Evening star., 1960-01-13
WIN, LOSE OR
DNAV By FRANCIS STANN
Toward the Normal Life

NOW THAT RICHIE ASHBURN longer is Phillie,
but member Of the Cubs, he presumably will lead
normal life At Wrgey Field there lights hence
night games man can sit down with his family at supper
time once in q while.
But Ashburns station much better than he had
been traded to Washington II you remember the 32year
old Nebraskan put the blast the Senators pretty good
not so long ago, when 1t looked as II Cal Grfith might
acquire him in one Of those inter-eague deals.
I'm lucky guy" Ashburn quoted in effect after
negotiations failed. Imagine playing in Washington"
With the Cubs he's going to get piece of World Series
money?
Even before read that report wasn't too sorry
missed out Ashburn" Cal saying today "Shucks
he'll be 33-book agebefore the starts had scout
reports the fellow Miami couple of weeks ago. and
they indicated he the hill With that, plus his
attitude, I'm not sorry"
AsHBURN WAS UP for trade when he closed out the
1859 in the National League with 1855 average
This would not be bad for guy with 12-year
major league average Of nearly .3l4. Excep-Ashburn
doesn't drive in any He has be average guy
fellow like Harmon Kebrew may not hit 266,
but he'll knock at least four times many
Ashburn whose SO total 90 "Of course you've
got to figure that AShburn iS-or waSthe get-on-base
type The other guys supposed to bring him home,
Griffith comedies.
Even so, I'm sure Ashburn would have been our
answer-or part of answer-ths year I'm saying
this because failed to get him I'll be frank about it.
Imade pitch Actually Bob Carpenter the Phes owner,
pressed the matter But was willing to deal for Ashburn
We need centerfelder. Give good one, plus
second baseman, and we'll be rough"
GALS VERSION IS that during the Miami meeting of
the major leagues, Carpenter asked him Ashburn fitted
into the formal of the 1860 Senators.
II told Carpenter he did ht but only up to a certain
point Carpenter wanted Jim Lemon and Zolo Versailles in
exchange for Ashburn thought the price too high
In the first place my information is that Ashburn has lost
couple of steps He did throw any base runners
and hear his arm is going back, too
II wouldn't have traded Lemon for Ashburn up.
shortsop know that everybody claims he can't knock OF
your hat but he makes the plays If get
who do the same job defense you'll Pascua
and Ramos and other pitchers win lot games"
AN ODDITY IN connection with Gals praise Of
Versailles is that Zoo isn't playing regularly in the
Cuban Winter League. "Its the darndest thing" Cal
admits "but Jose Vadivieso the cub-Mariano
and he's hitting like he did for ValdyS got
Versailles part-time duty he's doing good That's
for the book-Valdivielso hitting well that Versailles
can't play"
Returning to the centereld situation Calvin merely
hopeful I'm ball park shaped like ours, he says you've
got to have that real good iycatcher There's just
much out there too young to remember Clyde
Milan well but Unk (the late Clark Griffith raved
about him.
THE solid centerfelder remember Sammy
West. We had few others Stan Spence four
five seasons Jim Busby very good for year. The
others Abie Pearson, Bob Allison" Cal shrugged
THE BEEF AGAINST Pearson that he too
shortlegged. The complaint against Allison is that he
doesn't get the good Jump the ball.
Maybe the best centerheld I've played in Grifth
Stadium by Mel Almada the Mexican" Cal says.
Man. he could field and could throw! The only trouble
was that everything seemed to stop right there"
Cal has several candidates for centereld in 6O There
is Allison and Dan Dobbek and-here Griffith had to search
for whilea Charlotte recruit named Hlario Vadespino
THE greateSt-absoutey the greatest when it to
fly ball.
"only trouble is that he can't hit" Cal signed of,
ruefully. "Bu wouldn't have any way of knowing If
Ashburn could have hit, either"