Evening star., 1960-07-28
THE BASEBALL
BEAT
Honey Makes Comparisons
BY BURTON HAWKINS

FRED HANEY, WHO MANAGED the Pirates at their
worst and the Braves their best visitor the village
The pleasant fellow promised his grandson trip
present Tor graduation from grammar school, and they're
here getting acquainted with history
Now g. Haney can relax for the first time in years
He's still working eaming with Lindsay Nelson in
telecaStng major league games for NBC Saturdays and
sundays But those five off days unaccuStomed vaca-
tlonS from the miseries of managing
Its wonderful" Haney said There isn't the con-
tnua worry the constant pressure that's part of
ing While Fred no longer is immersed in the game
an interested observer who can't with of the
Braves. The other day when Milwaukee nudged its nose
into first place Manager Charley Dresser and Pitcher
warren SPAIN among Others declaring the only club
they had to beat was Los Angeles
j I'D GO ALONG WITH THEM if they include Pitts
ourgh Haney laughed After ALL in the past 30 days or
so te Pirates two top pitchers have been kayoed some
thing like 16 times but the club still hanging in there
The Pirates have a fine defense and any team that
wins the pennant will have Pittsburgh to beat The Braves
Dodgers and Pirates evenly matched The winner will
be club that gets the breaks and the that avoids
injuries to key players
I'm the American League it looks as if it's the White
sox They've added power since last season and their
ptchng seems to be coming along The Yankees have
terrific power. but they need pitching
AS lar as comparing the leagues we'll the strength
uc'uaIeS I've never seen so many good hardthrowing
young pitchers as are in the American League right
On the other hand the National League has more power
ana stronger, more experienced relief pitching"
HANEY PLAYED IN THE MAJORS with the Tigers
Feo Sox Cubs and Cardinals He managed years in the
MINORS III more in the majors and the best player he
saw was Iy Cobb He head and shoulders above the
otherS Fred said, and say that even though saw
him in the twilight of his career
You can't compare players of those days with the
present crop, though Haney continued The type of
play is different
years ago everybody went to the family doctor Now
you 90 10 general practitioner who may you to
olagnoSuclan who may send you heart specialist or
surgeon Baseball too has changed and not necessarily
for the worse.
Baseball can afford the specialist now In the old
oaVS the player limit 10 10 players Now clubs can
carry 20 players which leaves room for the
the speedy runner, or the fellow who can help team
oelenSlVey put maybe not with his hitting
THE GOOD PLAYERS ALWAYS have been the four
way players Fred said "ThoSe the fellows who can
rum ht' throw and field. You can find lot of threes
ouG Cne Tours stand out. Just ohand the fours can
IhlnK OF include Mickey Mantle Willie Mays Vada Pinson
and Roger Maris. They can do it all
Inc senator's seem to have the nucleus of a good
Cedm ike PaScual and Ramos particularly If the club
comes up with the one two solid players it needs it
couo De tough for the future Cookie has done whale
OF oo with that team He's had the boys scrapping all
the way" NPe "
nancy seems content to view the baseball scene in his
SenhoeCached position. The thrills are missing perhans
Out sleep is uninterrupted the food tastes good re-
gardless who wins.