Evening star., 1960-03-15
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW ;, FRANCE, ,rApu
The Two SoIIy Hemuses

two Solly Hemuses one the quiet chunky man who sits
In the dugout and talks hopefully Of his ST. Louis
dna and the other Hemus known best by the National
League umpireS.
solly Joseph Hemus No. 2 was fire breathing UNI
pre-baitng rookie pilot last who led the managerial
league by being thrown out of eight games. I'm not
proud CT that record, Soly Hemus No saying with
humility Il should have realized couldn't help the
by sitting in the clubhouse Put down inexperience
"Just for the record, soIy," visitor asked how
many times you the right when you were bounced
and fined all that dough-"
Three times" Hemus smiled. THE other five times
I was wrong"
And how many times you winning when you
were given the thumb?"
Twice" he admitted. six times losing.
You don't get thrown out nearly as many times when
you're ahead"
SINCE THE CARDINALS didn't win too often last
season Cthey were 7183 and beat out only the Phes)
1t follows that Hemus couldn't be very magnanimous
about boo-boos by umpres real fancied 1T was still
kind of silly" Solly said.
you used the expression, Put it down to inexper-
ence,'" man reminded do you think you were trying
too hard to yourself in front your players espec
ally since you on the active list yourself?"
Yes, guess so' solly replied Il think learned
good deal and I'll be better qualified this season."
II notice you're longer the active list" some
body mentioned thumbing roster. rs because you're
the manager"
Not exactly" soy answered MY ability always was
limited as you know and I'm no kid. And haven't got
the time to get in shape So if can't all the things
ask my players to do. I've no business being listed
player
Actually, started only two games last year. The
other times appeared pinch-hitter." He sud-
denly was bemused by recollection.
"ONE OF THE GAMES started was against Los
Angeles Soly laughed Don Drysdale pitching for
the Dodgers, 1 loaded up with lehand batters in
cudng myself 1t the funniest looking batting order
you ever
"one of the club officias-1 mention his name
RaiH ol tOdoU ldn hear To 1OOk
at this lineup second time.
1t is automatic for all managers to predict improve
ment, and Hemus is exception He bases his optimism
chiefly on more experience on part of his pitchers
and better punch 1T discouraging batting
attack" Soly admitted I'VE got enough hits rank
ond in the league in batting But they were little hits We
second from the bottom in scoring runs
Take Vinegar Bend Mzell for example He 13
games and lost TO- but he should have done better In
two games that remember had to take him out in the
fifth inning or not because he wasn't pitching well
but because couldn't We'd be losing by maybe
20 and here'd be bases-loaded situation I'd have to
reach for pinch hitter for Mizen."
LAST MARCH "a the Cards traded Sam Jones to the
San Francisco Giants for Bill White the outhelder. Il
knew Jones good pitcher although didn't foresee
21-game season." soy explained "On the other hand
White hit 1902 and now he's my regular centerheder
II liked picking up Daryl Spencer from the Giants,
even at the cost of Don Blasngame think Bob Neman
from the Orioles Carl sawatsk from the Phies and Leon
Wagner from the Giants will help our attack.
Speaking of Blasingame reminds me of story on
myself" Hemus smiled Last spring was little con-
fused and in front of everybody in the clubhouse said
of pitchers, Gibson you're working the hrst
three innings tomorrow 1t turned out was addressing
Marshall Bridges, another pitcher.
Il said to myself when I realized the mistake, This
is fine way to start Now the young players will think
don't know one from another So apologized"
NOW WE HAD Latin American shortshop in camp
who spoke virtually English" soly continued Marty
Marion coming to camp and asked Marty to work
with this kid who's still in chain In pidgin English
tried to tell Latin friend that great shortstop
going to teach him to throw overland grounders in
the hole.
" You watch, said waving my hands at the same
time. Great shortstop he help mucho he help
you You no speak the Engleesh he make motion. You
follow.
THE kid listened with poker face. If I'd quoted
Chaucer he'd have understood much. Finally, as I
turned away, he said to me-
"'Who you? Blasingame?'"