Evening star., 1955-07-07
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW >, FRANCE, ,r4pp
Birdie and the Boast

THIS WAS BACK in March during the muscle -hexng
stage for the ball clubs and Birdie Tebbet who pulls
punches, blurted out: Va %@ #
we were in the Amescan League, think we'd win
the pennant' ~
Kindier people felt sorry the Cincinnati Redegs
manager and the more critical took him to task publicly
and privately 1t did look too Birdie was off base
when the Redlegs began their norWard exhibition tour
with Washington @@. <-t %
In 1s games Cincinnati only two from the Senator'S
whom nobody rating very highly and was highly
embarrassing experience for Tebbes His htters weren't
hitting and his pitchers weren't pitching.
On opening day in Washington the dry ofttes caustc
manager OF the Baltimore Orioles Paul Richards put this
question to a newspaperman
whats the matter with this ball cub?" He nodded
toward the Senator's dugout.
What do you mean?"
"Well" Richards drawled "your club Just whipped hell
outta Cincinnati, which read could win the pennant in
league"
IF TEBBETTS HAD PROBLEMS in March he had
double problems in April when it counted The Redegs
lost their first five games the season
started they 20 and seventh place S games
BY May Is they still were in seventh place. grateful
Pittsburgh for being in the league.
Now look at the Redegs! They in the first DIVISION
as these lines were written and not too far from the
500 mark They ahead Of the Cardinals among Others
and in the spring lot of players were putting
few bobs on ST. Louis to take ALL They giving the
world champion Giants fits in their attempt salvage Just
a little prestige by finishing among the top four.
Tebbetts may have spoken reckessly in March, but he
not looking precisely like donkey now although
recent fsticufng with Harry Walker he may shown
certain athletic rustiness In perhaps stronger league
than the American his Redlegs not looking like club
that lost 10 of IL decisions the Senator'S not only
in seventh place themselves these days but danger
of winding up in the cellar.
A GENTLEMAN WHO THINKS those 13-to-5 odds favor
ing Rocky Marcano against Archie Moore
line suggests deeper look the record arciano handled
Ezzard Charles twice. he reminds Moore could Lick
Chares-and he had three chances"
The library files show that nobody greatly disputed
lgh-heaves at the time, Charles weighing I'll and
Moore 174 Nearly later they met again. Same result
Ez and Archie booked back in Cleveland Janu-
49, 1948 and this time Charles really made it stick He
weahered of Moore best punches the early rounds
had two rounds taken away from him fouls, and still
according to the p account-had comfortable lead when
he knocked out Archie in the eighth round.
CHARLES DID A COMPLETE job according to all
accounts. He blasted Moore with the third punch in
combination Archie twas down on knee" and the wire
services reported that it 20 seconds before Moore could
arise. And then only with the help of his handlers
The knockout not alien to Moore although only four
in nearly 20 Of boxing record bespeakng durability
But back in 1914 Eddie Booker scored eightound
kayo and in As Jimmy Bvins put Archie away in six.
Perhaps the most damaging to Moore's prestige was
oneround Knockout in 948 by Leonard Morrow long for
gotten remembered The International Boxing Club
it the Marcano-M Moore publicity certainly will
try to forget it. That plus zzard Charles three straight
wins the guy who will be trying to beat the guy
mastered Charles twice