Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-18
WIN, LOSE OR
DNAV By FRANCIS sTANN
Broqon of the Pirates

CLEARWATER, FLA, MAR 18.-Bobby Bragan is
stocky swarthy of &c. with mouthul teeth and
glib tongue In five of the last seven seasons the
Pittsburgh Pirates, whom he managing for a second
campaign, finished in the National League cellar The
other two years they seventh
Well battle it out with the Cardinals fourth place"
Bragan boldly announces he discusses the 81 If
we get the breaks we'll battle with Reds Dodgers
and Braves for the pennant"
Bragan seems to be sort of juniorgrade Birdie Teb-
bettS In short con He tells his players they
merely great and his words rub OFF In
the once-lowy Pirates were top and Dale Long first
oaSeman not entirely certain Of his job record
by hitting eight home eight consecutive games
Bragan pulls cute strategems such batting his pitcher
eighth and the gimmick has paid off. For instance
the first two in the Grapefruit League
Pirates have been red hot Catcher Hank Fo Leonardo
Rodrgues, Mexican nfelder batted in the No slot
and got seven hits out of eight tries
IN THE MATTER OF PHYSIQUE the Pirates do not
impress Satisticaly they probably tall large
the big league club but in their mostly black
uniforms they to be dumpy athletes like pups
OF Bragan Possibly the comc-opera hats they play
part They are OF black fibergass closely resembling
polo helmets
1t is considered good idea-indeed it's mandatory
to the caps one is Pirate They manufactured
by Branch Hickey who chairman Pirates board
OF directors They look funny but of them
Centerfielder Bill Virdon few days picko throw
struck Vrdon Squarey in the head and cracked the fiber
gaS hat but they didn't have scrape Vrdon of the field
This of course relief to Manager Bragan who
rates Mr. Vrdon very highly AS may know, Pittsburgh
considers it notable deal.
THERE ARE ONLY THREE outfelders in baseball"
Bobby saying who could join the Yankees make
Mickey Mantle from leftfeld Virdon
one, Duke Snder is the second and Willie Mays the third
ANY of these could Mantle to eftfeld?"
interviewer asked.
Yes" Bragan replied and I've just thought of one
other-Jim Piersal"
Having Vrdon in his outfield from the start is
of six why Bragan thinks the Pirates Jump
from seventh place to the first division and possibly
for the pennant "A catcher up from Hollywood Of
Danny Kravitz, is the No. reason Bobby says. Then
we've got Frank Thomas the exoutfeder third base
and he's good We've got second base plugged with Bill
Mazeroski.
Our bench is deeper that's No s. Finally pitchers
have got be ucker We had ang pitchers last year
We don't figure to have that bad luck again"
IN BRAGANs BOOK the only with whom to make
player deal is Frank Lane of the Cards His admiration
the butt end of fungo bat and drew figures the turf
back of first base.
Lane tells you this We won't Musial-he1l
die in St Louis We won't trade Mizel Boyer and Moon.
Now, that's untradable group. But here the rest
Dark and Others Make offer"
With his bat. Bragan drew similar marks the ground
Nobody gets Bob Friend" he saying 1T would take
helluva offer to get Frank Thomas For that matter
Roberto Clemente
so what do Lane and do? We eliminate the
not to be traded and toy with those who considered
dependable
Sometimes" he concluded, I'VE make mistakes But
will say this muchFrank Lane is the only other honest
trader in the National League"