Evening star., 1961-03-20
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW By FRANCIS s1AAn
Oldest of the Orioles

MIAMI, Mar. 2O-The big man with the cropped
hair and the fighters face major Lacquer bor-
rowed time. The Baltimore Orioles dugout and their
hotel lobby is filled with downycheeked kids in their
early twente and Dave Phley old enough to be the
father of many of them He is coming up Al.
Casual fans think he is Of Paul Richards coaches
but until younger and better comes along Dave is
the Orioles pinch-htter de luxe. PhiLey can't cover
much ground when he plays whether be first base
in the outed at third base but he drags danger
bat to the plate. And he swings from both sides
of the plate
The 6-foot 19O-pound Texan admits that if he hadn't
turned pinch hitter he probably wouldn't be in the big
leagues at all, much less member of potential flag
winner. "And it wasn't easy, becoming pinchhitter
Dave said II used to be the worlds worst Then when
I couldn't play every day for any club just told
myself that pinch hitting something I'd have to
make myself do well"
bouncing youngster crossed the lobby of the
McAister Hotel, where the Orioles live. That's Dave
Massarelli OF our catchers, Phiey volunteered Il
was playing pro ball year before he was born"
THE OLD PAPPY GUY is not embarrassed because he
looks out of place among many youths. Philley is
realistic He playing for money and If he stick
with the Orioles he he has chance of winding up
with winner. In 16 in the majors he's never
played for championship club, although he's worn the
uniforms of the White sox wce) Philadelphia Athletics
Indians, Orioles (twice), Tigers Phies and San Fran
cisco Giants
"These kids have made a believer out Of me-" Dave
said This club has wonderful bunch of young pitchers
clans Man, If we had the outfied of the Pirates we'd
be Shoo-ns."
Phlley is fan of Manager Richards Hes got to be
the best manager in the game" Dave said "The job he
does with young players is amazing. I
drive himself and his coaches Richards does. He's
of those guys who says this is the way want 1t
done. If it isn't the right way I'll take the blame"
| The fact that Richards has won a pennant is
unimportant, Philey thinks whats he had to work
with?" Dave asked. He had rundown club in Chicago
and made it contender He did the in Baltimore.
Do suppose that if he'd inherited the Yankees like
Casey stenge did, Paul would have lost any Of those
1 pennants Casey won? In pigs eye"
PHILLEY'S NAME is in the baseball record book.
While member of the Philles from September to
September 28 195S he bagged eight straight pinch hits
On opening day of 1859 he got another for record
! breaking total of nine in
But when played regularly from 1946 to 1856 with
Chicago Philadelphia Cleveland and Baltimore, couldn't
buy base hit hhitter," Philley recalled. I'm
games didn't play they'd send up to hit for some
body and terrible Finally wound up with Detroit
in 1857 and decided that if going to stay up I'd
have to learn how to pinch hit
"You do it by studying the other pitcher, watching
what he throws in the clutch to hitter along your
style Finally got the knack From 1857 through 1858
mostly with the Philes, had a 4O2 pnch-httng
But still have to play whole game now and then
to keep sharp"
DESPITE HIS s1zE Phlley is not big home-run
threat. when I hit ball good it's line" he
planned, put IL look me years TO ADMIT IL 10 myself
often went for the home would have been much
better hitter earlier in my if I'd realized that
wasn't home hitter"
Even now, Dave confesSes, he goes long-bal crazy
when he pinch hits while he represents the tying o
winning "If there's first base, swing
to bring him in. If I'm the tying run at the plate
swing to bring me in. I don't do well that way.
But if the big is third base second, where
a single will tie break up the game usually feel
do the job The trick is in Just meeting the bal
where it's pitched wish it hadn't taken me so long tt
learn my lesson"
couple more of the Orioles boy wonders strollec
past, and Philley looked at them enviously. Then h
said "Those kids know this game pretty good right
They should, with that bossng EN- They not on
should +. :. they'd better know It,"