Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-19
WIN, LOSE OR
DNAV By FRANCIS STANN
The Duke of FIutbush

MIAMI, FLA, MAR 19-If Duke snider had bit of
Ty Cobbs fierce, burning ambition it probably would not
be difficult to separate the three best ceneelders
bal-Wie Mays of the Giants Mickey Mantle of the YAM
KEGS and the grazing 29yearold Duke of the Dodgers
AS is Duke admits he often is too satisfied for his
good He shaped for greatness but not quite great
although in the 1855 World Series the Yankees nightly
impressed.
When he left for spring training snider disclosed he
conded to his wife, II just want to hit 300 If do,
know I'll help the club with power Those to whom
he spoke showed their surprise which Duke correctly inter-
preted.
Its not high enough goal is it?" he asked "Wel it's
the story Of life suppose AS kid in school was always
knocking the door, yet it opened very wide Like
anybody else I'd like to win the most valuable player award
I've come Close but don't quite make it."
ONE DAY LAST SUMMER Duke hit three successive
home against Milwaukee, the second time in his
he had turned the trick 1.-THE fourth time up drove
off the wall, foot from the top he said That's
foot from the top"
In ST. Petersburg few days ago Stan Musal who pre-
diets the League batting championship himself
discussing those he considered his chief rivals II doubt
If Snder will lead the league" Musia said because he is
free swnger Besides when he isn't hitting Duke inclined
to get moody"
snder does not resent Musias criticism "stan knows
what he talking about and he popof guy Duke said
"usal right certain extent, but I'm not moody
used to be- And anyway think that when start to
bad it's problem of bat control not something in
my head.
IT free swinger, question about it But Stan is
too Only he has the gift OF WELL don't just quite
know how to put it."
IT WAS DUKES TURN in the batting cage and he took
his returned the bench This the difference
between Musal and the of usMays Kuszewsk Adcock
Mathews myself When Stan does something wrong he
corrects quicker than we do He doesn't have to ask some
body what he's doing wrong. The rest of us do"
Duke frankly advice Oddly, the efthand sugger
who has batted in 784 in his with the
Dodgers and 1872 in the last three sets big store by
the opinions of pitchers, not other hitterS.
when Ralph Branca was with us he said I'D ask Ralph
to sit the dugou steps when hitting well and take
mental picture of what doing Then, when I'd get
in slump I'd ask Ralph to tell me what was doing that
different"
Branca is gone from the majors now, never having
throwing that home pitch to Bobby
Thomson in the 1851 playo for the pennant with the Giants
Replacing him .snders watchdog Carl Erskne, the
stylish Brooklyn highlander.
Hes good" Duke said Il need somebody like Ralph or
Carl Like said Musa recognizes his mistakes without
having to be told"
ALOT OF BALL PLAYERS think that Snider should have
been voted the most valuable player for IS instead of his
teammate Roy Campanela Although he batted only sos
tying Waly of the Reds for the No. ranking, Duke
topped the National League in batted in with 1885,
is curious but that the first time Duke led
When he drove home 100 in 1854 he had
to settle for tie with Gil Hodges In all previous
while always batting upward OF 80 runs he never
topped the Dodgers
He never the National League home king, either
although in three couted 49, 40
if he greatly disappointed by honors which have
escaped him it show although he talked about the
batting championship which notably escaped him in 1854
lone two sumps season should be expected he
said that didn't have until the last two
weeks I lost eight points off my average in Sunday
double-header still tied with Mays and Mueller
of the Giants the final day.
"I though I'd win because we were playing the
Pirates and Jake Thies pitching hit him for about
average that year but went for the collar Mays
It with 345 Mueller finished with 342 and I third
with a4l.
at can't be pressure that bothers it how
would YOU explain hit in three out of four
World Series?"