Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-16
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW By FRANCIS s7Ann
Spring Secrets

IN NEW YORK the other day. Alvin Dark captain and
shostop OF the Giants reported early to Ebbets and
was surprised to Gil Hodges of the Dodgers taking bat
ting practce-alone 1t hours before game time
and Hodges taking his cuts while the Brooklyn brass
studied him behind the cage.
What's the idea?" Dark asked. whats the trouble
Hodges stepped away from the plate and in mock
whisper replied:
Shh It's secret strictly between me and every nitcher
in the National League"
Well, there have been quite few secrets so far this
spring between the established htters and the pitchers
Hodges, at the time he confded in Dark batting 2O6
which about rs points off his lifetime average But there
are other veterans nearly Hodges and others
better who are having miseries, too
THE FABULOUS WILLIE MAYS (some critics wrote he
would be the next 400 hitter is having horrible spring
Mays is trying to pull pitch Like Hodges he has been
swinging so far ahead pitches that batting practice
also was decreed for him.
Mays hasn't been benched yet but AL Kaline was Re-
member Al? At the year the Detroit sugger
was the American Leagues youngest batting champion He
sroked cool S0 drove O2 and slammed 81
omers ne were rookie this spring he very likely
be sent to the minors.
Last time we looked Roy Campanella was batting in
the 5Os This is the fellow who hit 318 last year and
the National Leagues valuable player jackie Robin
son. with lifetime 314 and the LIS leading hitter
was struggling hopelessy than his BROOKLYN
teammate
OF ALL PEOPLE, Ted Kuszewsk was benched Not only
benched but inside of two after the start of the
season there talk of Cincinnati trading Mr. Bceps
by way OF refreshing your memory, Klu hit 314 in IS
ana topped the National in hits 92 home runs an
Il don't like to talk about breaking Ruths record ;"
Kiu said last March in training camp interview "but
hope"
Six of is hits biased on the last big league aerapes
nave been home runs but Ku about so points off his
normal batting pace
Another who would be happy is Short
stop Ernie Banks of the He set an a-tme homer
record for shorstops last when soked A. Accord
ing to last records he had six homers but only 10 other
hits and was far back of his SIS average
Carl Furio, solid lifetime 800 hitter and the 1858
N L. batting champ with .344 was benched Good field
no hit At Clearwater few weeks ago Stan Lopata of
the PhiS was regarded darkhorse candidate to win
~ the batting title and co the home crown At last
look Lopata had one homer and 200 average
ONE DAY. IN ST. PETERSBURG Stan Musal set his
sgh on seventh hitting title 1.-THE two guys most
guess, are Richie Ashburn and Don Mueller" he said
They're always getting piece of the ball. spraying hits
all over"
Ashburn, who wound up No. in his league last year
with $685. nearly 100 points lower the other dav and
Mueller was struggling at 1884
When the Indians traded for Chico Carrasque they
looking for punch at shortsop Punch? So far
rasque is hitting in the SO Chicos successor at Chicago
Luis Aparaco who is not supposed bat with Carrasoe
is stunning on his banjo at about 27O
1t works both ways The White sox wanted more punch
IN the outeld and so acquired Larry Dolby from Cleve
land So what's happened? Dolby is hitting .l9o
ANOTHER INTERVIEW in Florida comes to mind Walt
Dropo big first baseman of the White Sox was complaining
that reporters always asking him he felt he could
MT back to 1850, Waits rookie year with Boston
Listen he replied in many words 81 was over NV
head that season. baed 1922 and in IA runs I'm
not that good hitter I'm about 200 man. Why don't Won
poster Yogi Berra and ask him why he doesn't hit more?
He should, shouldn't"
Maybe the White sox could thinking that Dropo has
point Now at 12O will have to step on it to bat "bsp
average.
Perhaps the way to snap out of a spring slump is to
write magazine article on the harships of making
year and the high cost of creamed cauliflower &c %
Smder did, and get blasted in the newspapers The day
Snders boo hoos hit the stands he was 224 hitter Two
Gays later while his ears burning must have
gained so points.