Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-16
WIN, LOSE OR
DNAV By FRANCIS sTANN
Old Pro Named Dark


of helping the Cardinals in their 1858 pennant chase,
Alvin Dark gracefully has submitted to switch from
shorstop to third base Just about all Of Dark II
and O0odd have been dedicated to shorttoppng
for the old Boston Braves old New York Giants and Of
course, the Cardinals.
II don't mind moving to third base" Alvin says eff
Freddie thinks It will improve the club I'm all for it"
Dark old pro- Freddie is Fred Hutchinson another
old who is manager of the Busch enterprises in the
National League
"a year ago Dark opened at shortstop and more
nnbe rookie nearly 10 years younger, Eddie Kasko,
wofmdSup third base. He the only freshman to
win job the ST. Louis club and Kasko who is both
big and beSpectaced did very well.
Dark they said losing bit of his ground covering
ability. Kasko had some to spare at third base.
LAST MAY % THE CARDINALS were walowing in
sixth place 8h games back of the league-eading Reds
Hutchinson harassd by the beer magnates playing base
ball men, introduced an Operation Shakewell He took
Boyer of third base and transferred him to center
field the Tigers doing with shortstop Harvey
Kuenn.
Hutch put Kasko on third base and the Cards won
81 of their next 20 games Dark remained at shortstop
HE is the glue that holds the team together Vice Pres
iden Dick Meyer said of Dark for whatever Meyers con-
sidered opinion means. He is brewery tycoon who
INDUCES in putting on Cardinal uniform and playing
fat mans version of pepper game during business hours
Weep Meyer, however, had statistics going for him.
Dark may have slowed up bit but he still accepted more
chances than any other shortsop except Johnny Logan
of Milwaukee.
Dark was our big guy" Hutchinson comedies. "He
made real good second baseman out of Don Blasngame
AL helped the little things that make for polished
ball player But in spite of all that feel that if we
switch Kasko Dark we'll be stronger defensvey After
ALL it's not like losing Dark. He's still big guy in
lot of ways"
BACK IN 1858 THE INVENTIVE Leo Durocher, then
managing the Giants and Dark, suggested that it might
be beneficial if the al-around athlete from Louisiana
State abdicate at shortstop and play another position
81 remember that season." Dark said ersely as if he
wished to avoid the subject II played short second
third and the outheld Mostly at ShortStop however"
1t was time for the Cardinals infeld practice
and Dark who had been playing catch with Blasngame
the ball toward the ST. Louis dugout and started
for third base At the time Basingame Kasko and
Stan MuSal began to run onto the infield.
It just occurs" said to Dark, that except for
Musal this is nfed of shortstopS. Didn't Basingame
up as shortstop? And Kasko?"
That's right" AL said smiling. "And if the Cardinals
to bet he could have done it, lethanded not There
gentlemen, is truly great ball player"
WHILE THE CARD INFIELD was drilling New York
reporter sped Club Feeney who executive of the
Giants was an eyewitness the 1858 happenings between
Dark and Durocher
Leo did tell Dark to work out at second base" Club
testified 1.-THE Giants had rookie coming up, Daryl
Spencer and Leo wanted to play him at short don't
think Dark liked it very much couldn't read AIS mind,
out of position.
Spencer turned up and he was overweight, which
didn't help matters Dark switched to second base which
he didn't play very we'll, but the payoh that spring
followed game in which Dark played short in exhibit
ton in California.
"Durocher didn't make that particular game. He
stayed in San Francisco The club played down the road
and the field terrible Dark rather than risk getting
his head torn off, gave it the howdydo' to couple Of
hot grounders.
"A couple of newspapermen returned to San Francisco
and into Durocher What you going to do about
AL DarkP He wasn't even trying in the game that you
missed
Leo did foolish thing Before he talked to his
coaches and before he learned about the condition of
the inied he said, III fine Dark. Nobody loafs on my
ball club
WELL, 1T CAME OUT in the papers," Feeney said
sadly "that Durocher going to fine Dark for loang
Leo called press conference The writer's showed up
but did Dark Man, he was blazing
LEO said, al, this is a press conference
"T know. Dark answered. and understand that 1t
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