Evening star., 1960-02-21
WIN, LOSE OR
GNAV By FRANCIS STANN
But Where Are the Players?

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA, FEB. 2O.-ThS is the week
the muscle fexng begins in the big league baseball camps
and the and the clubhouse cusodanS and
Commissioner Ford Frick are poised and ready But
where are the ball playerS?" veteran manager asks
They to Miami for the George Jacobus National
Baseball Golf Tournament and then scattered to the
winds"
1t used to be that more than few players especially
veterans trying to wiring out and kids
hoping to make good would arrive camp early pre-
lminary work their own least hang around the
clubhouse
They're too busy" Dan Daniel rasped the other day.
They wait until the last minute thinking about
baseball. They're working Wall Street running
bowling alleys selling shoes making TV films"
Daniel dean of the Yankee press corps f the dean
of all baseball writers), yearns for the Cobban days
when ball players popularity supposed put base
ball Above All Else. Well, practically
Il TV show the other night" Daniel shifted,
(which used ball player actor and handled him
Just right 1t Sandy Koufax Gos Angeles pitcher
They shot him in the first two minutes"
LEST IT UNDULY STRAIN relations between a man.
ager of club that has excellent chance of playing
in the World Series and highly rated acquisition
from club that has no chance) the names will be
omitted. But at Miami few days ago the manager
disclosed that he had conversed with his star. The
gist of the confab as follows
Nov that you're here Florida) you planning
to to camp few days early"
"Oh I'll go home and return when I have to
report. Besides, I haven't signed"
The manager, veteran who had played with both
good and bad ball clubs many years. sighed unhappy
1T wasn't always like this" he unused, "but times
change There's awful lot of loose ofseason change
lying around for ball players with Just hareputatons
Do you remember Stan Coveleske?"
Yes He of the hunting in the fall, fishing
guys. No other great interests, aside
from waiting from one baseball season to the next"
HE WAS A TERRIFIC PITCHER" the manager said.
"As spbaler, he probably put water the ball
than he did himself in training camp. Do you know
of md ate nd hath
Yes Coveleske used to fill his hotel bathtub with
water and keep his fishing minnows alive. He couldn't
take bath his roomie couldn't"
That's the story"
AL Lopez was asked if he felt that present-day ball
players less dedicated than the odies. The White
Sox manager considered for a moment, then replied
I'D say that today they're more buSnesske on the
whole. But some of the modern guys still have lot Of
fun Take Washngtons Clint Courtney the time he
thrown out of ball game. Not because he abusive,
but just because he-pardon the expresson-stank"
COURTNEY IN THOSE DAYS was catching for the
White sox and Lopez managing Cleveland. Early
Wynn grimmes pitcher in the business when he's work.
ing but prankster when not, also with Cleveland.
Clint used to ask Les Moss to break in his new
catchers mitts Lopez related one day Les back
to the dressing with mitt, spanking pocket in
with his fist and Early said is that Courtneys?'"
Moss allowed that it
Wynn remembered a box of assorted cheeses that
had been sent to the clubhouse" Lopez laughed. HE
opened wedge of limburger and took the mitt from
Moss and unlaced it, Then he spread the mburger real
thick inside of the glove, and re-laced it."
Moss demonstrated, but beaten down by Wynns
argument to wit "Courtney1l know the difference
but he'll become the bestknown catcher in the league
by the plate umpireS"
Early may have overplayed it little" Lopez said
e had COB of this lmburger left and he smeared
1t over Cints back giving him the od-buddy treatment
Jim Honochck the plate umpire. l remember his
adjusting his protector and leaning Courtney Sud-
denly he called out, Time!'"
The upshot that Honochick his senses offended
ordered Courtney to change his shirt ponto change
III you for the rest of the game Honochick
declared.
He didn't know about the limburger in Courtneyt
glove, but imagine that Clint and the other umpires
eventually got the scent" Lopez concluded.