Evening star., 1960-09-27
WIN, LOSE OR
DNAV By FRANCIS sTANN
Who Is This Guy?


THE PROPOSITION WAS put to Harmon Kinebrew
this way: Here's guy who has played 152 of his teams
gamesa full you might sayand he has 155 hits
1872 RIBS 54 home and batting average of 291"
Klebrew whistled. I'D say that's pretty fantastic"
he said. who is this guy?"
you" was the answer.
It's gimmick job, to be sure. Thanks to Herb Heft
chief of the Senators publicity bureau Klebrews big
first half of 1859 and his showing in the last half of the
go season metcuously compiled.
Heft, who doing only his duty, reported the first
7S games of '59-through July sand the next IA this
season. after July Hence the total figure thrown the
unsuspectng Kllebrew who is "a years DID, trife bald
for his years. nice kid with muscles, and with tre
mendouS future.
"WHo is THIS guy?" Kiebrew had asked When he
discovered that it himself, who split into two
seasons he professed astonishment at the record.
How you hit well-and many homers-
in the first half of SO few until the late part of
'60?" he asked.
81 don't want to abi" Harmon said "The last part
of SO wasn't bad as it seemed don't think Because
of those home the pitchers weren't giving many
what mean
"And I pressing There's no question about it.
had 80 homers and wanted 40 got 40 and wanted 50
But the first half of this season?"
well people may think I'm abiding again. was hurt
and out of action for about six weeks, starting the first
week after the season opened"
THE YANKEES Ralph Houk widely billed as Casey
Stengels successor manager, talking about Ke-
brew last February at ST. Petersburg when he hits the
ball where it's thrown Houk said, "Eebrew will ride it
long way But think we've got book on the fellow
He won't do so we'll this season."
"A book on a hitter is all right" Harmon conceded
every club has so-calfed book every hitter The
question is, can the pitcher follow the book?
"Its fine to say that hitter can't handle certain
kind of pitch but what about the pitcher? All hitters
profit by mistakes by pitchers.
Anyway, who tell from week to the next what
hitter can do? If guy is tired and isn't meeting the fast
ball real good he's put down pasy for No. Give
him three four days of rest and he may kill the fast ball.
ACCORDING TO THE Washington clubs statistical
bureau Kebrew during the Senators first 78 games
year. had rs hits 10 RIBS, 28 hoers and average of
.27O the latter decepvely low figure This year. starting
July and going into the teams 74th game Harmon had
80 hits, 62 RIBS, 26 homerS and average of 312.
"The move from third base to first didn't bother me
at a Kiebrew said in reply to the inevitable question
I'm fact like the enjoy playing first base and
think I do better there.
Yeah put weight last winter. won't again, but
what put last time wasn't due to any banquet circuit
barnStormed|ts dead now, barnstorming-and 1 spent
three weeks in California during the filming that home
SERIES"
If Harmon were confirmed early bloomer-say that
he did we'll during the first halves of both of his major
league seasons-he would be of type Or he saved it
up for the last halves. But the Killer different in that
he heroic during first half and more or less heroic
during one second half.
ITS UNUSUAL" Manager Cookie Lavagetto admitted
when the matter referred to him. but that's not how
to judge ball player You've got to measure him for
full season.
Jim Lemon for instance He's been I'D for five wears
You know he's going to hit between 80 and 80 home runs
Tor you Jm's hit this year. but in the spring you
count on 30 to 49, It's the same with an infeder YOU
know heS going to make Is errors, give take couple
Kilebrew still in the stage of development and you
can't take pieces of two and say see what might
nave oeen! Personally, think Harmon is one heluva
hthlete II they'd had time few years ago. he'd have
catcher. nlov firStor
third and for money he and might play left field
"He-and Bob Allison and Earl Battey too-are grow
Ing up mentally as well physically You say that Har-
mon would nave driven in 1872 runs by piecng together
Wo best hafseaSons? think he's about due to drive in
l4O rups all in one teason"