Evening star., 1960-08-11
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WIN, LosE.oR
DNAV BY FRANCIS sTANN
Horn of Plenty

THE THOUGHT OCCURS belatedly and happily. that
If the Senator's don't aou Of Of those long, pat
ened losing StreakS they stand to win games than
any Washington baseball club in eight maybe nine years
ASSuredy it would be modest attainment but, pre-
sumably would come under the heading of progress al
though Qets face W it is very weak American League
these days This why Cookie Lavagettos rag
tail troops who lost 10 in in 40 and lS straight last
season. may not have string Of such absurd proportions
in their systems 20
The fact that Cookies have we'll as they
have at this stage calls mind the spontaneous appraisal
Of MIR. Jimmy Cannon the noted New York wordsinger
when he first upon the Senators in Florida last
ter. MY God Cannon uttered "theSe guys unbeev-
able No club be so bad. Washington won't win so
games!"
In all fairness to Mr.. Cannon he watered down his
statement few days later I've Just seen the Phes he
reported, sheepishly and they worse"
ACTUALLY ONLY ONE washington club in modern
times has few so games nong 104l and that,
ironically, the 949 whose members stood in
barrassment the steps of the District Building and lis
tened to sundry politicians and civic weWishers talk
pennant. BE. = -
Joe Kuel had given stewardship of the Senators
In 194Sby the late Clark Griffith believer in hiring faith
full employees who had served him we'll the playing field
But patient and loyal he with Kuhe the Old Fox
was mortified by the clubs laspace status in 49, the
ond cellar finish of Grffs long association with the
Senators.
Kuhel the had to do better in 4s or else He won the
first game of the and then it wasn't until the ninth
start before his club another Yet the first
Western swing the Senators unaccountaby reeed off nine
victories in In those days Arch Mcdonald the
voice of the Senators few words by Arch and
normally responsible citizens dropped everything to plan
welcome.
The players knew it of those things Therefore.
they were embarrassed the morning of May to get
of the seepers and find thousands of fans waiting at
Union Station with banners and cheers
WE'LL WIN PLENTY With Sam Dente," proclaimed a
home made sign. Drink Toast With Eddie Yost" Wen
Make Merry With Our Boy Sherry" We'll Win the Pen
nan read others The players climbed into gold plated
Cadillacs for triumphal parade
Manager Kuhel received Key to the city, inspiring
skeptic to remark First time pennant was in
May" few months later Kuhel got pink slip from
Griffith. '..' .'
But the most abect Washington club in history must
have been the 1904 outfit that SO games and lost 49,
Most Of not the scene fortunately to
ber this crew frshand but history relates that it
horrendous club The manager p ]. Patsy Donovan
who fooshy escaped from the ST. Louis Cardinals
to take the job For only that season. it might
added. - :
Patsy arrived after the had started and
the Senators already in foul shape They'd been
out IN three OF their first four games they didn't win until
their 18th start The vice president William Dwyer quit
town May H. The team only 10 of its first IS games
Naturally the Senators finished last.
AT THE RISK of hexing nice guy there's salute in
their heads and wonder how he does we'll with what
he's got The Senators can't bear close scrutiny Once past
Camo Pascual and Pedro Ramos the pitching frghten-
ingly thin the big htters sreaky and the defense
mediocre There more Tripe-A and Double-A players
than major leaguers on the roster. t.'.
The front Office speaks glowingy of the prospects
the farm clubs but the young whz kids aren't ready
least they aren't hand to help Cookie But with
little bit of luck Lavageto stands to win IS games
haps and that would be than any Washington
since the fifth place Senators Of $685. who 76
7s, respectively. !.
In this town small athletic blessings counted
haps the height of optimism pennant being out of the
question: would be rst-divson finish something that
hasn't happened in IA years If accomplished it might
entail beating out the Cleveland Indians, operated by
Frank Lane
Cal Griffith would like that very much Like old Grif
he never thought general manager with fancy salary
was necessary, anyway. 'efi
IAAANe chOhTc an hAALA EM