Evening star., 1960-11-11
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW ;, FRANCE, ,r4uu
Whin1 Over Wisdom

OF ALL THE TOP sports jobs that have been tossed
ABOUT tnese weeks It would seem here that two Of the
toughest to h would be those by the Yankees field
manager, Ralph Houk, and their general manager
Roy Hamey
The wonderful of Casey stenge deposed bench
manager, and the distinguished of George Weiss
moved into Sem-retrement after succeeding Ed Barrow
as the brain of the Yankees goals that almost
fantasicay out of reach Yet Houk wanted senges ob
and obviously Hamey needed little urging when Weiss
desk emptied
Topping and Del Webb since September has been puzzng
to say the least They ampeng with As Joe
Williams so apty put during the World Series the
Indians Red Sox Giants White Sox had done this
thngwhim overruling wisdom-the situation would have
been accepted But the Yankees the Union League
Club of baseball. don't catch it,"
THAT FINAL DAY of the World Series in Pittsburgh
was one without precedent far veteran newsmen
were concerned Stengel had the American League
pennant and now he going into the seventh and
decisive game with his Yankees at least money But
everybody knew he was-or would be-fred
The Pirates bench, Notwithstanding that Danny
Murtaugh and Ford Frick were holding court virtu
ally deserted of visitors The newshounds the legitimate
working stis, were In the Yankee dugout talking to
Stengel trying to pry from the old man some comment
Caseys visitors knew he was to be fired So did Casey
1t was strange scene in the Yankee clubhouse before
the crucial game There Houk sutng up in locker
close to Stenges and undoubtedly knowing that win or
lose in this bizarre World Series the Yankees would have
him-Houk-as the next manager.
6aSepa players on nigh level seem to have sixth
sense They know when it's time to pack up before
the club secretary calls up 1t appears in the
newspapers that has been traded They know when
manager is about to be booted out even such an i'm
plausible winner Stengel.
ON THIS LAST MORNING in Pittsburgh it was
noticed that while Stengel held court with the press
the center of the Yankee dugou there small group
OF young Yankees-Kubek Coates and few others-who
were sticking with Houk They knew whom they'd be
working for next year.
After that final-nning home run by Bill Mazerosh
that won the SERIES it plain that 1t as far
as Casey was concerned Stengel pale gray man
70 as he took off his uniform This particular visitor
sought out Yogi Berra.
Anyway" he said. you did your best for the old
guy. Everything you hit on the line :"
YEAH" Yogi grumbled "but it wasn't enough"
He knew then that 1t all for Stengel who so
often fought the verbal with Yogi with deep sense
OF admiration
CASEY CALLED Yogi, at whom he poked fun calling
MIN my assistant manager" Toward the end of Caseys
lease 1t occurred that Berra indeed managerial
terial. In his own fashion, Stengel wasn't kidding
But it wasn't Berra all-time record holder of many
World Series records but Houk the forgotten first base
COACH who landed the job Never his career Houk
more than thirdstring catcher although he had some
success as minor league manager.
Houk had what has been described as q brilliant
World War II record. winding up with commission
and ending up major in the Rangers He is a tough
guy who won't bear pushing around but whether he's
going to win 10 for the Yankees remains to be
eeen.