Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-24
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW ), FRANCE, SIAM.
The Underruted Yankee

ST PETERSBURG, Feb. 2.-Joe Collins, muscular
Polish Russian from Scranton, Pa starting his seventh
spring training with the Yankees and feeling like he
never had it so good Imagine Joe was saying only four
first in camp It is getting easier year.
Collins guy who to have regular Job.
yet he invariably winds in the Yankees lineup when the
race hot Pretty good in World Series too.
He's played in 1--WE Of Them which lot Of hot
biscuits the Collins table.
at used be sort of for me-" Joe saying
Every spring there would be FIVE six first basemen
fighting outright hters eft-handed htters and
in all shapes and sizes"
ct isn't tense for you now?" asked camp follower.
NO. I'm used to it." Collins grnned Il guess I've been
much regular first baseman the Yankees have
played for quite few years OF would be nice to
report camp spring and have Casey stenge tell me
the job is mine But I'm satisfied"
HIS LIFETIME BATTING average might indicate it.
but Collins is moderated Yankee in Stengel's book 4
what the fellow do" Casey "He plays first
good anybody else in the league And he plays
nice game in the outed get in trouble in the outield
and tell the fellow to leave his first baSemans mitt in the
clubhouse and bring his felders glove.
81 can play the fellow in the outfeld In World Series
and he will do pro job That is because he is pro- and
don't them all the time Sometimes when we need
big hit will ask my man. Mister Collins to give 1t to me
and he will do it. Maybe the Brooklyn ball club will tell
II he hit little bit"
Stenge referring, of course to Collins frst-day
herocs in the 1855 series. when the 3Syearod Pennsy
vanan with like Popeye the Sailor, blasted two home
and sent the Yankees of to flying start, 6-5.
less racabe young might object to such relative
insecurity always fighting for job when endowed
with the ability to play two positions but not Collins I've
been in this business for long time he says I've had
good years and bad Ones but can think of
lot unluckier guys than me"
1T WILL BE ANOTHER rat race Collins this season.
too but as Joe is the first to remind are not SO many
conenders for the first job Because Collins
mobile than Eddie Robinson, he will the big
Senator, but Bill Skowron may be somewhat difficult
to beat out.
"skowron's darned good hitter" Collins admits. Don't
forget had quite in S. Might have been better,
too, II he hadn't got hurt.
skowron Polish lad who played football for Purdue
and into games for the Yankees last For
while he led the league in hitting Aft thigh injury he
wasn't quite as hot although he wound up with $40
average.
One thing certain that that Casey stenge will
play the percentages He'll the efthanded Collins
and the rghthanded Skowron Others depend
ing who's pitching Collins and skowron are equally
certain that both will action although not much
they might like
IN HIS 1s YEARS in pro ball, Collins has made most
of the stops Butler and Easton Akron and Norfolk
Amsterdam and Springfield Newark and Beaumont
Birmingham and Newark . and finally, the big team.
Joe has been around enough and Yankee enough
to qualify prognosticaor Plenty with less
of his background talk profoundly the why
not Collins, who says:
cleveland spells trouble again. but we may get most of
headaches from Boston and Detroit They have young
teams with lots of drive think the Red Sox strengthened
themselves whole lot by acquiring Bob Porerheld and
Mickey Vernon.
four first basemen in camp, I'll admit but did you
that list Of shortstop candidates."
Somebody murmured that something like Ii throw
ing their gloves into the ring.
Gust about" Joe sighed 1--WE got mind 10 give
short try and make it dozen for Casey"