Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-10-03
WIN, LOSE OR
DNAV By FRANCIS sTANN
One Trade Not Made

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 3-Joe L. Brown, 42-year-old son
OF the wdemouthed movie comedian and general manager
of the Pittsburgh Pirates could we'll be regarded the
unsung hero the World approaches The job that
Branch Hickey to have done in Pittsburgh Joe
Brown did
When Brown pulled off player trades giving the
BUGS such key Harvey Haddix Vinegar Bend Mze
Bill Vrdon, Gno Cmon, Smoky Burgess. Don Hoax, Dick
Schofied and Hal Smith he the National League pen
nant. And then sometimes happens the biggest deal
was the one that Brown didn't-or wouldnt-swing.
1t happened in hotel in Miami during the 1859
winter meetings knew that Roger Mars then with
the Kansas City Athletics, available. The Athletics
needed shortSop and the Pirates had good in Dick
Groat the captain and perhaps the foremost candi
date for player honor despite his broken wrist
BROWN MADE A PROPOSITION. The late Arnold
Johnson president of the AS countered The
in Johnson's suite why don't you and Danny MUIR
taught step out of the for minute while fnalze
this deciSion?" Johnson asked.
In the corridor Brown noticed his field manager
Murtaugh wasn't looking too happy Il didn't have to ask
why, but did, anyway" Brown said Danny replied:
"T|m not want to trade Groat He's our glue
man {. . the one who's holding together.
"Td been thinking the same thing" Brown said, $50
let's forget the whole deal got outd that's not
bad and we've got shortstop Forthwith he telephoned
Johnsons suite and told him the deal was off,
WHEN GRoAT WAS hit on the wrist last month and
apparently eliminated from the World Series, the picture
looked dark here where Pirate team has since 1927
But on Saturday the exDuke University star playing
his first full game in month and looking very good.
Groat drove in pair of and handled everything
hit his way in 7-S victory over Milwaukee. He has no
bad substitute Dick Schoed but Pirate fans hap
pier to know that Groat is ready again.
During an when most observers agree that the
American League lacks the general class of the National
the favortism the Yankees at Las Vegas doesn't disturb
Buc supporters. The Yankees hit the long ba-longer
than Pittsug suggers-but Joe Brown and others sort
of like the Pirate chances
IT think we've got team balance" Brown says. We've
got two catchers hitting opposite waysSmoky Burgess
and Hal Smith. We've got Vrdon, worth his weight in
gold When we landed Mzell from the Cardinals think
had it made"
THE YANKEES APPARENTLY going to see lot OF
Pittsburgh's two southpaws-Harvey Haddx and Mzell
especially when the series to New York Saturday
That low short barrier the Bronx Stadium is an inviting
target for such confirmed pul-hitters Maris and
Yogi Berra
Mickey Mantle, the best of all present-day long ball
hitters isn't particularly bothered. Being swcher, he
takes e in Stride-rght left Whether it's Haddix
Mizell-or vern Law the equally right handed Bob
Friend-Mantle figures to give it ride.
the final analysis it comes out Yankee power versus
Pirate versatility first all the time We like
the Yankees in six games-and it could be four, just
in 1927