Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-18
WIN, LOSE OR
IHNAU By FRANCIS sTANN
'Con1inq Up in the World

WEST PALM BEACH, Mar. 1s-In the hotel lobby
Parke Carroll vice president Of the Kansas CITY Athletics
made what might be significant observation. almost
four ago. Carroll sad club were wondering
what We were doing in the American League Now they
are showing interest in ball players. We must be
coming up in the world"
At the ball park, Manager Harry Craft echoed the
boss optimism Most of ball players now are ones
who in trade" Craft admitted land think we did
real well in trading But back of them I'm beginning
realize that we're acquiring few youngsters It's nice
feeling"
Craft. like Cookie Lavagetto, was coach a year
ago. The AS dumped Lou Boudreau on August and
named Craft 4S next month"; manager Harry MASTER
minded the last so games and g. which wasn't bad
for club that st wound up with only 1871 percentage
lot OF fans will remember that Craft upon the
big league scene in 1887 He the centereder for the
Cincinnati Reds when they'd won pennants in 1889 and
1910 Very good field but not much hit as Senior Mike
Gonzales might put it, Harry didn't play too long in the
2:9rs hecause World War II along and he Joined
the Navy After the shooting had three seasons in the
American Association.
BECAUSE THE AS FARM system has not vet pro-
duced young men ready for the majors Kansas Citys
ssr carries strong Yankee tnge. Ever since Arnold
Johnson bought the old Philadelphia club and moved it to
Kansas City, he has been dealing mostly with the Yankees
The ex-Yankees, without attempting complete list
cude Woody Held Bob Cerv, Bob Martyn Vic Power
Billy Hunter and Ralph Terry Also Craft formerly was
pilot in the Yankee farm system
Now there are also quite few ex-Tgers as result of
tne winters trading There the dying breed of the old
Philadelphia Athletics
Until Craft succeeded him, Boudreau was the only
Kansas City manager In 1855 he finished sixth In 56 he
managed to beat out Washington for last place Last wear
the AS laboring at 3647 when Lou was released
Craft is subjected to embarrassing questions
usually by unctuous rado-TV intervewers whose hides
are extremely thick The other day put Craft on the
spot by asking Harry makes you think YOU can hold
this job If Boudreau couldnt?"
Nice Guy Craft didn't hit the interviewer over the
mead with the latters opinion of himself certainly the
manifest weapon handy Instead Harry Tended Lou was
me manger, nice person. and my friend. certain
amount OF tension was evident Lou out and was
TOLD TO take over But to repeat, Lou Boudreau tops
LAST SEASON THE AS won 50 games. or four more
than the astpace Senator's Rather than aim for sixth
or fifth place finish this year. Craft drawing bead
on 10 victories
We're not going to win any pennant," Harry says
canoidy I think we're ball club the rise but If we
win 10 games I'll be satisfied don't the fanest idea
where 10 wins will place at the end Of the season.
Maybe fifth, sixth seventh.
What we've got to do" he said "is to improve our
DEFENSE How do think the Yankees been winning
pennants the last 10 so? It's popular to refer to
the Yankees as the Bronx Bombers Shucks they don't
bomb you to death
Last year my club hit 1865 home runs No other club
hit so many Obviously, We didn't have enough runners
on base nor the pitchers. The Yankees WELL I'll tell
you what think they do think they give their pitchers
the sharpest defense in the American League.
THE Yankees McDougald, especially . . . always
seem to come up with that big play Time after time
those defense took Casey senges pitchers of the
spot I'd like defense like the Yankees and that's what
we're working on"
CRAFT HOLDS THAT Kansas City must learn to win
the close games We've got to get those and 81 dec
ons instead of losing them We've got to win more games
that go into extra innings"
Graft was asked If he isn't playing one of the best
centerheders in the American League of position In
an ll-payer deal with the Tigers last November Bill
futile became Kansas City property to the chagrn of the
Senator'S. Now Tuttle is a rghthelder.
He's great defensive outfielder" said Craft an ex-
centerhelder himself, but I'm playing futile in right
because think Woody Held is better. Do you know what
I've got going for in HEIDI Just the second best CEN
terhelder in the American League
Il give Jim Persa the top spot He's an acrobat out
there. He climbs fences and tears up the turf with his
nose. But Held is close. You fellows may not believe It
now, but just ask to give him real chance, real
look"
A...:. T..L c.