Evening star., 1959-06-29
WIN, LOSE OR
DkAW By FRANCIS s1AnA
A Preference for Muscle

IN BYGONE DAYS, when the fans elected the Al-Star
teams ball players rghteousy grped about various nus
tices, such the big city ballotng which gave the
Yankees. Giants Dodgers White Sox and Cubs edge
lesser complaint that fans blind to finesse
and consistency and voted too often for the long ball
hitter with little else to recommend him. But that
bal players eecting the teams what happens? They
like the FANS show their respect for the hitter who can
break up ball game with blow
Especially in the American League this preference
pointed out when Harmon Killebrew Of the Senator's
Rocky Colavito and to lesser extent Moose Skowron
and Gus Triandos selected the starting third
baseman, right fielder first baseman and catcher
spectively of the Al-Stars who will face the National
League at Pittsburgh July T.
THOSE 2s HOME RUNS by Kilebrew counted so
heavily with ball players the other American
League clubs the Senators not permitted to vote
for one of their own that Harmon Frank NAL
zone of the Red sox by whopping l5S-to-43 margin.
All Malone had going for him was about 35-point
edge in batting average and the reputation the best
defensive third baseman in the circuit But to win
game the AL players put their trust in Kilebew, only
mediocre third baSeman at this point the hope that
he will drive ball into the seats
In the of Coavito Of the Indians all he did was
be elected over the American League batting leader Harvey
Kuenn OF the Tigers True it cose-105 votes to 81
but 1t must be remembered that Kuenn is outhitng
Colavito by 70odd points But Harvey not hit
long ball (only three homers whereas Colavito has 22
IN CONTRAST TO OTHER YEARS, the Yankees placed
only starter the A-Star team Skowron and like
Kebrew and Colavito he is being ouhit by another Vic
Power Of the Indians The margin slight to be sure
but the ball players emphacaly showed 53 votes 72
their respect for Skowron IA homers and 81 baed in
1t contest in the baloting for the AL catcher
Triandos Of the Orioles only ordinary receiver poled
I'll votes to 20 for Sherman Loar of the White Sox
has about 13pont advantage in average but who doesn't
approach Trandos' total Of 1S home to date
Frank Slocum Of Commissioner Ford Fricks office,
who personally conducted the poll by making swing Of
ta1b
after his return T got the distinct impression he sad
that the American Laguers not only preferred the long
ball hitter but that they all turning managers They
knew that Luis Aparico and Nellie Fox would be the
shortstop and second baSeman and that 1t would be
necessary to pack power the batting order to
make up for these little guys"
#***
THE NATIONAL LEAGUE DIDN'T pay too much atten-
ton to batting averages either witness the easy victory
Of Catcher Del Crandall Of the Braves Smokey
Burgess of the Pirates The latter is wngng along
800 hitting as most people thought he could If given
chance to play regularly but the ball players his loop
preferred Crandal at around 28O because he
less a perfectionist behind the plate.
For different reason-the same that dictated the
choice of Killebrew Malzone-they chose Eddie
Mathews Of the Braves Ken Boyer of the Cards who
is outhitting Mathews by some 20 points Mathews is
better third baseman than Kebrew but although Boyer
is in double figures in hitting homes he is not clasSed
as Mathews equal long ball threat.
There was at least third parallel in the op-
sized l8T 10 4D victory OF Willie Mays over Vada PnSon
as the MI centerelder Pinson is outhitting Mays by
small margin but Mays is special sort of ball player and
next to Hank Aaron, who unanimous and Ernie
Banks, he got votes than any other Astar regard
less of the league.
FROM THE BEGINNING of All-Star competition back
in 1888 the rival managers regardless of how the
were selected made pretty clear that they preferred the
nusclemen the fancy fielder at least until lead
had been established.
The most notable of packing a lineup used to
occur during the when Lou Gehg and Jimmy Foxx
were operating at the same time Gehrig playing first base
for the Yankees and Foxx for the Athletics and the Red
Sox Only could be voted to start and only could
be played at first base at a time, but Foxx versatility
enabled the managers between 1888 Connie Mack,
Joe Cronin Mickey Cochrane and Joe Mccarthy to make
good use Of both strong armed men,
Foxx could play a fair game third baseman and
as such he used while Gehrg played first This went
until Gehrigs fatal illness in 1882 and it is perhaps
significant that the American League four of the six
when Gehrig and Foxx swinging their bats
at the same time