Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-16

In his opinion baseball, once
his complete concern as its
commissioners circumstance
which ended abruptly when
owners fired him-is headed for
destruction. Baseball just isn't
as good as 1t used to be-" says
Kentucky's Governor, neglect
ing to note in the same hot
breath that the same applies to
money, oatmeal and some
Southern governors.
Major league ball players
must be smart and mature or at
least mature" says Unhappy,
but you'll find a lot Of kids
Iup there who just aren't ready,
and a lot Of oldtimers who
should have retired years ago."
II maturity must be accepted
as a standard for admission to
the majors, it was fortunate
that Unhappy wasn't ruling
baseball when Mel OFT arrived
on the major league scene at
16, Bob Teller at, II, when Ty
Cobb and Ruth made it at 10.
On the basis of maturity, Ruth
might have been barred for
life, but that immature fellow
could apply polished lumber to
a glossy sphere emphatically,
creating considerable excite
ment among the more mature
seated in the stands.
There's no necessity for a
ball player to be smart, either.
Some OF the dumbest blokes who
ever decorated the earth have
made the grade in baseball.
Some of them have been crude,
but discovered this to be no
drawback. Educational back
ground remains less important
to a scout than a boys ability
to run, hit and throw.
"They hit a new low last
week when they passed that
rule to allow interleague trades
without getting waivers" says
the grumpy Governor failing to
enlarge on that theme. but al
lowing as how he wouldn't have
permitted it, no matter what
the owners wanted.
Unhappy's detection of evil
in that bit of legislation follows
the thinking of some baseball
officials, fearful that the stars
of one league may be traded to
the other. It's false alarm, for
if a Willie Mays is exchanged, |
it's presumed a performer of |
equal excellence will be &C
quired.
The approach of Parke Car
roll, general manager of the
Athletics, seems more reason
able. Il don't like the idea,"
Carroll said recently, but I'm
willing to give it a try. 1 don't
believe any outstanding players
will be traded, but I think it
will benefit those clubs with
huge farm systems and operate
against the weaker teams. The
strong clubs have the most sur
plus players and consequently
will be able to trade among
themselves, growing stronger.
II can see. though, that in
terleague trading will stimulate
interest in baseball" Carroll
continued, land I'm for that. If
it doesn't work out, we can al
ways repeal it,"
Baseball no longer belongs
to the fans" means Unhappy.
They have no say about any
thing" There is no recollec.
ton Of fans ever having par
ticipated in the workings of
baseball. even under Chand-
ler's regime, and there's little
likelihood of them being con-
suited in the future, but they
have the privilege of refusing to
pay if they care to lodge a pro-
test.
Baseball will survive despite
the emotional orationS emerg-
ing from Kentucky. 1t has
problems, but they're micro
Scopic when stacked against
the agony of the steel industry |
at the moment, and they're |
durable.
Fans couldn't be less inter-
ested in baSeball's administra-
tive difficulties when a Har-
mon Killebrew or a Bob Allison
swing for the fences. They
can't become the least bit irri-
tated about Ford Prick when
a soaring drive is headed for
the seats. A close play at third