Plenty of hitters finish with higher
averages In all probability Berra will wind his career
with lifetime average under 300 possibly in the 280s
Others hit home and few drive
Yogi however just happens to be the most valuable
It has been argued that value lies his
catching ability The truth that most people, looking
the clumsy appearing Yankee backstop surprised that
he does well and consequently apt to overrate his
mechanics behind the plate. Actually there other
catchers who are at least as good defensively.
ONLY SUPERB MONEY player, clutch artist. could
have the American League title second straight
Yogi did. He only 3O7 hitter in "a 294 man
when he won the first time in SD OF the top five in the
baoting by 24man committee representing the Baseball
Writers Association, Yogi alone under 800.
Al Smith. who finished third in the voting batted 3o5
for Cleveland Smiths value however partially due to
his versatility. Playing both the oued third
AL kept the Indians alive until the final week.
Williams, who fourth outbatted Berra by whopping
"a points Probably had he been with the Sox from
the start Ted would have As was he played in fewer
than 100 games. 1t tribute to the big guy that he
placed No. T.,
But Mickey Mantle of the Yankees 3os hitter and a
ful-time performer, bad fifth. few ago.
baseball predicting Mantle would become super
star Ty Cobb You don't hear that kind Of talk any
MANTLE is EVERYTHING that Berra is not If one pays
attention to the book Mickey has the conformation
thoroughbred Berra the day horse Souhpaws can't
Mickey because he bats both ways Neither Yogi anybody
else has the sheer speed Of Mantle the power
connects.
Mantle, perhaps looks like ball player than any
body in the business and Yogi less like with his 5feets
walk shinguards knocking against each other
as they gudgngy follow the lines of his legs stubby
muscular Larry MacPha who was president of the
Yankees when Berra first up, startled when he
first Yogi.
Il could have kicked myself when refused $50 900
offer from Horace Stoneham" MacPha once said THAT
was the time first looked at Berra in uniform When
Stoneham made his Offer Yogi just name on our minor
league list figured if he worth much Stoneham
ne was worth the same to me- But when I saw him .
oh, my!"
1T TOOK BIT MORE of looking by MacPhaf to see
what stoneham really trying to buy The Giants
was not interested in winning beauty contests only ball
After MacPha watched Yogi swing his bat espe-
caly with the outcome of game stake he thanked
lucky stars that he hadn't accepted stonehams offer
Bucky Harris managing the Yankees when Yogi
up to stay in 947 and there was time spring
training when Bucky said:
"Ive tried him in the outheld and catcher and he
isn't very good at either position But the way hurts the
other side I've got to play him somewhere"
Berra played both positions that Al season and very
nearly cost the Yankees the World Series with his weird
throwing catcher Harris stuck with him until the 18th
hour finally switching to the forgotten Robinson
But Bucky made very clear that would be playing
IN the big leagues long after was gone and he was