Evening star., 1960-08-01
SPOTLIGHT
! SPORTS
So Investment Pays Off
By BILL FUCHS

TIE SUBJECT OF BASEBALL has taken hold of the
residents of picturesque shnged home large
lot in suburban Takoma Park. At 523 Elm street last
Thursday night Richard Nixon and his colleagues we're
being regarded as something less than desirable radio
4TV fare
Politics had nothing to do with it. 1t Just so happens
that the might the Vice President throwing his victory
punches in Chicago, Steve Barber year-old southpaw
of the Orioles pitching the biggest game of his short
major league career onehitter against the Athletics
in Baltimore
The folks back home in Takoma Park-steves mother
his 1S-year-old brother Rch and his maternal grand
parents the Fnnish-born Johnsons-were kept in sus-
penseful ignorance of Rookie steves shining hour.
1--WE HAD BEEN GOING to all the games he pitched
in Baltimore" Rich says But he losing. So we
didn't go to this one"
THE game FM radio" steves mother says
but we don't have FIN. 1 could have died"
Being from the old country the Johnsons were un-
familiar with baseball and until just very recently pre-
ferred to remain that way.
IF we turned on the game on televson radio" Mrs
Barber says, they'd walk out of the Now you can't
keep them away from it. They're making study of it."
THE BOYS FATHER was killed few years ago when
tractor overturned him while he helping friend
farm at Norbeck. An exWashingon sandlot player
he had had big hand starting Steve on the way to
career in baseball.
Il remember the day made up my mind to be
ball player" Steve says My father took me to my
first big league game at Griffith Stadium, and that
for I 6 years DID,.
"Ive always had strong It's gift. You're
born with it, When 10 II years old had to quit
pitching because nobody would catch me. So 1 caught
for two years until Freddy Burger around He was
pretty good catcher and he caught me all the way
through junior high school,"
No, Burger is not in the low minors waiting for his
big chance. He's machins by trade, married and the
father of two children
THAT'S THE WAY it goes" Steve says Il can re-
member all the boys played ball WITH but as we got
Older they all dropped off. Not me-"
Among those dropping off has been Rich who looks
very much like his brother with brown cropped hair
and clear blue eyes, For Rich football track are the
top sports He a quarterback for High Point High
until injury forced him out in his senior year He plans
to enter Maryland next month and go for football
while pursuing the educational requirements for being
teacher At present he works playground director at
Forest Park Playground which is right the street
from the Barber home the home the two boys had
since birth
Barber will take his next turn against the White Sox
in the series opening tonight in Baltimore When he does
he probably will think of the eight bucks he spent last
winter.
WHEN HE PITCHED that hitter last week. it was
the first complete game for the former Montgomery Blair
High star in two months. He, Manager Paul Richards
coaches and teammates all bafled by his slump
Then I remembered the film had taken" Steve says
" pitching good ball in the Winter League Florida
I pitched game where didn't walk anybody. So
had these films made-just in case 1 paid &c. Then
When Steve suddenly remembered, he got out the
film and he studied his motion. difference between what
he doing in Florida last winter had been
doing recently apparent 1t had something to do
with the position of the arms
That's the best $3 I ever spent" Steve says.