Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1961-12-15

ment Of the Waldorf Hotel, a
chance for the Minnesota people to
share chicken legs and converse
ton with the space cadets from
the local sports beat.
The Minnesota people were Jack
McKeon, the dark stocky man
picked to manage the Mounties
next summer. And Joe Haynes, a
tall dark executive vice-president
of the Twins. And Sherry A. Rob-
ertson, the tall dark farm director
of Twins, Respondent in a dark
suit with matching prejudice.
Cut On The Bias
The conclave went along, laugh
here, a few holes generously pun
ched in the truth there. Then Mr..
Sherry Robertson, the farm di-
rector, stood up on his hind legs
and let his jaws flap open.
Mr.. Robertson told how the
Twins were the Washington Sena-
tors until last season, when they
were transplanted in the heartland
of the American midwest.
1--WE sure hated to leave Wash
ington, DC" Robertson said into
the microphone. I'VE liked it, in
spite of all those niggers down
there"
It was a specious remark, drip
ping with thick old-fashioned bias,
a laundering condescension in a
time when Negro athletes perform
with class on big-league play
grounds. Even the Twins allow Ne
groes locker room space, among
them Earl Battey, the best young
catcher in baseball, and Len Green,
a fleet outfielder who apprenticed
In Vancouver three years ago.
Mr.. Robertson's warped COM
ment didn't raise a smoker, only
eyebrows.
Povich Punch
There was time later to phone
Shirley Povich, the respec e d
sports columnist of the Washing
ton Post. His considerable reputa-
ton is based on being fortnight
instead of forth wrong. He sinks
regular shafts into the horny pelt
of George Preston Marshall, owner
of the Washington Redskins in the
National Football League and a
die-hard refuser of Negro talent.
1.-THE colors of the Redskins,
Shirley Povich has written, "are
gold, burgundy and Caucasian.
Now, on the phone, Povich was
saying: I'm not surprised at any
offhand cracks by certain mem
bers of the Minnesota brass. Some
of them are very capable of max
ing ignorant remarks"
The Minnesota franchise is con-
trolled by the Griffith family, Cal
vim r. Griffith, president. They
moved out of Washington hollerine
non-support from the Washington
spectators.
THE Griffith clan insisted they
had to leave Washington because
Negro fans wouldn't attend theil
games" PoHch said. THE fact Is
their ball team was so bad, the
whites didn't attend either" -.
Cosy Family Compact
The Washington Senators have
been so futile in the last Is years
that Bugs Baer, the satirist, once
said: Washington is first in peace
first In war and last in the Amer
lean League"
Last year, as the Minnesota
Twins, they finished dreadful sew
enth. That Is no reason to fear the
Minnesota farm-hands assigned
here next season will be brutal
but it is too premature to be al
Joyous with glee.
Some whangdoodle has been dis
pensed about the warm" Family
Compact that runs the Twins, {
honey dynasty Of descendants O
the late Clark Griffith. Mr.. Grit
fifth didn't have any heirs, but h
adopted two children of his wife!
dead brother, a chap named Rob
ertson. One of the adopted kid
was Calvin Griffith, the curren
president. Then Old Clark tool
care of Calvin's brothers and sis
tiers, including Sherry Robertson
the farm director; James Robert
son. the concessions director, ant
William Robertson, the STADIUM
director. A sister, Thelma, mar
ried Joe Haynes, the executive
vice-president.
This snug clique was skewere'
in the latest issue of the Sporting
News by Dan Parker Of the New
York Daily Mirror. Quote: IF tn
name Twins ever pals on tn
Minnesotans, they can change tn
name to a more apt one-Th