Evening star., 1960-03-02
WIN, LOSE OR
"AV By FRANCIS STANN
Paul Richards in Person

MIAMI, MAR Paul Richards who can drop a
bombsheA defty the next baseball manager tossed
by way of opening the Baltimore Orioles spring
training season The laconic Texan who first fame
in the majors manager of the White Sox his
club to make point
with all due respect to the Sox" Richards said "if
they could win the pennan last year. Baltimore can do
it this season
Z I'm not saying we're going to win" WaxahacheS
gift to baseball qualified but repeat that club like
the White Sox can do it. SO could we" ~
Several visitors to Richards dugout wanted TO
If he felt the sox freak champions. NO" Paul
drawled "but they got by with weak spots.
This is strange business Last year defense fell
apart had to pull the infeld apart Take first base
Bob Boyd all right in 49, Last season he only
money to catch perfect throw"
LAST YEAR BOYD led the American League in most
for first baseman Q5 and Billy Gardner led the
second basemen 18) Willie Tasby, the centerheder
with II boots and TrandoS the catcher set
dubious record with % passed balls and 13
You don't count Triandos record" Richards said.
Those passed balls and some of the errors were
account of Hoyt Wilhelm. HelS bells, Gus is good
catcher If you've got pitcher with fine knucker you've
got to call for his No and take the consequences"
Richards ought to know Years ago. when Paul
catching and managing the Atlanta Crackers he had
caSo pitcher named Dutch Leonard who had failed with
the Brooklyn Dodgers AS the story told Dutch dis
closed that of the Dodger cachers wanted call
for his knucker Richards is supposed to have sad You
throw it at me don't guarantee to catch it, but I'll
at it."
PAUL WAS ASKED to support this legend, and he did.
II told Dutch that I'd signal for his knucker every time
he in spot He'll had passed balls too but what's
worse passed ball triple that beats you out of
ball game?"
Richards accepted an invitation to compare Leonard
with his present relief ace, Wilhelm who at SO reeled of
nine consecutive victories last year visitor led up the
subject by remembering that, except for the immortal
Walter johnson, pitcher more games for
Washington than Leonard, a $500 draft choice.
We'll, Dutch had more variety, least when
caught him. Leonard could keep hitter honest with
fast ball. And he had His meal ticket of course,
the knucker.
Wilhelm doesn't have anything else except his
knucker. If he can't control it, he's dead Fortunately
gets it most of the time On cloudy damp days and
nights he's terrific That knucker lot of things in
that atmosphere. 1t beats the hell of Trandos but
it also got Wilhelm nohitter against the Yankees"
FOR ALL THE TALK of the aging Wilhelm it's the
Orioles young blood that Richards is counting Balt
could have the youngest Big Four in the majors
what with Milt Pappas Jerry Walker Jack Fisher and
Rookie Chuck Estrada. Each is 81.
Estrada who has not yet been fully checked out by
Richards, had 146 record and 2S5 ERA last season
at Vancouver I'm told he PITCH" Paul drawled
he gets the ball the plate guess he On the
whole, I'm going to go with many kids I think
have chance. That includes Ronnie Hansen who'll be
my opening day shortstop I'm starting with Brooks
Robinson at third base I'd rather have him than
Harmon Kiebrew. Jackie Brandt he's definite in
centerfeld" %&
IN ORDER TO ACQUIRE Brandt the Orioles had to
give up pair of pretty good pitchers Billy ODel and
Billy Loes For the Giants last year Brandt played in the
shadow of Willie Mays among Others but he still hit
27O over 116-game stretch.
Richards was asked If he felt he had gone rather
high on Brandt, giving up the likes of ODel and Loes.
I've never laid eyes on the young man." the Texan
said, but had about IS scouts who followed him all
last season and they said Brandt could do the job"
This singularly young-old man who bites of his
words wound up:
Those scouts better be right"