Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-14
- WIN, LOSE OR
~ DRAW ' FRANCIS SIAN"
This Is Birdie Tebbetts
BY FRANCIS STANN

TAMPA FLA, MAR l4-on the Cincinnati bench
Birdie Tebbets insisting the would have to lick
stronger Brooklyn and Milwaukee than they
faced last year 4 wouldn't pick any but mine to
win the pennan Birdie said, but the other two are
improved
How you say the Dodgers are stronger?" visitor
asked Gould you mean they're better of for not having
Jackie ROBINSON"
No" Birdie answered but they are stronger because
they've got Johnny Podres back Any time ball
souhpaw like Podres it hurts my my efthanded
hitters"
And the Braves" he asked.
"Oh, all those pitchers Birdie "Burdette Bull
SPAIN Coney and seven or eight others" He exag
geratng slightly as to quantity but the Reds made
his point. The Braves look plenty deep in pitching
About Robinson" Birdie said returning to the Dodgers
don't forget that Brooklyn has A-Sar third baseman
in Ransom Jackson He picked Jackie remember"
NoNETHELEss TEBBETTs LIKES his Reds chances
We're stronger, too he put it fatty.
How is that Birdie if you haven't added ANYBODY?
You're going with the club last year aren't you?'
Last year, Tebbets said Nuxha got off to a bad
start because of So did Hal Jefcoat was
my best pitcher the end of the They say that
Brooks Lawrence lucky because he 1870 record
at time.
Look at Lawrence this way" he suggested 'In 1855
he won Is games Last year he 49, Let's split il down
the middle That's the book the fellow. AS far as
winning Is in row well l don't how he wins
as long as he does 1t be 10 straight
spread EN- out. It comes out the same, doesn't it?"
THE REDS WHO good part of the Nation roofing
for them in So when they finished third place and only
two games back of Brooklyn set ball club Barring
injuries no newcomer is going break up the outded Of
Wally Post, Gus Bell and Frank Robinson
The nheld is rs per cent establshcd-Ted KIuzewsk
on first, Johnny Temple at second and Roy Mcmillan at
shorsop Right it looks like Alex Grammas at third
base with Don Hoax pressing him.
i've got the two best catchers of any club in baseball
Tebbes declared ED Bailey hit % home runs and baed
300 last year He caught few more games than Smoky
Burgess, who hit IL homers his own For all | know
Burgess may catch more games than Bailey this year
pitching? There's Lawrence and Nuxha and Art
Fowler In the bullpen mighty good pair JeTcoat and
Hersh Freeman don't think Johnny Kppsten has reached
his potential And did pick up couple Of pitchers we
didn't have year ago-Warren Hacker Russ Meyer
from the Cubs True they didn't have much in the way
Of records but you tell
Il wouldn't mind being little deeper Birdie confessed
Even so, I've got pretty good bench
BIRDIE DISTURBED THE TURF in front Of the Reds
dugout with the toe Of spiked shoe know" he said
baseball is getting to be funny in respect maybe
It's always been this way and didn't know It, because
always had been player But have you noticed the
whispering campaigns
Now take Alex Grammas After we got him from the
Cards last the other clubs said Grammas2 He can't
do this or he can't 10 that
THE same thing with Burgess They've been knocking
him down pretty good He can't catch. Or he can't hit
certain pitching
Docs it bother you?' man asked
Well not really" Birdie replied because nov what
those fellows can do It's Just that after all this knocking
the same critics will come 4 you an ask.
who do you want for Grammas? Or Who do you
want for Burgessp Now what OF sense does that ma