Evening star., 1960-03-22
WIN, LOSE OR
GNAV By FRANCIS sTANN
Blue Plate Special


SARASOTA, FLA, MAR 22.-Joe Paparela, the Amer
can League umpire wearing cves when he beckoned
to Second Baseman Nelson Fox of the White Sox to
meet him on the SidelineS during workout This year"
Paparea warned Fox you've got to stay in the batters
box. None Of this foot-over line business"
Why you picking me?" Nellie asked "I1l
admit stand back little bit but " -
You're the worst offender this club" the umpire
retorted. you scratch out the chalk mark E. :"
only so you guys can't be where it was" Fox
answered his Most Valuable Player eyes lighting up
mschievoulSy.
Look at it this way, Nellie" Paparela persisted
millions of kids Little Leaguers Babe Ruth Leaguers
American Legion boys watch you TV. They're told
the batters box where they stay. on they
you standing way back We've got instructions this
year to crack down on you."
"Just me?" Nellie asked
mo, another umpire is going to read the riot act to
Harvey Kuenn. And another to Ted Williams"
WELL just kind of keep one foot on the line"
Fox began 49,.
1T doesn't make any difference You get foot over
that line and hit ball that wins game, even and
I'll call you out" Paparella threatened Those are the
instructions"
AS the umpire finished his. lecture one of the sox
on the bench shifted "Thatu be the day when Foxie or
Kuenn or Williams is called out for breaking up ball
game That rule will be like the demanding that
pitchers to complete STOP It's in the rules but
who's going to enforce it?"
STAN MUsIAL MAY may not be washed up done
and kaput at the age of &c. but The Man insists that no
matter how poorly he may perform this year he quit
in mid-season.
Niusia, who batted only 255 last year. was talking
on the ST. Louis Cardinals bench 81 don't ever want to
be burden on the ball club" he said, but / won't
retire without finishing out complete season."
Musial blames himself for his dolorous average in
1859. Il didn't work hard enough" Stan keeps saying
This time I'll be ready I'll know by October that
I'm through"
Even If The Man is finished as a star by the end
Of this season. there is some doubt as to whether he's
finished with the Cardinal organization The word is out
that when Stan hangs his spiked shoes he into
the front oce-not the managerial ob-as full -hedged
tycoon Only Gussie Busch, perhaps, would be able to
overrule him.
THE SKIES WE'RE DARK and torrental rains were
only minutes away. Dizzy Trout, all 300 pounds of him.
was pitching batting practice just for fun For all of his
weight and his age, Dz was throwing pretty good
wouldn't it be great for you" bystander asked
Manager AL Lopez of the White sox "f Trout were IS
or 20 years younger and throwing at htters on gray
day like this one?"
There's funny thing" replied Lopez who caught
nearly 1000 major league games during his career and
handled some of the best pitchers Dazzy Vance threw
harder than Trout did, yet all of his whit
games and strikeout records made on bright sun
shiny days We got talking about day and Dazzy
said, It's better when it's bright. always asked for
new ball when a tough hitter was at bat wouldn't do
I'd just throw it, In the bright sum- all white it looked
like streak"
How would Vance and Walter johnson have done
under the lghts?" Lopez asked
Al shrugged II doubt if anybody could hit them when
they were real sharp, night day. know couldn't"
Solly HemuS, manager of the Cardinals, was talking
enthusiastically about Joe Cunningham who can plav
nSt oase or the ouhed and who suddenly to have
arrived as National League star. Joe must be the
Oest leaooH man in the league" Solly mused.
BOD Broegg, who is president of the Baseball Writers
Association of America and figure lbert WELL inter-
rupCeo. You want to know how good Cunningham was
last year, Solly? He got on base, eadof man. As
per cent Of the time"
soy nodded solemny in difference to Brother Broeggs
statistics, which weren't complete
Back in 1929" Bob pressured Babe Ruth got on
oaSe "a per cent of the time the record was set by
Ted Williams in 1949 He got on base 55 per cent of
the time"
think" Hemus drawled, we'll probably keep
Cunningham" r