Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-04-05
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW 8, FRANCIS s7Aun
About Those Smith Boys

TAMPA, FLA, APRIL SIN the telephone directory 1t
may be the Smiths and by landslide but not
big league basebas Who's Who You hardly hear many
Blaylocks but there three them this neck
sandspit No family reunions however, because they
unrelated.
The Philhes have Mary Blaylock an ntielder The
Cardinals have two Gary and Bob Blaylock Both are
pitchers and spend much time denying they knfolk
they do at their exercises Gary halls from Carkton
Mo, and Bob from Chattanooga, Okla The Phlies Bay
lock is from Fort Smith, Ark
Oh there Smiths, too plus Joneses. In fact
two Smiths thinking the Blayocks getting of lightly
Hal smith-is the No catcher of the Cardinals. And
Hal Smith the No catcher for the Athletics They
met until recently when the Cards and AS played exhibi
ton, yet each felt he renewing friendship
Its the darndest situation Hal Smith of the Cards
saying get the other Smiths mail and he gets mine
Since we're both catchers suppose that's understandable
What helps is that play for different cities in
different leagues"
HAL SMITH OF THE CARDINALS is 5-feet-l0h, weighs
189 and from Barlng Ark He is Is years old and
improving fast although he 2S2 hitter last year.
Hal Smith of the Athletics is half inch taller and pound
heavier hang from West Frankfort Ill There is differ
ence of six months in their ages
All sorts of complications arise Stories have been
written about one Smith and the pictures that go with
them have been of the other The Cardinals Hal Smith
was talking about recent bubbegum testimonial
They used picture" he said but the records and
data underneath were Hal Smiths of the Athletics One
day got letter from The Sporting They wanted
to know my wifes name is Caroline. 1t isn't Presumably
Both considered among the up-and-com back
stops AS against the 282 hit by of the Cardinals
the AS boy hit 267 last playing games for the
Orioles and the total of ia contests for the
Athletics Neither has great professional problem ahead
It's just that both are catchers named Hal Smith.
THERE HAS BEEN DEARTH of live copy out of this
spring training but of the better sagas
transformation of Granny Hammer of Richmond Va from
crack shorstop to pitcher knuckleballer de luxe.
AS one Of the Whz Kids of 1850, Hammer was devil
may-care 23-yearod who spanked the pennant winning
Phes until they had the misfortune of meeting up with
the Yankees in the World Series Granny the only
National Lacquer to play 157 games that year He made
all the plays batted .27O and drove across 80
Granny Is 80 and looks all of his years. plus
is scanned and his Unfolding days behind appar-
emily ncurabe injury his left shoulder prevents him
swinging bat in normal fashion He Clearwater
try to make it pitcher There is nothing wrong with
strong right but trying to become pitcher at 80
involved uncertainty especially with ball club
rich in pitchers, II little else.
He's practically got it made now.
TALKING IN. CLEARWATER the other day Manager
Mayo Smith expressed his admiration Hammers effort
Toward the end Of last season." Mayo Smith said I'VE
used Hammer in relief once or twice He didn't look like
pitcher He didn't look like much when he reported for
training Now he's looking like real pitcher Grannys got
pose good fast ball and the darndest knuckler you
saw"
"Wl he be retaned?" asked man who had been assured
month ago that Hammer couldn't make it.
I'D say So" Smith replied HE came into game with
the Yankees They had the bases loaded He struck
FIRST batter The next popped knucker got past
Joe Lonnett catcher and scored Then he struck
out the batter 1t terrific performance He'll help in
relief Bad left arm not, Granny help pinch
hitter too Did mention that he struck out five Yankees
four innines2"
There Is no telling how many pitchers Coach BENNY
Bengough the old catcher has handled years They
must run into the thousands But with his knucke ball Ham,
ner the only for whom Bengough in full regaa
In warmups
Benny wears chest protector mask and shin guards
looking ncongruous in the bupen don't ask for much as
gle" Benny said "bu like to lye-and Hammers knucker
Doesn't want catcher TO live" .