Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-10-23
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW By FRANCIS s7ANA
The Non-Conformist

DONALD EUGENE CONLEY stands alongside
Early Wynn comeback of the year. big Lacquer and
colorfu pair of champonS-Wynn in the American
and Conley in the Nationals difficult to imagine.
Wynn beat age. He's SO. While it's true he was win
ming % games for the pennantwinnng White Sox Early
hardly working for outfit dedicated to giving aid
and comfort pitcher who is known to like few
Cony beat the old adage that two professional sports
both major league level-don't mix. Gene posted
1877 record and 800 earned for the ragta
Phies after spending the winter playing basketball with
the famed Boston Celtics.
You play with the Cetcs" Conley was warned by the
Milwaukee brass land we'll suspend you The two games
don't mix"
I'm only playing one" Conley retorted land what
have got to show for it? An 06 record with world
championship club"
CONLEY is GUY originally out of Muskogee, Okla.
and maybe he is the biggest baseball star in the business
standing 6foot8 and weighing 22O When he told the
Braves front office what they could do with their edct
lot of baseball people wondered he thinking straight
He'll ruin his legs the basketball court" they
argued. This is the standard objection.
But Red Auerbach, coach of the fabulous Celtics
under fire. too. Coney, who attended Washington State
for couple of years. had played for Auerbach pro
two seasons but he had been of the for three
full campaigns when Red signed him.
THE Celtics need Conley like Auerbach needs
hole in his head" the consensus. PRO basketball
players lose their touch after year in the Army This
guys been out for three years.
ct isn't like Red was desperate. All he's got ahead
OF Conley or anybody else is Bill Russell"
AS THE STORY IS TOLD the Braves sweetened the
pot for Coney something like if he wouldn't
play basketball Gene stubborn he going to play
basketball hell high The traded him
to Philadelphia.
Auerbach who accused of trying publicity stunt
by signing big league pitcher employed Coney sparingly
in the beginning After ALL he did have the great Russell
But the National Basketball Association got hotter
SO did Conley He began to spell Russell often
Then it down to the playofS. Now it Conley
as much RUSSELL who making the plays off the
backboards In the big payo SERIES the Cetics
out OF seven from Syracuse and swept the final set from
Minneapolis in four straight games.
Conley may not have been the hero but he of
them eve couldn't have it without Gene" Auerbach
quoted.
NOW 1T COMES BACK to April, when the baseball
clubs have been conditioned and the pitchers
presumably ready Conley, having such training
worked out by himself for 10 days in small Florida town.
He'd had arm trouble in the past, nd this score
alone he didn't figure to be winner If he couldn't win
single game for the Braves what chance did he have of
winning for the PhillieS?
But he did-he won dozen-and with better club
he might have won And Conley is back playing with
the CeticS in basketball
with the Braves" Coney told Auerbach, IT didn't
feel like real member of the pitching staff There always
was SPAIN and Burdette and Bull ahead of me- When
reJo1ned the CecS knew that wasn't member of the
big team. knew I'd be Spotted-sometmes 1 thought
I'd be dropped off the club-but at the same time had
a feeling of belonging"
When you come to think of it, couldn't Conley have
been named for the basketball comeback of the year as
well as the baseball award?