Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-23
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW By FRANCIS s7Auu
Today It's Ted VS.. MusioI

HOW WOULD YOU GO about splitting Ted Williams
and Stan Musal? The question logically in the
wake of the goals they have achieved simultaneously Will
lams has hit than 400 home runs and Musial
has passed the 2,7OO mark in hits.
The Red Sox slugger has a lifetime average of 349
highest among the active players MuSa next with 342
Williams playing 1926 fewer games, hits home
and drives in The Cardinal scores
runs makes hits and beats Ted in the doubles
and triples departments
MuSial is faster He also is tractabe. Too he
play base we'll the outfeld the other hand
Williams is Mr. Box Office He only plays left field but well
remembered the time Joe Cronn general of the
Red Sox spoke of Williams thuSly
HE could have been fine pitcher. In fact, Ted did
pitch couple of occasions He has mangifcent
When he cuts loose he throws bullets Crcnn ought to know;
he had great arm, himself.
IT is ENTIRELY POSSIBLE for Williams and Musial
to wind up as batting champions of the American
National Leagues respectively Ted nearing 38 and Stan So
may depend whether Williams hurt in the early
part of the will make the required 400 official ap-
pearances at the plate That plus ouastng the yearod
Mickey Mantle in the stretch.
Musial is running into trouble too Hank Aaron of the
Braves only % DID, is solid hitter Aaron does not
often get streaky h like Dale Long and Joe Adcock but
there consistency about him that kenS him to Musal
He may be tough to beat but Stan the Man fingered him
long ago.
10 at St Petersburg, in fact, and Musia
outlining in his quiet way his goal for the
I'D like to my seventh batting championship" he
said land figure to hit between $40 and $50 think $50
ought to win"
A SMALL CLUSTER OF REPORTERS were asking Musal
for the those thought his most dangerous
rivals I some" he sad but there's guarantee
that fellow won't bat 20 80 points higher than he
figures to hit and take it all.
ITS happened you know" Stan added carl Furilo
did it with 34 Harry Walker, too Good hitters all
right but not the you'd look for on top
1t Musials studied opinion that Richie Ashburn of
the Philles would be threat Ditto Don Mueller of the
Giants
How about Big Ku?" a writer referring to Ted
of he Snider?'
"xlu is powerhouse" replied, but he's too slow
to bat real high Snder is another power
hitter but when he isn't hitting Duke will brood You can't
brood and lead league in hitting"
How about Milwaukee," man asked. ED Mathews !"
Aaron" corrected Musia Hes the best hitter on
that club He's legitimate 800 but whether he can
hit better don't know. He's like Joe Medwck used
to be. Swings at lot of bad pitches"
THIS INTERVIEW WITH MUSIAL only few days
apart from another with Williams in Sarasota They have
much in common at that, Musal and Williams They set
goals for themselves they make study of batting and
pitching and they of records One of TedS aims
he saying last spring. to reach the 400 home run
I'D like to hit 80 homers and bat across 100 runs
williams said but that in the first flush of training
Ted had way knowing that broken blood vessel
in his foot would keep him idle so long
Early May about when Williams figured he'd hit the
necessary homers to join the elite 400 Club His time
table disturbed 1t didn't happen until July 10 Yet he
remains the biggest in the American League with the
possible exception of Mantle
Some of Williams ambitions won't be realized because
of his injury, but then Ted highly lucky guy
Twice called by the armed forces he had good chunks cut
out of his Musa six batting titles to Williams
four but those records stand inspection
A PLUSH SPORTS MAGAZINE if one is possible Just
the other day called Ty Cobb the a-me greatest ball
player he'd led the American League in batting for
IL Greater than Babe Ruth whose record of sc
homers challenged seriously by Hack wilson, Jimmy Fox
and Hank Greenberg
On first reading it sense, but Williams rates
sideraton During peaceful years the fellow might
hoyo He Tho hest
hitter of his time and like Bob Teller Williams enjoneo
to leave baseball Not but twice He also lost the title
twice because of the 400 time -at-bat rule.
The question of Musal williams is tough one
Could be simpler to dispatch both Of those old codge
count their money and choose Mantle.
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