Evening star., 1960-03-04
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW ;, FRANCE, ,1Aup
McLish Didn't Come Back

WEST PALM BEACH, FLA, MAR 4-For frst-year
manager, Bob Elliott OF the Kansas City Athletics is
fortnight conversaionalist He is Chuck Dressen
but neither is he Walter Aston Joe Mccarthy He
gives the impression too that he crack down on the
athletes who don't put out.
"Mr Parke Carroll general manager of the AS
showed list of injuries and scknesses from last
season. Elliott volunteered in his dressing room
amazed. No wonder the club finished low. think the
list showed that our players lost 30Oodd playing
days last year.
That's hard to believe, matter how much tough
luck you have with injuries can't help but wonder
of those fellows who laid really play
ball Well We'll find out"
One of the casualties of 1852 in more ways than one
was the nice-guy manager Harry Craft.
THE ATHLETICS COULD score, but they had the
worst defense in the American League The inevitable
Illustration, plus the injuries and illnesses caught up
with Craft who taken off to hospital for period
Of time.
Bob Swift his pitching coach (now with the Senator's,
took manager during Crafts absence. Ironically
the Athletics went an 1l-game winning streak and
achieved 500 pace and third place early in August, But
returned the temporary skills gone The
club only of its last 20 games
"I liked Craft and thought he good manager"
Carroll sad "but the fans forced him out Public opinion
built up against him when the team collapsed after
putting that hot hand during his absence"
Meanwhile, Elliott had built up a reputation in the
Pacific Coast League. When Owner Arnold johnson and
Carroll beckoned, the 44yearold ex-Natonal League
third baseman arunning For brief period this
winter Elliott thought his cup would run over.
"It looked like the Pittsburgh Pirates had agreed
q deal for Roger Maris, Joe DeMaeSr and Hal Smith,,
Bob disclosed I'VE to get Dick Groat, Bill Vrdon,
Ronne Kline and believe, another outhelder. At the
last minute the deal Off"
"GROAT WOULD HAVE set us up at shortstop"
Elliott muSed Jerry Lumpe then would have moved to
second base, definitely Virdon is good outfelder
and Kline is a solid pitcher.
With San Diego Elliott had fourth-place club at
little help from the parent club we could have done
better" Bob said
And the parent cub was?
"The Milwaukee Braves We had working agree
ment with them, but they didn't send player
all year"
Elliott hasn't always been favored by big league clubs
with which his Coast League teams have been affiliated
When talk shifted the 1959-60 trades to date Elliott
withheld judgment the Cal McLish-Billy Martin
Johnny Temple deal between Cleveland and Cincinnati
THE INDIANS MAY HAVE strengthened their infeld
with Temple but we'll have to If they'll miss McLish
After ALL there aren't many 19-game winners
II had McLish the Coast back in 1855, think it
we'll He IA and the boss asked if I would like
to have McLish.
"Sure, would told him.
"'We can buy hm-or Cleveland will buy him for
us-for $750G' he said.
so we landed McLish and he terrific He finished
the with II wins Then because Cal had one
more month to spend with major league team to be-
eligible for the ive-year pension plan, Cleveland
called him up.
I'VE were supposed to get him back, but that's the
last of him"