Evening star., 1960-05-31
AT S
ANGLE
And Paddles for Weak Hitters
By LEWIS 2. ATcHIsoN

COUPLE OF ITEMS caught the eye over the week
end including Clint Courneys diversified catchers mt-
an idea first conceived in the nmbe mind of Hank Green
berg when he was nearing the end of his as first
oaseman Feeling his advancing years. Hank figured If
you can't catch it, trap it, and came up with his famous
CLAW mitt Manager Paul Richards of the Orioles another
man who thinks for himself took Hanks brainchld of
the shelf and moved 1t behind home plate
Th Is the greatest invention since the electric bulb
Courtney cried glowing like 6Owatt lamp himself after
catching knuckle-baer Hoyt Wilhelm in 80 win over
the Yankees. I'm catcher with that glove he exulted
I'm no bum"
EyewitneSses hint that Courtneys statement is open
TO debate They Clint mistaken for either
Muddy Rue or Rick Ferre during his stint in Washington
slapped at the ball Until Courtney hauled out the mat
ress II passed balls had charged against Orioe
catchers working with Wilhelm Not one got away from
Clint He either smothered Hoys pitches or knocked them
down and pounced on em like tiger swatting humming
birds
-
MANAGER CASEY STENCIL of the Yankees regis
tered unofficial complaint that the umpire couldn't see
the plate because of Courtneys outsize mitt
"Everybody's wearing big gloves these days." Casey
grumbed, which making one-handed Fancy outta
everybody because how can you miss catching ball with
nlitt as big a basket?"
Now, there's the point Why should a catcher be
favored over other players simply because he's got to work
with butterfly pitcher? There other deserving
in need of help Think for example, of the territory
shortstop could cover with lacrosse stick in hand
And what comfort bushe baskets would to jittery
to take the throw with Mickey Mantle running out tap
to the baseman would find soace in larger bagsmaybe
painted red.
And while making changes why not permit weak
htters to use canoe paddesome fans have long advo-
Gated this for certain htters And why let pitchers
throw dead balls when facing uggers? 1t adds up the
same idea Of making farce of what fondy used to be
called the national pastime.
On second thought Courtney could be rehearsing to
follow Al Schacht and Jimmy Savo in show business They
used enormous gloves in their sks and sometimes weren't
half as funny Clint.
ITEM NO. CONCERNED Ed Suttons complaint that
he'd signed with the Redskins 1860 and couldn't under
stand why club officials keeping it secret It's very
simple The Redskins like all pro clubs prefer to
sgnings in dbs and dabS to keep themselves in public
print during the off season.
It's like the old days when boxing flourshed in this
area and biweekly shows and even weekly shows were
the rule frankie Mann Joe Turner and Golde Ahearn
would give out the card as gently you'd slip a note
under the door First the the principals
in the main bout and when this over couple
OF times the semfinal announced Then came the
main preliminary" followed by the supporting card
we didn't get the announcement of substitute for
one OF the until the night the show This
was the thumb guide in all publicity work and
still is. ~
Suton'S signing probably would have been announced
To-Day with an appropriate fanfare and roll of drums from
the front office So what did he get? couple of para
graphs devoted chiefly to beef carrying the ball
enough Ed probably hasn't heard about Jim Brown of
Cleveland whose complaint is that he worked too much
last year.
1T was like being in two-man backfield" Brown
told friends, with you being only man the quarter
back hand off to-"
Well, Ed asked for work, and he'll get it.