Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-09
WIN, LOSE OR
UkAW By FRANCIS srANN
More Snuke-Bitten Than Usual

CAL GRIFFITH SIGHED at the question NO" he
replied, Eddie Yost never had as good year for us as
he's having for Detroit 1t Just shows what change Of
scenery can do. guess"
suggested to the young and harrassed president
Of the Senators that perhaps he has been little
than usual the last couple of years Cal had
traded Pete Runnels when he 230 hitter and Pete
not only came within whisker of winning the American
League batting title in 49, but is up with the leaders this
season, too.
As for Yost Cal can only shake his head hepessy as
he reviews Edds unprecedented achievements including
q home runs. Detroit is just better ball park for
hitter" Cal admits although that's not the only
Yost is having big year. For the Tigers. he's swinging
his bat For US, Eddie wouldn't.
1T wasn't Cookie Lavagettos fault" Cal hastily added
sensing the question "Yost kept taking pitches under
Chuck Dresser and Bucky Harris We used to beg him
to hit instead Of waiting for the base balls We didn't
have player who was given the hit sign many
3-and-1 and 2-and-o counts"
CALVIN CONFESSES THAT Washington got the worst
Of both the trades-Runnels the Red and Yost to
the Tigers Il wasn't anxious to give up Runnels Cal
defended. THAT $50 in 81 Pete's only bad
year. But we had to have centereder and in order
to get Albie Pearson had to give up Runnels."
Calls brotherin-law, Joe Cronin, general manager
Of Boston at the time One thing to be said for the
president Of the American League that in dealing with
his wfes brother he looked out first for his boss Tom
Yawkey Over the years Cronn rarely had sent Cal highly
useful players. Mostly they were from hunger.
II remember telling Cronn," Griffith recalled, that
much thought Of Pete-and how desperately needed
centerfielder.
eff he does, cronin told me, III send you extra
player for free
"As you remember Runnes battled Ted williams down
to the final day for the title You'd have thought Pete
coming close Cronn would have sent the extra player
anyway"
IN DETROIT the leftfeld fence Is $40 feet from the
plate, only 10 feet shorter than Griffith stadiums
barrier these last few years. The distance is negligible
is logical to that Calvin has couple of points
when he speaks of the benefits Of scenery change and
new determination to swish the bat
Personally, Cal fond of YoSt but he felt % that
Eddie had slowed up step and ~ that long
the old pro available his manager Lavagetto would
limit Harmon Kebrews opportunities to play So Griffith
traded Yos Rocky Bridges and Neil Chrisley to Detroit
for Reno Bertoia, Ron Sanford and Jim Delsing
1.-THE Tigers got the best of 1t, all right" Cal admits
1.-THE most home Yost ever hit for us was H. One
Eddie drove in IS for the Senator's which is
good for ead-o man. But it looks now like he'll break
his records for driving in and scoring, too.
Bridges? Well he played good bali for Detroit earlier
in the Both helped the Tigers than Sanford
and Bertoa helped but have hopes that Bertoa
day will be good ball player. Delsing didn't make the
squad, but Chrisley hasn't been much for the Tigers,
either"
IT IS NO SECRET that Cal and Lavagetto clashed on
the subject of Yost Kebrew Cal is frank about that
matter.
II was determined that Killebrew would get his
chance Cookie wasn't too hot about it. We'd have butted
heads If both Yos and Killebrew had been the club
this season. know darn well that in the opening game
at least, Cookie would have played Yost.
"And if Eddie got of to good start maybe wouldn't
have realized Kllebrews potential at ALL So by trading
Yost there choice but to play Harmon And it
turned out it Kiebrew hitting homer in the opener
who got of to the good start.
$50 the trade Of Yost wasn't complete loss," Cal
reasons. 1--WE may have been licked the dea-or have
been so far-but we discovered Kiebrew. don't say
Harmon ever will be Osse Bluege Willie Kamm at
third base but he's learning to hit For that matter maybe
Kllebrew won't be third baseman after this year.
Maybe Bertoia will wind up there"
CALVIN is so USED to criticism for his dealings with
Boston during Conn days that rather than shyng from
the subject he takes the initiative in stirring up memories
Of trades better left forgotten.
take the OF Jackie Jensen he said referring to
Continued Page H-3, Col