Evening star., 1960-03-06
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW By FRANCIS s1AAA
The Muscle Men


Los Angeles Dodgers have instituted policy wherein
member of the cast is yanked out of practice each
day and ushered into headquarters to have his brains
picked AS fate-or Red Pattersons fertile publicity brain
would have it, Rookie Frank Howard and Gil Hodges
followed each other
Now listen" Patterson briefed the awesome s-foo-7
243-pound Howard you've got to stop being shy Talk
to these guys they won't hurt you" Red paused and
reStuied the heroicaly propotoned Howard mot you'll"
There a nod from the kid who can hit baseball
farther and harder than anybody today provided he
swinging where it is pitched. Sweating prousey Howard
handed brief QUESTIONABLE intended to help Patter
moderate the daily press panel
Dutifuly he took up pencil and went to work. few
minutes later the 23year-od giant turned his work
to Patterson, who glanced at it and whistled.
***
AFTER THE QUERY What are your hobbies7"
Howard wrote None Then: What your plans after
your playing years?" Answer: None"
"Other activities while in school-other sportS?" The
scrawed reply: "None" This Patterson protested But
you AAmerca basketball player at Ohio STATED"
Red said.
"oh that" shrugged the young
Signing deeply, Patterson read Biggest problem
to overcome make the maors? Answer Strike zone
biggest break turning point in career?" None"
Your biggest game in majors or best day with Dodgers
None"
what pitcher gave you most trouble?" the question
naire persisted.
"All of them" Howard had written.
Patterson folded the paper and stuffed it into his
pocket "To read clear morning, he mumoied
"Wel, let's get on with the interview"
THE TIEUP BETWEEN the extravagantly potential
Howard and the veteran Gil Hodges is that Manager
Walter Aston repeatedly toying with the idea of trying
Howard at first base and switching Hodges to third base
Scuttlebut that Alston would ask Gil, amiable
giant himself to help Howard.
Due to adventure with of those notorious
towntrac gendarmes along Route 301 in Georgia. which
caused SIS of last World Series mooa to be forfeited
Hodges was tride late in reporting Thus he did not
have time to be cued As for Gls accomplishments all
pottn hod IN do tO he hook As
referee Aston sat next to Hodges during the interview
"Gil," somebody asked, chow many gloves did you
bring to camp?" This cunning reference was intended
to reveal whether Hodges had been informed that he
might need finger glove for the third base play.
"One" Gil said eyes twnklng In contrast to Howard
who had sweated through two big Turkish towels Hodges
relaxed.
go
HAD YOU BEEN told about possibly playing a
different poSition?" man asked
He just got here" Aston interjected with a
burst Of slyneSs
But you have played just about every position for
the Dodgers?" his interviewer asked.
"Al except pitch and shortstop," Gil said.
"But nothing has been said about moving to third
base and helping Howard irst?"
Like the Skipper said l Just got here GU grlnned
He had lesurey munched sandwich and peeling
a banana.
But what would be your reactionP"
81 like to play anywhere. I might not enjoy some
other position much first base, but want to play"
What do you think of Howard?"
small smile "Hes a big handsome young man of
much potential never him play irst base" His
subty witty diplomacy sitting next to the boss was
amusing.
HODGES, THE 14-YEAR veteran of the Dodgers may
not have enjoyed his greatest in SO Still it was
vast improvement over 1885, when the club first moved
from Brooklyn to the Los Angeles Coliseum built strictly
for football and track but monsrouy rugged for baseball
Gil pulled his weight in the stunning drive from
seventh place to the world championship. In fact as
Allan Roth reminded Hodges during the press conference
Gil today is only 65 short of the all time Dodger RBI
record set by Hall Of Famer Zack Wheat needs only
clouts to become the National Leagues all-tme
rghthanded home king The about be -deposed
king is Ralph Kiner
"NO, DIDN'T know those things" Gil admitted
"Wel, we'll see"
Aston, due for workout to leave a reporter
rechecked G story of having only glove in his locker
II figure" Gil replied dryy that If the club wanted
me to play another position it would buy glove"
"Just how many more years do you think you've got
left?" another query Gill; who will be "a in less than
a month, replied Three, not counting this season."
Aston silently left for the practice field The whole
issue of moving first baseman Of Hodges stature had
been deposited neatly into his lap.