Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-28
WIN, LOSE OR
ANAW By FRANCIS STANN
Once He Was Sore Armed

THIS WAS AN AFTERNOON last February at Lake
WORTH Fa where of basebals brightest stars and
of Champions golf tournament The days play had ended
Yogi Berra, who showing of in the morning the
Yankees training camp, burst out of his after
q telephone call to st. Petersburg
81 just heard news" Yogi excitedy told a group
in the patio We've got Dtmar!"
This the winter trade between the Yankees and
the Kansas City Athletics, and far as New York
concerned, Art Ditmar who had "a games for the
Athletics two the big Little Bobby
Shantz who had PAT record for the old Philadelphia
AS in 1852 and won the American Leagues Most Valuable
Player award, written off a ore-armed throw-n
Berra and his buddes Mickey Mantle and Billy Martin
agreed that with the Yankees Dmar might upward
10 games perhaps more than 20 shants almost for
gotten. -
AT ST. PETERSBURG, when the Yankees reported
picked the brains Dmar and wrote reams of
about him before they got around Shantz Bobby
was nearing 80 and had only Is games in the four
since 81 when he the best pitcher in the business
Casey stengel later told the that ne intended
make relief pitcher out of the 138-pound 5-foot 6-nch
southpaw He his feels pretty good Casey aid
land maybe him. although my front office giving
me Ford Ditmar Larsen, KuckS Sturdivan Byrne Tuey
and Grim"
In the Yankee clubhouse Shantz accepted his supporting
role with good grace If Casey says I'm relief pitcher
that's what I'll be-" Bobby said with tight grin per
sonay feel that be starter. My feels good
again. 1t felt good last season."
Then why didn't you start for Kansas City?"
Lou (Bcudreau thought was my abilities"
6ODDy
But Boudreau kept me in the bull-pen."
AN INTERVIEWER ASKED: do you hold grudge
against Boudreau for using you often?" Shantz
pitched only 101 innings in So showing 27 record.
NO." Bobby said II wouldn't call it grudge But when
told him that was ready we'll sort of felt Lou
should have started me-"
without shantz the Yankees today probably would be
in foul shape He 9 for the season. which considerably
better than the pace the champions He is their ranking
pitcher. When Whitley Ford (Ay solid pitcher"-stengeD
got screamed himself Shanz plugged the gap
Dtmar, Kucks, Larsen Turley and Byrne have not as
yet the pitching handles they the close
of the 56 Shantz however, has the big guy
which brings up the matter Of Yankee luck"
BACK IN MILLER HIGGINS days as manager the
Yankees started the habit Of picking up pitchers
win pennants and world championships In the beginning
It was more cash than acumen that counted.
There was, for instance, Harry Frazee, who angeled
theatrical productions and wound up with financial prob
strapped of the Red Sox he sold Babe
Ruth Carl Mays Joe Bush Sam Jones and Herb
the Yankees They all top pitchers with Ruth of
destined to become baseballs greatest slugger
In 1880, when Ed Barrow general manager of the
Yankees he engineered tremendous deal with Boston,
obtained Red Rung, who to be big winner for many
years Pretty good hitter, too. And don't forget Allie
REYNOLDS. who was obtained from Cleveland.
M
GEORGE WEISS WHO succeeded Barrow, felt he needed
apcher in 1851 and obtained Johnny San from the
Braves for $4,000 and a farmland hurler named Lew
Burdette Sain quickly reeed of II victories and helped
70 win the '52 pennant for the Yankees.
The fact that San has retired and that Burdette
National League star means little. Sain a
TO end Burdee was more or less expendabe and the
$4,000 was tip money.
In IS the Yankees again needed pitching of the solid
sort 1t was simple matter to skim of Of the bench
plus few farmhands and up with Bob Turley and
Larsen Of the Orioles Turley won II right of the bat
and Larsen snce famous the only pitcher
TO work perfect game in World Series
Right now however the boy who counts is Bobby shantz