Evening star., 1960-09-07
WIN, LOSE OR
DNAV By FRANCIS sTANN
The Other Side of Paul Richards


that of gaunt gray young gold who bites off word
chews it few times and spits it out offended by the
taste If this is partially accurate there must two Paul
RichardSes
The other Richards who was marking time here
before leading his amazing young Baltimore Orioles on
western swing that may decide the American League
nant, laughing when somebody brought up the
of Henry (zeke) Bonura.
"He here not long ago." the man related, "and
the first time he Griffith Stadium with those short
ened bleachers left field he screamed, 'Mgawd ida
hit go home runs in my day"
"zeke might have done it, too," Richards conceded
He got to Washington too soon. You know, there
only three ball players in my time would have paid
money to See just for themselves"
Any number of interesting combinations in
silent speculation Richards, during his National League
days. played with Carl Hubbel Mel OFT and Bill Terry
He's Ted Williams and Lefty Grove and Bob Feler
and Joe DMaggo not to mention Jimmy Foxx Babe Ruth
Lou Gehrig and others .-e<
"zEKE WAS oNE.s Richards said. Luke Appling was
the second can't remember the third one but will in
a moment" i
Richards chucked reminiscenty "Al three of those
fellows made me laugh They weren't clowns don't get
wrong In varying degrees they good ball players
Now remember the third fellow. He was Ernie
lombard He could catch and he could hit but he was
funny fellow, all the same. zeke well, he was in
class by himself"
IF you enjoyed Bonura," man n1urmured, "you
should have been here for the Old Timers game two
innings Zeke who wouldn't fit into your Office unless
all left started two double pays-rst to first
He singled, stole base after fashion, slid into Bill
Werber at third and scored Washingtons Only against
the old Yankees"
Tell me he caught pop foul" Paul said dreamily.
HE DID catch pop FOUL" the other said.
Nov know anything can happen" Richards sighed.
WHEN WAS CATCHING for Detroit" Paul mused,
Il don't remember zeke making ground ball
little to his right and he'd to the bag foul
pops he'd hustle like hell usually going the wrong way
Remember Jackie Hayes who lost his eyesight? Jackie
could catch pop flies like Nellie Fox today remember
hundred times when zeke would ka-ump off in any drec-
ton looking to the sky and ye Keep after it, Jacket
You can do it,! Sometimes Hayes would take pop off
Bonuras head zeke happened to be under the ball
by accident"
Well" the other said, "zeke nice guy. What
sweet temperament"
Yeah" Richards agreed "He was the jolly fat man.
Everybody poked fun at zeke But did you know he was
helluva f1ghter?"
"I Travelled with Zeke" writer said "and didn't
know could get mad enough fight The worst thing
him do introduce me to straight sauer-
kraut JUICE at breakfast"
"IN HIS DAY" Richards mildly corrected, "Bonura
probably could have licked any balplayer in the big
leagues 1t good thing he easygoing. or
twice he was leaned on by some guys and he took e OUT
"Appling ought to be in the Hall of Fame" it was
suggested HE certainly clown"
"As said" Richards reminded none was-Bonura
Lombardi or Apping. Baplayers got their kicks from
listening to Appng The way Luke put it, nsver felt
healthy day in his life Yet he lasted 81 years. and
the ousier he said he felt the he beat you.
when was catching, hated the guy because of the
way he could foul off pitches remember hot night
when Lefty Grove beating the White Sox in a late
inning he walked Appng purpose with nobody on base
Damn if he's gonna out, fouling them
pitches off, Lefty said Luke could you out too
remember was catching AL Benton and Applng
after the count got to 3and-2. foued off 81 straight
pitches!"
RICHARDS SHOOK HIS HEAD in admiration. "I
tired of squatting down and getting up as
that time LaterDeroit fighting Washington for
pennant in 45-and Tommy Bridges starting for
the Tigers against the White Sox. A big game
Il started to tell Tommy how Grove had handled
Appling.
Don't worry about Luke fouling tired, Bridges
said. We got agreement Let's just treat Apping like
any other hitter. huh?'
Il didn't ask any questions but reckon know
what they cooked Luke did foul off Bridges
and I'm sure that Tommy, who'd just as soon stick one
in your spit said, Luke, you don't foul off on me
and don't take off your head
I'm pretty sure Appling bought the package"