Evening star., 1961-02-28
WIN, LOSE OR.
DRAW By FRANCIS s7AAN
The Loconic One

j.
He drops bombs if they bownout matches icked
into waste contaner IF Estrada has good year." he
saying, it'll make it a lot easier for u.s."
Chuck Estrada won 10 games for the Baltimore orioles
last year. He years old and 1860 his rookie
This man, his manager, is asking for more?
He had good all year" Richards explains
with the pungent style which makes this lean Texan
familiar to baseball fans.
IF Estrada has good ARMAND he can really whip
when he's right-he win more than 18"
well, can he win "a? Maybe 80 so, like Walter
Johnson used to do?"
HE can sure do better" drawed the Texan. "Id sure
like to that kid with full good He's pitcher"
How good? The best in the majors? The American
League?"
"shucks, don't even know If he's the best on
staff Richards replies We've got Mt Pappas and Jack
Fisher and Steve Barber and so many others"
AYEAR AGO just about this date, Richards laconical
ly remarked that felt the sixth place Orioles could win
the pennant. II told players in clubhouse meeting
he drawled, as remarkng the weather Il said that
the Chicago White Sox could win 1t, we could, too"
And the Orioles darn near did it, too. They were
wonderfully exciting team in that they seemed to have
little aside from boySh pitchers and Richards, tough
leathery who sometimes to be beyond his
They started off-the Orioles-with youth movement
In the ineld Richards began with three rookies-Jm
Gentle first base Breeding at second and Ron
Hanson at short At third base he had Brooks Robinson
who was mere baby as good ball players go today
tied for the American League lead The next day they
cobbered by the Yankees 1910 On May 16 they their
fifth in a row again and took first place. Never dull
moment.
BY NOW THE BUFFS began to take the Orioles seri-.
ousy How could this club with outstanding outfeld
and great catcher stay long? They were up and
they down, stretch making all the mistakes
OF youth and the next exploiting to the fullest the
muscles Of youth
Finally they were knocked out Of the by the
Yankees in memorable series in New York. Not even
Richards could prevent complete washout But now he's
back with group that is Older but not much and pre-
sumably wiser.
1--WE got to have outfied help-some sharper hitting
Richards says We've got find punch Shucks, If you
don't have that going for you you're fighting losing
battle"
Gene Wooding was the oriole in the outfed last
season. but Richards apparently doesn't feel he suffered
any great loss Woodng put the American Leagues
Expansion list last December and claimed for $4,000
by Washington.
Richards says II can't put the knock him. He could
keep rally going with his bat and he's nice fellow He's
little old and little expensive the Senators discovered
when he signed his contract
"But Woodling when wasn't hitting, could hurt
in the field long stretch There only so many
years you can play this game well in all respects
"I hope that Gene does well with Washington. think
he will probably miss him in leftfeld. In fact If
Woodling and Triandos hadn't been hurt, we might
have won t'" '-7qnt last year."
And ey the outfield this season for the
Orioles?
"Ds >" Richards admits. We've got a
dozen 6, ing reports say they all can run and
throw of 'em hit?+
If he H. Line one outfieder who'd appear in
the opening game lineup Richards says it must be Jackie
Brandt the cenerfieder "But shucks he drawls,
you got to have whole outfeld Didn't kind Of prove
that last year?"