Evening star., 1956-03-16
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW ;, FRANCE, ,7Auu
Klaus of the Red Sox

NIOuS OI IHe NGQ OOX
SARASOTA, FLA MAR. 1.-two good things happened
to the Boston Red sox in the late spring of 1885, in their
darkest hour At time when the Red Sox under Man
Mike Higgins about to hit bottom in the American
League, little guy named Billy Klaus appeared.
This was on May S. Before the month was out, Ted
Williams also appeared in the Red Sox lineup and Higgins
troupe off and running Too late it to catch the
Yankees but the Red sox finished good solid fourth
club Now is to wonder how they will do with Williams and
Klaus from the start.
The incompatible Williams hit 1856 and led the sluggerS
of his league with amazing 7O3 average Higgins while
properly grateful for Teds contribution not that
Klaus efforts weren't minimized.
1.-The little guy first picked up" Mike was saying.
1--WE club until he took charge at shortstop
*&#*
ONE YEAR AGO the Boston shortstop apparently was
M Boiling But on March 23 Milt collided here with
ST. Louis Cardinal rookie named Dick Rand in exhibition
game and dsocaed his elbow That the end of Boiling
for the year.
had Klaus on the bench" Higgins admitted and after
watching him for five years in the American Association
I held lot Of respect for him.
"stll felt needed somebody else We picked up Eddie
Joost from Cleveland and gave him the job"
Joost legs went rubbery and Higgins finally wrote Klaus
the lineup Mike had occasion to substitute
The precocious young from Spring Grove Ill, batted
283 named friend and foe alike with his holer style and
less talked the Red sox into making good drive for
the pennant.
While Higgins was throwing verbal bouquets toward
this day he simultaneously pinning up the Red
Sox lineup where Billy was listed as the second baseman
Mike you just found shortstop and are play
ing him at second base. What gives?"
things you in spring training" Higgins replied
what if up with another shortstop? Boiling is
back for instance kid from Louisville named
Don Buddn who makes all the plays If Klaus can play
second base are that much ahead"
*+**
KLAUS, ONLY 5-FooT-s and 165 pounds, is sharp
eyed guy who started his pro in 947
with Cenralia the Illinois State League He is we'll
Travelled 28yearod who by actual count has moved his
family 80 times Now he is reasonably his family will
stay put for while but not sure where he will move on
the diamond.
"It doesn't bother me- trying at second base Billy was
saying Il only wish knew how to play the position few
years ago might have been big Lacquer five six years
ago."
He had been standout in the American Association
when the Braves looked Billy II could play shortstop
third base he mused but the Braves had good young
sortsop Johnny Logan and there Ed Mathews who
hits ball out Of sight, for third base.
Second base less open, but had never
played it.
Same way when the Giants took to camp spring
Hank Thompson third and Alvin Dark at shortsop
They needed second baseman but wasn't qualified So
went back to the minors If nothing else maybe III learn to
play second base this spring and then I'll be in real position
to shop around"
ACTUALLY, HIGGINS HAS lineup so pat that he is
experimenting almost out of boredom The Red sox outed
of Williams Persa and Jensen is set If the to
open the Boston ned probably would be Vernon
Goodman Klaus and Grady Hatton Rookie Frank Malone
The catcher would be Sammy White and the starting pitcher
Bob Porerfeld Brewer Willard Nixon Frank Sullivan
Klaus knows this and is unworied at least outwardly
about being assigned to second base in exhibitions Billy
Goodman better hitter but he doesn't make the close
double play And if Klaus the position Higgins
would have in Goodman sharp-hitting reserve who
play virtually every infed position plus the outheld
"Im just 270 to $50 hitter, Klaus said II doubt ii
my average last year in the majors differed than five
points from my average in the minors drive in so to 70
and make the usual amount of I'm nc
wonder boy"
BIILYS REPUTATION is THAT of q pop-of artist a
needler. It's bum rap, he's thinking.
II make noise the ball field" he admitted, "but I'm
not the aleck they up be- You
how it all started don't you?"
''Tel u.s." prompted interviewer
Last summer a newspaper guy talking to and
during the conversation mentioned that the Yankees always
had four guys the All-Star team You know Berra
Mantle Ford
well it out in the papers that said the Yankees
only had four good ball players Heps bells, who am tc
comment the Yankees? They win six out of pen
nants whatever their record is and here's little punk
like me saying they've only got four real players
"Oh, got riding from the bench jockeys after that
story. 1t didn't bother much, but what said and
what printed different guess 1t made good story
but geez after year in the big leagues ppsqueak
ike me isn't going to downrate the Yankees
II got all do now" he said, rising from the bench
for neld practice ito learn how play second base"