Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-04-14
- WIN, LOSE OR
~M@ DNAW By FRANCIS sTANN
The Little Leoquer

Whitley HERZOG OUTFIT the Mighty Mite IN spring
exhibitions but Able Pearson opens the season today as
the Senators centerfelder At the last moment Albe
apparently convinced Cookie Lavagetto he can do the
job and the evaporation Of the resistance is
understandable
The Little Guy regardless of the sport nearly always
has big following Oh he's got to have the skils too,
If he's professional but mostly all the world loves the
Little Guy who is the symbol of the woud-bes the frus-
traed the dreamers, the Observation-Disclosures
Able Pearson stands 5feet-6 and weighs 14O pounds,
give take couple and certainly he is the smallest
hustlngeSt most obgng and conversatonaly adept ball
player to Washington uniform in 1t follows
that he play ball. too here that whatever the
cabre of the today performer could do well
as Pearson without the tools
Handicapped? Hardly by size Where he may have
been handicapped by the of publicity that came
out him from Florida. And by the ultimate Sho-in
thedark preseason award rookie of the year. by the
Sporting News.
Able DOESN'T FEEL his size will keep him from
playing in Mr.. Grhs outfield somebody elses out
field for that matter regular basis Il have smaller
strike zone Pearson reminds gratefully When I'm hit
ing, pull that ball pretty good too, think
There have been other small men who were frs-class
athletes in big mans kingdom, Abe points out. Re
Able Booth of Yale?" he asks although the %
year-old speedser from West Covina, Calf, must have
learned all about Booth from his daddy who named his
boy after the little Blue Bulldog Booth did all right
In football, real big mans game, didn't he?'
So he did, and did quite few other understood
football players including Davey OBrien In baseball
there have been shorter lighter and fragile stars
than Pearson, some in the Hall of Fame.
For instance
Willie Keeler stood only 5-feet-4ia and weighed 14O
pounds Old Hit En- Where They Amt" averaged .345
19year career and wound up in Cooperstown So
did Rabbit Meanwhile, who was only 5-fee5 and l55
pounds Johnny Evers weighed only 100 when he first
joined the Cubs Phil Rizzuto 5-feet6, and over
long period of he the best shoop in the history
of the Yankees
NOT AT 7-rIyE F-O h,,f alon
Herculean lines of Don Newcombe The best pitcher in the
business in 1852 Connie Macks pintsized southpaw,
Bobby Shantz who had PAT mark for the fourthpace
Philadelphia Athletics and the most valuable
player Bobby stood 5feet-614 and weighed scant 1873
pounds He threw hard broke off good got the ball
the plate fielded like fifth infelder and was no
patsy at the plate.
No one who was around during his day will forget
little Bill Johnston the tennis immortal whose dramatic
duels with Big Bill Tlden made history Before his DEATH
Tilden himself, spoke of Johnston this way:
Heading my list OF memories stands the figure Of
slight sandy haired anemic- looking man. In street
clothes he appeared less the great champion than anyone
But by virtue Of lion heart, machess fore
hand drive and magnificent volleyng and an undyng
will to win he will live of the al-tme greats
William Johnston, 5-feet-7 but ll8 pounds at playing
weight carried waop that beat down the stub
born deenses 1t won him two United States singles titles,
Wimbledon and Davis Cup record Of victories that for
decisiveness stands among the best
THERE is NOTHING DAINTY about Pearson. He
swshes his bat although qualified observers feel that
If he would try spray his hits and make getting on base
his primary goal Able would be valuable.
He throw-he cut down % base runners more than
any other ouelder in pro ball last Started
double plays too he also hit 297 for San Francisco and
II Of his blows triples. Coast League top.
There's always first time, of course, but Able hasn't
Topped in any league yet He made the California State
League Al-Star in his first year-1953 Ditto the
Eastern and Sally League AStars in "a and So With
whoppng 37l he led the Texas League in batting
IL So He voted the most popular player in every
league in which he's played.
But readers OF the winters sports pages and
zines all this must be familiar Only Able himself isn't.
Today he gets chance to become acquainted