Evening star., 1958-07-10
WIN. LOSE OR
HNAV By FRANCIS sTANN
StenqeIese on Capitol Hill
By FRANCIS sTANN

SIengeIeSe on N0PII0I Till
CAPITOL HILL HAS been exposed to Casey stengel
and there's telling Senators Kefauver LANCER,
Wiley, Carroll and oMahoney of the Senate Antitrust and
Monopoly Subcommittee will be themselves again.
The Old Perfessor, who tipped his cap in ball
park and released bird under it, stole the show he
bewitched the lawmakers When they asked of expansion
In baseball stenge talked at length of radio and Tv and
the danger of driving modern highways when person
is over As years old.
Once Senator sought some light on the plight of
minor league baseball The nimtabe Casey got to talk
ing about drinking.
I'VE in Chicago and whole bunch of young
people show up at the ball park" Casey said They amt
roofing much for us, just the White Sox asked why
they were drinking so much.
"'We work for oil company they said. We did
something real good and got two-day holiday
"You oughtn't to be drinking so much, told them.
You ought to be home raising more children because
clubs now give 100000 for boy wish Mrs Stenge
and we haven't any children had eight kids
Then could get them in on some of those bonuses
baseball club owners are handing out"
VISIBLY SHAKEN, the committee members tried
other questions Not did stengel invoke the Fifth
Amendment. With his STYLE Casey didn't have to.
Everybody hates U.S." Casey said point refer
ring his awinning Yankees I'VE have the spirit Of
T6 to put into the ball field. Besides if my are not
capable they will be traded, sold or released"
Ted Williams Robin Roberts Eddie Yost and Mickey
Mantle, but what they reaching for is mystery
The lawmakers showed monumental lack of knowledge
Of baseball but they evidently enjoyed meeting with the
diamond stars.
Not once but several times the individual Senators,
listening to Senges colorfu replies said I'm not sure
If made my question clear"
At other times they asked questions listened to Casey
talk blinking with confusion, turned the microphone
over to somebody else.
A SENATOR REMINDED facetiously that Casey was
reporting to "a subcommittee that is studying monopoly
and, therefore, why do you win so many pennants?"
I'VE must have splendid front-oface management,
Stengel replied II don't play ball anymore and don't
procure the players who do just manage and If my men
can't understand my English and you gentlemen will
pardon the way talk I've got Frank Crosetti who
tells them what it's all about although you can't get that
Crosetti now, to talk at banquet which do all the
time"
"I think you make yourself perfectly clear" Senator
Kefauver sad quite inaccurately but in the spirit of
charity. Senator OMahoney ?"
THE Yankees almost always seem to be world cham
pions" Senator OMahoney observed Don't they play
baseball in other countries Mexico, Japan and IN
other countresP"
"We, now, I'll tell you about tour the Yankees
took few years ago." Casey replied, referring to- but
not mentioning Japan Nothing like it, There were
25O0OO maybe 100000 people, waiting in the streets We
the hotel Instead OF waving to the players
from sidewalks they stood in front of the cas- And
they trying to play baseball with those little small
fingers"
AFLUSTERED SENATOR tried to clarity the question
in the vague hope of getting clear answer.
Now in Italy you'd think everybody would know Joe
Diaggio" Casey went Instead, soccer players
are the heroes But in Japan those little guys with short
fingers the size baseball and bats and it's their
national game
"Mr. Stengel," lawmaker interrupted if there's to
be real World Series why isn't the champion team OF
Mexico. for instance, played?"
"rd say that's about 10 years away" Casey promptly
answered"
81 would have to say that the witness is the best
entertainment had here for long time" Senator
OMahoney said concluding his own engagement with
Stengel
"one question" put in Senator Carroll What is the
need for this legationP Baseball already is exempt from
the antitrust laws"
Stengel, however wasn't going to be caught mapping
Il didn't ask for the legislation" he snapped.
That's very clear answer" Senator Carroll said,
good-naturedy and admiringly
And the morning passed. But Stengel had been the
show His strong boy Mantle, next Mickey didn't
have much to say Chairman Kefauver excusng Mantle,
seemed to be riding Cloud 10 after Stenges eloquence
Thank you very much, Mr. Stengel," Senator Kefau-
yer said in dismissing Manila