Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-04-09
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DRAW ;, FRANCIS ,1Auu
It's a Smaller World

TAMPA FLA APRIL 9.-The world grows smaller every
day and the Boston Red sox this spring They held
basic exercises in Florida moved California Arizona
and louisiana returned Florida before heading north
And at neat profit, it might be added
There's doubt that Pacific Coast fans want big league
ball. Manager Mike Higgins reported after the Red
returned For game Francisco the park sold
out and $500 people turned away the
first appearance in California since 19l but still
whale of testimonial"
In Florida there like the 900 that turned
out to watch the Red Sox playing Pacific Coast League OPP
position, in California. Only clubs draw we'll in Florida
the Yankees and Dodgers Take almost other oppos
tpn and some days the turnout doesn't exceed 1000
customers.
Higgins doesn't attempt to belittle the drawing power
OF Ted Williams the noted orator He pulls them into the
parks Higgins readily conceded Il guess still
biggest draw in the business"
JUST BEFORE THE RED SO21 broke camp in Florida
there exhibition with the Phiies Porter
field was warming up for Is or 20 minutes of batting practice
The big Senator and exYankee blazing
Boston bench Higgins asked how possible for
pitcher with much stuff to win only three all year,
while losing 70
1T beats me- Higgins said Il didn't figure Bob for
2Ogame winner last year. but thought he'd win IA
easily If could have known Porterfed would win only
three games wouldn't have used him in 25 games could
have squeezed three games almost any pitcher"
Portered, who % year for the Senator'S says
he can't explain his failure. If had bad luck
it would easy Bob put It, but there wasn't ANYTHING
wrong"
Let explain it, Bob" suggested Jim Piersal who
also was watching Porterned warm up You threw too
many good pitches good for the hitters mean"
Porterfeld shrugged and kept pumping balls into
Catcher Sammy Whites mitt They sounded like Ommeter
shells going of
SINCE THE APPEARANCE of his dramatic book, Fear
Strikes Out" and the movie based it. Persa some
thing of wheel in the Red Sox organization This
being the greatest defense He is still talking of the
ception he and his teammates given in Hollywood
Il got kissed right the movie lot" Jim grnned "by
Rhonda Fleming. Man. my gave way"
Mickey Vernon, quietly warming up the sidelines,
heard Persa and winked After all these years the
lean League the sofpoken Pennsylvania hasn't changed
much Vernon will be SO before this ended but
has lost none OF that lean and dexterty peasuab
to watch
Il wish had more like him." Higgins said in the dug
out mo stress strain Funny thing all the eight guys
involved in that Boston Washington deal in the winter OF
1885, he the only to deliver"
Washington writer said Mike you should have been
ashamed OF sending what you did to the Senators Five
and not produced"
Believe me-" Higgins replied each those guys
highly ranked by scouts surprised anybody
else when they didn't deliver"
KARL OLSON, He THOUGHT would be big asset HE
looked good to me- but how play Olson in oued
that has Williams Piersall and Jensen? thought Neil
Chrsey had lot of potential felt that Tex Cevenger and
Dick BrodoWski had lot of potential
so far he added nodding toward Mickey Vernon 1.-THE
Old Mans the only one who's done anything"
Vernon batted $40 for the Red sox, appearing in 1l9
games He expects to play in many this season.
Actually. played only about ITO games" Mickey con-
fessed In the others pinchhitter guess l can
play ITO games they need But got Dick Gernert
and Norm Zauchin who bat rghhanded and play first
Outwardly, Vernon looks little different from the kid
who came up to the Senators in the l93Os and
away by the late Clark Griffith roomng the
street from the Angcb Hotel in Orlando There
among Others Early Wynn, Joe Haynes Early and
Evans Mickey recalled ut family style fare and there
was always heaping mound OF mashed potatoes in the
middle.
Il ate my share potatoes but they didn't do anything
for me- stayed skinny and kept my first basemans m"