Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-09
WIN, LOSE OR
DKAW By FRANCIS srANN
If He'd Even TIP His Cop'

TAMPA, MAR. 8-In the beer-and -pretzel room that
is operated daily by the Cincinnati Reds the talk got
around to recent poll taken by The Sporting News Six
teen veteran baseball writer's asked to the
games most exciting player Twelve voted for Willie Mays
of the Giants and four for Ted Williams of the Red Sox
isn't there anybody else who rates vote?" Birdie
Tebhetts was asked. Tebbetts who manages the Reds
seemed to be snguarly qualified to speak of Williams and
Mays because he had been teamate of Teds at Boston
and now he manages against Mays - '-s- gSsr {. r
I'm not to ASK" Birdie replied because lot of
ball players excite What did that poll intend to SHOW
anyway? Which player players the will pay to see?"
Something like that" voice murmured
well, personally I'd pay to watch Roy Mcmillan play
nine innings of shortstop Tebbes said referring to his
own glove magician g" always thought Jackie Robinson
worth the price of admission / think Stan MuSial
still Isl Naturally Mays and Williams drawing cards"
ITS the ball club, not the individual that draws,
Gabe Paul said you get your team in the and you
draw. Otherwise you don't"
81 HAVE TO DISAGREE with you Gabe" Tebbetts said
to Cincnnatis general manager There are some ball
players who do draw people, regardless of where the
stands"
Would you say that Dizzy was colorful?" Gabe
asked.
We'll, Dizzy and Dafy Dean were only two guys on
of the most coorful clubs of all timethe St Louis
Gas House Gang Do you what they in ST. Louis
in 1884, when they won the pennant? Not much over
3OOOOO"
"Incredible!" Birdie said
But true" Gabe said. 1.-THE day they clinched the
were
Il still have to say that individual ball players
draw fans" Birdie argued 81 won't go back Ruth or
Johnson Cobb because they obviously pulled people into
the parks I'm talking about todays players I'd pay
watch Mays I'd pay to watch Williams"
VISITOR ASKED, Birdie what if the Red Sox were
seventh eighth-place club? Would Williams help them
at the gate?"
ample. When catching for the Red Sox there was
when Williams hurt his shoulder was out of
operation for time. Our attendance promptly fell
off,"
That's the strange part" Birdie said. Without Ted
we won 16 out of II games. The Sox hot fire.
crackers But drawing 5000 less people for every
game.
81 maintain that a top ball player today . speaking
of performer is not worth than SIS 900
year What he gets that amount he must earn
his own In other words he must draw people Mays earns
his money and he draws the difference between and
the $4,000 he is supposed to be getting The is
for Williams and Mickey Mantle
"As said I'd pay to any number of others Quiet
guys real pros Warren Spahn for He'll wind up
in the Hall of Fame Some people say that Musal lacks
color For my money it's privilege to watch him play"
WHAT WILLIE MAYS HAS going for him." by
sander ventued lis that he hit steal bases throw and
make those great catches. All Williams do is hit"
well, now, I'll argue that point" Birdie said. You've
got to remember, first off, that Williams is SO years old
But when he was younger when played with him
you Couldn't ask Tor a more complete athlete.
HE faster than ball players even if he didn't
look like he was going fast He had fine and
still isan excellent judge of fly balls. think he is
pretty amazing guy"
lone fan would pay to watchP" interviewer asked
redundantly
"Teds all by himself" Birdie said 81 don't particu-
larry about saying it. but when Mays is ball field
:. or Musal or SPAIN Mantle things seem
less normal But when Williams is on the field
there's feeling something electric, think.
"Im not crtczing Ted He behaves he feels. But
that guy little human, If he'd tip his
p like Ruth used do Ted ld go down as the best
remembered ball player OF all time"