Evening star., 1960-03-21
WIN, LOSE OR
UkAW By FRANCIS s1ANN
Sawyer and the Dark Shadow

CLEARWATER, Fla Mar. 2l-On subject, at least
baseball men appear to be divided only once National
Leaguers apt to finger the Senators as the worst club
In the majors and American Leaguers lean heavily toward
the PhilieS. .. .-. ~
The record book is great help year the Philes
won "a and the Senators club finished last
In hitting and in low echeonS in other departments Both
the Senators and PhileS are more to be pitied than
cenSured.
Both managers, Eddie Sawyer of the Philes and
Cookie Lavageto of the Senator'S are competent home
LOVING men, but of the two Lavagetto apparently stands
better chance of holding his job longer He doesn't have
an Alvin Dark looking over his shoulder.
The Phllies who train in this sun-kisSed oasis of
drug store lotteries acquired Dark January from the
Chicago Cubs giving Richie AShburn Alvin 81 years
old and wearing his fifth different National League uni
form. And why would ast-place team like the Philes
want downhil guy9 Simple say most baseball men.
To manage
ANY THME-a month week or day-Dark may
be the next of the Phes Unsubstantated but
lively is the report that General Manager John Quinn
and Dark had an agreement when the a-around athlete
from Comanche, Okla. became Philadelphia property.
1t is touchy topic here Dark, who is amiabe guy
most of the time will walk away when it is brought up
Sawyer, the erudite college professor who in 1850
managed the only Phlly team to win pennant in the
last A years. was surprised by young local reporter
shortly after he arrived in camp Where veteran big
league baseball writer's to tread this young man
laid it the line
Mr.. Sawyer" he asked lis it true that AL Dark is
going to succeed you?"
Eddie blinked suppose you'd have to discuss that
matter with Mr. Quinn" he replied without animosty
and perhaps with certain admiration for the cubs
forthrghtness.
ON PAPER THE PHILLIES are an extremely deplor-
able club. They haven't got 800 hitter or 1OO-RBI
man. They have only two pitchers who dozen games
and one Gene Coney of the Boston basketball Cetcs,
isn't even in town.
Dark, Waly Post and Robin Roberts look like gray
boards in the dugou which is laced with fresh-faced
kids from Willamsport, Johnson City and Lancaster
Roberts, leftover from the gay days Of the Whz
Kids in 1850 has been great pitcher The next game
he wins will be his 222d in the majors But Roberts is
long past 80 years of and he's lost II times in the
four campaigns Another Whiz Kid hodover is Curt Sim
mons, who may be washed up at 80.
If the Philes deep at any one position it could
be at first base The incumbent is Ed Bouchee His
is Pancho Herrera
PANCHO, WHO Halls from Havana played for
Buffalo last year. When he reported here he brought
along some hefty credentials, and also hef He
stands 6-foo3 and weighs 23O, the latter figure his
teammates openly challenge.
You're 2sO if you're ounce" they chide Pancho
Don't give us that 23O-pound bit"
We'll, maybee, say 1872" Herrera replies Like many
Latin Americans he to wind up every statement
with question mark, but what he did at Buffalo in SO
leaves small doubt his ability to play Tripe-A ball.
Pancho batted 329 hit 81 homers and had 1913 RB The
question, indeed, is where to play him.
Sawyer has been toying with the idea of making
second baseman out of Herrera If he does Pancho may
be the biggest man ever to play the position although
1t is expected that he will lose of that weight IF
ne could get down to 205, said Coach Andy Cohen
Old second baseman himself he'd still be pretty formid
able to base trying to break up the double play
1t would be something like trying to the Baltimore
Colts line"
IN AN EFFORT to separate the Phillies from the
Senators in their dubious contest the advice of Charles
waiter Dresser sought partly because Dresser has
both an American and National League background
over the long run I'd pick the Phiies Wash
ngton Chuck said This club at will spend S75 900
Tor ball player, and Washington won't" DreSsens
wounds following his association with Cal Griffith obvious
ly haven't healed.
The Phl.es VS.. Senators argument if there is one
brings to mind the cryptic comment of Warren Brown
OF Chicago back in 1945 when the wartime pennant
winners we're the Cubs and Tigers. poll taken of
sportswriters, and Mr. Browns summation lives in mem
ory.
AFTER looking at both clubs" he said, Il doubt if
either win"