Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-25

bod f areat seasons No sir / wouldn't trade Minoso
Mays Mickey Mantle If want to win pan game
today-and do-Id rather have Minnie For the future
we'll that's something else. Minnie (3p is little older
than Mays and Mantle
NO FIGURE IN BASEBALL has traded, bought sold and
released more players corresponding period
He has made booboos such sending jim BuSoy 10
Washington Mee in 1882 but not many Practlcay
ali of the players acquired from other cuoS
but the one sticks out in Lanes mind was the one
in which he acquired Minoso -
THAT was the Frank confeSseS, although gettng
Nelson Fox for Joe Upton wasn't bad deal for u.s. II say
so myself But we hadn't got Mnoso in 1881 don't know
what we'd We haven't finished out OF the first
division since Before Mnoso the Whte SoX were III e SCI
ond division straight years.
Minoso was acquired Cleveland in three-Way deal
that involved Philadelphia total of seven players Only
hree-Mnoso Gus Zernial and Dave Pheysti are In the
big leagues. :. - Writ,
Minnie" Lane thinking. They had him at shortstop
first base outfeld and third base That's anoher FACTOR
however when you compare Minoso with Mays Our guy
can play third or the outfeld equally as We'll
LANE DOES NOT HOPE to escape criticism by the New
York press segment which has set Willie Mays on ped
esta I'll be called pop-o guy again. he predicted but
the records themselves Look EN- up ana eVauate
them for yourself"
Well Mays batted 345 and led the National League last
year. first time toyed with the hitting bracket
during brief He also led in triples 49, NIT an
impressive of Al homers and drove across lo runs
Minnie last hit $780, five more triples than Willie
q fewer honers drove home half dozen more runs
Except for the fact Mnoso also useful at third
base for an apparently ball club Mays would seem TO
have had an edge BY the token Mnoso has record
that shows batted 33 in 49, 281 in 50 and 1875
in 81 And BESIDES Minnie led the American League in
stolen bases three of those four seasons.
Minoso has stolen as 81, which isn't precisely
Blv Hamilton or Ty Cobb speed has sWped
more than eight! oddty in view OF glowing &C
counts of Wes Hamilton stole lis bases In 1891
while Cobbs high was SO in 1915
ITS HARD TO APPRAISE fellow like Minoso," Lane
saws 1.-THE best way guess to break him down and study
his ability and anticipate his ntangbes For instance ne
finished second in batting Yet ne
led in total with 304-ony player to reach 3Oo For
three straight years Mnnies has been the mosht batter
because he crowds plate without fear He got pnked
l6 times 1854 which is good IL bases on pallS
Here's another thing about Minnie, Lane goes on III
there are people maintain that he shouldn't be COM
pared with Mays why Mnoso picked on the American
League ASar squad each of the four seasons he's been
M? That plus the his 800 lifetime average ties
him for third place among active players in league
Ted Williams and Mitchell the only others topping
him. and Mitchell can't win regular job
Under pressure? He'll he's as good as the best and
better than everybody Look at his record In the ALI
Star games players take seriously than lou
of people think Mnnes averaged $50 at bat for four
of EN-"
put briefly you kind of like the gentleman from
Cuba?" asked a listener owlishly
I'D like to Willie Mays Mickey Mantle in center
field playing between Minoso and Jim Rivera came the
reply But repeat that had to win ball game today
wouldn't trade Mnoso for Mantle"