Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-11
WIN. LOSE OR
DRAW ;, FRANCE, ,1Auu
Not Quite So Many Muscles
By FRANCIS STANN

MAN. 11.--None OF Birdie TebbettS' athletes
look underfed but for the time being the of the
sized bicep, symboized by Ted Kluszewsh and few
Others past The Cincinnati Reds going to try to
win the National League pennant in orthodox fash
ion than just knocking the cover OF the ball.
ut can't be done on hitting alone" Tebbetts admits
I'VE hit 221 home in 1856 and tied the major league
record. What did it get us9 Just small piece of the
swag!"
Muscle Man Kuszewski has departed. He was traded
to Pittsburgh for Dee Fondy Wally Post another sub
stantal slugger belongs to the Phies There are
ong-ba htters still wearing the Cincinnati vestments-
Frank Robinson, George Grove Don Hoax and the two
catchers Ed Bailey and Smoky BurgeSbut they'll hardly
hit 221 home runs.
I'VE made the decision to trade for pitchers August
Birdie discoSes At first didn't think our pitching was so
bad. In May we won 81 and lost T. But in August we
couldn't get anybody out. We won and lost TO-"
mo regrets over trading Kluszewski and Postq" he
was asked
Lets put it this vay,v Birdie says 1--WE should have
better ball club -. one with little more balance"
80 ***E&
TOM FERRICK who was pretty good relief pitcher
in his day for the Indians Browns, AS Senators and
Yankees, supervising the warmup of young left
handler, Claude Osteen
We've got to have better pitching staff than last
years. Ferrick said DO you realize that used 433
pitchers in ST? That's almost three pitchers game"
General Manager Gabe Paul wasted no time swinging
into action after the dismal finish of the Reds In the
space Of eight days-December to December 9the Reds
acquired seven pitchers probably sort of record.
They drafted Southpaw Jerry Cade from ST. Paul
bought Bill Wight from Baltimore, obtained willard
Schmidt, Marty Kutyna and Ted Weand from ST. Louis in
trade snapped Post for Harvey Haddix of the Phes
sent Don Gross to Pittsburgh for Bob Purkey.
NO. they're not bigname pitchers" Tebbetts admits
"but it's better STAFF than what had last year.
got q pitchers on the roster pitchers out of 40 ball
players doubt if more than two three Of the 81
pitchers are cinches to stay with the club"
pERuAps prpnrr,c MOST ,r,rortont a,u,s,.,o
were Purkey and Haddix Il tell you why like this pair
Tebbetts says. "Purkey had lila record and 385
earnedrun average which pretty good for the Pirates
Furthermore the records show that Prkey does his best
pitching against the Braves and Dodgers And you've got
to say these the clubs to beat Well St. Louis too"
The doughty, mufhn-faced manager was made ex-
temey unhappy last because the Reds couldn't
compete with the Braves
"They beat 10 out of % games" Birdie reminds
"They killed u.s. If record had been II and II an
even split we'd have been games up and the
Braves down.
Haddix is 80 years old realize. But he is good as
If not better tan anyone we had staff last year.
Some Of these pitchers" he predicts "are going
to find 1t privilege and pleasure to pitch with in
hed behind them No matter who plays first base-Crowe
Fondy or Steve Bkoweve got good infield you'll
fnd"
TEBBETTS ALWAYS HAS BEEN high on his shortstop-
second base combination Roy Mcmillan is the greatest
shortsop I've SEEN" Birdie contends makes all
the plays and then nvents that weren't made before
Johnny Temple is terrific second baseman."
The other infied position is sewed up by Don Hoax
THAT lucky day in November 1885, we got Hoax
from Chicago" Birdie says ats deal I'll always
remember"
Hoax, you may remember, belonged to the Dodger
chain before he traded to the Cubs in IS He was
clever and versatile in the field but he'd never hit 800 in
minors majors. Don knocked across more than
81 runs in the big leagues hit than homers.
For the Reds last year he went berserk His 10 homers
and SO batted in records for any Cincinnati
third baseman He led the league with 80 doubles wound
up with 2o3 average and voted the Reds most valu-
able player of 81.
the nerves."