Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-26
WIN, LOSE OR
6NAV BY FRANCIS sTANN
ToIe of the Unsuna

TAMPA, FLA. MAR 26--There is side to baseball
that Is In sharp contrast to dashng young men who hit
the long ball and slide into bases with their spikes flashing
Steve oNel usually opens the hotel dining room at
O'Clock In the morning Then he sits in the lobby until
noon, usually in silent communion with Clayton Sheedy
They go to ball park sitting lefteld and the
other In far right They may have dinner together and
then sit down in the lobby again. but at 10 pm ONeil
excuses himself and goes to his room.
ONeil, as special liason for the Cleveland
Indians. Is writing book So is Clayton sheedy who
operates in similar capacity for the Boston Red Sox
ITS dull it's tedious" ONeil admits, 'but it's Job
with certain amount Of responsibility / don't sign
anybody make reports "a book, you might say
on the BAH players see."
ONE WHO HAS SEEN oNeiu suuattinp for so MANY
weeks in the lobby Of the Tampa Terrace while his ball
club is training at Tucson Ariz, posed the obvious
question.
Certainly miss the other side of this business I"
Steve said. I'D give lot to be a manager again and
have the newspaper fellows poster with the old
questions"
you didn't mind those questions?"
mind them? loved 1t. Two or three guys would
up at time and say Steve what do you think of
ball club? I'd down the whole situation and
just as I'm finishing two three newspapermen viii
come up and say Steve we just got here What do you
Seriously, liked It, This is very lonesome job I've
got now. I'm lonesome I'm sure that Sheedy is lone
some. I've got kids and I've got grandchildren I'd like
see them. But there's job to be DONE"
THE BOOKS" THAT oNEIIL and sheedy write
best sellers They called books but are
reality only succnct reports just about all ball players
belonging to other clubs.
They are studied and filed in the front ofices Just in
case.
There is kid in the Cincinnati camp Pinson who is
as good young prospect you're likely to in long
time" Steve said There's no chance of getting him.
but you make report on him just the same"
Steve admits to 66 but also that he'd like to manage
again. He once handled the Indians Tigers Red Sox and
Phillies and he doesn't think he did such bad job with
any Of those clubs. The records prove that he didn't
During those uneasy mid-1930s at Cleveland 1t
Stout Steve who succeeded the unhappy Walter Johnson
He finished third fifth and fourth fired in 1887
He moved to Detroit in 1943. In half dozen years
he had world championship team and two Tiger teams
that finished second. He ran the Red Sox in l9505l
Steve closed out his managerial career to date at least by
replacing Eddie Sawyer pilot of the Phes during the
season of 1852 and carrying on in l953-54
This is funny business" Steve says II never had
club that far out Of the first division Now don't
even have one to manage"
ONEILL WAS MANAGER of the Tigers in 1915, which
happens to have been the last time the Senators seriously
commended for pennant The boys, all of them, hadn't
marching home yet and the lneups dotted
with athletic insurance statesmen bus drivers and male
nurses.
Detroit and Washington came down to the wire almost
neck-and-neck The Tigers had to win at least
Of double-header in ST. Louis to cnch the pennant
Hank Greenberg, freshly released by the Army cap
tain, took rusty swing, homered and when the ball
landed in the seats the Senators were done.
1t was a memorable trip from st. Louis to Detroit,
where the World Series with the Chicago Cubs to
open. One who broke bread with ONe that evening
the train observed young in sailor suit taking aim
with boiled potato and hitting Rudy York back Of his
left ear as he stroled down the diner.
That is Virgil Trucks pitching" Mr. oNeil said. 1T
Is the best control he's shown far"
With a roar, York charged toward the table whence
came the potato Paul Richards then catching for the
Tigers to prevent violence He nearly got cobbered
and did Manager oNel, who thrust his ample frame
between his aroused Indian first baseman and Richards
We're friends" Steve yelled. 1T was all in fun.
Settle down, men. We've got World Series to play"
"And you did beat the Cubs right?"
eyes, but don't know how" Steve says Gee, that
exciting year."