Evening star., 1960-03-28
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW B, FRANCIS srApu
With Malice Toward None


into the batting for his practice cks and wild young
lefthander just missed mailing him on his unhelmeted
noggin with the first pitch stodly valo picked himself
up, busted of his pants and again assumed his stance
The rockies next pitch also decked him.
Maybe it isn't your day. Elmer" one of the other
Yankees observed.
The veteran grinned now the pitch was over the
plate. Elmer took big rifle and fouled it of-right
smack on his instep. The Yankees made wounded-dog
noises valo hobbed in pain Players do that with
nice guys with malice toward none.
81 knouU it isn't my day" Elmer groaned
On the bench Casey stengel sent a message:
Tell that fellow to the doc in the clubhouse and
60 home and rest"
minute later stenge mumbed, more to himself than
anybody within hearing range "He won't though. He'd
weed garden If he had down here do something
He's played, that fellow"
This is the highest praise indeed knghthood, coming
from Stengel"He's played" AS matter of fact, Valo
went to golf not to swing club himself but simply
to walk on the pongy Florida grass to exercise his bruised
instep ~
= BECAUSE so MANY of his Yankees are douby and
even tripy gifted Stengel plans to carry minimum
outelders His two big catchers-Yogi Berra Elston
Howard-can play the outfed. So Tony Kubek. New
ertheeSs Elmer Vao in the old folks category &c.
will stick with the club according to Caseys thinking this
day.
T got my centerielder mickey Mantle) and that
other fellow Hector Lopez knocked in 81 last year
and don't play the boy (Roger Mars) might get
papers from the front office" Stenge says. $50 got
to have pinch hitter and this fellow
(Valo) who's played Damn it, like professionals and
he's one"
Vao sturdy well-conditioned father of four and
the only big league ball player who born in Czech
oslovakia The birthplace Rbnk but he's listed out of
Palmerton, Pa. which sounds almost remote. With
these details stengel and Yankees unconcerned All
they want to know is whether Valo hit
He can at least he always has.
at pro ball when some of the Yankees shooting
bles-and the Yankees not precisely young club
Valo broke into organized ball with fredericksburg Nd in
1889 hitting 375, and then he played for life
time with the old Philadelphia Athletics There were two
years OF military service and then resumption of his
career which included terms with the Phies Dodgers
Seattle in the Pacific Coast League and the Indians
NOW Valo is with the Yankees. II think it must be
youth movement Elmer chucked he walked the deep
grass rugs of the Lakewood Country stimulate his
injured foot Last the Yankees Enos Slaughter
for this job. He 49, I'm only &c."
did you know" baseball writer asked that YOU
figure in Stengels plans for this season?"
mo, didn't Vao replied. I'm sure happy to hear
1t" On the other hand, Elmer didn't seem surprised
Either old pros of his type submey confident or they
have of staying The insists he has
no agreement
They could let out tomorrow" Elmer said although
with the quiet air of who thinks he could catch on
elsewhere.
VALo PUT IN pretty fair season. according to the
record DOOR, after he released outright by Kansas
CITY and signed by the Phies in 1856 He hit 2So in
sange league Then he was traded to the Dodgers and
in the gray flannel of Walter Oaley he spent the o57
and 1858 seasons in Brooklyn and Los Angeles
Last year he drifted to Seattle and was hitting 324
over 6O-game stretch when Cleveland acquired him
The old boy did pretty well for the Indians batting 292
as hitter and spot starter after the Tribes
DID Tor the pennant failed he made free agent
L don't blame Frank Lane" Elmer said referring to
CeVelands controversial general manager 'He had a
couple OF young oufelders coming up They couldn't be
sent back to the minors without risk losing them
some other club The natural to let go of an
old-timer."
How does fellow like you go about landing playing
Job in the big eagues?" asked your best
were long ago. This statement entirely accurate
II 1855 is counted full campaign Elmer hit 1854 for
Kansas City in. 112 games
"Oh, dunno" Valo replied. 1--WE played 1900
games in the majors and I've hardly had any real bad
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