Evening star., 1959-11-20
WIN, LOSE OR
DNAV By FRANCIS sTANN
Rookie of the Year

FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT season-unprece-
dened by taiend ball club-our Senators have come
up with the rookie of the year. This time it's Bob Allison
Twelve months ago it Albie Pearson.
The trouble is that both played the same position
centerheld If one had been shortstop say Cal Grfths
cup would be fuller. But CAL a relatively new boy and
harassed and criticized young too had such
At Orlando Fla last February little Pearson was con-
sidered solid He'd bated 275 in 1858 and did okay in the
outheld even if he did play little too deep That's the
reason played in the Cuban Winter League" Abie
planned. i think now play ShaOwer centerheld"
AS it developed Pearson couldn't play any center
field This big 6foot-3, 2OOpound Allison out of
where and ran Pearson rookie of the previous year.
of his job And by whoppng margin he also became his
successor as No. rookie.
PEARSON WAS TRIFLE late in signing last winter,
and his arrival in camp proporionately late may have
cost him his job because Allison the And
the Senators brass liking what they were seeing of
the ex-KansaS University fullback
Allson'S minor league credentials weren't much. The
most home runs he hit in r. Char
otte In 1885, at Chattanooga Bob swung for his best
aVerage-a modest 3O7-and slammed only nine homerS.
Hes fast and play the outheld and he will out
throw just about anybody in the majors the South
ern Association word Allison by the same token he
won't give you the long ball, big and strong he is"
This is where the book on Allison proved wrong "No-
body surprised than l." Griffith was saying to-
day, when by last July Allison had hit 81 home runs
Bob was up there with Harmon Kiebrew. Jim Lemon
seats. People were saying
that when Roy SeverS got healthy the Washington club
would have the gol-darndest team in the
business"
ALLISON, HIMSELF, surprised by his early home
run output. We talked with him day. when Bob
at his hottest you've got 20 homers already it
toned "and Ted Williams record of 81 for an American
League rookie looks like cinch to beat"
Honestly" Allison replied, I'm not thinking Of
Williams record. I'm not home-run guy. Killebrew
yes But I'm line-drve guy, when 1 hit at all.
"A of these home I've been hitting surprise me-
never hit 300 in the minors until last season. The trouble
is, wasn't thinking with the pitcher That's what I'm
trying to do now"
With youthful philosophy Allison got to talking about
pressing"
That's thing I'll try to avoid" Bob said evil
liamS record for rookie-any kind of record-Iu put
out OF my mind couple of times this I've said
to myself I'm going to put the pitch into the seats
1t off. The home runs hit came by Just
Stroking"
BOB MAY HAVE meant it," Grifith was saying "but
he was -subconsciously maybe-to hit the seats
The home runs didn't often :"
Neither did the other hits the singles doubles and
triples it might be mentioned Allison the rookie-of
award mainly because of what he did the first
half of the season. The last half he iourneyman
.229 guy and not very exciting.
Bob started the year with weakness on outside
pitcheS Cal saying "SieverS somebody moved him
little closer to the plate Then toward the end Allison
began to fall for the inside pitch He trying pull
into the stands and instead beating the ground
Il talked to coach, Sam Mele and asked him to
talk with Allison But I'm not displeased with Allison
Don't get wrong that He's player won't
trade this winter. Sievers few others, yes. But not
Allison"