Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-06-19
THE BASEBALL
BE A T
BY BURToN HAWKINS
Humor Goes q Long Way
BY BURTON HAWKINS

THE TIGERS BUSINESSMEN BRASS, who had a new
toy in their baseball club but playthng with which
they'd like to turn profit. glumly gazed the inele
CANT efforts of their Groupein the otherwise barren
upper rghed stands at beautiful Briggs Stadium they
stared with shame club losing its 18th decision in
IT games.
The date was May O. six weeks ago. For three innings
it ball game, although sloppy The Senators
led As There had been when Roy Sievers had
Dashed 2run homer in the first inning and when Harmon
Killebrew clouted solo job in the same frame.
There was disgust when Ron Sanford doubled in
the second inning and ultimately scored when Pitcher
Jerry Davie Catcher Charley Lau and First Baseman Gail
Harris permitted Reno Bertoias pop fly to pop among
them
But the fellow who placed the banana peel under
Manager Bill Norman Jim Lemon. The Senator's
towering outhelder crashed bases loaded homer during
6-run explosion IN the fourth inning. 1t If
Normans job was attached to the ball. for it then
that the brass asse ducked into the nearby
Offices, conferred briefly and decided the gulotne for
Norman. 4#
TELEPHONE CALL to Pittsburgh brought repair
In response to the emergency CALL Jimmy Dykes
arrived, bringing little than of humor and
the everpesent cigar to the trouble spot That plus vast
knowledge of baseball but the woods full of fellows
who know when to sacrifice when to hit and-run and
the other mechanics Of the game.
What the Tigers needed it seemed was quick relaxa-
tion They pressing When they made they
expected the mscue to cost them the game Frequently
it did, The personnel appeared adequate to land first
division berth, but team they panicky,
and perhaps about to submit to sad They
down, disorganized and Keeling.
Twenty-four hours later the Tigers had whipped the
Yankees in double-header. Under Dykes they've been
the most exciting team in the majors, but without
exciting figure Harvey Kuenn will hit So will Kaline,
but their hits aren't the soaring socks of Mickey Mantle
or Killebrew which entice customers to the park
When the Tigers invaded New York for the first time
this spring wire service sports writer called Dykes and
kidded I'm not in the habit of calling last-place
manager"
I'm not last-pace manager" Dykes Numbered. "If
we stick two games behind the Yankees they
them wen be all right The Yankees hit before they'll
hit again. And well move right with them"
JIMMY WAS PROPHETIC, and it develops he was
being modest The Tigers moved right past the Yankees
even while the Yankees surgng and situated
nicely. They're within whispering distance Of the top
It's habit with Dykes. buoying teams. Twenty-Five
years ago the White Sox in last place under Lew
Fonseca. Dykes took and Chicago finished fifth
next season In 1850 the Athletics won So games under
Connie Mack. Dykes succeeded him and nudged Phla-
dephia to sixth in 1851. The St Louis Browns won 54
games in 1858 Dykes grabbed the reins when the team
switched to Baltimore in 1854 Unanswered them to
seventh
Last year Birdie Tebbetts resigned as manager Of the
Reds leaving 5261 team in last place Dykes mopped up
efficiently Cincinnati had 2417 record under Jimmy
See BASEBALL BEAT, Page D.