Evening star., 1958-09-30
THE BASEBALL
BEAT
Honey's Big Gamble
BY BURToN HAWKINS

MILWAUKEE, SEPT 3O.-It'S brave man who bosses
the Braves. Fred Haney will become human dart board
If misfortune engulfs Milwaukee in the World Series
starting tomorrow for he is passing up threetime
queror of the Yankees and will open with the veteran
Warren SPAIN.
It's automatic in these affairs where calamity comes
quickly to lead with your The millions who watched
Lew Burdette dget his way to three rumphs the
Yankees last year may participate in eyebrow lift
Ing at Haneys maneuver but it's calculated risk which
makes sense.
There never is an apology accompanying the announce
ment that SPAIN win pitch In of his IL years in the
majors he has won 20 games including this one
when he led the Braves with 2211 record He is Of
the solid craftsmen of the sport
But through the years the crack lefthander's pay
pitch has his fast ball the Yankees through the
years have been known to feast sumptuousy fellows
who rely that pitch Don Newcombe is the outstand
ing living example
SPAIN ALSO is equipped with one of the games more
magnificent curves He is cunning, calculating and ana
lytica and he doesn't the best pickof motion to
first base then the honor belongs Whitley Ford his rival
tomorrow
There will be an inclination by the Yankees no doubt
to look for Spahns swift possibly less impressive than
when he younger but still forcefu enough to command
respect SPAIN naturally will be of such intentions
and will resort to such trckery he can to keep the
Yankees off balance
The strategy behind Haneys sound BY starting
the S7year SPAIN in the first game he'll be able to
give him more rest between assignments. The younger
Burdette proved last year he could take the physical
punishment necessary to pitch three games in World
Series even when skipped in the opener.
Burdettes slderS snkers and screwballs kept the
Yankees the last "a innings he faced them last
October He became the first pitcher to win three
pete games in series competition In 81 years Those are
strong recommendations for Haney to lead with Burdee
this year. but the Braves manager is forced to nurse
SPAIN In this situation IN order to- extract all possible
value from him.
assure him three days rest the Yankees worse
than after the first two games He'll fire Burdete
against the American League champions Thursday.
Friday will be travel date, with Bob Rush or Carl Wiley
likely starter Saturday when the scene shifts to Yankee
Stadium.
8 SPAIN could be started again Sunday, with Burdette
the selection Monday If the series extended beyond the
fifth game there's another travel date intervening
Provided the Braves aren't hurting at that point
aren't pressed SPAIN Burdette to avoid the ak
that goes with fourth defeat-Haney again can gamble
with Rush or Wiley.
Should the series go seven games, Haney will be
rewarded for having started SPAIN in the first game
Going into that seventh game-st assuming meanwhies
that the haven't been forced to throw everything
at their command into fray to avoid dsaster-Haney
will have SPAIN ready with three days of rest and the
more resilient Burdee prepared to function with only two
days rest
SPAIN WAS NO SPARKLER last year He lost the first
game to Ford, 3-1 He the fifth game 7-5 when Ed
Mathews rescued him with two-run homer In the 10th
inning after Elston Howard had tied the with
three-run homer in the ninth for the Yankees.
SPAIN emerged from the series with a 4!7O earned
run average Stacked against Burdettes 07 accomplish
ment 1t is not too impressive But SPAIN has been
standout for years and Haney isn't about to abandon
pitcher has 4S games for him during the last two
regular
There need be no fear Haney's part that SPAIN is
afflicted with faint heart when thrust into presSurZed
uredicamen Whatever he feels out there on the mound
tomorrow SPAIN has had it rougher Those rugged
days at Remagen Bridgehead. SPAIN was there won
battlefield commission and star in addition to
purple heart.
Haney is going with pro- but aging pro who needs
rest TOR future combat. The gamble is good.