Evening star., 1961-04-05
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW By FRANCIS s1AAA
BoseboIFs Biggest Deal

vERo BEACH, FLA, APRIL 5-The large room in one
wing OF this World War II air base has only blackboards
for walls faded, hodover sign the door reads
Operations" 1t is as accurately descriptive today
20 years This is where Lafayette Fresco Thomp
son. the Dodgers vice president and director of minor
league operations, holds forth.
The blackboards with neatly printed names
in chalk. One board behind Thompsons desk has bed
sheet covering it, although the parent Dodgers have broken
camp and are route to Los Angeles easy stages aboard
their private DC6 The sheet used to the most
vital data telling who the varsity roster is to remain
and who is to be farmed out, sold or traded.
players drift into my office all day." Fresco said,
explaining the Shroud at wouldn't good for the
Of man to learn prematurey that he's headed for
Spokane Atlanta that he isn't considered vital to
the Dodger organization"
Eleven farm clubs still remain in the biggest training
camp deal in baseball There had been 13 clubs here,
including the 28man Tokyo Giants who are returning to
Japan. There 271 players still on the black
boards plus those Of trainers 18 umpires staff
members including such coaching aides Leo Durocher
Roy Campanela and Pete Reser.
THE DODGERS EASILY are the deepest club in base
ball They have to be with all those farm clubs
Spokane, Atlanta Omaha, Greenvle Salem Great Falls
Reno, Artesa, Kokomo Panama City and Orlando 1t is
noticeable that lesser teams-the Glass Ds-do not have
full rosters as yet.
ut isn't easy to fill Glass D roster these days."
explained Freco, old National League infielder The
kids who ought to be playing ball won't work for 5000
month They figure they make money with
shovel We have to sign them to higher classification
contracts because they demand at least $1,000 $4,000
to play in Glass D."
Thompson smiled thinly. do you know what got
when came to the big leagues2" he asked an 1924
was playing for Omaha and the Pirates bought me.
made $50 at Omaha and the Pittsburgh contract offered
only 5000.
Il returned it and penned note suggesting they'd
made mistake. The same contract came back in the
mail. There was no mistake, I informed I could
accept the 5000 back to the minors couldn't wait
to sign the paper and shoot it back"
AS MONUMENTAL as the Dodgers operation is today
there players at Vero Beach in other years
Our record number 44O" Thompson recalled 'but 1t
costs just much to train 270 or so Well lose
100000 this year minor league interests alone"
with all these players" visitor asked "do the
Dodgers still bid high for bonus kids or whatever the
technical term happens to be?"
Free agents." Fresco supplied "sure, we go after
any boy who looks promising. We're budgeted spend
$6OOOO0 this year in bonuses"
How you people possibly keep track of all these
guys?" he was asked For answer Thompson pointed to
the mposngy long list Of names the blackboard under
the heading of staff"
How about you personality"
without meaning to boast" Fresco replied 81 think
know just about all of them even know the names
OF some OF their wvesadies I've except from
snapShots-and the approximate sizes OF their families
You get to know them because the boys walk into the
office and tell they can't afford to play for Kokomo
and raise family, too"
: ANOTHER QUESTION was tossed at Thompson "How
does it affect bonus boy that is young free agent
when he walks into your office and sees all this
competition the blackboard? Does he ever say The
hell with this jazz and peddle himself to one of the
Have-Not clubs?"
That's happened" Fresco admitted "But our argu-
ment is that cream will to the top, whether the
milk Is IN pint bottle in gallon We point out guys
, IKE Frank Howard and Tommy and Willie Davis who
became Dodgers after very little time in the farm system
1t didn't sound to the visitor like an impregnable
argument because there also Dodgers like Charlie
Neal ana Maury Wills and Norm Larke who spent long
was offered. Instead:
What would happen, Fresco if somebody broke into
S Office In the dead OF night and erased all these names?"
Good Lord, we'd be dead! I honestly don't think
tneres permanent copy Not up-to-date COPY any
way must remember to check the windows"