Evening star., 1960-04-05
THE BASEBALL
BEAT
A Citation to Gals Courage
BY BURTON HAWKINS

. WEST PALM BEACH, APRIL 5.-'If had been
reporter SportScaSer at Saturdays game wouldn't
have known how to write talk about game with the
Dodgers without really pouring u.s., said President
Cal Griffith of the Senators 81 felt ashamed to be
associated with such performance"
That game in which the Senator's committed only
for boxscore purposes but numerous others
detachable to anybody family familiar with the sport
the trigger which propelled Griffith toward telephone
. to revamp his club
The deal which brings Second Baseman Billy Gardner
to the Washington club can't be criticized for the Senators
aren't likely to miss either Clint Courtney Ron Sanford
In Gardner they have acquired batter of small talent
but who make double play, vital necessity
. they've been lacking
I. "I think Gardner is fine second baseman" said
Parke Carroll, general Of the Kansas City Ah-
letcs. He'll stabilize ined and, while he won't hit
for much average he's going to pop home runs
into those leftheld seats in Washington"
:
TO A MAN THE SENATORS regret the departure Of
personable Roy Sievers This trade which Griffith
realized would be unpopular with Washington fans with
most Of his players and perhaps with the press It's
citation to Calls courage that he made the deal in full
awarenesS of such opposition.
There is evidence Manager Cookie Lavagetto felt
the should obtained than Catcher Earl
Battey First Don Mncher and $15O0OO Cookies
attitude toward the trade when Cal took him to dinner
here Sunday night seemed to be expressed by the name
of the restaurant in which they dined-Ta-Boo'
But about hours later, perhaps employing the pre-
negatives of boss Cal convinced Cookie that the transac-
ton had merit A phone call placed to Bill VeecK
in Chicago and the deal was sealed
For the moment it could have been Battey-and-caSh
trade for Sievers Mncher may not be ready for the
majors this year. according to Coach Walker Cooper of
the Athletics who has Don perform in the minors
Cooper Mncher plays first base with two left feet
but he likes the way Don swings bat and rates him an
excellent bet for the future.
cash ACQUIRED IN trade fails to excite the Gus
toners For Washington FANS hen the deal could simmer
down to Batey for Sievers On the surface, Cal would
to have rocks ratng in his head but appraisal
OF his trade Of necessity, must be delayed.
must be borne in mind that the next throw Sievers
makes could be his last. Veeck is of this and is
willing to gamble that Roys delicate shoulder won't suffer
additional damage One hasty throw last May virtually
destroyed Roy'S usefulness for the year.
There other considerations disposng severs
not the least of which the fact he is 80 years old This
is the twilight period for most athletes with occasional
exceptions like Mickey Vernon Country Slaughter Early
Wynn and Ted Williams successfully avoiding the corroson
of time
healthy Sievers however could rebound to hit 40
home and slam 100 1t could happen
this year and could happen again next Griffith
knows it and realizes he could be labeled bue-bbon
-chump, but he still was determined to deal
CAL HAS HTTCEED HIS HOPE to Battey sturdy
receiver and according to all reports one with
strong and admirable aggressiveness He has dis
played no remarkable feaS while batting, but from him
Cal is anticipating hitting heroics He desperately
needed catcher who could accent the defensive In the
25-year-od Battey, he believes he has his man.
Griffith knows that unless Harmon Killebrew, Bob
Allison and Jim Lemon are on longrange frequency this
year his club is likely to be dead Extensively Any hitting
he receives from Batey Gardner above 225 level must
be regarded sweet surplus Shortstop Billy Console
also in that category Dan Dobbek Faye Throneberry
and Lennie Green must take up of the slack the
Senators to rise.
The Senators will be questionable extensively but until
Cal made his deals they impossible defensivey He
has patched two positions nicely at the of losing
one Sugger.
There's the suspicion that Cal made couple of deals
which could make the Senators formidable sad
to Severs CO. it sadder watching the Senators
with second basemen who couldn't field and with catchers
who couldn't catch. The Senator's improved defense is
Gals best defense.