Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-04-09
WIN, LOSE OR
UkAW By FRANCIS s1AAA
You Know Me, Al

WHEN A BALL PLAYER is nigh on to 81 years of age
and sent down to the Minors his chances of returning
to the big leagues not precisely bright Especially
he can't rum can't field and has been in a two-year
batting slump.
So. Dusty Rhodes may may not be able to rise
above Phoenix of the Pacific Coast League where the
Francisco Giants have banished him. But If Dusty
doesn't come back, he will be remembered His is in
the record books. fs.
Ring Lardner knew James Dusty Rhodes Not
personally Of course because Rhodes only years
old at the time of the humors death But Dusty existed
in Lardners mind. He could have been You Know Me, AL
In fact he became Rings AL
For big Lacquer of six years standing Rhodes was
capable Of playing some incredibly mediocre ball. But in
1854 he was one Of the great pinch-hters of all time
Without Rhodes the Giants could not have the Ma
tonal League pennant in "a and perhaps not the
World Series, which they swept from Cleveland.
=
FOUR YEARS AGO almost to the day there was no
hint of the magic wand that Dusty to WELD for the
Giants scepter that to average 341 the season
and drive home so with So hits Fifteen times As
trips he pinchhit safely for 1888 average Few batsmen
in history including old Moose Mccormick, Sheriff Dave
Harris and Johnny Mize could come on the bench cold
and maui pitcher in the clutch Rhodes that year
-Four years ago Leo Durocher, who managing the
Giants went to President Horace Stoneham and said
Il want to get rid Of Rhodes He can't do nothn' He
can't run and he can't field"
Stoneham not unwilling part with this character
whose birthplace was Mathews Ala. but for
the season opened with Rhodes still Giant Certainly 1t
"oOH DcCduSe VI MS spring play, on ana on the ueQ.
The dim lights Of night club always attracted Dusty
Once, after an exhibition game in Las Vegas in 1854
Rhodes got the team bus cutchng potable favored
on occasion He'll make it to the Polo Grounds"
baseball writer predicted
The Aabaman wasn't anxious to stay with the
Giants He openly told writers that If he couldn't play
regularly he would like to leave the club.
$3.50
INSTANTLY, AND BY DEGREES Durocher began to
call on Rhodes to pinchhit The guys performance was
astonishing Time after time he delivered and the upsho
was that in mdJuly the Giants 7h games in front
Then came the skid. New Yorks lead was cut to half
game. Rhodes and his roommate Infeder Bobby Hof-
man, began to needle Durocher. Put the lineup"
they urged. We'll build up that lead again."
Leo gambled, and with Rhodes and Holman both in
the lineup temporarily the Giants began to roll again.
although Dusty bad outelder and Holman was too
succeed somehow in rsinstng confidence in the regulars
And so the Giants the pennant although baseball men
vow that Durochers team merely ordinary
They won because Rhodes and Hoyt wilhelm and
Marv Grissom the relief pitchers purely wonderful
DUROCHER AND RHODES could do no wrong that
happy year. Even when Dusty failed to sting the ball
well his efforts were dropping safely.
In the first game Of the World Series his 10th
homer beat Bob Lemon to start the rout of
the Indians Under ordinary conditions say a routine
July game against the Pirates Cubs 1t would have been
as Tar GEO fee and barely dropped into the row
Of seats in rightheld
In the second game a looping single by Rhodes tied
te score IN the NTH inning and later Dusty homered
81 victory Came the third game and Rhodes singled
with the bases loaded and led the way to a 6-1 win.
Inc Indians were so much a beaten team that
Durocher didn't even need Rhodes In the finale and Dusty
went home to the idolatry Of his friends new and old
He never reganed his touch or his luck Neither did
the Giants