Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-16
WIN, LOSE OR
DKAV By FRANCIS sTANN
A Long Shot Named Shontz

STORY OUT OF Kansas City bears eloquent testimony
eternal optimism From out of the Seems Believing
country less word that the Kansas City Athletics
boosted their hopes insofar the screamed Bobby
Shanz concerned Two checkups since the SIS season have
inspired one cronicler Shantzs wing being
sound the money Arnold Johnson spent for the AS
franchise"
Well it would be nice the little guy could back
When he had his stuff Bobby real good and it wasn't
his fault his went wrong In So when he posted
PAT with ourthplace club Philadelphia in those
days. they awarded him the Most Valuable Player award IN
the American League.
He cut heroic figure which particularly endeared him
to all persons of stature Bobby weighed
than 1873 pounds and by of osetng his lack OF
size both the best fielding and best bunting
pitcher In the business But the sad truth Of the matter
that many real pitchers come back
So
YEAR AGO a Tampa doctor was telling all and sundry
that he was confident could Ewen Blackwells
whole again The Whip Blackie called won more
than any other National League pitcher in 194 when
he 228 including 16 in and no-hitter Then ne
hurt his and began the skid Il nothing wrong
with him. the doctor said. 81 predict he'll come back
Blackwell hasn't yet probably won't
Assuming that physical proportions important as
baseball brains generally make out there should have been
less stress Blackwers than Shantz' For The
Whip giant of man. II inches taller than Bobby and
nearly so pounds heavier At this writing though Blackie
is retired.
To be sure some few do Dazzy Vance, the old
Dodger occupies niche in the Hall of Fame,
who did fast ball his breadandbutter Dazzy did
little than hold his in the bushes until the miracle
of manifest itself Daz 20 when he came to the big
leagues to stay.
AN INTERESTING CASE some years ago was that Of
Edon Auker who had been orthodox pitcher until he hurt
his Then he shifted underhand delivery bringing
into play entirely different set of muscles Lasted quite
while and considerably games than he lost too
Washington had pitcher named Ad Lska, who also
verified to underhand throwing He trouble to some
hers but not enough and Lskas record and tenure
somewhat less than Auker's.
Yves Terrell had an arm like rifle when made good
with elandi in for
straight Then he hurt his and never got WELL
although Terrell stayed in the majors for II years
Terrell fierce competitor and man, to boot.
The Junk that he threw plateward after his
gone would have been blasted to fare-theewe II served
up by other pitchers Even with little to them,
Terrell cajoed and bued the herS that he kept win
ming quite while One year he IA for the Red Sox
back the next two to rs and co. In Fenway
Park tool In two successive with the Senators he
II and IS.
Some games he won high-scoring affairs but the
fact that could hit like outeder caused managers to
leave him box gesture that would not extended
to the average pitcher
IF THE STORY is true that Emil Dutch Leonard lost
his ball due bad wing then his comeback must rank
with the outstanding Dutch had up with the
Dodgers originally you recall and although he IA
games year he did nothing else the next two and
shipped to the minors.
MY too sore to throw good fast ball" Dutch
later explained and the Brooklyn catchers wouldn't call
for my knuckler."
HE never had fast ball" Dodgers Of that era retor
leaving the interested bystander choice.
One thing that couldn't be taken from Dutch, however
that he had knucker-one Of the very best In Atlanta
he was throwing 1t past htters to Paul
Richards who didn't mind calling for the batting PITCH and
finally the Washington club landed Leonard in the minor
league draft for $500.
all the years he pitched the Senators 1t is doubtful
If Dutch threw fast ball worth remembering But with
his knuckler he Washington than any
pitcher in history except one-Walter johnson.