Evening star., 1960-10-06
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW ,, FRANCIS s1Apu
Virdon Made the Bio Play

PITTSBURGH, Oct 6-In the fourth inning there
Yankees bases and Yogi Berra who had looked
like the poor no-throw catcher he back in 1947
hit ball of such heroic dimensions that it seemed if
the Pittsburgh oueders might spend of the after
running it down.
Instead, Centerfelder Bill Virdon and Rightfeder
Roberto Cemente both under it, backed up against
distant fence like two postage stamps stuck together
and Virdon Snagged it, If Vrdon hadn't made the actual
catch Clemente would have. Vernon Law the Mormon
preacher got out of the inning-Bl Skowron followed
with a single-with only
That was the key play" Danny Murtaugh was saying
in his Pittsburgh dressing after the Pirates GA vic
tory which opened the World Series THE next crisis
guess in the eighth inning when Roy Face did the
job"
THE YANKEES WERE trailing both times-3-1 when
Vrdon made his mplausibe catch and 60 when the next
situation up. Hector Lopez had opened the eighth
with single and when Roger Maris followed suit-hS
third hit of the day-that was all for Law In from the
bull pen little Face 5-foo-S, l55-pounder who
throws like bullet and whose best PITCH perhaps, is
forkbal.
Faces first opponent Mickey Mantle who looked
third strike decsivey acceptable that he resgnedy
walked away Then Berra flying softly to right and
Skowron who went down swinging at one OF Faces fast
balls like trying to swat very active ny with
knitting needle
In the ninth inning the Yankees began to get to Face
a little bit-scoring two runs pinch-htter Elston
Howards homer with Bobby Richardson aboard-out Roy
finally ended with double play ball and the PrateS
IN
Yankees, the 1860 opener
THE TWO MANAGERS, GRIzzLED 7O-year-od Casey
stenge and the back-bearded Murtaugh were gathered
in a common meeting after it was over. Casey
seemed grumpy, the manner of loser.
my first pitcher didn't have his CONTROL" Casey NUT
tered referring Art Dmar the first of four New York
pitchers and the loser Usually he's got It, but he ddnt
it and there games coming up ana my
catcher throw better"
body you name, had tough time, especially in the
first inning Thanks to Maris home clout the Yankees
were leading 10 when the Bucs, showing awe what
soever of the American League champions and their
tormentors of 80 years ago, got precocous
Vrdon who led off by getting on base on walk, took
off second BerraS throw practically reached Mantle
on hop Virdon went all the way to third on
the error which originally charged to Yogi but later
changed to Shortstop Tony Kubek for failure to
the Bag.
ACTUALLY KUBEK AND BOBBY Richardson the
Yankee second baseman, weren't close to the bag
Well, not any closer than Berras throw. Somebody
nearly everybody-goofed
Dick Groa-and Washington should have some
shortstops with broken doubled Virdon the
plate in this three-run first inning
But then Bob Skinner singled and stole, either on
Dmar Berra whose throw again high The Pirates
making the Yankees look little silly at this stage
In Murtaughs office after the game the Irshman, who
won't be 43 until Saturday admitted that his club had
talked running the Yankees But don't tell Virdon
when to rum and don't tell Clemente, Danny said LAS
for Skinner in that first inning he took off on his own
usually my guys when they feel as If they're
getting jump"
IF THERE WAS ANY SIGN of Stress avoiding the use
of the word panic" it the part of the Yankees
Cles Boyer who listed the New York third base
man. was out World Series before he had chance
to come to plate With the Bucs ahead 3d. after
inning senge sent up veteran National Lacquer, Dale
Long, to hit in Boyer'S place.
Murtaugh after the game, admitted that he had a
substitution problem his in the ninth inning when
the Yankees giving Face hard time They had two
on base and Lopez at bat
Lets suppose that Lopez had reached base" some
body said later That would have brought up Mars the
ehanded hitter Would you have taken out Face and put
in Fred Green, guy who throws lefthanded and had
pitched practically full game in the bull pen?"
Danny shrugged leisurey, winners can. Il might
and might not. After ALL Face gets lot of money for
putting down rallies by himself"