Evening star., 1960-03-16
WIN, LOSE OR
NNAV By FRANCIS STANN
Old Folks at Home

SARASOTA MAR 16.-Mike Garcia the Big Bear
was pitching batting practice and Ted Kluszewski
batting Behind the Early Wynn and Gerry Staley
were fielding in pepper game with Jim Rivera hitting
70 them Warming up to relieve Garcia Dizzy Trout.
What you running here an old folks home?"
gagman asked Al Lopez, the White Sox manager. My
father used to take by the hand these guys play
Lopez accepted the needing with a grin. They're
my boys he said Not Dr. of course" noddng to Trout
a mountain Of flesh who retired years ago. He Just
helps out"
mo wonder" the other said "a couple of club exec
utives I've don't think the White sox going to
win the pennant again."
Again Lopez smiled Il know one Of the executives"
he said Frank Lane He told that we'd finish fourth
And did you have appropriate reply?"
well, just said that hoped his Cleveland club
would finish second. Because know I beat your
team tod him"
ON A MORE SERIOUS note Lopez rated the Indians
as the team to beat They're good doubt about it, AL
admitted. The only the pennant last
year that beat Cleveland Is out of % games.
Otherwise, they had better record than did"
Some people think that Lane is going to regret
having traded Cal McLsh another bystander commented
referring to the 19-game winner who swapped to
Cincinnati for Second Baseman Johnny Temple.
He might" Lopez replied "After all, McIish had
1912 record against the Yankees and U.S. He beat New
York six out Of and he beat four out of ve
But you really like your chances, with all the
old fOlks?"
f "I do" Lopez answered. Some aren't so old, Wynn
is4O. but he the pennant for with 22l0 record.
Who else won % games?"
& GARCIA HAD FINISHED his stint of pitching to the
hitters and walked of the mound with his old familiar
gait like trained bear his hind legs Mike made
free agent by Cleveland during the winter after 1pluS
with the Indians and asked for trial with the
White sox.
rs Garcia getting chance out of sentiment?" asked
an interviewer remembering that Mike won 70 games
"a for uAep a The IOdia
= mo, he's got good chance to stick" Lopez said.
His is still pretty good. We call him 312-Finger
Garcia now ever since his accident last fall AS matter
Of fact Mike says he throws better curve ball now.
Tell about the accident" somebody asked
= mike working the engine of his car when
guy with him accidentally stepped the starter The
fan clipped off the tip of Mixes forenger his pitching
hand He rushed to the DOCTOR who asked him, Where's
the rest of the finger?
Mike said I guess it's still under the hood the
garage floor
"Then go get it, the doctor told him. Mike went
home found tip and darned if the doctor didn't put
it back on. like replacing the tip on a pool cue"
THE AMERICAN LEAGUE champions must be one of
the oldest teams-winnng teams at leastn many years
Wynn is the graybeard but saley is 49, Rivera 81
Garcia Minnie Mnoso and Earl Torgeson 36 each,
Kuszewsk Sherm Lollar and Turk Lown 35, Suitcase
Simpson and Billy Goodman are "a, Ray Moore is 49,
and Dick Donovan Nellie Fox Chico Carrasque Al Smith
and Billy Pierce are 32
"I still think we're better than year ago." Lopez
said when some of these ages mentioned. Last
spring we didn't have Gene Freese to play third base
We didn't have KIuszewski and didn't have Mnoso
We've added some punch, to my way of thinking
Maybe we'll win a few games by two runs than
by one run We picked up a little speed with Freese
and Mnoso Freese can hit, and throw from what
I've SEEN"
THE tip is out that Freese is butcher of sorts at
third base" correspondent said.
"I wouldn't say So" Lopez protested "Of course,
haven't seen him in regular games We've worked with
Gene little he may have been taking his eye of
the ball split-second But you've got to re-
member this about Freese-he played utility for the
Pirates Cardinals Phillies He wasn't even regular
for the Philes last year until he'd hit five pnch-hit
home
Then he got his chance and he replaced Willie Jones'
He hit % home runs in 400 times at bat which heluva
record. I'm satisfied to have him"