Evening star., 1960-03-10
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW B, FRANCE, ,1Auu
The Joker in the Deal


TAMPA, FLA, MAR. 10.-Waly Noses the coach must
have swatted couple of hundred ground balls without
let-up to the big rookie first base When the ordeal
was ended the competitive fires of Gordon Coleman were
unbanked.
Il need it, Lordy, do need it," Gordon confessed as
ne tapped the water jug in the Cincinnati Redegs dugou
I'm no gazelle first base. I'm not an outfeder I'm
not a first baSeman and, for all know may not be
hitter.
But this club apparently is giving me full shot
at first base and I'm grateful"
This is the 6-foot-2 2l0-pound boy from Rockville
Md, whose name wasn't emphasized in the winter deal
which sent Cincinnati's star second baseman johnny
Temple to Cleveland in exchange for Cal McLsh the 49,
game pitcher Billy Martin and Coleman
THE INDIANS DIDN'T want to give up Coleman
brightest prospects in their chain The Pedegs wouldn't
yield Temple unless the big 25-year-old from Maryland
included
He brought bat" Manager Freddie Hutchinson
says succinctly Il don't know he pay-or where
ne can play-but he SwisheS that wood pretty good"
Hutch remembering Colemans 1859 record in the
Southern Association which he topped 1853 batting
average ITO runs batted n 80 homers 307 total
Coleman may be remembered in the Washington area
as star in baseball football track and basketball at
Richard Montgomery High in Rockville. He was an
all-State end in football.
If Coleman wins job this ball club" Earl
Lawson said "and if McLish Martin play up to their
potential this could one of the greatest deals the Red
legs ever swung. Lawson, veteran who
the Redegs is avowed admrer the departed Temple
But three against i. .. shuckS.
THE PITCHER WHO shall be called Calvin Coolidge
Julius Caesar Tuskahoma McLiSh probably because that
is his square handle is part Indian and part of the
Cleveland pitching staff that all but cut and ran in the
American League last year. He is accepted by the
Redegs as payment on Temple. so too is Martin who
used to be of the American Leagues highly rated
second baseman.
Coleman could be the joker in the deal That 1853
for Mobile last year valid recommendation Late
in the SO the Indians called him up and Gordy
played in six games hitting 533 Big league pitching
apparently didn't him.
Usually, don't hit anything but pop-ups in spring
training, Gordon saying the bench this day. "but
for some reason started to meet the ball pretty good
here Hit couple the wall real fast but I've got
to learn a lot of things.
"Moses, now he hitting grounders at me for
full hour, at least Yesterday 1t Reggie Otero,
of the other coaches. Tomorrow it will be somebody
else. But it's all right with me- long as 1 learn
something"
BILL WERBER, the insurance tycoon in Washington
who made the big league grade via Duke University
contacted young Coleman.
"Werber thought would be good idea to play under
Jack Coombs, who coach at Duke" explained
"Now that Mr., Coombs is gone, it's Ace Parker who's
coaching. Anyway, it football scholarship with
the stipulation that be allowed to play baseball too
Most schools don't let football player off in order
"And why did you leave Duke after one year?" Cole
asked.
ut WAS THIS WAY" the young replied. II kept
getting banged freshman playing against the varsity
every day. One day it would be sprained ankle. An
other day it would be swollen knee. said to myself
If I'm going to play baseball the hell with this football
So took the plunge quit it all for baseball.
"Cy Slapnicka, who discovered Bob Feller and Herb
Score signed to Cleveland contract This back
when most kids like willing to settle for $4,000
It's still all right with me
When the Redegs reported for spring training Chesty
Evans the clubhouse tossed Coleman the uniform
with "18" on the back and chest.
Il didn't think anything about it," Gordon says "but
later few photographers began to take pictures
when asked why, they said it because that was Ted
Kuszewskis old number and, furthermore, we'd both
played end in football and :"
And?
Well understand that Kluszewski wasn't too much
better around first base at my stage So maybe there's
hope"
4