Evening star., 1960-03-20
WIN, LOSE OR
OKAW By FRANCIS srANN
Frisch, Hornsby and Cohen

A. 1S!-AnlDng
happenings in 1928 favored chestnut colt named Reign
Count the Kentucky Derby and young man named
Andy Cohen. longshot introduced as the Jewish
balpayer John Mcraw had been seeking for long not
only to prop up New York Giants ned but to draw
customers.
1.-THE whole business of being Jewish played up
all out of proportion" Andy Cohen saying here 80
years later in any other city I'd have been just another
second baeman trying to make the grade But the
real pressure look back, wasn't because was jewish
1t because following frankie FriSch and Rogers
Hornsby."
Cohen stocky craggy and personable ever is
of the Phies coaches He out of baseball last
year selling beer for E PaSo outfit after long career
player and manager in the minors. This day he was
reminiscing in Manager Eddie Sawyer's office
Il guess was only minor Lacquer all along Andy
confessed "but got lot of publicity didn't ask
for. And I'll never forget opening day of 1923 :"
FIRST, HOWEVER, LET'S set the background frankie
FriSch had been the star second baseman of the Giants
He there when Cohen, who had played football
at the University of Alabama up for trial in 1926
Most people thought McGraw had Frisch in mind his
successor. Then something happened
Whatever it was Frisch and Pitcher Jimmy Ring
were traded to ST. Louis after the 26 for Hony
who not only was a peerless player but manager of a
Cardinal team that had won pennant and World Series
81 don't know what happened between McGraw and
Frisch Andy said II don't know what happened between
McGraw and HornSby either, because Rogers while he
bated 1861 for the Giants in 27 and managed the club
when McGraw Ill, traded to the Boston Braves
That left second base open and called up in
28 to take The papers played the Giants
first Jewish star. shucks McGraw didn't what.
was as long could take the place of Frisch or
Hornsby."
ION OPENING DAY of 49," Andy said "I got my
biggest thrill We playing the Braves who had
Hornsby at second baSe and guess all the Jewish fans
got bang out of it, did The Giants won, So and
had double and two singles. I scored two runs and
thran had mart in of Maui vorlv,c
Everybody pretty excited and for four maybe
five weeks, was hot. The New York papers day.
by-day box score'-Cohen Hornsby. You know
how they do it today when hot home-run hitter
along. It's Mickey Mantle Babe Ruth Harmon
Killebrew versus Ruth.
"Ope guy who wasn't excited Hornsby One day
he said to New York reporter Know, it's dirty
trick to play that kid by running that box score
You should know that I'm going to leave him pretty soon
And, of course, he did leave Not only me- but
the rest Of the National League htters He hit 3S7 and
wound up with .274."
STILL, IT WAS SUGGESTED to Andy. 274 average
for rookie ntelder wasn't bad Last years American
League rookie Bob Allison an outheder only
hit 261.
ut wasn't such hot average in 1928" Cohen grinned
As matter Of fact, doing better the next season
-. hitting 2s4 when got fred by McGraw As far
as John concerned the great search for Jewish
ballplayer ended.
Il remember like it yesterday what soured Nc
Graw me- slapped ball over second base against
Cincinnati 1t looked like such hit that took
easy going to first base. But Hughey Critz who
playing second for the Reds backhanded the ball. Then
he threw of balance and on one hop to nab me.
"McGraw hit the roof of the dugout Football legs'
he shouted. You've got football legs! That all.
shipped to the minors for the 80 years So
And guess belonged in the minors"
ANDY PLAYED AND LATER managed in Just about
all minor league clasSihcations AS recently 1858 he
was managing Denver. Then decided to retire from
baseball" he said 81 got this good job with the beer
outfit My kid brother Sid, who spent three years with
the Senators, works for them, too.
"The boss said, Andy, you sure you're finished with
baseball? said I'm OF course, might 20 back
If got offer from big league club But was only
joking If nobody wanted after so years was
a thousand-to -to-one shot
"And then John Quinn-he's general manager of the
PhiieS you know-caled last winter and offered me
this coaching setup The boss in FL was real NICE
He said, Andy I'll keep job open long you're
with major league club"
Whoever the beer boss is he's not cynic. proper
cync might question whether the Phies like the SEN
ators are big league club Anyway, he's keeping Andys
job open.