Evening star., 1957-04-22
WIN, LOSE OR
GNAV By FRANCIS STANN
Once Upon q Time.

WHATEVER BECAME OF ALL those no-ht good-feld
centerhelders? Cal Griffith who realizes well any
body else that super flycacher of the Senator's
greatest needs doesn't know.
Seems like every time the phone rings" was saying
yesterday at the ball park w somebody looking for that
good fielding guy to play center Our minor league teams
are screaming for help Back here in what you might call
the central office we are, too"
AS of the moment the Senators are alternating Whitley
Herzog and Karl Olson in centered They nice
cut young men with possible futures But
Neither Herzog Olson has shown that he can hit
much Worse, neither any great shucks as fychaser
And almost since time mmemora rst-rate centerelder
has been a requisite at Griffith Stadium.
THIS ALWAYS HAS BEEN due to the wide-open out
field pastures The late Clark Griffith almost built his ball
clubs speedy and talented centereders who capable
Of cheating rival hitters out of long base hits.
Some could hit too, and couldn't. But they all
could run far piece and snare ball at top speed
I'VE can't find the centerhelders who do nothing
but field" Cal laments. when was kid Clyde Milan
did great job, and he always runscoring threat
Then had. Wild Matthews, who pretty good for
short spell, and then Earl McNeely.
I'VE had Sammy West-he could hit and field We had
Fred Schultz and Ben Chapman.
There were times when the Washington club couldn't
find centerfelder who could both field hit So Unk
the late c. c. Griffith just settled for that standout fielder
CAL IS THE YOUNGEST president Of any major league
ball club but his memory long because he practically
was raised in Griffith Stadium He remembers West and
for short term Iris Speaker Cal vvidy recalls Schultz
"As much as anybody, he helped to win in 49,"
What is unsetting is the absence good-fied
centerederS Once the woods full them For some
time the Senators got along with Mel Almada Mexican
who could field like demon. He hit much but neither
did Earl Wooten from the cotton-pckin' country.
But they could chase down long balls catch
em, and of this date Ameda wooten would look
good center Regardless Of whether Washington winning
losing it behooves the Boss Man to find center
fielder.
"He just isn't available" Cal mo matter what
anybody says thinks I've kept trying But like said
before only few clubs have got good centereders and
they're darn sure to hang onto them"
CAL DOESN'T TALK MUCH these days Of moving
at least to Los Angeles. It's Grths notion that Walter
oMaey and the Dodgers will. wind up in the California
metropolis, not the Senator's.
II where lot Of made available to
OMaey in New York." Cal saying, land where Walter
was playing it cozy He's committed to Los Angeles, such
as we're sitting here and watching the Orioles.
Los Angeles for the Senator's I'd say is out. can't
predict anything beyond that much"
Are you satisfied so far with the support your club
has been getting this season." Cal asked.
Its too early to TELL" Grnith replied 1--WE haven't
drawn too many fans but don't forget mostly been
playing the Orioles Shucks haven't seen the Yankees
Red Sox, Tigers Indians White Sox.
"one thing know-we1 have to draw better than
43l,000, which was what we drew year ago."
1T WAS POINTED OUT that while the Senators drew
fewer customers than any Of the other is major league
clubs in 1885, the Griffith Robertson family still managed
to have hot biscuits the table
"Al right" Cal conceded I'VE made out But who knows
how the Redskins are going to make out In 81? DonT
forget it's important to that the Redskins do we'll
the Washington Ball Club gets IS per cent Of the gate
FOR that matter, George Washington University pulled
in couple of pretty good crowds last fall They pay the
rent rate
ITO really operate on sound basis" Cal summed up
have to draw e25OOO customers for baseball Thatl
all there is to It, SO far crowds aren't averaging
that much but like said been playing the orioe
too much
We'll see what happens. But 1t looks like n,
move to Los Angeles The Dodgers are more or less in there