Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-05
WIN, LOSE OR
OkAW By FRANCIS s1ANN
The Fun Worshipers

Phes greeted the appearance of Don Larsen with phy
comments relating to the Yankee pitchers predaWn skrmish
in St Petersburg with steel light pole Larsen ignored his
tormentors as he glumly trudged to his own dugout
The irony is that Larsen has been pitching very well
all spring. Mel Allen the radioTV voice of the Yankees
saying. Il guess he's pitched we'll better than
anybody the club"
We'll" Benny Bengough sighed, Larsen probably
figured that since it the last night in ST. Petersburg
he could celebrate little bit Benny the kewpe shaped
Philes coach who caught for the famous 1927 Yankees.
Nothing like that ever happened to the old Yankees,
did Benny? joShed member of this particular panel
"Ho!" Benny exclaimed. Not much Man. that a
high-ivng gang sometimes wonder If blowing off
once in while-now don't mean running automobile
into a light poe-hurt em at all"
BENNY LAUGHED AS HE recalled a crack by Lefty
Gomez relating to the 27 Yankees although they
bit before Gomezs time Lefty say, That the
kind OF ball club where got fined for going to bed
before am -
Actually" Bengough said sit wasn't party every
night for that gang Miller Higgins our manager,
when the boys OVERRIDING it. If we'd lose two
games in row, for instance Hug would call meeting
ANYBODY not in his room by midnight is fined, Hug
would say want to see you guys in the lobby in the
evenings
1T kind of funny Babe Ruth Bob Meusel
and Dugan and Waite Hoyt sitting lobby They
looked out of place But after we'd win games Hug
would say. All right fellows, it's off now Then the
would back using the backstas and the service
elevators"
BENNY BROUGHT UP time George WtSe man.
aging in the minors and his second baseman driving home
in the wee hours, bumped into milk truck
"The damage restricted to lot Of broken milk bot
ties he related day the player showed up but his
first two times he didn't get piece of the ball.
"Wiltse, who hadn't said anything up to that time,
spoke up You hit milk bottle lot better can't you?
The player looked at WitSe in surprise. How do you
know I? he began
When have to walk on lot of broken glass to get
to the dressing ROOM WSe said get curious and ask
questions Next time, don't hit milk trucks right in
front of the ball park
JUST A FEW YEARS ago. long after quit playing
and coaching" Benny said 81 got phone call at
3 o'clock the morning from the owner of tavern.
Better down and get of your boys he said He
wants to take my place apart
What for? asked.
He claims that while he raising his glass his teeth
fell out and he can't find EN-, the guy answered
"'Wel' told him, 4 happen to he just bought
those choppers and thinks highly of them So help him
look for them and don't bother me-.
II guess they must have recovered his teeth" Benny
SAID because went back to sleep and nothing
of it. The tavern still standing and when the
player the next day he was wearing teeth"
THE IMMORTAL RUTH WAS the acknowledged party
loving champion of the old Yankees. when Babe would
say, Let's have party" Bengough remembered "thered
always be Is 10 of the team hand Yet
heard of a argument among them Those 27 Yankees
stuck together, and of the field.
They smart too If they weren't feeling well the
next day they'd dig in and give harder try. And
pitcher go out the night before he to work
In those days Higgins had rule wherein each Yankee
must sign in at 1890 at the clubhouse This was OF
before night ball. Ruth kirted this rule pretty
good Bengough said THE Babe would to the park
at and sign his name, then go back to the hotel
and sleep until
TITS funny thing" he added "but our Robin Roberts
reads up lot records. He told something never
knew-that in 1927, when Babe hit his go home runs
he got II on the first time at bat in a game"
MEL ALLEN SAID, 81 heard one story that dealt with
the White sox Seems the already had the pen
nant clnched but series coming up Chicago that
meant something to the White Sox"
oh yeah,' Benny said. 1.-THE Sox thought If they
could hold down Ruth they stood real chance So they
got couple of fellows to take Babe out the town. They
did, but the next day Ruth beat the Sox with home run
They tried the next night and the next Babe beat
EN- two times and swept the series. AS
leaving town. Ruth looked up his hosts to thank them
"'That fun, he told them Let's do it again on our
next trip here"