Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-10
WIN, LOSE OR
tDRAW By FRANCIS s7Apu
Steve BiLko's Last Stand

TAMPA Mar 10-Very likely this is Steve Bilko's
last chance to make good in the big leagues If he blows
1t this time with the Cincinnati Reds the giant Slovak
from Nantcoke Pa most apt to spend his remaining
days in baseball burning up the Pacific Coast League.
Oh, Bko burns up the Coast League, all right Last
he smashed Sc home In 1856 he hit S. The
year before it ST. Big Steve hit anywhere from 300
to $50 and nobody knocked many drew
a many bases balls
But he hasn't been able to cut the mustard in the
majors The Cardinals gave him six chances and the
Cubs gave him shot. One seaSon-1953 it waS-he
stayed with the Cardinals and their first baseman
for 154 games He hit 81 homers and drove "a
runs but the Cards didn't think he was the man for
them and sold him to Chicago. And after brief look,
the Cubs, in turn, sold him to Los Angeles.
I'VE bought him last October" General Manager
0abe Paul says because think he's ready to help
major league club and It may well be club Seves
youngster at 90 but he swshes that bat Remember
gave UP couple OF longba hitters, waly Post and
Ted Kluszewski and maybe Blkos power will make up
for some Of the loss"
VERY PROBABLY BnKo is the biggest man in the
big leagues He stands 81 and weighs 251 pounds, al
though the roster lists him at 235. He looks like
wrestler than ballpayer, what with his ample girth
and yet he is oddly agile at first base Steve surprises
people with some of the plays he makes.
Bilko used to be bigger One spring he reported
to the Cardinals at St. Petersburg weighing 265 pounds
He had performed very well at Rochester and the Cards
felt he ready to be their first baseman thus making
Stan Musial available for the outfield
The management aghast when Biko showed up.
"You lose 40 pounds and lose it in hurry Steve
told. what happened to you over the winter"
"wel got married." Steve explained, land my wife
Is such darned good cook that couldn't push myself
away from the table"
The ST. Louis equipment man mraculously dug up
rubber suit that would fit Bilko. 1t under
his regular uniform 1t tied at the wrists and at the ankles
One particularly warm day the Cardinal coaches
made him in the outfeld and made him field
almost endless succession of ungo grounder Sweating
from every PORE Steve finally excused Standing
in front of his locker he stripped off his uniform and
then united the rubber suit at his ankles. There
deluge.
WATER WAS RUNNING everywhere" Steve recalls
"The guys in the clubhouse were standing benches
trying not to get their feet wet tell you If have to
lose 40 pounds again I'd just as soon retire"
When the Reds traded their muscle man. Kluszewski
they received from the Pirates less than Dee Fondy
also a first basman They already had George Grove,
who did most of the playing last year where does Bko
stand this totem pole?" Paul asked.
I'VE had for buying Brko," Gabe said
"Crowe and Fondy lefhanded htters and Blko hits
right There is no rule that club can't three
first basemen What's to keep from carrying less
outfieder and one more first baseman?
Birdie Tebbetts likes to platoon. I think he
his players around we'll any manager in the business
In buying Bko we're giving Birdie guy to move"
But why Bko?"
How many other guys hit Ill home runs in the last
two yearS?" Gabe asked.
PAUL is AN ADMIRER of Tebbetts He likes the way
his manager his troops Birdie isn't like most
managers" Gabe says. Most managers wait until the
late innings to pinchhitters to put in defensive
players.
mot Tebbetts He might start Grove at first base for
instance and If situation where he'd want right
handed hitter Birdie wouldn't hesitate replace
with Blko-in the first or second inning.
"Or, he might open with Biko and switch to Fondy
Grove. like the way Tebbetts operates It's exciting
baseball But he's got to have the tools and that's why
Biko is club
Big Steve, waging the Battle of the Bulge, knows
all this and is going all out But it is thing to hit
So homerS during season. bat home 140 and average
300 in the Coast League and quite another to make it
in the majors. The Cards and Cubs told him
WEEKEND FIGHTS