Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-06
WIN, LOSE OR
GNAV By FRANCIS sTANN
On the Liqhter Side

ST PETERSBURG, FLA MAR Cit was the lunch
break at Miller Higgins Field and all of the Yankees
the clubhouse at the cold cuts All except Casey Senge who
remained in the dgout chatting with couple newspaper
men, The old boy in fine fettle mood to
tyke wearing soiled white sailors cap faded blue
jeans tidy approached bench Are you Mister Stem
ges?" he queried
well, now, that's close enough" Casey replied What
can do for you?"
The boy held handful of 3-b4inch cards. on each of
which was typed the of Yankee He Stem
gels card and Casey signed his autograph Still the lad
fingered, summoning up courage. Finally
Mister STENCILS, could I have broken bat? Do you
ever give them away?'
BY THIS TIME FLOCK of kids and several adult tour
lists carrying cameras had formed half circle
the BENCH so Casey performed
Son, those high in rghthed? My men are so
strong they hit balls those trees with broken Why
they tell me I've got great ball players that Mister
Topping and Mister Webb won't pay me much money.
Tell you what, Go to the clubhouse and ask
Tor Pete Shelby Maybe he got broken bat maybe my
strong man. Mickey Mantle, will break for you
handed"
81 can't say that name" the boy murmured
Pete sheehy, stengel repeated The boy turned and
trotted off
An elderly approached Casey" he said may
take picture? And will you autograph piece paper?
I'm from Aurora, H."
Now don't say!" Stengel said posing and signing
his name. Il played in your town"
Il know you did," the said you and Nick Atrock"
CASEY BL1NKED but said nothing Altrock goes back to
1893 with the old Louisville of the National League
Stengel only to 1912.
Yes sir" the tourist said "I remember when Atrock
was pitching for the White Sox for 500 game Imagine
a pitcher like Atrock for slOO game"
The tyke returned carrying cracked bat its business
end darkened with oil tobacco Juice both He almost
in tears
Gee. he mean" the sad "but he gave me bat"
Who was mean?" Stengel asked pete Sheehy? What
did he say?"
Il don't want to tell" the boy replied
Casey fought down a grin. Whats your name son?"
Butch"
Butch what?"
Larson Butch Larson I'm in the fifth grade"
"Larsen" Casey exclaimed. Don't tell I've got
other Larsen You aren't related Perfect Game Pitcher
you?"
"I don't think So" the kid said as his name Larson
-. LARSON too?"
CASEY REACHED FOR THE CRACKED bat and with
borrowed penknife scraped clean white patch and then
borrowed black pencil and autographed it.
This bat now is worth 81 more Stenge told the young
ser Now If you could get Mister Nantes signature this
bat 1t would be worth $40 more"
Butch looked at the grizzed manager with worship in
his eyes.
Mister stengel" he asked could sit on the bench
Just for few minutes? Just to say did?"
Well my heroes will be coming out in while" Casey
said land there's policeman who chases small boys away
But we'll okay Just for minute"
Mister Sengel," the boy said would you have any
for bat boy? mean could take the cracked
Casey pulled hand down his face like Edgar Ken
nedy used to do in the comedies
Nov there's something that Mister George Weiss and
Msters Topping and Webb never got for me-" he said "A
cracked bat boy