Evening star., 1960-04-08
Mincher Debut
Puts Senators
On Cloud 9
Gardner, Bottey
Also Put Domper
On Trade Critics
BY BURTON HAWKINS
Star STAFF Writer

| MuSCular LON Mlncner, son
of a welder at the Redstone
Arsenal, looks like he may give
the Senators a missile program.
For the moment, at least, he's
OF the launching pad far more
smoothly than anybody antici-
pated.
Mincher slugged two home
runs and single and batted
in five runs yesterday as the
Senators clobbered Kansa IS
City, 1915, with their three new
performers behaving beauti-
fully.
The severe criticism that de-
scended on Cal Grifith's head
when he traded popular Roy
Sievers for Mincher and Cat
cher Earl Battey was stifled
momentarily by Don's dramatic
debut as a Senator.
There may be a rude awak-
ening later, but right now the
Senators are floating on Cloud
9, with a do Not Disturb" sign
displayed prominently.
Electric Effect
Mincher, a 21-year-old, left
handed hitting first basemen
cracked a two-run homer off
John Tsitouris in the first in
ming as the Senators splurged
for six runs. He singled in the
second inning, then in the
eighth rammed a long three
run homer over the right
centerfield fence off Bob Trow-
bridge.
The effect of having Mincher,
Second Baseman Billy Gardner
and Battey in the Senator's
lineup was electric. 1t was a
new club, with some class. 1t
was menacing on attack, vastly
improved defensively and for
a day it was simply delightful.
How the revamped Senators
will wear over the demanding
154 = game schedule starting
April 18 remains to be de-
termined, but at least there is
hope that they can be sur
prising.
Much of that hope is CEN
tered on Gardner, who was
advertised as being able to
make a double play and who
won't be Investigated by the
Better Business Bureau off
yesterdays skillful job.
Gardner Sparkles
Gardner had two double-play
opportunities and he figured in
two double plays. His manner
of making them, though, was
eye-popping. In the second
inning, with Hank Foiles on
first base, TsitouriS grounded
to Gardner's left. The sure
handed Billy's quick, accurate
throw to Shortstop Billy Con-
solo made the DIP routine.
In the ninth inning, with Bill
Tuttle on first base, FoileS
grounded to Console, who bob
bled the ball. then f1oated a
soft toss over to Gardner.
Seemingly there was no chance
for a double play, but Gardner
got rid of the ball with skill
unseen in Washington in years.
Another DIP materialized.
Gardner was something to
watch. In the seventh inning
he whisked far to his left,
grabbed Russ Snyder's ground
er and whipped out the fleet
runner. In the eighth he hand
led three chances-one routine,
one a wicked hopper, another
to his left. When he trotted
into the dugout the sparse
gathering gave him a big hand.
Battey Takes Charge
Battey drove in a run with a
sharp single in the big first
inning, but his strong point is
his catching. The difference be-
tween what the Senators had
and what they now have is as
sharp a contrast as pink
lemonade and bourbon.
Battey isn't bashful with
pitchers. When they're tipping
their pitches, he's there to tell
them about it. He's spry behind
the plate, with a strong arm
that deterS runners. He takes
command of a game, and his
confidence appears dynamic on
a club accustomed to losing. =
This was a one-day effort.
Such brilliance from Gardner,
Minchner and Battey naturally
See SENATOR'S, Page ca