Milford chronicle., 1959-04-24

like the New York Yankees.
But these jobs are rare, and
never more son than in 1859. OF
the Is big league pilots beginning
the pennant races, this writer
knows of 10 who might not finish
them.
The American League seems
more stable than the National this
year, largely because it is out of
balance. The Yankees and Casey
Stengel always win. Well. of the
last 10 anyway, and z of 3 World
Series. No manager~is expected to
beat the Yankees, but there are
other considerations that make en-
ployment a fragile thing
The Chicago White Sox are fam
cied for second place, for example,
because that's where AL Lopez al
ways seems to finish. But Bill
Veeck and Hank Greenberg are in
the picture as part of a group con-
trolling "a per cent of the teams
stock. Willie and Hank like to win
every game.
If Lopez is smart he will do all
his winning for Veeck and Green
berg and all his losing for Chuck
Comiskey who has slipping grip
on 46 per cent of the stock No use
winning for man in an uncomfort-
able position. The division of
ownership puts Tampa's No. 1 citi-
zen on the spot.
Good Deal For Norman
Now take Bill Norman, who has
the Detroit Tigers for the first
spring. The Tigers were only two
games out of third place and COM
ing fast when the '58 season slam
med shut. Since then the IL or.
so owners have made a good deal
for Norman. They traded a Sec
ond baseman who couldn't play
shortstop, Billy Martin, for Ray
Narleski and Don Mossi who were
just about half of Cleveland's 1858
pitching staff. The pair won a
combined 20 games and finished 36.
But Detroit has no power mitter
and Norman, wise after 27 years.
minor league experience, warns:
Now, don't pick us too high. We
didn't lose fourth place by half
game the last day. We lost it
somewhere between April Is and
Sept. 80. still, the Tigers are ex-
pected to improve.
Mike Higgins enjoyed spring.
time in Arizona because Ted Will
liams enjoyed swinging a bat a
gain. Higgins has other good hit
ters and promising pitchers. But
Boston has been promising since
1916 when it won it's last Ameri-
can League flag. Sill Mikes job is
safe. Owner Tom Yawkey is the
type who would rather fire the
fans than the manager.
Richards Sound on
Paul Richards of Baltimore and
Joe Gordon in Cleveland aren't SO
fortunate. Richards, who has a
habit of popping off about what's
wrong with Stengel, the Yankees
and the league, is, on big spot
despite a fine pitching coach in
Harry Brecheen and fine pitching.
He lacks hitting. The time he
spends blasting others might well
be spent helping his hitters. But
we hope he crashes the first divi-
sion. He makes good copy.
Gordon did well in his late stint
asst year in Cleveland, but now he
has too many pitching question
marks and infield holes on the left
side where the good right-handed
filters send their drives. He has
a powerful hitter in Rocky Cola
vito, but after Minnie Minoso, the
attack could wither. We have the
Indians picked bit low. That's
because General Manager Frank
Lane, a man of considerable trad
ing fame, has failed to pick up any
of the Yankees surplus talent.
Harry Craft, of Kansas City and.
Cookie Lavagetto of Washington
will have better horses someday,
if they can take the barbs that will
come their way this lean season.
Six of the eight pilots in the
National League are on hot spots
because the pennant is up for
grabs. Four might not last out the
season.
The Milwaukee Braves seem to
have enough pitching and stick
work to make it three pennants-
in a row. Felix Mantilla, an un-
tested rookie, or a veteran obtain
ed in a deal could be the second
baseman while Red Schoendienst is
recovering from tuberculosis.