Evening star., 1955-11-08
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW !, ...ue,. SIAM
Trade Hondiwork of OId Fox

Trade HondiWork of Old Fox
SHORTLY BEFORE HE WAS removed to Georgetown
Hospital osensby for treatment Of neurs Clark Grfth
laid the foundation for that senatorsRed sox
trade today The Old Fox didn't live to complete
It, but Calvin Grth, his 4syearold successor followed
"Basically.s Cal says. @its the deal Uncle set up
Thus there Is evidence that Clark Grifth nearing 86
was IN distinct mood to scrap his washington bali club
and begin anew for not single Of the 1--WE Red sox
players fahands who coming to the Senators has
made the grade in the big leagues
On the other hand, washington yields up tWo-time
American League batting champion In Mickey Vernon and
pitcher who won q in 1858 in Bob Potereld This
pair plus Tommy Umphlett and Johnny schmitz
Maybe you don't IKE the deal especially since it involves
the departure Of Vernon But you listen carefully you
hear old Mr. Grith muttering: IF can finish In last
place with those fellows can't do without en
&4444
IT May BE GOOD deal for both clubs inasmuch as
they aiming for different washington start
anda gradual climb out Of the cellar and Boston fun shot
pennant Before the Red sox realized they
capable Of it. perhaps. they made for the nag last
season. Now, with Vernon and porterhed and Schmitz 1t
is evident they are going AL out.
Tho Red sox have to be thinking along these lines and
not Of the distant future tor the oldest Of ve they have
gyenup Pitcher Al Curtis NOT yet 2G And e are taking
Vernon, IS next April Portered 81 ana schmitz s.
OF these only Porteeld expect more than one
and the big VIII have to do better than In
1854 and 1885 to be much Of help.
Acouple dyears ago the Red sox were rebuilding Tnat
blueprint has been scrapped suddenly they OF the
Oldest clubs In the league far key personnel Is concerned
Vernon for instance isn't even the oldest the Boston
roster Relefer Ellis kinder. Ill is Close behind Mickey
Ted Williams, who Is 81 Mel Parne Is 3S And now
they have Schmitz and Porterneld.
The eggs are in one basket at Boston The season COM
ing upmay well be williams last vernons too although
both hit better than 500 in IS For that matter 1t may be
the finale Tor Kinder and Schnitz also
THE DISCLOSURE THAT CLARK Grifnth originally engi-
neered the deal indicated was backing his manager
Vernon, quiet hero who could play for the devil himself
Of the other exSenators overly fond Of Dresser
sPorterheld made it known he wouldn't pitch for
Dresser" Cal Grifth finally admits "Bob liked It better
under Bucky Harris who let his pitchers stay IN the game
removed pitcher"
Schmitz and Umphlett won't be missed much Long
John, who may wind up Bosons southpaw reliefer,
sented Dresser all last sartng under Jolly Choys
wpcracking style He only IS games In two years,
anyway losing Is Umphlett moody young man who
didn't prosper under the Harris under
imparay hitting 2l9 for Bucky and 2i7 for Chuck There
any danger Of Umphlet making the customers
forget Sam Rice Goose Gosln. Sammy West even Jim
Busby.
VERNON rs THE ONE the fans win miss. Maybe they'll
beat little because Mickey gone particularly II
they forget he Is going to be So next spring He wasn't
spectacular, but there rhythm and esse to Vernon
aeld at bat and on the bases Mickey gave Dresser
trouble he gave manager hard time STILL Vernon
not the chubby little managers type Of ball player There
wasn't enough Eddie Stanky in him.
Vernon ought to embels the Red Sox batting order
Difference TO his years and the fact that another t base
man, Norm Zauchn, rght-handed hitter and fond OF
Fenway Park very likely Mickey viii be less road
regular But when he's playing Vernon plus Williams plus
Jackie Jensen plus Sammy White will give many pitcher
the shakes
As FOR Porereld It's probably with few regrets that
Dresser views his departure They not only not buddy
buddy but after Chuck inherited the big
distressed to note that Porerhelds fast ball was not
blazing he had been led to believe that and
more Bob was using sliders.
FOR THE NoNCE Roy sieyers place on the club seems
secure Unless the Senator'S land hrst baseman Roy will
have to play the bag which he do In fact he plays II
better than left eld where his weak throwing permits
liberties by base That monkey Dressens
back all last season. but there nothing could do
It Washington had only two ongball hers and they were
Vernon and Sievers.
For better worse the latter improbable, the SO club
win be more Dressens type II only because will be younger
and therefore potentially flexible And Charlie
his way, trading won't stop here
Dresser can condone even help to engineer the trade
Of Pcrtered and vernon he and probably will shed
himself Of two relics Of the ball club that last
must have caused him 70 WONDER on occasion why
he ever left good old Oakland.