Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-05
WIN, LOSE OR
DNAW. By FRANCIS sTANN
Speaking of KNOCKERS

THE PART-TIME EDITOR and sports columnst of the
Waxahache Tex Light wouldn't have been disturbed if the
Baltimore orioles manager had barred his baseball writer
from the dressing why should he be- demands Paul
Richards editor and when the manager ready
greet the writer arcooed office call into conference
any player the wants to interview, and hand him
bottle of beer too?"
On the Baltimore bench yesterday, Richards, the
paperman, thinking the whole incident concerning
for preventing the writing boys from having to into hot
steamy dressing room Paul drawled Instead, got the
writer's and the fans and probably my bosses my
neck"
Rapier Richards isn't very happy the recent
unpleaSantness Additionally his press has been
divided There those who along with the tall Texan
and nose who feel offended That's the way goes"
Richards sighed philosophicaly Il talking to Balt
writer and he asked question. answered it,
specifying that my reply to be confidential
Guess he misunderstood Anyway, that's how it all
started"
A MAN WITH A PAIR of crutches was sitting next to
Richards in the Orioles dugout. Remember Wally Moses,
time speedboy of the American League? Seems that
Way coach for the PhlieS caught line drive the
leg while throwing during batting practice the other day and
is hors de combat
Ride boy" Wally grinned he spoke Richards.
"A week-two weeks-and it II all be forgotten"
q suppose So agreed Richards tentatively "shucks,
I'm not aiming make We need all the friends
get. Say Mose"
"What?" asked Waly Moses.
THAT kid at the pate-see him just stroke that ball
into the seats?"
Good power" Wally said.
only in batting practice Richards said. In
he Just pokeS at pitch Looks like he's trying to all
the time He wants the fast ball but he's afraid will
call him out. So he just haf-swings"
1--WE EN- before" Moses agreed
Pretty soon" Richards promised, I'm going to get that
young out for private batting practice He won't see
anything but balls then suddenly III have the
pitcher throw him fast one"
That's one way to find out Moses said.
SOMEHOW THE SUBJECT of knuckle ball pitchers came
up I'll forget Waly sad when Washington
had four, fve maybe six. Let's Leonard Wolff
Haefner, Niggeling, Torres
Butterflies" Richards intoned Every series with
Washington series of butterflies. Johnny Nggeing
don't say he had the best knuckler but he used to kill
He'd give you the dancer and then he'd whip
fast ball, which the others didn't have"
"And sting the hell out of your hands" Moses supplied
Right on your fists" Richards reminisced. He
rough but Roger Wolff He could throw it pretty
hard, too, when he wasn't knucking."
One who was listening said
You don't talk much about Dutch Leonard After all,
he games for Washington than any pitcher in
history-except Walter Johnson"
RICHARDS SMILED when he said:
Funny thing could always hit Dutch pretty good Not
that hit anybody real good but could get wood
Leonard"
The memory of the dugou visitor logged. That's
right sad you the guy who brought Dutch back
to the major leagues After he'd Topped with Brooklyn and
I've read that story few times Richards drawed
land Leonard kind to Actually had very little to
do with Dutch coming back and winning many games
Leonard and hooked up in Atlanta couple OF
bushers Being the catche-I wasn't the manager
have i'll just told Dutch to throw his knuckler
wasn't afraid of it. Dutch and became pretty good
battery
Later, Leonard went to Washington and went to
and probably because I'd been catching him long
in Atlanta when he throwing knucker that
little curve He didn't have fast ball"
RICHARDS STORY is NOT without a snapper. THE
year before Washington drafted Leonard for $7500t
1897 thnk-Roger Cramer playing centered for the
Red Sox and he went to Joe Cronn who managing the
club, and said
II of ptcher-catcher combination you buy
Leonard and Richards"
had everything else-ots of hitting for instance
The Sox could have used pitcher and catcher
But Cronn supposed to have said Leonard can't get the
ball over the plate and Richards can't hit
Hit Shucks, you don't have to be hitter to bang that
wall once in while in Fenway Park
"Cramer, after he'd talked to Cronin to and
asked Earl Mann, Of the Atlanta club would sell
Mann agreed-$200OO in cash and maybe ball player
two Then Cronn reneged"
AS any student of baseball knows, the Red Sox might
have won pennant two during the years to follow
second in 38 and 39, ditto in Al and Aft they had
Dutch Leonard.
And Paul Richards to catch him.