Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-05
WIN, LOSE OR
LNAV By FRANCIS sTANN.
Cotcher's Eye View

ON THE SENATOR'S BENCH they talking about
Mickey Nantes bid to top Babe Ruths so home and
all of sudden the odds have heightened Mr. Muscles isn't
going to make it,
"The way he can powder that ball" drawled Clint
Courtney the Washington catcher he don't have to stop
at 60 He might hit IS or TO- But not the way he's
thinking"
"You talking about the time he hunted in the last
series here?" dugout visitor inquired With the Yankees
trailing by run, Mantle hunted into an out,
THAT time and lots Of Others Courtney said @Shucks
you're going after Rut record you've to start swinging
those Sand-0 pitches You don't want walks and
you don't want no bunts"
& Handsome Fitzgerald, the veteran hullpen catcher
gtunted assent I'm all the years Babe Ruth he
said Fl him bunt once"
scourtney, who Ruth, shifted his send Of
tobacco and looked pleased.
"a GUY WITH MANTLEs POWER can hit home run
durn easy he cap beat out bunt fast Mantle
runs too One swing and it's tie ball game. That bunt
amt going do Yankees good, less Berra
body drive him home And every time Mantle buntS
it's risk on account of them bad knees"
"You think he ought to hit 3-and-0 pitches?" asked
q
IF he's going for the recordyes" Courtney said 1.-THE
pitcher has got to try to get the plate"
What about the signs from Casey Stenge? What if
he gets the take sign?"
Il don't know if he gets take sign" Clint replied IF
does don't get many What got to guess is what
Mantle is trying to do, win the batting championship win
the pennant or break Ruth's record"
Maybe he don't know himself" Handsome Fitz said.
what I'm thinking" drawled Courtney, approvngy.
A cATcHER's EYE VIEW of Mantle is that the young
man isn't quite what he wants.
Now he wants to win the pennant," Courtney con-
ceded ts right guess to lay of the 3and0 Maybe the
bunt is okay, too although doubt it,"
"But club is going to catch the Yankees anyway"
somebody protested
IF he wants the home run record" Clint went on
disregardng the interruption, hes got to be swinging
when it's 3-and-O and 3-and-1."
Maybe ventured one who was listening Mantle hunts
because he wants the batting championship"
Courtney threw derisive look and directed stream
of tobacco juice against the dugout steps IF it's that 1850
he wants the guy is nuts" he said Whats that buy
Mantle? little raise is all There two batting cham
pons every year and lots Of people can't remember the
guys who a month later They might remember the
batting champs who hit 400 or better"
IT is THE CONSENSUS of the Senator's apparently,
that Nantes campaign to break Ruths not coldy
logical Mickey buntS too often and generally wastes too
many chances to swing for the fences In short Mantle is
confused.
Pete Runnes quickly to Mickeys defense, but
for different and personal Runnes talking
about the Inflated unauthorized bunt by Mantle. He
handled It, bobbed and finally dove for first bag tagged
it with the ball in his fist
Il felt like express train going to hit me-" Pete
was saying to Eddie Yost I'm wide and here's this
200 pounds of speed bearing down. I'm grateful that
Mickey jumped over me- not boherng to try touch
the bag. As it was his foot caught the arm"
Pete rolled up his sleeve and showed slight bruise
If Mantle had slid into the bag, bystander remarked,
"he might have had a base hit"
WRONG, tSuHhes SdIu Hdu MN peat' Fete SnnacKeo
his palms togethertap, tapto illustrate it I'D
have been minus head and maybe shoulders however"
WHEN 1T NEARED TIME for Courtney to hit in the
batting cage he rose, selected bat and delivered his
summary.
"Yessr" he repeated, IF could hit that
field fence like Mantle do twice opening day and
nobody else before SINCE you'd OF Clint bunting
Mantle smartens up little and youn maybe IS 70
home runs some season, like said"
The doughty catcher regarded the early crowd "Only
time we have company in this park when the
come, he reminded And who brings em-Mantle And
he don't know it. the because people been thinking
he can break Ruths record, not nothin' else.
IF he hits 90 home he's worth 100000, easy. II
ne Just leads the American League in batting WELL
It's different