Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-03-07
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW ,, FRANCE, s7Apu
He Asked for Thirty DAYS


Tigers, then searching for shortsop paid for
look at Maurice Morning Wills and regretfuly turned him
back. "He won't do the verdict. &c. after couple
of months with Spokane the Dodgers called up their ques
tonabe piece of property and Wills helped to spark Los
Angeles to the world championship.
This spring Maury native of Washington D. c. has
another fight his hands to stick despite his ateseason
heroicS for the Dodgers The ShoStops here not in
quality perhaps but in quantity, and somebody will have
to go. 1t could be Bob Lllis Don thinner Rookie
Bob ASpromonte or Wills.
Maury doesn't talk any than his manager, Walter
Aston but the staggeringly large California press corps Is
betting that Wills won't be the first Of the Dodger short
stops to be loose His teammates particularly the vet
Gil Hodges like his fight The coaches Maurys
side, too.
They like what the 27-year-od minor Lacquer said
last year when he reported in June.
AS THE STORY is told, Wills put it up to Aston in
approximately these words
Mister Aston. know I do the job for you But
I'll need real chance. may need little time"
How much time?" Stone Face asked.
I'D say 80 days" Maury answered. I'm not a big
hitter know it, But I'm learning bat both sides
OF the plate. I've only been trying it for year. That's
why I'm asking for a little time"
Aston gave him his chance He didn't have much
choice anyway Lllis had failed had thinner in pre-
vous trials Wills took and hit 143 in June Probably
another why he remained the shorstop that
he meeting the ball well, but hitting directly at
somebody.
In July the 5-foot-1O 157pound shortstop from Wash
ingtons Cardozo High School hit 222. Better, but not
good enough But he teamed up we'll with Charley Neal
at second base and the club winning.
WITH THE SEVENTH PLACE club of 1858 beginning
to smell pennant, Aston stuck with Wills and the kid
from Spokane batted 24 in August Then with the pres
sure everybody he roared through September with
345 average and ouplayed the hghyrated Luis Aparco
in the World Series.
Maury is by no means the big cog in the Los Angeles
club He may be the weakest But the Dodgers
repeat they'll have to find shortsop who can do the
ha
II think we've improved" Aston admits with charac-
eristic caution We'll have Wills the beginning and
Larry Sherry and Roger Craig too We didn't have them
at the start last year. All three kicking around
Spokane st. Paul
Most of ALL there's psychological factor We won last
year after finishing seventh That may make difference"
THE EBULLIENT Red Patterson expresses himself
naturally with greater boldness than Aston year."
Red said II took poll of veterans They felt could
finish third They fooled themselves This time they talk
of winning"
Patterson who beats the drums for the Dodgers had
just finished lining up the outelders in camp pose for
photographers. There 49, not counting Junior
Gillian who can play infeld or outheld
We've got troops" Red went "And seven top
pitchers-Drysdale Koufax, McDevtt Podres, Williams,
Sherry and Craig-are all young Shucks Craig is the
oldest at &c. Pitchers don't often get good until they're
about his age" Il +
HODGES INTRODUCED psychological note of his
when he asked if for Dodgers rise
because they conquered their phoba about playing in
the Los Angeles Coliseum with its rdcuousy close
in left field and it's great out spaces elsewhere
We'll yes" Gil admitted I'm still conscious of that
high netting back Of third base, but so much that
take eye off the pitches did in So" Two years ago.
when the old Brooklyn first moved to L. A. Hodges
Duke Snder especially, had horrendous years
Finally the Dodgers ex-coach land old manager),
Chuck Dresser has stirred up the club bit with line
LOS Angeles can't possibly repeat" DresSen you know
now is manager of the Milwaukee Braves
whats old Babbermouth talking about now?" Carl
Turilo demanded. "Never mind don't care much ANY,
way whatever he saws will help keen lis alive"