Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-27
WIN, LOSE OR
DNAW By FRANCIS sTANN
Tiqhe of the Tiqers

LAKELAND, FLA, MAR. 27-Jack Thomas Tighe is a
stocky 43year-od out of Kearny j. who played
big league ball game in his life and yet managing club
which may be of 1855 interesting lot of
observers think that if the Yankees beaten it will
be by the Detroit Tigers and Tghe does not protest much
IN go along with those who call the most improved
team Tighe but we'll have to wait and if that
improvement is good enough to make up the Is games
finished behind the Yankees last season"
Tghe is fortnight little guy who made the rounds of
the bushes catcher in 1896 with Charleston
then Beaumont MuSkegon Batavia Flint
WillamSport Toledo Buffalo Detroit AS early
1910 he manager and was playing
for Batavia When Bucky Harris given the last
year Detroit manager Tighe his coaches was
conveniently on hand.
It's promising ball club Tighe has inherited and he
realizes it. True Detroit hasn't finished in the first division
since 1880 but after terrible start in 1856 the Tigers
good After the AStar Game in July they played the
ball in the American League and the only beat
the Yankees on the season.
TTGHE is NOT DELUDING himself about the Yankees
His admiration for the world champions not boundess
considerable And it's refreshing hear the the
Yankee whom Tighe considers the who kills US"
Gil McDougald, he is, and Tighe has notion that Gil
the most moderated player the American League
Mantle Ford and Berra fine performers puts it.
'but McDougad makes the Yankees click He kills you
in the field and he kills you bat He doesn't hurt you
often with the long ball. the clutch up
the base hit And in the field it like he's always
coming up with those plays that end an inning"
Always adept at second and third base McDougald
became tne YANKEE SnOrtStOp last season ana
caused Tghe to marvel From the start he natural
Jack says q" know that opponents had base
against than against the Yankees but made only
double plays The Yankees made 2l4 and McDougald
the key in most Of them.
ION top of that he hits Bill Man. he hurts US"
THE TIGERS HAVE THREE crack starting pitchers
Frank Larry American Leagues wnnngest last year
with 2l3 record. Billy Hoeft efthander TO- and
Paul Foytack IS in only Hoeft could
lost for he's waiting for the result OF his second draft
examination Jim Burning Duane Mas Don Lee might
develop into fourth starter Lee, incidentally the %
major Lacquer Thornton Lee in case
you don't feel old enough already
II wouldn't mind having another established starting
pitcher Tghe says, pits righthanded hitting outfeder
But were not really hurting in those departments The
problem is in the nfield"
Tighe has switched Ray Boone to first base IF Ray
can do the job there it would give big lift he says
If Boone can't play the position he'll back to third base
Detroit appears to be much deeper nhelders than
the Red Sox The Tigers have Jim Fngan to play third
to battle Frank Boiling and Jack Dittmer for second Two
first basement Eddie Robinson and Earl Torgeson
hand And the best Of all the inieders Harvey
Kuenn, the shortstop and 1882 hitter
No apologies needed for the outheld, although
Cenerhelder Bill futile tailed off to only 253 last year and
is causing But Charlie Maxwell in left baed
1926 and Al Kalne the rightheder, is something special
And young Jim Small is red-hot.
KALINE is THE YOUNG MAN from Baltimore who won
the American League batting championship 1855 at the
ripe old age Of 90 Handicapped by bad shoulder year
he sumped from $40 to 3l4 but Detroers think
AL is his becoming the Tigers most outstanding
outheder since Ty Cobb
Kaine will have none Of this controversy nor will he
have any truck with the Kaline- Mickey Mantle
comparison.
Its ridiculous to put in the class with Mantle
he says He three titles last year and didn't win
Still, AL figures he has chance pick up a second
batting crown. He is wary, however of Ted Williams.
Mantle is the best al-around player in baseball today"
Kaline says but think Williams still is the best hitter
He knows what he's doing the plate I'd give anything
to hit like him"
lot Of other major leaguers would give anything to
hit like Kalne
- r..