Evening star., 1957-03-28
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW ;, FRANCE, ,1Auu
Holes in the Red Sox

exhibiting the Far West the but the basic
training done in Florida where there great rush
Jump the Boston bandwagon Although they have
finished in the first division 10 times in the last II years,
the Red Sox are looking bit threadbare.
No less than Ted Williams holding his first clubhouse
press conference branded the Red Sox place
club maybe fifth How this sat with Manager Mike Higgins
conectura. but Just before the teams flying junket
California Arizona and Louisiana, Mike talked the bench
at st. Petersburg and made extraVagant claims.
got some problems" he admitted They may
work out they may not" Higgins who ncknamed Pnky
when he OF the top third baemen, cordial but
reticent man from Texas rarely volunteering his moods
reactions and opinions
For example is generally considered that Boston has
a special of outfeld with Williams left Jim Persau
in center and Jackie Jensen in right It's good one Hg
gins conceded placidy. That was that
CONVERSELY. HIGGINS REFUSED to panic his
neld which everybody else considers the teams weakest
department paper looks far from impressive I've got
II nhelders, Mike sighed Out of many we might be
able to find an infield"
Although he batted 3lO in 1i9 games last year Mickey
Vernon will be SO in April Frank Malone who failed in
SO third base back for another try although Ted Lepco
may With Buddn in the service Billy Klaus may
regain shortstop Second base is a big question mark
Gene Mauch looks good Higgins said Right now Id
say he probably will open at second Mauch, pronounced
Mock has been knocking around in ball since 1943 and
32 He's with the Dodgers twice Pirates Cubs
Braves and Cardinals but never has clicked.
yet last year with Los Angeles Higgins reminded
ene played in lac and baed 348by far the best
batting he made It's Just possible the fellow
has found himself"
HIGGINS PITCHING AND CATCHING don't look bad
Tom Brewer 19game winner, is the big Then there
Ivan O'clock Willard Nixon Mel Parne Frank Sullivan
Sser others to mention Bob Porertield
Porterfeld rocked. the Red Sox brass last when
he fell his face winning three and losing IL Remember
Bob the American Leagues top pitcher for the lowly
Senators in 1858 with 22-0 record When Washington
Porterfed Vernon Tom Umphett and Johnny
Schmz the So there fans who felt
that Cal Griffith had rocks in his head.
Eight players involved in that deal and only Ver-
good year The rest from hunger Implicit
and Schmz longer in the majors OF the five sent
Washington by the Red Sox Pitchers Truman Cevenger
Dick BrodoWsk and Oueder Neil Chrisey farmed
by Senators Louisville Pitcher AL Curtis is gone and
Outheder Karl Olson has been a bust.
Cevenger and Brodowski game for Wash
ngton While Brodowsk did have HIP record for Louis
Vile Clevenger had horendous 2-1 Chrsey did fairly
we'll batting 1898 but the American Association isn't what
1t used to be-
The big mystery is what happened to Porterfeld.
YEAR AGO IN SARASOTA the big virgnian admit
tedy in top shape and happy At Sarasota he told re-
porters These guySWllams Jensen, Vernon, Goodman
mean Runs victories Victories mean bigger
paychecks Yet Bob colossal flop and by md-season
the Fenway fans goanng when he drew an assignment
Billy Goodman? Il don't have him ticketed as regular,
Higgins admitted But he'll play here and therehrs maybe
second, third and the outfeld"
If memory serves. the Red Sox the only club
In the majors with three exbattng champs on the roster
The trouble they growing old together They will play
on a part-t basis only
williams five times American League batting king, ad-
mits that maybe few more will be his physi-
cal limit Higgins confeSses that with Dick Gerner and
Norm Zauchin on hand Vernon may not appear in more
than 100 games used the term appear in indicating
that the two-time batting champ will be used mainly for
pinch hitting
Goodman is only 81 has lifetime average of 306 and
one batting crown while he versatile he Is no tower
OF defensive strength His lack Of throwing hurts both
his outhelding and Unfolding except at first base
marches Before the end of this season the Red
sox three hitting champions will O9 years And
Higgins can't up with better ined there may be
times when he will feel that old all by himself.