Evening star., 1957-04-18
WIN, LOSE OR
INAV By FRANCIS STANN
No Hdlfwoy Measures

IN MARCH THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES who trained
at Fort Myers Fla moseyed in northerly direction until
they reached the Cearwater-S Petersburg region
There lying in wait raft of curious baseball writer's
and columnsts who wanted to look at Dick Stuart.
Fortunately Manager Bobby Bragan brought along the
unnhibited rookie who had hit 66 home last
for the Class Lincoln eb) team. He hit homer struck
out another speciality might be added and he talked
He is tall "a with unbounded confidence himself
1t is too bad that Manager Bragan felt 1t necessary to
farm out Stuart to the Hollywood Stars the talk
of the Pacific Coast League already The folks there
scratching their heads trying to remember the such
eccentric The writers already have written
Stuart than the Coast Lacquer will command all
season.
HE STARTED BY SMASHING five home runs in the
stars rt four He also struck out nine times which
is in keeping with his III whis Lincoln Already
he has almost beheaded teammate Pitcher Raydon
with monumental throw to home after catching the third
out of inning.
II talking back and forth with some of the fans
in the righteld bleachers Dick explained forthright.
land lost track of the outs When this fly ball
out caught it and fired it home yelled at Raydon as
soon as let CO.
Luckily Raydon turned be walked of the mound and
speared the throw head high he hadn't Hollywood prob
ably would have been pitcher poorer.
Jack Murphy sports columnist of the San Diego Union,
recently asked Bill Starr former of the San Diego
club of his reaction to Stuart ago Starr up
the Senators catcher discovered that he couldn't hit
and went TO California to make his pile.
That kid is basebals original thinker in so years.
Starr said spent most of life in baseball thought
had heard everything Then along this boy telling
people he helps his club by striking out Any strike
OUT he says don't hit intoSa double play"
THIS IS PRECISELY WHAT Rookie Stuart was telling
sportswriters in Florida before the Pirates optioned him.
What does it matter how times strike out If you
hit 66 home runs?" the young asked 1T wouldn't bother
me If I struck out 200 times so long as hit 66.
Il could hit for high average" Stuart went on "but
what's the point of that? I'm not that kind of hitter
I'd like to be the Ralph Kner ypehomer nothing and
drive Caddy."
Stuart does, indeed bring up memories Of Kiner. He
not only hits long ball cone measured at $40 feet
back at Lncoln but he atrocous fielder This doesn't
bother him particularly
At point Bragan called Dick the outhelder he
saw, but Stuart holds grudge II don't what
anybody says about just long they mention my
name he says Bragan just said what he did for psyche
logical reasons He's just trying to get me mad I'll i'm
prove my fielding He said have two left feet.
Il know I'm not the greatest fielder, but I'll learn
When start hitting those home they'll forget about
my fielding guy can't have everything
THE TWO HITTERS WHO now come closest to being
Stuarts ideals Ted williams and Mickey Mantle Il like
Williams stance and Mantle's grip" he Is telling Coast
writer's II try copying them but have few gimmcks
myself"
About williams: Hes SO now but I'm lot better than
Ted was at 24 The young man have erred badly at
this stage When Williams "a he the last big league
hitter to top 400 "a real neat 4O6 In fac he led the
American League with 81 homers and 1875 scored
When Stuart reported to Hollywood there
question whether he could make the grade in the Pacific
Coast League Clyde King, who manages Hollywood,
asked about his chances Most everybody asks about
fielding Clyde says "I1 tell you this I'm not worried
about his fielding. II he hit it won't matter"
Stuarts feelings? 1T makes difference to what
league I'm in. what pitchers face hit any place,
including the majors"
With Dick Stuart it's Just a question Of time before
the Pirates will be sending for him.