Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-04-03
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One Coming, One Going

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. April 3.-The Throneberry
in the Senators camp-Faye, that is-has had his
troubles Here in the Yankee bailiwick Brother Marv
doing 4 bit better. At this writing, anyway.
When the Yankees sold the veteran Joe Collins to
the PhilIes, it construed vote of confidence
in the 24-yearod first baseman from Fishervie Tenn.
There was no to believe that Collins still wasn't
valuable and with Joe to bat efthanded and Bill Skowron
to htN rghthanded, Casey Stengel in good shape
at the position.
But now Collins is gone having retired rather than
join the Phes and it looks Marv, after four years
in Tripe-A ball. viii stick.
II shudder to think of another in the Minors
Throneberry admits IF can't make with the Yankees
this year, either ful-tme part-time first baseman
wouldn't mind being traded l know can do good
job for any big league club if given chance.
Throneberry's thinking differs some from that of
Collins. who undoubtedly would have played regularly
with the Philies but who said, IF can't be Yankee
I don't want to play any more"
YOUNG THRONEBERRY is BOTH a fancy fielder
and long-ba hitter-when he hits Pretty durable
fellow. too. playing lat games for City in "a
156 tand with the YankeeS 152 l54 games for
Denver the last three
-Four times since Mary broke into pro ball with
Quincy in 1852 he has led his league in home runs three
times in runs bated in, in runs scored and twice
in number of games. The catch?
well, he had a in spring training last
year." Stengel reminds Then he swinging at too
many bad balls After the fellow hit 315 for Denver in
Sc he dropped to $50 last year He still led the American
Association in home both and also in
bated in, but he pretty high up in srkeouts too"
The young man, who may play as much as Skowron
if the big exfootba star remains to injuries took
matters in his hands after the 81 He asked
for and received permission to play winter ball in the
Nicaraguan League.
At felt that if played during the winter could
work on my weakness" Marv explains Il think can
prove that made progress, too. l went to bat
2lO times and struck out only about is times And six
Of those were called"
MEANWHILE BASEBALL LOST a class guy when
Collins retired With the Yankees themselves he might
have been the most popular player the club Joe
had many Of what might be called big years. but they
were all very valuable ones.
1t was long haul for Collins to the big leagues
He started professional in 1899 didn't it
to the Yankees until 1949 In the interim he good
part of the country. He at Butler, Easton, Akron
Norfolk Amsterdam, Springfield Newark, Beaumont and
Birmingham sometimes for more than one tour Of duty,
before he became Yankee.
In the OF his travels Joe learned just about
all there to know about playing first base plus the
outfed.
II don't guess anybody on my ball club was wanted
by many clubs during my years with the YANKEES"
Stengel reveals There wasn't any sense hiding for
DiMaggio Berra, Mantle and my big pitchers-Raschi,
Ford Reynolds and Lopabut everybody seemed to have
the idea they could get Collins and guess it's because
he wasn't exactly 800 hitter
"WELL, NOW, I'LL TELL you that didn't give up
Collins in any of those trades because he pretty
close to being the hande fellow in the American League
When wanted job done at first base, Collins would
do it for me. When wanted an outfelder or a left
handed pinch-hitter, he could do that, too.
"Now how many first basemen, because that
what he really are found in left, center and right
field in the same season? And not only that, but he
played in the outfeld in the World Series and
hurt none. He didn't hurt you in the field at bat
either, and for my money, which keep in the vault
at the Glendale National Bank he the fastest first
baseman in the league, too"
1t is Just barely possible that Collins versatility
may have hampered his far playing regularly
was concerned. Joe was right down Stengels alley be-
Old Casey dearly loves to platoon his troops and
Collins was so platoonabe that he knew from
day to the next which glove to take out Of his locker
$50 he took 'em both out-his first baseman's mitt
and his eders' glove" Casey said fondly, land he
really was four ballplayers. And might add he brought
along his bat, too and I'm sorry to see him go. won't
hn risad find