Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-27
WIN, LOSE OR
N1\@V BY FRANCIS STANN
One Muscle Too Many

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA MAR. 27-Birdie Tebbetts is
not vindictive He is not ntolerant But
when he pulled his catching tools during his playing
days he all business And the pitchers he caught
Detroit Boston and Cleveland their all risked the
wrath of BRIDES tongue. Worse his fists
Birdie won't duck fight matter the size of the
opponent but right now manager of the Cincinnati
Reds he gives the impression of guy who is trying to
avoid issue and at the time get message shades
Of Archie Moore to Theodore Bernard Kuszewsk The
latter IN case you don't know has muscles he hasn't dis
covered yet He hits home 36 in the last three
sons with not much physical exerton than golfer
chipping from off the carpet of green.
Almost the Reds started batting practice
few weeks ago Ted Kluszewsk sprung muscle deep
in the region which occupies wide chair when Klu is in
sitting position Nobody paid much attention whats one
muscle to Big Ku?).
reticaly perhaps secondary to the derment of the
box office sales and just recently speculation has vened
to whether the 6foot2 22Opound Adons will be ready
to start the season at first base.
MANAGER TEBBETTs WHO had denied a report that
II days ago he out" Kuszewsk in the clubhouse,
brought the issue out into the yesterday the Reds
bench here.
quartet of newSpapermen posed the obvious question
of the monsters health and Birdie said:
says he play this week He says he's ready.
l say he's not"
In that case said of the visitors, Il think know
the answer to whether he plays"
"Darned right" Birdie replied. "You know" leaning
forward to put his point across I'm even going to suggest
when break camp in Tampa, that Kuszewski be left
behind"
The reporters scrubbed on pads One asked:
But who's left in Florida to work out with him when
that happenS?'
WE'VE GOT A FARM camp in Georgia" Birdie said,
"a place called Douglas Maybe we'll let him try the chow
the line there while Then he join
later when his muscle heals"
was confusing interview but boiled down it sounded
if Manager Tebbetts mite impatient, if not fed
up with Big Kus absence from probably the most free
swinging batting order in baseball.
No Klus not akng" Birdie replied to question,
Hes trying 49,"
In the next breath Tebbetts was saying:
When you paid that kind of money Tied repeatedly
gets $4,000 year. you play ball They pay you play
Il haven't told Gabe Paul (Cncinnati's general
manager my thoughts about leaving Klu in Georgia.
he added But" noddng toward couple of wire service
reporters, talking to the right people far as
spreading the word is concerned hope spread it,
KLUszEWsKI IS SO DEEP in muscle that any one
we'll below the surface is difficult to treat "Our trainer
Wayne Anderson applied wet packs told Ku to take it
easy for few days, and then play if it hurt.
The big guy did try to play Then had to yank him.
We had him examined by George Bennett the orthopedc
specialist from Johns Hopkins who had been down in the
Keys. Bennett gave about the diagnosis our
trainer
Kuszewski" repeated Birdie supposed to play
If hurts little"
But if he volunteered to play ?" an interviewer
began.
Tebbets shook his head. AN inning two :. that's
good want him all the If he he can't play
an entire game I'll have to make lineup changes"
WHEN A NEWsPAPERMAN asked Tebbetts what Ted
couldn't do because of his misery the doughty
parted the query:
What he can do hit" he said hits in the cage
every day rum he says, but don't recall
single game Klu has for with his running All
I want is his bat"
Tebbes recalled incident during his Red SoX catch
ing days when Marse Joe Mccarthy managing
Il had bad ankle" he said. Mccarthy knew it was
bad but up game and my in the lineup.
Before it started, Mccarthy said:
Birdie, how is your ankle?'
"All right, told him. It's all taped up but won't
be able to run.
Tebbetts,' he said, what difference does it maker
You never could run"