Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-06-05
WIN, LOSE OR
GNAV By FRANCIS srANN
Dig Those Tigers

REMEMBER DATATRON? Remember how last April
the editors of This Week Magazine old buttons
to be pushed and up Detroit the League?
They laughed when Datatron coughed up its choice
Even the Long Hairs who invented the gadget dubious
But second testing remained Detroit Brooklyn
in the World Series.
1t is too early and too improbable if not utterly fan
tasc to regard the Tigers seriously pennant threats
And yet.
Ten days they in the cellar. they've just
mopped the Yankees lin New York, yetD six
straight and eight of their last nine They're making
authentic first division noises, if nothing else.
You have to like the Tigers for swashbucking into
Yankee Stadium and sweeping three in Incidentally
notice they drove Whitley in four and one
third innings of the other could show some
of the same bravado there might be League
race after all
THE WHITE soX for instance haven't won single
of their five meetings with the Yankees Kansas City
has game in FIVE The Senator's dropped out
OF seven and the Red Sox five out of If it weren't
for the Tigers the Orioles would be off
and hiding
Our old buddy, Bucky Harris is managing the Tigers
and it is high time he heading up ball club with lofty
ambitions In Florida last February and March, however
1T didn't look so good for Bucky and his band.
The rowing writer's would check in Lakeland
Fla and kiss off Tigers mo pitching" Harvey Kuenn
is too fat earl Torgeson-not only finished probably
but holdout" What is Bucky going to do for
basemantry comeback of his own?" After futile and
Kaine in the outheld what ese?"
Gradually, Bucky's troubles have cleared up or so it
would appear 1t would be patiently reckless label
bona fde flag threat but the Tigers are far cry from
what they looked like in d-March
KUENN, TOO YOUNG and smart to stay overweight
at this stage of his far and the best shortSop
in the American League probably in both circuits big
and as strong he is Kuenn hitting
obviously thriving
Harris still has full-time first baseman but he is
alternating Jack Phillips and TorgeSon complaining
very loudly II nothing much else Phillips bats rghhanded
Torgy left AS for second base Detroit may gotten
break when his 1854 second baseman, Frank Boiling
returned to the Tigers by the Army The hitting Jim
Brideweser has been filling in since Freddie Hatfield was
traded away
Ray Boone. the third baseman has been a big help in
the late drive after weak start and the catching hasn't
been too bad with Frank House and Red Wilson taking
Neither potential there are lesser backsop
in the majors.
Kaline 1855 batting champion got off to horrendous
start but is showing signs of improving. Bill Tutte the
cenerhelder, is turning out to be better player than
generally suspected But the big oufedine surprise
has been Charley Maxwell 29year-old CASTOR of the Red
sox who finally is playing up what was regarded as
his potential
WHEN NED GARvERs ARM turned sore and he was
put on the disabled list Harris pitching became woefuy
thin On top of Garvers injury Virgil Trucks got ankle
mseres But somehow the Tigers have been getting by with
Frank Larry Billy Hoet Foyack as regular starters
plus what help Steve Gromek contribute.
Larry is becoming something of celebrity because
OF his ability to beat the Yankees He FL against them
in his rookie Of IS and this he's so And he
yielded only six runs to the champs in his q innings
Casey Stengel calls the 25year- old from Alabama "he
bulldog"
Because of the way he hangs in there" Casey explains
He's kid with lots Of determination and competitive spirit
Besides he's got lots OF stuff, including real live fast ball
Our guys are supposed to be fasba hers but can't
hit him"
But it remains for his manager Harris to pin the
big rose on Larry IF there was game simply had to
wln Bucky says I'D select Larry to pitch it for me-.