Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-31
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW By FRANCIS s7AAA
The Pittsburgh Story

THERE USED TO BE those many years when the
Pittsburgh Pirates at this stage of National League
could only in directonup It's different this
Maybe they can't so sideve but they go down lot
faster than up.
Our town is jumping" reports Chef Smith, veteran
sports editor of the Pittsburgh Press The other day people
lined for couple of blocks in order to tickets at the
Hotel Pittsburgher.
And" he adds, nobody here is expecting pennant
Fifth place probably would suit everybody fine Fourth
place wonderful"
AS the big league into the big story
almost has to be the in Pittsburgh Classified hope
less along with the Washington Senator's the
drawing about 10 per than SIS
may pull mllion-something that hasn't happened
since 1850
THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS Sports Editor Smith
AYERS to why the owrated Pirates have riding
high mot meaning to knock old Branch Hickey" he says
one nice thing that's happened is that the front office has
left the alone refer to Joe Brown the general
manager. He let's Bobby Bragan his club.
Hickey was all right" Smith quick to say via
telephone conversation but Bill Myers and Fred Haney
who here ahead Bagan suffered interference
Bragans being left his own"
Hickey it might be mentioned is longer the active
G. of the BUGS His famous FiveYear Plan less
fzzed, but old Branch in semretirement advisor"
rates few bows. He can't take credit for Bob Friend
Vernon Law, Dale Long and Frank Thomas says Smith,
because they were pre~Rckey as prospects. However
Then Smith spun tale of how Hickey spring ago,
called Pitcher Friend aside and said
Look, young man, think you pitch better But
if you can't I'm sending you back to the minors"
pressed by the utimatum.
MIR Hickey" he replied, 81 from minor league
toW7l-Hunker Pa do not wish to go back except for
family visits"
Thereupon he won IA and lost 9 for the Pirates and
became the only pitcher for place club to lead the
National League in earned run average-2S4
BOB FRIEND PROBABLY is the best pitcher in the
National League today Smith reports. "He is modest
and reminds lot of Robin Roberts of the Phils
As matter fact Friend is almost carbon of Roberts
He gives up deal of home and his best bet
seems to be his control"
Friend 30 pitcher at the time of this talk,
which switched follows
IF the best pitcher in the National League at the
present time could be Friend Smith says 1.-The best in
the long could be Ron Kline The Pirates relief pitching
has been superb thing to remember that last year
Brooklyn had only "A completed by pitchers and yet
the Dodgers won the pennant by 1872 games"
In Pittsburgh the acquisition of Outfielder Bill Virdon
from the St. Louis Cardinals is being hailed with gee.
BEST trade the club made Smith unashamedy admits
and Chef goes back than 80 years And don't forget
Hank Fole the catcher He's made whale of difference
since we got him from Cleveland"
Obviously the fact that hand-me-downs play big parts
does not diminish enthusiasm in Pittsburgh, even among
pro critics
OH, YES, THERE'S DALE LONG. All the tall first base
man did was to set record by hitting eight home runs
in eight before he nay stopped by Don New
combe He is whale OF a ball player land as it turns
out probable Al-Star) but Long also is humble
That big raise he got couple of days CUP to $65o0
something above what he asking day at Fort
Myers, Fla. where the Pirates train
Seems that Long arrived couple of days ahead of the
squad and Byon Jorgnsen the clubhouse boy discovered
that he needed help in assembling trunks and equipment
Spying Long, the locker boy said III" give you five bucks
to help sraghen out these lockers for the ball players
Long, he later told Editor Smith, agreed to the deal
What the clubhouse boy didn't know that Daes little
daughter had been reported close to death and that Long
felt he needed the flyer toward hurried trip home For
tunatey, Daes youngster recovered and all ended we'll
Something else the clubhouse boy didn't know that
the guy who accepted SIS to clean up the BUGS
the they talking up big home-run champ.
PROBABLE PITCHERS