Evening star., 1960-08-29
WIN, LOSE OR
1NAV By FRANCIS STANN
I'D Make the Same Deal

LET'S ASSUME THAT Cal Griffith didn't telephone Bill
Veeck that early April day in Florida or he did, veeck
said no to Calls proposition which to trade for Roy
Sievers
The champion Chicago White Sox wouldn't still be
contenders Maybe they wouldn't even be in the first d-
vson because that's how many games sievers has won
personally But would the Senator'S if they had retained
Roy, be challenging the Yankees and Orioles instead?
NO. we wouldn't" Cal saying yesterday in his ball
park office I'VE wouldn't be we'll off now if we
didn't have Battey OF course" he mused wstfu light
In his eyes, "if we had Battey and Sievers -"
I'D MAKE THE SAME deal today" Griffith went on
pulling himself back to reality Even with Severs leading
the American League in hitting and knocking all those
home runs I'd have to have catcher.
"Battey-and Billy Gardner, too-gave us balance
I'm happy Roy doing well but if had Sievers
and catcher well, you where we've been finish
ing in previous In the cellar, most of the time.
Il talked to Veeck the other and mentioned that two
clubs finally made trade that benefited both. Things
would better in this business stopped trying
cheat each other, told Veeck He agreed"
Grfhth thinks that right now Battey is the best Wash
gton catcher since Jake Early at least and improving
all the time Some observers might that Cal could have
gone beyond Early but they'd get argument from
Griffith
Il MANAGED JAKE in the minors and watched him
closely after he to Washington Cal pointed out
teyS And he wasn't bad hitter He hit the long ball. too"
Originally, the Senators wanted John Romano from
the White Sox OF the two catchers riding the bench be-
hind sherm Lollar-Romano and Battey-the former was
rated the better hitter But Romano with Cleveland
isn't hitting with Battey, he receive and throw
like Earl.
1--WE got Battey just in time, I'm thinking" Cal said
Another the bench and he'd have forgotten how
to play like Gene Stephens of the Red Sox and Billy Con-
solo with Like Rube Walker and Ralph Houk, when
they behind Roy Campanela and Yogi Berra Like
Don thinner
Another fellow who had close CALL" Griffith volun-
teered s Don Hoax of the Pirates He'd just about for
gotten how to pay-in fact heard he thinking of
quitting many years the bench at Brooklyn
and Chicago Now looks like he's having lot to do with
winning pennant for Pittsburgh"
THE BOOK" ON BATTEY was that he couldn't hit
breaking stuff That book is out of date now" Griffith
said Last spring. when got Earl was having trouble
with the curve. But what you expect not playing?
Now he's hitting breaking stuff pretty good"
Sievers' rise to the batting leadership his almost
day-today heroics in behalf of the White Sox is source
OF satisfaction to many in this town. including fan
named Richard Nixon.
1t was slow spring for Slevers who when traded was
joining one of the few teams with three first basement
Ted Kuszewski Earl Torgeson and Roy himself. For
while SeVers and Ku shared the ob until it became ap-
parent to Manager Al Lopez that Roy play every day
to hit his best Once given the job all to himsefand
Sievers only hitting about 22O the tme-he started
his move.
The White Sox have been leaning on him ever since.