Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-05
WIN, LOSE OR
sGNAV By FRANCIS sTANN
By EorIy Wynn

TAMPA, FLA, MAR. 5.-Over the breakfast table in
the hotel Early Wynn invited by writer for national
magazine to give his version of why AL Lopez is such
popular and successful manager In 10 years as manager
at Indianapolis Cleveland and Chicago Lopez never has
finished worse than second.
Tn doing profile on AL" said Marshall Smith from
Lue and I'm trying to get the observations of several
people who know him well. You qualify"
Well he's very fair guy" Early began For six
seasons-l95l-56-Wynn toied for Lopez at Cleveland
Toied very well it might be added He won an even 100
games for tidy average of 20 per season.
Hes fair and he's smart and he's democratic Is that
the kind OF stuff you want2 He express himsel-put
his points across. al is the kind of guy who will sit
down at the dinner table with Of his ball players
lot OF managers feel they too big with player
Keep going" prompted the magazine guy. You're
doing fine"
How many other managers make all these baseball
golf tournaments" Early continued How many others
VIII play buck nassau with ball payer?"
WHEN PLAYER goofs,. a third party asked "how
is Al at chewing him out? Or does hep"
ooh, yes, Wynn replied Hell call you into his Office
and lay down the law But he does it without
he doesn't harbor bitter feelings Does he fine his PLAYERS
very often? No, AL doesn't"
EARLY" the other asked the husky pitching veteran
docs Lopez remind of any other managers you pitched
for?"
81 had that thought in the back of my head" Wynn
admitted Seems like there's somebody maybe it was
Ossie Buege Now Ose perhaps didn't have AIS person.
atty but there's something :"
How about Bucky Harris?" In his younger days
Wynn pitched Washington for seven years He sort of
learned how in the Capital and just as he was reaching
his peak, Cleveland fortunately landed him in trade
Bucky was cold. Lopez is warm. When Harris
chewed you out he did it in half dozen words They sung
Lopez uses more words and they don't sting as much"
NATURALLY CAME THE QUESTION did Lopez ever
chew you out?"
Wynn nodded then laughed. II remember one time in
So he sad and get chuckle of the incident
The Indians were in Detroit and was pitching I was
getting plastered pretty good I'm not good loser so
said to myself: When this next guy bat I'm going
to flip him.
"Just then see Lopez walking out of the dugout He
was going to take out before had chance to dump
one Of those Tigers his pants
WELL was gripping the ball real hard angry at my
self and at the world. get that way in game some
times Anyway you know how if you grip piece of wet
soap in your fingers it will zip away? Well when Lopez
came close merely intended to toss the ball to him. not
only tossed but the ball. like bar of soap, shot out and
just happened to hit Lopez right in the diaphragm
He went 'Ooofp His breath was knocked out When
he recovered he said Wynn if you're going hit anybody
hit those soand-so in the white uniforms They're the
ones giving you the hard time"
did you hear more of it later?"
"As recall did" Early grinned.
THERE is, HOWEVER, genuine bond between Man
ager Lopez and Pitcher Wynn This figures because aside
from liking each other personally Lopez must
great deal for Wynn and vice Until Lopez became
manager Of the Indians in ST. Wynn had 90
sane Wer Durlng AIS SIX years at Cleveland, the big
part-Indian was 20-or-better pitcher four times.
Nobody was much surprised when, last December A.
Lopez yielded up Minnie Minoso in deal that brought
Wynn to the White Sox Even at his age 49, and despite his
II losses in 81.
The other day in Clearwater" breakfast partner
recalled Frank Lane said of the he traded
you from Cleveland because you Al years old
That's what think he told couple of the boys"
Wynn smiled slowly. Lane has got enough troubles
OF his own Early remarked without getting me on his
back Wynn has reputation for independence and for
wing outspoken.
While pitching for Cleveland" he said, IT
thought Hank Greenberg pretty poor general man
aeer. l said so when writing my weekly :.
sAetimes biweekly column.
Maybe was too hard on Greenberg. II he messed
~ things, Lane doing it better. He's using Mixmaster"