Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-04-23
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW ;, ,..ue,, ,1.pu
Re-: Box Scores and Stuff
y FRANCIS STANN

THE LITTLE WOMAN'S sack look is pretty unnerving
but what about the box score? Does really
its basic purpose, which is to furnish detailed
nation Of a ball game in figures?
As you must know the old system tabuated a players
performance thusly: ABB TAT BATS runs, H thits
Pc putoutS) and assists. Now the categories
ABB R, and RBI runs batted i'm.
The wire services and the baseball writer's who up
this particular chemise all but ignored players defensive
accomplishments The one concession is line reading
like so: PO-A-Washington 27-l4 Boston, 2i-l2 Now Is
that right?
The question dutifully carried to Griffin Stadium
yesterday and put to gentlemen who must be
Sldered authorities They weren't overly enthusiastic about
the new box score and they weren't buying it is either
Il LIKED IT better" Cookie Lavagetto said when
could look at newspaper and how many assists
fellows like McDougad and Fox and Aparco and Malone
were making The same for putouts in the outfield"
The Senators manager is not essentially interested in
putouts and assists defensive guage Those two
columns Cookie explained show you whether the pitcher
has his stuff If the hortstop and second baseman have
quite few assists and the pitcher happens throw lot
Of sinkers, you know he's got his stuff.
THE way it is now you can't tell what the other
pitchers are doing"
Bill Summers, dean Of umpres was reluctant to speak
for his colleagues Personally" he said II liked the old
way. do think the style Of breaking down each
pitchers performance easier to read however Keep
that style and bring back Of the old and you've got
a box score"
EDDIE YoST, the oung-old Senator, is a reflective
type ITS hard to get used TO- guess" Eddie said Let's
wait and see, Maybe it's improvement maybe not
There are newspaper factors aren't there? Space rer
tons and so forth?"
Most assuredy box must be restricted not only
because of limitations but because toll charges and
the need for speed After the matter the
Senators dressing and the umpires to Bat-
more boudor there talking who is both
ball manager and newspaperman meaning Paul Richards
Strikes me-" drawled the lean Texan, who back in
Waxahachie does some writing and edition The Light
that awful lot Of coming over the wires
Now you take that RBI column You got 10 any low
scoring game and there 80 ball players
time, who don't knock home run. Result-a column Of
mostly zeroes. It's waste OF newspaper space"
The manager replaced the newspaperman: Another
thing don't like" Richards said, lis that 1t puts
emphasis the hitterS There's already enough atten
ton on them Doesn't fielding and speed count for any,
thing any more?"
RICHARDS ORIOLES GOT out of the gate as fast as
any club, thanks TO early meetings with Senator'S
But their luck changed when they played the Yankees
Baltimore came to town after Bob Turley had shut
them out. 1T sounded just fine reading the papers"
Richards said Of Turkeys performance but the guy threw
14O pitches and while he didn't give many hits
ton was made OF lot Of line drives hit directly at
somebody.
The Yankees made one double play that probably
saved Turley I'm telling you that Stengel has a lucky
club, but at the time the Yankees their luck
I'm convinced that the fastest club the uckest-and
that's what the Yanks are-faSt"
Somehow this record hadn't been heard The Yanks
fast? All spring the White Sox whom Richards used to
manage were talking of their great speed The COCO
Sox! The stolen bases! We'll win on speed"
FORGET ALL THAT STUFF" Richards scoffed 1.-THE
fastest club in baseball is the Yankees Stolen bases don't
mean anything today.
Now you just break down the two clubs-Chicago and
New York. Shucks, you don't have to break EN- down
Don't even count Mantle. What kills the White Sox are
nd Shernn Tol1a that
Goodman could put up footrace with Gil McDougald
Bobby Richardson? Or that Lollar could run with Yogi
Berra? All -!
You don't translate speed into stolen bases Team
speed is just what 1t implies The Yankees don't have
guy who steals 40 bases there's one They go
from first to third They single from second
They make double plays faster"
visitor to Richards office, already taxed in seating
capacity by a couple Of Congressman said, wonderngy
Il never hooked up the Yankees with speed l thought
they won with their bats and their pitching depth"
They win with their speed too" Richards drawled
i know 49,. I've spent good many years appreclatng it,"