Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-03-12
WIN, LOSE OR
%DRAw !, FRANCE. STAN.
The Miracle of Pittsburgh

TAMPA, MAR 12-What happened to the Pittsburgh
Pirates in 1858 should happen the Washington Senators
some day. Here the Pirates finishing seventh or in the
cellar year after year. suddenly wind up in second place
behind the Milwaukee Braves And now . .
Now they've got nearly everybody, including them
selves talking of pennant. They move with new
confidence Danny Murtaueh, who manages the young
BucS won't predict finish but he is quick to assert
This Is a good bali club"
At the moment there only one big question Did the
Prates trade away too much power when they snapped
Frank Thomas to CINCINNATI people feel they did,
including Thomas Naturally, Murtaugh disagrees
I'VE needed lefthanded pitcher like Harvey Haddix"
Danny says Don Hoax will play third base better than
Thomas, and we needed catcher like Smokey Burgess
We made good deal"
WITH THE LoNG-HITTING Thomas in a Red uniform
tremendous burden seems to rest on Dick Stuart the
repressble young who first appeared on the scene
in the spring Of 1857 after hitting Sc home runs in the
Western League He woud-be outhelder then but
he's first baseman
Stuart hasn't changed much In one breath Dick
volunteers Two years ago said too many things In the
next ne carries on where he left of He speaking louder
with his bat, however and although the veteran Ted
Kuszewsk swinging with freedom these days. Dick is
the No. first baseman in camp.
Il like the guy, Murtaugh says Hes little smarter
at the plate and he fooled the way he's learned play
first base Right I'd call him almost average big
Lacquer on defense ~ Il n rs
1T nice having Thomas and watching him hit
IS home runs last But had to have efthanded
Now we've got Haddix So if Stuart can take Thomas
place, we ought to be in good shape"
FORBES FIELD, HOME of the Pirates is one of the
bigger parks and in it Thomas honered only times
in II home games Hoax is not in Thomas as long
ball hitter perhaps but he plays aggressive and skfu
third base.
I'VE traded for team balance" Murtaugh explains
Thomas probably will hit home in Cincinnati
than he did in Pittsburgh but everything considered,
think we did all right"
Murtaugh likes Stuart, but there is doubt to
whether all of the Pirates enthused about the big
talkatve guy Last year, for example Stuart voted
only a haf-share of the teams World Series cut,
amount no larger than the bat boys.
Stuart it who made the Pirates click, because
Pittsburgh laboring seventh place club when Dick
Joined them in July With Dick they 43 and lost only
a. He played in only Ct games-0 as pinch hitter
but he homered 16 times and drove in 48 runs on SO hits
SOME OF THE TOP PIRATES, asked why Stuart
not given bigger share of Secondp money explained
that before voting they asked the advice of veterans who
had cut melon with other clubs. 1--WE told to base
it the length of time player with u.s. spokesman
man said. Personalities didn't enter into it."
Outwardly, Stuart wasn't upset. One remark he did
pass however to Pittsburgh baseball writer q" guess
1t fair" Dick said tongue in cheek Probably the bat
boy had as much to do with secondplace finish
I did"
One why lot of training camp followers fancy
the Pirates chances to overake the Braves is the Pitts
burgh youth and speed In contrast to the
elderly Braves the Pirates didn't have regular his
EOS last year. They run, field and pitch.
BOB FRIEND MAY BE the best pitcher in the Ma
tional League His % wins suggest that he's close Then
there Ron Kline and Vern Law, plus Haddix and
those two bright of 49, George Witt and Curt
Raydon.
Don't forget Roy Face in the bullpen" Murtaugh
says He saved 26 games besides winning five Of
seven for himself" Asked If he intended to give Face
break by using of his starters in relief, Danny
shook his head
NO." he replied. I'D rather have tired bupen
than tired starters"
Even with Stuart KluSzewsk on first base, the
Pirate ineld is notable with Hoax Dick Groat at short
stop and Bill Mazeroski at second. That used to be
MuraughS position-second baSe-bu Danny is the first
to admit that he the day he could make plays
like Mazeroski
Rest double-play man saw" Danny says
Few of the regulars fail to win Murtaugh's praise.
or Bob Skinner, he There's good chance he'll be
Stan Musas successor the best lefthanded hitter
in the league"
Fred Haney said the other day that your outfeld-
Skinner, Bill Vrdon and Roberto Clemente-iS the best
in the league" man commented.
Murtaugh didn't agree aloud. But he looked mighty
pleased