Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-18

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Senators, hasn't alienated the
affection Of Orlando's news
papers. 1t will come as a sharp
surprise. The Sentinel and
Star in Orlando have given the
ball club strong support. re-
Ipeatedly editorializing for a new
park. but when Cal was asked
to comment on an Associated
Press article by Whitney Martin
which was extremely critical Of
the concrete-like field and the
Anticipated wooden stands, he
expressed satisfaction with the
operation.
Cal hadn't talked with his in
Iflelders before giving the playing
surface his endorsement. Pete
Runnels, who has played only
leftfield but who has worked
out at second base extensively;
Jose Valdivielso. Jerry Snyder
and Herb Plews all complain the
linfleld Is too hard.
And when Cal doesn't erupt
about the rickety stands, chances
are he can't be perturbed about
anything. The condition of the
implanted, splintery structure is
SO deplorable. in fact, that
Travelling Secretary Howard Fox
reports many fans request seats
in the bleachers because they're
fearful the grandstand might
collapse
The city fathers, reading of
Calls satisfaction, are neatly
taken off the hook. Whatever
remote chance the Senators had
of obtaining a modern park van
ished for the foreseeable future
when the clubs boss failed to
back up Martin and Orlando
newspapers.
What's the point, pray tell, in
the White Sox announcing at
tendance as LOOP in their game
with the Senators at Tampa
Tuesday when they paid off on
l602?s !. Is padding the figures
by 400 supposed to boost Chi
Icago prestige? Two days
later the Senators and Pirates
played before 602 customers at
Orlando.
Which reminds us that the
Iall-time low for an exhibition
game was set by Kansas City,
then in the minors. years ago
when one lonesome fan paid his
way in to see the Blues battle an
aforementioned team. They
gave him his money back.
Il *
Leonardo Rodriguez, third
baseman being tested by the Pr
rates. batted .430 with Cananea
lin the Arizona -Texai League
two years ago to lead all batters
IN organized baseball. Last
year he was a 1886 hitter with
Mexico City, but smacked only
one home run.
Speaking of Rodriguez field
ing, Manager Bobby Bragan says,
"The greatest I ever saw"
Likewise referring to his fielding,
Branch Hickey says, "As good as
7 have ever SEEN" =. Clint
Courtney of the Senators, who
played with Rodriguez several
years ago in Mexico. first tried
to interest the st. Louis Browns
in purchasing him, then sought
to get Baltimore to buy him. both
times without success.
Ted Williams, picked by Bucky
Harris as the greatest hitter Of
all time in a recent Saturday
Evening Post article, expressed
his appreciation in a warm wire
to the Detroit manager. :. Cal
Griffith will be questioned by a
panel of three sports writers on
WTOP radio and television from
1880 to midnight Sunday,
April Is.
Entering today's game with
the Phils, the five hitters OBJ
tanned by the Senators in trades
with the Yankees and Red Sox
during the winter were batting a
combined .146. Lou Berberett
was a 1888 hitter. but Karl Oh
son. Neil Chrisley, Dick Tettle-
bach and Herb Plews had what
amounted to no averages.
The four pitchers acquired in
the same deals have worked a
total of II innings, allowed Is
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